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Before his days at Downton Barry was already an automotive fidler, this standard 10 contained an MGB engine!

I started at Downton around Christmas 1962 I drove down from Bedford for the interview with Mr & Mrs Richmond in my CV, an 850 Mini which I had converted to 1098cc by fitting a Austin 1100 engine, this went onto the original 850 gearbox which entailed amongst other things filling away the inside of the box housing to clear the extra crankshaft throw, I don't remember it being the very early magnesium type, it did have the thin flange and I had retained the long gearlever. I think Daniel was looking to employ people that where interested and keen more than anything else. Downton's had a very strong close staff (about 75 at the height) and Daniel Richmond could be a hard task master, often unreasonably so, We could always tell when things where going awry by the way he walked, fast, and feet at 45° to his body (I think you had to see it to understand) anyone below par did not last long.

I was only one part of the Downton staff family and when I got things wrong I was called into the Richmond's office as where any of the foreman and given a real hard time by Daniel, who would get incredibly irate, look you directly in the eye and bang the desk so hard. I once remember, the telephone and all around it getting shaken off onto the floor. Daniel Richmond was a big man in every way and I do feel very privileged to have known him, he was very good to me and my family, even took my eldest son fishing sometimes, a real treat. Daniel did not normally talk direct to the mechanic's or other staff, if things where not right (an example would be an engine left unattended without been covered with a clean white cloth) the foreman in charge of the department would get called into the office for the dreaded dressing down.

We had a guy started to work for us in Sales around 1967 I can't remember his name as he did not last long. He was filling his car at the filling station opposite the works, when Mr Richmond also drove in and the new guy said Hi Daniel, Mr Richmond got in his car, drove into work, got out came straight into his office, where I was talking to Mrs. Richmond and said to Bunty " That bloody new man you got has just addressed me as Daniel and I want him off the premises now" and that was the last I saw of the guy.

While on the subject of Daniel Richmond, his BMC contact was all around Alec Issigonis (who sent me an Austin 1800, less power unit, which Daniel supplied me with). Daniel did not really bother with special tuning in Abingdon, I don't remember him ever visiting them, I had that pleasure and used to drove up to see them every couple of months, more on that later.

Did you know there where 25 sets of Alloy Mini side panels made by the factory (I was told it was a saturday job) I got hold of 4 sets. As far as i can remember one of the Downton Social Social clubs 850's used them, I can't remember what happened to the rest. I would not think we used them in anything more powerful, they were far too bendy and of course we didn't use roll bars in those days. When used with aluminium doors as well! My god what would health and safety think of that?

A good few of the people working at Downton were working on there own cars and the Richmond's turned a blind eye to anyone getting machining, welding or heads ground etc. I think that Daniel saw it was in it's own way helping with development.

George Toth, Jim Penton, Ian Bentley (later to work in F1) Richard Longman, "Mad" Freddy Heeny and John Dorens (both Irish) and that's just a few, all came up with improvements that eventually found there way into Downton customers cars (both engines and suspension).

A very serious Barry manning the 1967 Racing Car Show stand.

The Richmond's where always spoken to as Mr. or Mrs. Richmond, never as Daniel or Bunty. During my time there from early 1963 I was probably closer to them than anyone and it may surprise many that a liked them both. Daniel was a great wordsmith and spoke softly, but could change in a flash going into furious rages and only Bunty could control him, talking to him like a naughty boy. I had many late evenings with them in their office, I was often invited to their home (The Homestead) in the depths of the New Forest, at would you believe Godshill, and used to take my family (wife and four later five children) down to their Devon cottage (The Beehive). They also bought a 160 acre small holding near there, but every time I was shown it, Mr. Palfrey the builder had it pulled apart and they never did move in.

Daniel had a stretch of the best trout fishing river in the area and Bunty had visions of running a stud farm. Unfortunately in the end Daniel moved into a local hotel with the Landlady. I was introduced to her and Daniel asked me to supply her with a Morris 1300 auto.

Not long after that Daniel had his stroke, very sad really. Bunty was always very good to me and had always supported me when Daniel and I had not seen eye to eye, mainly over very silly things, an example was when I had arranged for the single twin choke Weber DCOE manifold to be die cast instead of sand cast and it was about 10pm that night before we had an agreement where and which way around the name Downton should be placed. This may give you a flavour of the atmosphere, but you really needed to witness it.

We started the Downton Engineering Social Club and often had permission from the Richmond's to open the premises after hours for informal guided tours from various car clubs. We also used the Social club as entrant for club racing. There where other local people that where in their own way involved. Bill Abbot had a small village workshop where he helped prepare the social clubs cars to together with Johnny Austin and Andy Rouse (later to become a well know works GT racer).

Kanes of Comber.

One of the most effective Downton agents.

Kane's stand was about 1968 at a show in Belfast. On the stand, the gent in the grey suit is Andrew Kane with Jim McClements, both fast and enthusiastic Mini club racers.

Kanes of Coomber Racing Mini.

The Driver of No 92 is Andrew Kane, the little boy his young son.

For some reason Downton seem to have attracted a good relationship with the Irish to the extent that the Downton Engineering Social Club (all arranged by staff members, never officially recognized by the Richmond's) had a club race team sponsored by Telefish? Ireland (their television service) go to Phoenix Park and Naish race circuits and exaggeratedly billed as England V Ireland (I still have the plaque)

Mr Kane Senior

The gent standing with club racer No 92 is the well regarded Mr. Kane senior.

The Downton Social Club

A few members of the "Downton Social Club" an informal group of Downton employees, friends and hangers on who got together to race there cars.

The Downton Social Club

Another shot of some of the members of the club. From left to right,

Kath Hawkins, Barry Hawkins, Shirley Longman, Richard Longman, (unknown behind Longman), Bill Abbott, Robin Ferren.

Taking your work home with you.

After a hard day at the office, theres nothing quite like more of the same.

Barry in his garage where he worked on his own "Downton" mini.

Having the right tools for the job.

Who needs a ret of ramps or a lift, when you can haul your shell around on your own?

Sometimes the alloy panels made some Social club cars a bit lighter than others!

Its always easier with a helping hand.

Every job goes that bit quicker and easier when you have a helping hand.

Its always easier with a helping hand (part 2).

If that job is modifying a 60's Mini, then it's even easier when you have a very young looking Steve Harris to help!

Barry's Herald/Jaguar Hybrid

First you can see Richard Miles at Longleat Hillclimb. Also Sean Wiles, well know Downton mechanic. Thirdly the reason for me getting into trouble with Daniel Richmond, my Triumph/Jaguar. Sean and I always had an interest in putting large engines in small cars. I had the idea of putting a Triumph Herald body onto a shorted Jaguar chassis with a 3.8 engine. (I have to admit, it was not one of my better idea's) I drove it around taxed and insured while setting the handling up and entered it a the Blackbush Drag-Fest, where it won it's class and in a couple of other events under the Downton Social Club banner, which was a mistake!

Daniel was not at all pleased. Thinking about it, I was wrong to do that, especially before I had the body work finished (it did look awful at the time, but new owners, who I am still in contact with, have since finished it off to a more appealing finish)as the Downton name should not have been involved, it had never been to the factory. So I sold it on straight away as seen. Sean built an A40 Austin with a large American V8 also in his own space, not at Downton.

Barry's 1800 Tow Barges.

Barry Hawkins relates the very interesting story of his 1800 Tow barges;

Mr Alex Issigonis only visited Downton Engineering twice, the first time was when the 1800 was introduced and I was briefly introduced to him by Daniel Richmond. A few days later a transporter arrived with a grey 1800, complete, less power unit.

Apparently Daniel Richmond had told Mr. Issigonis about my trip to Spain with all my family in the original Mini ton bomb 860 MW (complete with trailer) and he thought an 1800 would be more suitable!

Daniel supplied me with a power unit complete with full twin carb Downton stage 2 set-up. and I was given a set of Minilite wheels off one of the old Abingdon rally support cars. Sean Wiles later arranged for it to be resprayed in Surf Blue. I had to get it registered as I assume it must have been used as one of the factory test cars. I used this car for about a year and towed our race cars to circuits all around the country with it. After we started getting help from Stuart Turner at Abingdon we had to have our race outfits much smarter, so I part exchanged the MK1 for a new connaught green MK11 1800. In the photo's, the first 1800 is seen at Thruxton and the second with my racer in my garage of our house in Downton.

Landow.

Barry Hakins relaxes by one of his 1293cc Cooper S racers.