Aston Errors

Sir,
I read the Aston Martin Le Mans story (Motor Sport, June 1989) with great interest. However, I have to say that there are many errors, and it is very obvious that the author did not consult Chris Nixon’s excellent two-volume book Racing With The David Brown Aston Martins.

First, my friend and “office-sharer” Tadek Marek, who disliked motor racing, only ever worked on one of the racing engines, and that was the 93mm-bore 3745cc engine for the DP214 “GT” cars in 1963. The DBR1 engines, known as RB6 units, were entirely my work in the autumn and winter of 1955-56, enlargement to 84mm-bore (2992cc) and seven bearings instead of four was also my work, as were the race versions of the DB4 engine for the DB2 and DP215 cars, at 3670cc (92mm x 92mm) and at 3992cc (96mm x 92mm) and 323hp (340 on the bed, but not drivable).

The RB6 engine, used from 1956 onwards in the DBR1, was of light alloy, dry sumped, and the DBR1 had a five-speed gearbox in unit with the final drive.

EJ Cutting, Shenfield, Essex