SOLVED: Djetset #146 ; Greenwood Mini 3-wheeler

[Djetset]

Know what this is for a point?

[Octavia]

cant remember the exact name but it Mini based

[Djetset]

Yup, it is Mini-based.  Know anything more about it?

[Djetset]

Moving on up...

[shamrock]

sidecar outfit built by owen greenwood in the 60s , used mini front subframe and engine , inginuity at its best .

[Djetset]

Well done Shamrock, correct.

[woodinsight]

The Greenwood in action -

[nicanary]

What is this interesting machine?

[SunUpHoodDown]

It's Owen Greenwood's 'three wheeled' mini sidecar racer from the mid '60's. 1071cc Cooper engined, it raced in the unlimited class in the UK and was so successful at subverting the rule book that it was often made to start at the back of the grid!

[nicanary]

It's Owen Greenwood's 'three wheeled' mini sidecar racer from the mid '60's. 1071cc Cooper engined, it raced in the unlimited class in the UK and was so successful at subverting the rule book that it was often made to start at the back of the grid!

Excellent and correct answer. I saw this machine in action as a teenager, and loved the absurdity and audacity of it. The 'bike "establishment" didn't agree with my thinking, and saw it as a deliberate provocation. Quite why so few people copied the idea is beyond me, because, as you point out, it was way,way faster than the traditional sidecar outfits.

It was nothing new, really, since 3-wheeled Morgans had taken part in MCC events since post-WW1. I think that it actually had 2 rear wheels, very close together like the Isetta bubble-car, and because of their closeness they counted as one wheel, but I may be wrong.

(PS I hope the editors don't mind this puzzle, since strictly speaking it's a motorcycle - but in all reality it's a converted car. It retained the Mini front sub-frame, and had a tubular extension at the rear to carry the occupants and rear wheel(s)/suspension.)

[Carnut]

We've had motorcycles before, as well as aeroplanes, buses, trucks and I think even water-borne vehicles!

And welcome to AutoPuzzles SunUpHoodDown - it's the home of where things are very often not quite what they seem to be!
Please ensure you familiarize yourself with the rules to avoid any innocent transgressions.
Happy puzzling.

[SunUpHoodDown]

Thanks for the welcome!
Indeed it was a four wheeler, but since it kept its rears less than 4 inches apart, the rule-book classed it as a three wheeler! (hence the inverted commas)   
No wonder you call the unsolved folder the black hole.... can't shed light on anything else! 

[nicanary]

Thanks for the welcome!
Indeed it was a four wheeler, but since it kept its rears less than 4 inches apart, the rule-book classed it as a three wheeler! (hence the inverted commas)   
No wonder you call the unsolved folder the black hole.... can't shed light on anything else! 

Believe me, mate, if it's in the Black Hole, it's a REAL mystery. The guys on this forum know all there is to know, between them. There are people who specialise in things like Italian Coachbuilders and 1920s low-volume German marques. It's frustrating and fascinating at one and the same time - please hang around, we need more enthusiastic members. Eventually you'll get the hang of how to solve things, and where to look. It looks like you know sport from the 60s, and there'll be more in time to come. Welcome.

[Wendax]

Merged and 1967 Brands Hatch pictures added