Engine Punk

Although I appreciate their engineering, I don’t usually like single seater racing cars because two seaters seem more sociable with a passenger to – er – entertain with one’s driving but I’m more than willing to make an exception with this device. If you want a single seat vehicular conveyance you want a motorcycle, that's what you want. But I make an exception for this Vixen. Look at that engine. That's a Hillman Imp engine, that is. And look at that gearbox. That's an Imp gearbox - up-side-down! I’ve only ever seen a Vixen once before, many years ago at an Imp Club National, so imagine my surprise when one turned up at Wiscombe Park Hillclimb on 8th May 2010. It had so many features of constructional interest that I couldn’t stop photographing it in the paddock. Eventually my less than subtle activities came to attention of Penny and Andrew Coughlan, the owners and drivers, but this allowed me to ask them questions. The Vixen was originally built in 1968 for the...