History
“Laddie Gordon Special”
The ‘Laddie Gordon’ MG TC Special
This racing TC Special played its part in the annals of Australian motor sport in the post war period with the race hard and have fun, spirit that Cecil Kimber, the founder of the MG marque, intended a century ago.
Imported into Australia by Ray ‘Laddie’ Gordon in 1949 as a new MG TC, the car was stripped, lightened and supercharged just in time for the 14th Australian Grand Prix held at Leyburn Queensland on the 18th of September 1949.
Forty thousand spectators were present to watch the 14th running of the AGP, an event which was a first for Queensland. Twenty-eight cars competed over 35 laps for a race distance of 150 miles. The grueling event saw the retirement of 17 competitors.
The ‘Laddie Gordon TC Special' finished in second place behind a 3.6L Delahaye 135MS piloted by John Crouch. The Supercharged 1250cc MG TC demonstrated phenomenal reliability and speed, beating many of the competition, which included 10 other MG TB/TC’s, numerous V8 Specials, a Jaguar SS100 and a Bugatti Type 37.
To increase competitiveness, the “Laddie Gordon” Special was later transformed and clothed in an aerodynamic hand-crafted light weight aluminum body, in a style reminiscent of the prewar MG R Type racers.
Under new ownership of Arthur Griffith, the ‘Laddie Gordon Special' was entered in the 17th Australian Grand Prix held at the Mt Panorama Circuit near Bathurst, NSW on April 14th 1952. A field of 43 cars competed over 38 laps for a race distance of approximately 145 miles. Watched by fifteen thousand spectators, the challenging circuit took its toll with over half the field retiring leaving only 17 cars to cross the line. The race was won by Doug Whiteford in the 4.5L Talbot-Lago 26C. The ‘Laddie Gordon’ finished in 11th place ahead of makes such as HRG, Bugatti, Maserati, Jaguar, Alta and Cooper.
Sold twice after the 1952 Australian GP, in 1955 the car was involved in a serious accident at Leyburn, the circuit where it achieved 2nd place in the 1949 Australian GP. A severe fire left both the driver, Neville Huch, and the car badly burnt. Sold in damaged condition to a Mr Bowman, the car’s body and chassis were later separated and the body sold on.
The remnant body was acquired in 1955 by Leo Spies, later changing hands another three times over the following years. The body was redeveloped as a single seat MG TC Special, log booked with CAMS in 1978 and raced competitively until purchased by Mr Peter Gostelow in 1999. Hearing of the cars history, Peter set about tracking down and ultimately purchasing the original chassis that had remained in the possession of only one owner since 1955 and an extensive two year restoration began.
Reuniting the two halves of the car, Peter Gostelow resurrected the ‘Laddie Gordon Special' and on July 3rd 2002, 47 years after it was last in one piece, the car was granted a CAMS Logbook and Certificate of Description, recognising its historic significance to Australian motorsport, in the post war years.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
ENGINE: 1366cc INLINE 4 CYLINDER
FUEL: METHANOL
INDUCTION: MARSHALL J100 SUPER CHARGER/ H6 SU CARBURETTOR
TRANSMISSION: MG TC 4 SPEED MANUAL (close ratio)
SUSPENSION: BEAM AXLE FRONT/LIVE AXLE REAR
BRAKES: GIRLING - ALFIN DRUMS FRONT/REAR
WHEELS: 5”x15” DUNLOP WIRE WHEELS
Modifications
Supercharged running on Methanol
