End of a special

While at Adrian Booth’s workshop the other day, I spotted this interesting old trails special. I’d gone over to nearby Doublebois (pronounced Double Boys) to discuss the shortening of a Volvo torque tube so that the vital organs of said Volvo could be insinuated into Morris Minor. Adrian can do strange and wonderful things with steel and aluminium and is another of life’s great enthusiasts.

The Hobsy or Hobbsie Special

 “What’s this old thing on the trailer?” I asked him. 

“It was called a Hobsy but it hasn’t done much work. The chassis rotten and it’s a bit of a lash up, really. I’m having a clear out and this is going.”

“I wish I’d brought my digital camera,” I said. “Then I could record its final moments.”

“Oh you can borrow mine,” Adrian replied. 

So despite my lack of foresight, the Hobsy Special did not go unrecorded. 

Very little is known about it. It had a 1600 Ford Kent engine, that was reputed to have been freshly rebuilt when Adrain acquired it, many years before. Suspension was by beam axles front and rear and somewhat strange steering geometry. It had been road registered but the documents had already gone the way of all things and it hadn’t turned a wheel by itself for a very long time. 

In a way it was sad when someone's automotive dream comes to an end. At least this car got made. But there is no legroom for lanky gits like me. I'd've had to drive cross-legged.

Adrian doubted if it had much in the way of any competition history since it was not very good! Adrian said it lacked traction, which is the last thing you want in a trials special, and was very uncomfortable to drive. Looking at the cockpit I don’t think I could have fitted in at all. 

By now this car will have been environmentally recycled. The wire wheels and the axles are all earmarked for other projects and the engine and gearbox will soon find a new home. 

I had to drop by the following day with a driveshaft coupling and by then the Hobsy Special was just a pile of rusty tubes and crumpled aluminium. In a way it was a shame it got broken up but if it wasn’t usable when all its component parts worked alright it’s best that its parts get reincarnated as something more effective.