Ferodo Expand Racing Service
Page 75
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D ACING and competitions have always been regarded by Ferodo, Ltd., as important proving ;rounds for their products, and four years ago the ntroduction of a Thames mobile workshop enabled he service crew to speed up their activities, as well ,s to attend a greater number of overseas meetings, kmong the countries visited by the original vehicle vere Italy, Spain, Switzerland, France, Belgium, ,uxembourg, Germany, Holland and Austria.
Now, because of the increasing popularity of motorig events and the crowded state of the International ".alendar, it has been decided to expand the service y the provision of a second mobile workshop. This chicle was due to make its first public appearance t Aintree on May 29.
Supplied by Lomas Bros. (Motors), Ltd., Whaley ridge, the unit is based on a Bedford 4-5-ton mg-wheelbase chassis, having special coach' springing and lock absorbers all round. A Perkins P6 oil engine is nployed, together with an Eaton two-speed axle of high Ltio to permit maximum speeds which may be as high . 65 m.p.h. when operating on Continental roads.
The body is mainly constructed from welded aluminium owls and insulated from the chassis by rubber mountings. vifts Motor Services (Derby), Ltd., have been responsible r the body and, by means of a Neville conversion to rward control, a cab with accommodation for six has en provided. There are fully adjustable seats for the iver and his companion. As these seats can be turned mpletely round, the cab is readily arranged for con-ences and similar purposes during static periods.
A sliding door at the rear of the cab gives direct access the workshop saloon, the main entrance of which is by y of folding steps and double doors at the back of the The workshop has ample natural lighting with two idows on each side, four apertures at the rear, and four nsparent plastic cant panels on each side. Experience of ntinental summer conditions has shown that this latter angement is preferable to the use of plastic panels in the q. Power and lighting are provided by a Kohler 3.5-kVA. four-cylindered petrol generator, with automatic voltage control at 250 watts single-phase. This unit, which is light in weight and compact, gives automatic starting from the vehicle batteries. The set is housed on the off side at the rear of the cab, access being by an easily removable panel. Provision is made for plugging in power from outside sources where mains current is readily available.
Washing facilities are provided by a stainless-steel basin which folds neatly away into the forward bulkhead when not in use. The water is heated by an electric urn which enables the crew to dispense refreshments, a cup of Britishmade tea being a strong attraction to competitors on the Continent, Mr. Allan H. Collinson, competitions manager, told The Commercial Motor.
Ferobestos plastic bench topping is employed, also Bonallack non-slip floor sections. So as to minimize chances of delay on the road, the equipment includes a first-aid kit of spares and two spare wheels with 750 by 20 tyres. Total unladen weight of the mobile. workshop including equipment is approximately 74 tons.