MOONEYES’ ARCHIVES NOW AT BEAULIEU

Most automotive enthusiasts will know that Dean Moon was very much involved in supplying parts and advice to Sydney Allard’s team back in the winter of 1960/61 when Europe’s first dragster was being assembled in the Allard Motor Company Clapham workshop under Sydney’s office. Dean was also very much involved in bringing Dante Duce and the Mooneyes dragster across to appear in the UK during 1963.

What was not known was the fact that Dean kept copies of the correspondence linked to his association with the project in his office drawer, along with press cuttings. They have been discovered only recently and, backed by Shige Suganuma and Chico Kodama of Mooneyes, have been copied and printed in a folder by Allison Jobe of SXS Performance in California.

The completed publication has been donated to the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu as part of the archives linked to the Allard Chrysler dragster. Along with lots more information it can now be accessed by researchers using the library at the museum.

The printed document was brought over to the UK by American drag racer Dale Snoke (someone else involved with preserving the Mooneyes history) and presented to Brian Taylor of the Allard Chrysler Action Group (ACAG) at Santa Pod Raceway during the Dragstalgia meeting in July. Brian later presented it to National Motor Museum Chief Executive Russell Bowman.

Brian Taylor (left) receives the Archives from Dale Snoke (centre) at Santa Pod and re-presents it to Russell Bowman at Beaulieu. Dale was presented with a print of a Paul Whitehouse painting featuring the Allard with Mooneyes – signed by Alan Allard and Nick Mason. (Photos Brian Taylor)

Russell Bowman said, “Our heartfelt thanks go out to all those involved in preserving this piece of history. The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu is proud to include it in our archives. Preserving the documents linked to our exhibits is a vital part of what we do and this document includes a considerable amount of previously unknown information about Sydney and his drag racing activities”.

The Allard Chrysler dragster is on display at its home, the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. Full details about the museum can be found on http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/