Davrian Owners’ Stories

Date Compiled: 10/08/25

From Dave Barnett (19/04/20)

I bought my Davrian Mk1/2, registration number ERA 4H and chassis no LTO 94 in June 2012 from Adrianes De Teuling, whose father had purchased her in 1980 to do some sprints and hillclimbs in Holland. The car had been converted to LHD and half rebuilt but ended up unfinished (how unusual!) and was then left in a workshop loft for around 30 years.  Prior to that, the previous owner was a Peter Leopold who originally bought the Davrian in 1977.  I did manage to trace Peter and he confirmed that he had owned the car and promised me some photos and that he would write down anything he could remember. I did pester him again but have never heard back from him. It's been a few years now so I'm unsure whether to have another go. The old green log book only goes back to Peter so that’s where the history ends.

The car looks like it's an early example which has had a different roof bonded on at some later date and someone has cut into the body and then laminated the roof complete with rear deck, into the hole. I'm guessing that Adrian may have done this so as to transform it from a Mk1 to a Mk2.

While reading the 2017 NDR Newsletter, I found a brief article about Ben Graham who worked with Adrian at about that time and who built a car for himself, possibly with chassis no 011. Tim Duffee identified the roof design and body as being the same as 012 which he restored and altered for Mike Osborne, so I'm wondering if mine may be Ben’s car (see note)?  At some stage, Adrianes’ father attempted to re-register the car with chassis no 012, but since he has now has passed away, I can't ask why!!

I’m sorry to say that I haven't done very much to the car up until now: Three Davrians are two too many and I'm always busy restoring customers’ classics, but I would love to restore it to its 1968 specification (if I live long enough!).

Any info or thoughts you may have would be very welcome!.

Note from John Rawlins: When I met Ben some years back, he told me that the car he built went with him to Barbados. I have since tried communicating with him (and his son who lives in the UK) without success, but I now believe that he has sadly passed away.

To see your Davrian-/Darrian-related story published on this page, please send suitable text and photos to me by post or e-mail using the addresses listed on this website’s homepage.

Harry Simpson – An obituary                                                              (posted 10/08/25)

In memory of Harry Simpson, who sadly passed away earlier this year, I have reproduced this article which was originally published in the 1997 edition of the NDR newsletter, following a meeting with him while on a business trip to Inverkeithing in Scotland. Unfortunately, though, despite regular invitations, he never did join us at the Longleat Hillclimb - John Rawlins

Harry Simpson, a butcher by profession, has for many years been the driver doing his best to show that his Imp-powered Davrian Mk8, despite the unfavourable class structure, can still hold its own against all-comers in Scottish Speed events, as the list of the past years’ successes below proves.

He originally started out racing a Davrian in 1980, when he was approached by Adrian Evans to drive the “works” Davrian in Scotland, sponsored by Edinburgh Aluminium Products (now Dave Pethybridge’s Mk8), although it was hardly a “works” effort, for Harry told me that apart from being provided with the car, he was given very little additional support. In the last race of the season at Ingliston, Harry came home in 7th place from 7th on the grid. He then started to win races the following season (‘81) and finally took the championship in ‘83. During this period, Harry was competing against a number of other Davrians including the “Drambuie” car of lan Forrest and Kenny Coleman’s “Cross Motors” sponsored car.

He then sold the car and bought the ex-Dave Enderby Stiletto. In ‘87/'88, he ran a Skoda Special Saloon, before a season in a Formula Atlantic single-seater, which, despite coming away with the outright Scottish Sprint Championship that year, he says he did not particularly enjoy, partly because he realised that in order to remain competitive he would require a ridiculously high budget.

Harry then purchased the ex-lan Forrest car which he is still campaigning today, although he has now put his car up for sale (see Note), his interest shifting towards motorbikes, having in his words, “gone as far as he can with the car”. However, should he fail to obtain the £10,500 asking price, he has promised to give serious consideration to a trip to Longleat  this year to show the rest of us how it should be done.

Harry Simpson’s ‘96 Results

1st in Class Scottish Sprint Championship

4th overall in Scottish Speed Championship

 

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©John E.F.Rawlins (New Davrian Register) 2025

 

Note:  This car is believed to be currently owned by Neville Cheeseman.

 NCR = New Course Record

 

Class Records held by Harry Simpson (1996)