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Mike
Catlow in the Elden PRH12 at Snetterton
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| Brian and Peter Hampsheir
were the guiding lights behind Elden, Peter was an engineer whilst Brian
had been a driver until his career was curtailed as a result of an accident.
After building a number of F4 cars called Brihams the first Elden, the
PH6 also a F4, appeared in 1969. In 1971 they produced the PH8, a Formula
Ford, driven by Tony Brise, it was a huge success and premises at Wrotham
Hill near Brands Hatch were bought to produce the car in larger numbers.
Elden was taken over by Howard Drake in 1977 but reacquired by Brian Hampsheir
in 1980 and moved to Brands Hatch. |
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The
PRH9 on it's announcement on the Racing Car Showboat
in early 1972.
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Mike
Catlow in the PRH9.
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Emerging
late in the 1972 season after extensive testing, the PRH9 contested
two races in October and didn't disgrace itself. The chassis consisted
of a space frame skinned with aluminium, it had wide based wishbone
suspension at the front with a top link, lower wishbone and radius
rods at the rear. The chassis was slim with small radiators at the
rear of the cockpit. Power was via a Holbay engine. |
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The
PRH12 (sans rear wing) at its announcement.
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The
PRH12 (also listed as a Mk12) was basically the PRH9 with revised
bodywork, notably a full-width nose, higher cockpit sides and a
high tapering engine cover. In addition the water pipes ran externally
along the bottom of the chassis. Three cars were built, two going
to the USA for Formula B racing, the best result in the UK was a
3rd at Brands Hatch for Andy Sutcliffe who showed that given a decent
driver it wasn't far away from the March/GRD combinations. |
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One
of of the three PRH15s built.
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The
PRH15 looked very similar to the PRH12 although underneath things
were a little different. For the first time the chassis was a full
monocoque and the wheelbase was longer. One of the three cars built
went to the USA, a works car was entered in German F3 rounds for
Steve Farnsworth sadly in the UK results were not forthcoming and
Elden would not produce another F3 chassis. |
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The
engine bay of the Elden at the Motor Racing Showboat exhibition.
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Interestingly
Autosport showed a picture of the rear of an Elden F3 car in January
1974 showing a Schnitzer BMW power unit in the rear, a very early
appearance of this engine. |
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| Drivers |
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| 1972 |
Mike
Catlow. |
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| 1973 |
PRH12
Mike Catlow, Andy Sutcliffe, Ted Wentz. |
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| 1974 |
PRH15
Steve Farnsworth, Jorge Koechlin, Bertram Schäffer.
PRH9
Jerry Blaine
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| 1975 |
PRH9
Jerry Blaine
?
Tim Brise
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