Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n Leslie Ballamy was an inventor and motor engineer who was involved in British motor sport including the 750 Motor Club in both the pre and post war periods. He was gifted, talented, self taught and independent. Leslie Ballamy: The Man<\/strong><\/p>\n Leslie Mark Ballamy was born in Camberwell. South East London in 1903. He was a Scout but left school young without qualifications or any evidence of engineering interest or potential. <\/strong>Independent Front Suspension<\/strong><\/p>\n LMB had possibly commercial as well as theoretical reasons to improve the Austin Seven front suspension. Lotus Connections: Direct and Indirect<\/strong><\/p>\n LMB was known to Colin Chapman but they were not in direct competition within racing classes although both has some parallel involvement first with Trials and the use of Austin Seven and then Ford 1172 side valve components. Both may been aware of each other through the 750 Motor Club. As noted Chapman may have taken some inspiration from Ballamys IFS.He certainly dramatically simplified it but retained the same essential components. The Caterham Connection and Supercharging [see editor\u2019s photographs]]<\/strong><\/p>\n C 1939 and almost immediately after the Second world war Ballamy had moved southwards to a location on the A22 between Caterham and Whyteleafe in Surrey. The present location is colloquially referred to as the Wasps Lodge Roundabout. For a brief period c 1940 it\u2019s believed that LMB had an interest in North Downs Engineering that were based at Westway Common, Caterham on the Hill. They have an Internet listing and went on to produce model aeroplane engines. There may have been a short overlap with Caterham Cars who established a hundred or so yards away at Town End [see A&R article on Caterham Cars] Specials and Contemporaries including the Nordec [see editors photographs]<\/strong><\/p>\n Leslie Ballamy was involved with the following specials:<\/p>\n Nordec<\/strong><\/p>\n Its possible that Ballamy had an interest in at least two Nordec Specials They seem to be associated with North Downs Engineering {see above} and possibly sold from the Godstone Road site. It\u2019s possibly that one of these cars was coachbuilt by Fox&Nicholls and fitted with a Marshall J75 supercharger?<\/p>\n Allard<\/strong><\/p>\n From the 1930\u2019s onwards with the introduction of the Ford V8 many specials were constructed with the simple expedient of using the power, reliability and low stressed affordable American units in modified chassis with lightweight bodies. \u201cPeer Pressure\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n C 1935 Ford GB introduced a variation on the \u00a3100 \u201cY\u201d Type 8. The specification included the 1172cc side valve four cylinder unit producing an estimated 30bhp.Top speed was limited but the robust engine was receptive to tuning. Approximately 10-15 additional bhp could be extracted by tuning including twin carburettors, and higher compression etc etc. The engine could also be supercharged. Its very self evident that should this engine be incorporated with a light weight chassis and body significant performance was possible a la Lotus Mk.VI.as the most sophisticated expression of these principles. Leslie Ballamy was in the company of and possibly influenced by these special builders:<\/p>\n Ballamy Accessory Range<\/strong><\/p>\n The following are some of the range seen in period magazine articles:<\/p>\n <\/strong>\u201cBallamy Wheels\u201d [see editors photographs]<\/strong><\/p>\n Ballamy wheels have entered folklore and command a high premium. They are widely used on the Lotus Mk.VI where they mate with the 5 studs fixing on the Ford 10\u201d drums. <\/strong>LMB: Guildford<\/strong><\/p>\n Leslie Ballamy lived in and had premises inn Guildford from the 1960.\u2019s. The details are I believe: <\/strong>Ballamy Designs and Patents<\/strong><\/p>\n Tony Russell lists these as some of Leslie Ballamy\u2019s ideas:<\/p>\n This was an idealistic attempt at increasing mobility for the disabled. In 1961 the Polio research Charity Fund commissioned a design with the following brief:<\/p>\n Ballamy came up with design using Citroen Dyane floor plan and both rear and side access. Although it did not reach major production it was influential and has spawned the current much larger market and manufacturers like Brotherwood Automobility Ltd [see references]<\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n Leslie Ballamy was a modest man and perhaps did not acquire the fullest reputation and publicity he deserved. He participated in various forms of motor sport perhaps the least \u201cromantic\u201d or exciting or publised production car where his Popular’s were driven to success by the likes of Rivers Fletcher. Reference:<\/strong> Bourne Society Village Histories [No.2] Caterham. -Do- [No.9] Whyteleafe Motoring Specials Relevant OS large scale maps that help identify factory site as Godstone Road, Whyteleafe<\/p>\n www.classiccarcatalogue.com\/Nordec<\/a><\/p>\n www.brotherwood.com<\/p>\n
\nAlthough considerably older he was a peer of Colin Chapman and his thinking on independent front suspension may have inspired Chapman in part.
\nThe term \u201cBallamy wheel\u201d has entered folklore. Leslie Ballamy was very influential in production sports car racing and his range of products \/ components contributed significantly to Ford specials of the 1950\u2019s and the 1172 Formula racing with which Chapman and Lotus as so identified.<\/p>\n
\nHe was however to develop into a gifted, intuitive, focused practical engineer with a bent towards exploration and research. He tackled a diverse range of problems as his designs and patents prove. [See below]
\nAs young man he travelled in Europe acquiring some basic engineering and mechanical skills.
\nHe returned home and set up a business with his brother possibly in Hammersmith
\nAt the end of the 1920\u2019s he established independently; from his own premises at 13 Leigham Hall Parade, Streatham, South London, SW16 & 63 Old Town Clapham, SW4 c 1935 [note shared Town location with Allard [see below] and possibly a branch in Thornton Heath<\/p>\n
\nC1933 he split the front beam axle in a way that he considered improved handling and safety. This product was put into production and was primarily aimed at Austin Seven &Ford 8\/10 owners. However this suspension system he fitted to other cars including Allard, Bugatti, Delage V12 and Bentley.
\nIt ought be recorded this was not a first and other major manufacturwres had experimented with this arrangement.
\nIts very possible that major mass production manufacturers did not believe the system cost effective and that their customers were satisfied with the product and its value for money in the utility car class. A combination of reasons including existing patents might have prevented the LMB systems wider adoption.<\/p>\n
\nIn Russell\u2019s book further connections are noted:<\/p>\n\n
\nIts here that Ballamy is believed to have set up his \u201cResearch Laboratory\u201d on what was former large ex army premises and possibly land used by Moore and George. As far as the editor can detect the site is now Bourne House. [Russell\u2019s book shows some period photographs and additional items can be seen in the Bourne Society Village series.]
\nIt\u2019s believed that LMB fitted superchargers ex Air Ministry Godfrey Marshall cabin blowers from this site along with other motor components.
\nAfter moving the site might have been acquired by Givandans
\nAs an aside Tattershalls, Shalless Engineering Co.Ltd and Blue Star were other garages within a mile of each other.<\/p>\n
\nThere is some reference to LMB having contact with Patriot Engineering in Caterham Valley but the editor has not been able to research this.<\/p>\n\n
\nAn advertisement in Autocar 25th March 1949 offers a Nordec at \u00a3650. It comprises a 1172cc Ford side valve with attractive two seat aluminium clad body and full windscreen that seems in appearance to resemble a scaled down Allard. [See references for link]. It appears to be relatively expensive [see A&R article on price relativity]
\nA further Nordec may have been NNK13? A photograph in \u201cMotoring Specials \u2013 see references] at Silverstone in 1954. This car is fitted with a supercharged Ford 1172cc side valve engine. It is well designed and has the appearance of a BMW. It might have been both a test bed and demonstrator for the supercharger conversions that Ballamy was offering.<\/p>\n
\nThis formula was possible first experimented in trials [see A&R article on Lotus trials cars]
\nSydney Allard was very successful with utilising this combination and also tried the Ballamy front suspension principle. He went on to produce very successful racing and road cars<\/p>\n
\nHence the popularity of special building in the 1950\u2019s when the mechanical components were readily available and relatively inexpensive.<\/p>\n\n
\n
\nLMB offered these for Ford Popular 8 &10, variety of Ford Specials of the period and the LMB chassis
\nIts thought that the 15\u201d wheels were made for LMB by Rubery Owen and that prior to this manufacturers wheel was modified.
\nIn period the relatively lightweight wheel retailed for \u00a32\/2\/6 and with 15\/125 Michelin X [steel braced radial Tyres and tube] at \u00a37\/17\/6.
\nThe advantages were:
\nReduced ground clearance down from the standard 17\u201d Ford road wheel.
\nReduced unsprung mass
\nImproved road-holding quality of tyre.
\n[Of course a lower back axle ratio was also required to compensate]<\/p>\n
\nHome: 5 Albany Road.
\nWorks: Rowland\u2019s Yard, Ladymead and Weyford House, Woodbridge Meadows.<\/p>\n\n
\n
\nHe contributed significantly to the post war specials movement and assisted the less well off enter motor sport or construct their own individual car.
\nHe was a contemporary of and influenced on some of the best-known names in British motor sport.
\nHe was also an influential member of the London engineering and motor sport tradition who was fortunate to be involved with Brooklands pre war.
\nHe perhaps represented the best of the British tradition of applied engineering and allied inventions for the purpose of practical problem solving. He possessed a form of engineering idealism.<\/p>\n
\nOut in Front: The Leslie Ballamy Story.
\nTony Russell
\nMRP Publishing.
\n2004
\nISBN: 1899870695<\/p>\n
\n1997
\nEd. G.Fookes
\nISBN: 0900992452<\/p>\n
\nISBN: 0900992670<\/p>\n
\nIan Dussek
\nShire Publications
\n1991
\nISBN:0747801185<\/p>\n
![\"Ballamy\"](\"http:\/\/colinchapmanmuseum.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/Ballamy.jpg\")
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