Solved NIC#659 - Jordan Special of Don Haddow

[Allan L]

Since there seems to be a lot of engine visible, perhaps it;s a V-twin Vincent 1000.

[nicanary]

Since there seems to be a lot of engine visible, perhaps it;s a V-twin Vincent 1000.

YES IT IS! We now know the country of origin and the engine - so I'll LOCK this puzzle for Allan L to see if he can find out more.

[Allan L]

Thanks but I can't see where I can look - unless I ask the Vincent historian who lives half a mile from me, and I think he's out at present!
About as far as I've got is to speculate that Spike Rhiando (who was Canadian) used a Vincent engine - but the only car I know of is his Trimax and this one isn't it.
Please unlock and we can see if oko94 can get somewhere!

[nicanary]

Thanks but I can't see where I can look - unless I ask the Vincent historian who lives half a mile from me, and I think he's out at present!
About as far as I've got is to speculate that Spike Rhiando (who was Canadian) used a Vincent engine - but the only car I know of is his Trimax and this one isn't it.
Please unlock and we can see if oko94 can get somewhere!

It's nothing to do with Spike Rhiando. I shall UNLOCK it as you have requested. I'll admit it's not a well-known car. but it's in the record books.

[oko94]

Was the car raced between 1955 and 1960 ?

[nicanary]

Was the car raced between 1955 and 1960 ?

Yes.

[oko94]

Was it first raced in 1957 ?

[nicanary]

Was it first raced in 1957 ?

I don't know for sure, but that year is the first time it appears in record books.

[oko94]

In 1957, did it race at Edenvale Circuit ?

[nicanary]

In 1957, did it race at Edenvale Circuit ?

That track is not on the list I have.

[oko94]

In 1957, did it race at Edmonton ?

[nicanary]

In 1957, did it race at Edmonton ?

Not that I know of. It raced in 1957 at one well-known course, and later in hillclimbs.

[oko94]

In 1957, did it race at Harewood Acres ?

[nicanary]

In 1957, did it race at Harewood Acres ?

Yes!

[oko94]

Don Haddow racing the Jordan Special at Mosport. 998cc Vincent engine.

[nicanary]

Yes. Well solved after persistent work! Interestingly, the source of the puzzle photo had cropped the image, and claimed it was taken at Rattlesnake Point, Ontario. The car definitely won hillclimb events right up to 1960.

[oko94]

Thanks for my 652nd point !

That was a very nice puzzle, quite hard to find but not impossible.

[oko94]

According to an article from Sports Car Illustrated, Herb Jordan's 1957 Jordan Special had an AJS engine with Harley Davidson and Norton components. Was it re-engined later with a Vincent unit, or is the puzzle source mistaken ?

[nicanary]

According to an article from Sports Car Illustrated, Herb Jordan's 1957 Jordan Special had an AJS engine with Harley Davidson and Norton components. Was it re-engined later with a Vincent unit, or is the puzzle source mistaken ?

I had to check. Herb Jordan raced a motorcycle with a much-developed AJS engine (virtually no AJS left in it except the cylinder liner) but the bike was wrecked in 1953. He built a Formula 3 chassis to take the engine but after a couple of years of nil success, he fitted the alcohol-fuel Vincent Black Shadow engine, which provided so much success for Don Haddow and others. I'm guessing the Vincent engine was installed after 1955, and quite possibly not until 1957 because no wins seem to have taken place until that date.