Atlantic memories

I was surprised that, while discussing his family’s close association with the Austin A90 (C&SC, January), Martin didn’t mention that a namesake, Dennis Buckley, was one of the team that thrashed the Sea Foam green Atlantic convertible (with red bonnet) around Indianapolis Motor Speedway for seven days and nights to capture 63 American Open Model Stock Car speed and endurance records.

The subsequent account of this British achievement in the pages of The Eagle had me walking on air for days because, not long before, my father had exchanged his beloved Frazer NASH-BMW 327/80 for a Sea Foam green A90, with power hood, when his employer insisted that he must drive British. Not one boy in my school failed to read it and my stock rose like a rocket.

Full throttle’s mention of Geoff Duke also reminds me that around that time I was introduced to the multiple World Champion while attending a race on Mynydd Epynt.

It’s better known today for car rallies, but a 5.2-mile motorcycle racing circuit existed there for six years from 1948, attracting the cream of road racing from Great Britain and Europe. A young John Surtees was also in attendance on that occasion, but what excited me most was that Duke arrived driving his own Sea Foam green A90!

I attach a photo of my father’s car, but I fear it is now long gone. Charles Wells

Via email