The star of the stand was the 1969 Birel Drag owned and restored by Tony Brinkworth. It is a very unusual and rare kart. In 1968, 1969 and 1970 the revolutionary “A” frame Robardie kart developed by Ronnie Peterson’s father Bengt, won three World Championships. This encouraged other manufacturers to make copies and the Drag was Birel’s interpretation. However it was over complicated, albeit very stylish, expensive to make and difficult to set up. In a word, not very competitive and very sought after.
For instance the rear wheels copy race cars with knock off rims but that makes it impossible to access the tyre valve from the outside, so it is put on the inside of the wheels requiring them to be taken of to adjust pressures. The aluminium stepped axle – down to 25mm for the wheels - has spacers to adjust the chain sprocket for alignment. The rear seat stays attach to a metal frame, making it harder to put the seat low down.
Tony Brinkworth had to make the wheels himself as they were missing when he picked up the kart at a Jesolo historic meeting in Italy. Although England were the last to keep using drum brakes, other countries had long shifted to disc brakes like the Drag. The chassis is very strong and well made, with double butted joints. There are even three different floor trays but the number plates mounted on stalks leads to them breaking.
Most unusual is the long steering column and bell crank system, allowing the driver to steer with their wrists rather than their arms, again very complicated but it looks good and adds to the talking points at shows or displays on this beautifully presented kart.
The disc valve motor is a Parilla HF17, signifying 17 brake horsepower. It was the last of the Parilla’s with the two piece crankshaft. The drive side has the crankpin as one forging which makes it expensive to be replaced. The alleged advantage was that the crank wheel has a steeper taper that presents less restriction to the incoming fuel mixture from the disc valve. But the SS20 with conventional crank proved that theory not worth while when winning the 1971 World Championship.
Also on the stand was an ex Martin Hines Zip Eagle, formerly owned by Tony Keele, and a Kosmic/Vortex Formula A kart, owned by the club chairman Gary Preece.
Moving onto the display track with three sessions over the weekend days, about 20 karts were entered, a mixture of gearbox (shifter) and direct drive Class 1. One notable driver was 84 year old Ed McDonough, the well know motoring journalist, test driver, competitor and author. He started karting in Connecticut in 1956 and has driven a kart every year since. So this was his first kart outing of 2025. A home made kart with a chain saw engine saw him out on the yet to be public Connecticut turnpike, racing with the newly formed local club. He said at one point he kept up with an 85mph Buick.
The British Historic Kart Club recently held its Annual General Meeting at the impressive Silverstone Museum, where both Anthony Davidson’s and Lewis Hamilton’s Cadet karts are on display along with a number of other karts. The club has over 200 members and the Museum is well worth a visit, being adjacent to the new kart circuit. That will be 1377m in length to International standards, yet capable of having four different layouts at the same time, opening at the end of 2025, for a formal opening in May 2026.
For instance the rear wheels copy race cars with knock off rims but that makes it impossible to access the tyre valve from the outside, so it is put on the inside of the wheels requiring them to be taken of to adjust pressures. The aluminium stepped axle – down to 25mm for the wheels - has spacers to adjust the chain sprocket for alignment. The rear seat stays attach to a metal frame, making it harder to put the seat low down.
Tony Brinkworth had to make the wheels himself as they were missing when he picked up the kart at a Jesolo historic meeting in Italy. Although England were the last to keep using drum brakes, other countries had long shifted to disc brakes like the Drag. The chassis is very strong and well made, with double butted joints. There are even three different floor trays but the number plates mounted on stalks leads to them breaking.
Most unusual is the long steering column and bell crank system, allowing the driver to steer with their wrists rather than their arms, again very complicated but it looks good and adds to the talking points at shows or displays on this beautifully presented kart.
The disc valve motor is a Parilla HF17, signifying 17 brake horsepower. It was the last of the Parilla’s with the two piece crankshaft. The drive side has the crankpin as one forging which makes it expensive to be replaced. The alleged advantage was that the crank wheel has a steeper taper that presents less restriction to the incoming fuel mixture from the disc valve. But the SS20 with conventional crank proved that theory not worth while when winning the 1971 World Championship.
Also on the stand was an ex Martin Hines Zip Eagle, formerly owned by Tony Keele, and a Kosmic/Vortex Formula A kart, owned by the club chairman Gary Preece.
Moving onto the display track with three sessions over the weekend days, about 20 karts were entered, a mixture of gearbox (shifter) and direct drive Class 1. One notable driver was 84 year old Ed McDonough, the well know motoring journalist, test driver, competitor and author. He started karting in Connecticut in 1956 and has driven a kart every year since. So this was his first kart outing of 2025. A home made kart with a chain saw engine saw him out on the yet to be public Connecticut turnpike, racing with the newly formed local club. He said at one point he kept up with an 85mph Buick.
The British Historic Kart Club recently held its Annual General Meeting at the impressive Silverstone Museum, where both Anthony Davidson’s and Lewis Hamilton’s Cadet karts are on display along with a number of other karts. The club has over 200 members and the Museum is well worth a visit, being adjacent to the new kart circuit. That will be 1377m in length to International standards, yet capable of having four different layouts at the same time, opening at the end of 2025, for a formal opening in May 2026.
