Harry Ratcliffe British Vita Racing

[rhysenna]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this.

I'm currently helping my mother with our family tree and need help in finding out who Harry's father was?
We think there where 2 brothers, one named Willi don't know the other, who could have been his Dad.

Its a long shot but any help would be great.

Thanks in advance.

[barefoot]

Is this the Hatty Ratcliffe that used to have a rolling road nr Burnley?

[rhysenna]

barefoot said:

Is this the Hatty Ratcliffe that used to have a rolling road nr Burnley?

Possibly. Not sure what happened to him after 1971 when he retired from racing. He used to be based in Littleborough where his garage had a rolling road but that was in the 60's.

You can look here.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&am...

[Jez64]

rhysenna said:

barefoot said:

Is this the Hatty Ratcliffe that used to have a rolling road nr Burnley?

Possibly. Not sure what happened to him after 1971 when he retired from racing. He used to be based in Littleborough where his garage had a rolling road but that was in the 60's.

If it's the Harry Ratcliffe I'm thinking of he was still running a rolling road there
in the early 1980's.

I passed the old place the other month with my neighbour and he made a point of telling
me it was where Harry's rolling road was.

I'll ask him what else he remembers next time I see him.

HTH.

[rhysenna]

Thanks Jez. Any help is much appreciated.

[cmsapms]

The rolling road/prep place that Harry was connected with is/was/became Jeff Goodliffe's GRV Developments near Hollingworth Lake Littleborough. A quick Google reminds me that it was probably on Eafield Road, but it appears to have disappeared. Last time I was there they were building a 4wd Westfield with a heavily modified CVH Turbo for an assault on some acceleration record or other. That was in the mid 90s.

My Dad (now deceased) was a member of Huddersfield Motor Club and knew Harry in the early 60s; apparently he had a couple of runs up Baitings (IIRC) Hillclimb in Harry's British Vita Mini. I'm sure we've got a few photos of Harry's Mini with, I think, the British Vita transporter at Silverstone. Though god knows where they are now as Mother has moved twice in the last year. Next time I'm round there I'll ask her about Harry and see if I can find the pics.

FWIW, I always thought it was Radcliffe with a "D"

Paul

Edited by cmsapms on Monday 3rd January 17:17

[rhysenna]

Apparently Harry retired from his partnership with Jeff in 1985 and GRV closed in 2001. Don't know weather or not the company still exists.

If you could find some pictures and maybe put them on here that would be great Paul. Trying to find out as much as I can about Harry.

It appears that it is "Ratcliffe"

[Jez64]

My neighbours not got much more to add really.

Have you asked on here,

http://britishrally.co.uk/index.php?sid=

There's bound to be somebody who remembers Harry and his pipe.

[rhysenna]

Jez64 said:

My neighbours not got much more to add really.

Have you asked on here,

http://britishrally.co.uk/index.php?sid=

There's bound to be somebody who remembers Harry and his pipe.

Thanks for that Jez, I'll check it out.

[Gregor Marshall]

Try this David:-

http://www.mountgreen.co.uk/home.html

[rhysenna]

Gregor Marshall said:

Try this David:-

http://www.mountgreen.co.uk/home.html

All I can find on there is a picture of Harry and his father but no name.

Thanks anyway Gregor.

[Gregor Marshall]

Hi David - if you look at each individual year (1963 to 1971) there are a lot of action shots and programmes/results and also some more personal ones from shows etc.
Also, I have responded to your PM - good luck.

[Eddie Baby]

Harry is a friend, I've sent you a PM.