Merlyn Mk21

[allenbrown]

David

Do you know who raced the Mk21 after Smiley? Does the log book show Loring in it next? Then who?

Regards

Allen

[Davhut]

In researching this exact model Merlyn and a particular single car, came across this site.
I know a lot about Gordon Smiley's Merlyn Mk.21...so here's the story.
In 1970/71 he blitzed the FF class in the States, winning on speedways (then the IMSA F100 events) in a Merlyn Mk 17. Due to his success and sponsor's money, based in Kansas City, Missouri (dead center of US) they became the Merlyn Factory Team in FF and FB here. His sponsor was a hugely successful dealer of used airplanes.
Late 1971 they received the second Mk 21 constructed (first went to the team campaigning Jody Scheckter in EuropeI can't remember F3 or F2), the "A" version (with a rounded and "BT29 type nose, upper radiator exit). This car arrived in current European configuration, without any wings, and was immediately successful and winning club FB races in the SCCA. It was one of the first small formula cars to race in the states on full slick tires, and was always faster than the F5000 cars in the same races. Smiley continued his success winning many FF races in the factory Mk 20, sat on pole for its first three races and (using FB front tires) was the first evern FF on slicks (the rear) for Daytona FF and Road Atlanta SCCA championships in 1971. He dominated most club and some professional races in the Mk 21, w/Lotus TwinCam (typically supplied by Brian Hart, but also Californian Gene Crowe). It was also updated with front wings and a tiny rear wing above the engine (as in photo). Shortly thereafter an aero engineer friend I introduced, designed a bigger, more effective rear wing sited behind the FT200. As competition this car had March 71M (FB 712) and the following year the 722, plus the coolest small FB I've ever seen, Allan McCall's first TUI in Bert Hawthorn's skilled hands. He and Smiley were very unfriendly, to say the least, rivals and mostly Smiley got the better of Hawthorn in both FB and the IMSA FF races at Talledega and Daytona.
In 1974 I accompanied Smiley to England to race the factory supported Mk25 FF and we also built up a Mk 21 "B" version (wide, flat nose, bigger wings) which saw a couple events in the Player's Atlantic series with big wings, slicks and a BDA. Thereafter Smiley had a falling out with Merlyn and switched to Royale in FF and raced the first Elden Atlantic car, a sweet and tiny machine with twin front radiators and little frontal area. It went like a scalded cat and he finished, I believe 4th in the debut at Brands.
The Mk 21 A in the States was acquired by chief mechanic Charlie Williams, also of Kansas City, who converted the car to FAtl spec and it was raced on several occasions by David Loring. (Loring graduated to more competitive March that Gilles Villeneuve had to vacate due to broken bones suffered in a crash). The Merlyn was sold and thereafter disappeared. The only other US Mk 21 was that of Porter Brownlee from Arkansas, a "B" version in spec and driven far less quickly and successfully. It never featured professionally and to my knowledge was the last "big bore" Merlyn imported.
I'm going to try to post a photo of the Smiley Merlyn at a racetrack called "Mid-America Raceways," a huge bravery track of about 3+ miles, up and down hills, through woods with a half mile long front straight near St. Louis. At one time Smiley held the lap records in a Triumph Spitfire, Merlyn FF and Merlyn FB simultaneously.
I would very much like to find this chassis for restoration purposes and can be reached at:
dylngh@hotmail.com

[Davhut]

By the way, the Mk 21 in England, the converted F3 car of Bernard Vermillio (a rival of Smiley's in Mk. 25 FFs in England 1974) was crashed because we went to a rain race with only slicks and Gordon was nothing if not brave.

[Davhut]

Second photo of Merlyn Mk 21

[Davhut]

Originally Posted by jjordan

...Race America was the offical US imported of Merlyn cars...

Race America was in Dallas. It was owned by an airline pilot named Bill Ippolito. He was one of the first purchasers of Merlyn Mk 11 FF. (I remember he paid cash for a red one and raced it first in Ft. Sumner, New Mexico...home of Billy the Kid). Ippolito purchased the Merlyn US rights from Robert Smith, who owned LOTUS SOUTHWEST at the North end of Love Field in mid-town (where I worked as a parts runner while in high school). It was one of about 2 or 3 active US Lotus distributors of both street cars (the wonderfully go-kart like Elan and the truly awful Europa Type 46 Renault engined thing). Smith relinquished Lotus to take on Merlyn in the year Tim Schenken won all his British FF races, I believe that was 1968.
Smiley's Merlyns came directly from the factory in Colchester to Kansas City in some manner since he'd been named the works supported US driver, and his FFs and FBs weren't a part of Race America's transactions. That company made most of their sales to various drivers schools in California (Russell & etc.).
Fun old times, those!

[Davhut]

Originally Posted by allenbrown

See what you mean about Kansas. The only other driver in my database with a Kansas home town was one Gordon Gresham. He raced a Formula Junior Lotus 20 between 1964 and 1967.
Allen

Smiley was born in Omaha, Nebaska.
Both Masten Gregory and Rodger Ward, two time winner of the Indy 500 and USAC Champion in the 1950s were originally from Kansas. Far from Kansas, actually ending up in Paris and LA! Also oilman Jack Hinkle, who owned a bunch of famous 1950s era Indy 500 roadsters and later raced big Can-Am cars in club events
A great read for anyone, especially you Brits that want to learn all about early Champ Car/Roadster era racing is Brock Yates "AGAINST DEATH & TIME" about racing in the 1950s...a non-stop classic like "ALL BUT MY LIFE."

[allenbrown]

Welcome David!

[allenbrown]

jj, David

I've just managed to get hold of the results of a pair of FB races at Bogota, Colombia, in February and March 1972.

Smiley was there, in what was described as a "works one-off". Presumably there's a bit of spin on that description and he was driving his usual Mk 21 [320-FB-71]. Any thoughts chaps?

Allen

[Davhut]

Hi, Allen.
I was there with Smiley and his childhood friend and constant mechanic Joe Kidd, who is still remembered by Clive. The description you mention is indeed a bit of a spin, but with 20/20 hindsight. At the time, his Mk 21 was the only FB chassis in existence, before the second US chassis (the Brownlee car) and any FAtl variants, it was a "one off!" and we all certainly always considered it a "works" car due to the previous explained relationship with CRD.
For some reason never understood, Smiley, the car and us wrenches had a miserable racing time and never got hooked up enough to feature in any of the events (there were heats in each race). I vaguely recall some fuel feed difficulties (very high altitude outside Bogota) and having to replace the under chassis brake fluid line.
It was great good fun in the "old school" manner...everyone rode a big bus out to the track in the mountains, drivers, mechanics, press, etc. and the scenery, tales of the nights activities, and constant driver and friend "wind-ups" extremely funny knowing Gordon was one of the funniest men I've ever known.
I'd be interested in you emailing me the entry/results lists if time permits.

[allenbrown]

I don't have the entry lists - would love them if you happen across them - but the results of the two races are here and here.

Allen

[Davhut]

I've just been emailed an extremely awful photograph of David Loring in the ex-Gordon Smiley Merlyn Mk 21 (now converted to later style nose and BDA) in his last Atlantic ride in this car.
I think it interesting because of the body changes.
Sorry for the quality, I don't actually know where this image originated.

[Davhut]

Posting the last of my collection of Merlyn Mk 21 photos from 1971/72 US racing seasons and 1974 UK F-Atlantic.

The Merlyn Mk 21 Formula B (Lotus twincam) first two races in US. First in sunshine in Kansas (ended in crash with backmarker), second in pouring rain at MAR (victory).





The FB car ready for FB runoffs with wings in 1972. I still think this is among the most beautiful FB cars ever built and kept to a very high standard by Joe Kidd and driver Gordon Smiley.



The "raw" Vermillio Mk 21 F-3 chassis as recovered from the loft of some old garage!



The finished BDA powered FAtlantic conversion ready for first race.

[Ol'_Motorhead]

Originally Posted by Chris Townsend

Allen

Loring places 4th at Westwood with a Merlyn in 74. This seems to be his only appearance in the car that year [though apart from Sanair, Westwood is the only race where I have full runners and riders.] In any case he took over the Villeneuve 74B for a while when Gilles was injured.
Chris

According to Cdn. M/S Bulletin he dnf'd in the Merlyn at the 2nd race in Edmonton due to a flat tire (Oops, tyre ) and finished 13th (1 point) at the next race in Gimli. The report states the rear wing came adrift during pract./Qual. and they fitted a "borrowed" one from another marque. He drove a March 73 at Mosport in the 4th race owned by Dale Lang and out of Joe Grimaldi stable. He got 7 points in Quebec and 0 points in NFLD. He did not dns in Nova Scotia. HTH.

[Ol'_Motorhead]

Re-read my post - it appears the old double negative snuck in. I meant to say he had a dns in Nova Scotia. Also, he was listed as a finisher at Mosport in the March but scored no points. He would have been 14th or lower. There is a photo of David at speed in the Merlyn at Gimli in CMB. I could post it if one, I knew how to and two, it's b&w on newsprint and not that sharp. I could scan it and sent it to Chris or Allen to post if anyone's interested to see it. Cheers.

[Chris Townsend]

Rob

I think that since I made that post about Loring's 1974 appearances our records on the 1974 Canadian season have improved dramatically - mainly thanks to your contributions!

Westwood 25 May 4th Merlyn Mk21 [320/FB/71]-BDA Nicholson
Edmonton 2 June R Merlyn Mk21 [320/FB/71]-BDA Nicholson
Gimli 16 June 15th Merlyn Mk21 [320/FB/71]-BDA Nicholson
Mosport 2 July R March 74B [2]-BDA Raceshop [Grimaldi]
Sanair 14 July 9th March 74B [3]-BDA Greatorex [Ecurie Canada]
St Johns 27 July R engine March 74B [3]-BDA Greatorex [Ec. Canada]
That seems to be the last race, but need more [much more] on Trois Rivieres and the lower orders at Waterford Hills

Chris

[Ol'_Motorhead]

Right - check your personal e-mail. I may have overlooked sending you a report.
Cheers.

[spb3]

Someone forwarded me this thread which stimulated me to reply.

I'm Porter Brownlee and I owned one of the Mk-21s under discussion. Bought it from Race America (Bill Ippolito - does anyone know where he is?) in late 1972, ran 1 or 2 races, then all of the 73 and part of the 74 seasons in the Midwest Division.

I found the car to be an extremely stable platform though without the chassis rigidity (and responsiveness) of the March I raced later. None the less, I had a lot of success with the car and recall it fondly.

Porter

[Chris Townsend]

Porter

Welcome to the forum! I would really like to discuss your March/Marches? with you. Take a look at the infinite number of March threads and see if there's one that's suitable. Identifying FB Marches in SCCA is a bit of a nightmare, so I'm hoping you can throw light in one corner.

Chris

[Davhut]

Porter, welcome.
I have photos of your light blue Merlyn at MAR, must have been 1974? You still in Razorbackland?
David

[Davhut]

Porter Brownlee's Merlyn Mk21A at Mid-America Raceways (near St. Louis), 1973. I don't know this chassis number.

[Michael Winn]

I just wanted to clear up some history on the Merlyn 320-FB-71 raced by Gordon Smiley, David Loring and Mike Winn. Gordon raced it with factory backing over here in 1971 and 1972 and won the ARRC amature championship with it in FB. Charlie Williams Racing maintained the car for him during that period with a Lotus Twin Cam engine. When Gordon moved on Charlie bought the car and campaigned it in FA series in Canada with David Loring as the driver and a ford cosworth BDA engine. They ran 4 races finishing in the top 10 usually with a best of 4th place in the rain against the later Marches and Chevrons with aluminum tub frames. The only other car with a tube frame that was as competitive was Elliot forbes Robinson in a Lotus 59 FB. I ahd been following the series with great interest, because I was running a Merlyn MK17 FF and Porter Brownlee was running a Merlyn MK 21B in 1974 and 1975. I was looking to move up to FB and was looking for a March 722, when Porter Brownlee called me to see if I was interested in buying the only other Merlyn FB in the US. He had crashed his car and needed some suspension pieces and Charlie did not want to sell them unless the car was sold as well. I bought the car with a twin cam lotus engine and raced it in mid west division in 1975 and finished 2nd in points with just 4 races against Ford BDA's all season. Bob Young in a Lola BDA was first with 6 races, Dorsey Shroeder was 3rd in points and Porter Brownlee was 4th in his Merlyn 21B with BDA engine. I went to the ARRC expecting to beat the BDA's like I had all season, but Road Atlanta's long straight and high speed turns droped the track record 3 seconds from the previous year with the Lotus Twin Cam. I was able to qualify at the previous track pole time and run those laps consistantly though the race to finish 11th out of 33 cars and one lap ahead of Porter's car with a BDA engine, but I think he was under the weather with a stomach ailment. Porter then sold his car to David Pence and bought James Kings 1975 March formula Atlantic. He over heated it and blew the motor 3rd time out and I bought the March and rebuilt the motor and went undefeated for the rest of the season, but could not afford to go the the championship race at Road Atlanta and sold the March to Chuck Blair who only ran it a couple of times and sold it. He had maintained it for Porter when Porter ran it. I sold the Merlyn before vintage racing was taking off and went sprint car racing for a couple of years. I crewed for Charlie Williams racing when Brian Williams was racing FF and FContinental with a Citation. Now I am looking to get back into vintage racing and would love to get my old Merlyn FB back to the track again to beat some of those better known brabhams, Lotus and marches that were of 1972 or older. The Merlyn was capable of beating the early aluminum tub cars and tube frame cars of that era, as long as it had equal power. It is in Canada and not being raced to my knowledge and I am trying to run it down now. See you on the track some day.
Mike Winn

[Mike Winn]

I have some information on the Factory Merlyn That Gordon Smiley drove. He raced it for two seasons for Merlyn with Charlie Williams building motors for it in SCCA- FB. First year at the ARRC chapionship race at Road Atlanta he spun from the pole position in the first turn suffering damage. He won the next year winning the FB national campionship. He went on to run F 5000 and then to Indy cars. Charlie Williams bought the car from Merlyn and entered it in the F Atlantic series in Canada with David Loring as the driver, with very good sucess considering they were running against newer Chevron's, Marches, and Ralt cars with monucoque frames. They ahcieved either a 3rd or 4th at mosport in the rain and several top tens against factory teams with celebrity F1 drivers. They eventually ran out of funds and returned to the US. Porter was campaining his car in FB and had crashed it and needed some spares quickly. Charlie Williams had the spares, but did not want to part with them, as he had the car up for sale. Porter knew I was looking to move up to FB from FF Merlyn MK 17. I had been following the success of this car and jumped at the chance to buy it. My first full season in FB, I finished second in midwest division even though it was the first year for the Cosworth engine and I had last years Lotus Twin cam engine, which was down 20 hp. I quallified for the Runoffs, at Road Atlanta, at what was the previous years pole position, but with the Cosworth BDA engines in every car but mine, put me back in the field. I was able to turn qualifying lap times through out the race and finished up in 11th place out of 33 cars. There was a Merlyn MK 11 FF that was nick named the Magic Merlyn, because of the success it had with several drivers including Emerson Fitipaldi. This car should be Magic Merlyn #2. It took me a few years to find it, in Canada and convince the owner to sell it, but I now own it and am restoring it for Vintage FB competition in CVRA in Midwest Division. Looking forward to showing the Lotus, Brabham, and Cevron tube frame cars what a Merlyn can do, on equal grounds again.
Mike Winn

[joutsen]

A very interesting thread... especially as I have recently acquired a Merlyn Mk 21 with a Lotus Twin Cam. It last racedat Spa in 1997 in the hands of Georges Legein / Mecauto. I've had a chance to look over the other Merlyn 21 here in the UK running in HSCC Classic F3 and also have detailed photos of the ex AA Denty car running in Switzerland.

I'd be very interested in finding out more about the car if anyone knows anything about its history.I've spoken to Clive at CRD and we came to the tentative conclusion that it could be the ex-Bernard Vermilio car... we'll see. I would love to see any period photos... frustratingly I think the links to photos earlier in the thread have expired. I'd be happy to post or forward the same as the car is stripped down and put back together... and in a couple of months Returns to the tarmac.

Greg

[joutsen]

The car as bought (before being stripped down)

[howi]

Hello to all.
This is my Merlyn MK21 394/FB.
I use this wonderful car for hill climbs in switzerland and france.


Many thanks for every Information or Pictures.