O/T 1953 Ferguson TE20 tractor - collectors item

[SootySport]

I can remember my dad driving one of these when he was a farmer on Silverstone circuit.  When I was able to reach the pedals I also drove it around, think I was about 9 or 10.  

My trackday history is rather unique- The Fergy was also my 1st. motorised trackday tool around the old circuit, also been round in a pram, rollerskates, tricycle and bicycle, and lastly in a Cortina 1500 mk1.

Those days were free and easy and something I'll never forget.

[alexander72]

Bernie,  chances are that your dad farmed next to old Bob Wheeler of Black Pit Farm - he started Buckingham Plant Hire that grew to become Buckingham Group.

 

Cheers

 

James

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

I have remembered who it was... Sadly he died last year

[alexander72]

sorry to hear that MOTCO

[SootySport]

My dad died 22 years ago, so sadly I can't ask him,  will ask my Mum though.

[alexander72]

Bernie,  28 years ago for my dads passing :-( Paul Wheeler and his family still live at Blackpit Farm I believe between stowe school and the circuit.

 

Cheers

 

James

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

sorry to hear that MOTCO

Thanks 

[SootySport]

I asked my mum what she remembers, quite a lot but doesn't remember the neighbouring farms, To me it seemed that we lived there many years but according to mum it was only 5 years. It was over 50 years since we moved away.   My dads workmate and our neighbour Ken Chambers (Who died 3 years ago) was at the circuit farm till the early '80's Most people around Silverstone knew him.

Dad & Ken used to make quite a bit of PJ money on race days towing visitors and race teams out of the grassed car parks when it  was wet with there trusty Fergys. Myself and Kens son used to collect all the beer bottles from the grandstands and were paid  the 1 and 2 pennies bottle deposit by the traders, quite a bit of pocket money was amassed. We often used to be drunk by drinking the dregs out of those bottles, bearing mind we were aged between 4 and 9 mum was not pleased.

  Our semi detached cottages were a stones throw from the BRDC offices and they have since been converted to a larger single house.

[alexander72]

Bernie,  Thanks for the comment - I remember Ken Chambers from when I worked at Buckingham plant many years ago.  Of all the parts at Silverstone I love "the farm" and the old buildings that have been retained.  I'm quite young at 42 but have spent most of my life around Northants.  I lived at Astcote many years ago and drank in the Eastcote Arms

[SootySport]

You remember Ken, wow. Seem to remember after his farming days he did work as a driver but I didn't know who he worked for. No relation to me but I always fondly called him Uncle Ken. Our family still keep in touch with the Chambers family, they moved to Calverton in Notts after the Silverstone era. Ken died just 2 years ago, his wife Chris comes to stay with my Mum now and again. They had 4 kids, now dotted around the country but Michael the eldest also lives in Calverton and has a carpentry business.

[alexander72]

Bernie, Its a very vague memory of Ken being referred to when i was mcuh younger - there was a lot of hay cut from around the runway and old hangar straight as i remember - dont forget Northants is a local county for local people - we only have 5 surnames for 150,000 folks

[SootySport]

Yes it was all a long time ago and you were very young then.  I'm getting like Norman waffling on about the past

[Wile E. Coyote]

Out of interest, if you don't mind me asking, what does insurance for road use run to on something like that?  

 

We're looking at getting another tractor in a couple of years, probably a similar vintage, but have no idea what they're like to insure (the DB hasn't been on the road for decades so we've not looked into it).

[alexander72]

I pay 21 quid a year fly comp, 5000 miles :-)

[Wile E. Coyote]

Wow, can't argue with that!

 

I'll keep an eye out for a road legal one when the time comes.