Frank Racing: Cooper Mk X

The Bob Wenz Cooper 500

CAR: 1956 Cooper Mk X Serial Number 8
Motor: Francis Beart 500cc Norton Manx
FUEL: Alcohol
Transmission: AJS 7r racing transmission

Click Here >> To see the latest -The CAR is Finished.

Mystery years 1956-1958

We are currently investigating the cars history for this time frame and attempting to contact Jack Newton's family. The car has many unique features found on Francis Beart prepared cars. The car had a works long stroke bottom end short stroke top end Francis Beart built motor. The cars seat is very low and light weight. the tank was lowered and the front has more caster that standard. Charles McCabe was under the impression that this car was either prepared by Beart or went through his garage at some time.

The Jack(AJC)Newton period 1958-1960

Jack (AJC) Newton was the first owner of serial number 8. Here is Jack (AJC) Newton at Brands Hatch. Jack was sixth in the point British Racing & Sports Car Club Championship in 1959 but was well known for running number 21 in the BRSCC. Jack was extremely tall for a Formula III driver 6'4" or so, so the seat was lowered in the car. Jack raced mainly at Brands Hatch. Below is a list of races we have documented that he raced our car at:

Brands Hatch

1958

Click Here >> April 7th Easter Monday Meet.
Click Here >> May 18th Formula II and III cars
Click Here >> August 4th Bank Holiday Meet
August International Meet
Click Here >> October 5th Formula III Racing Cars, Sports Cars and Saloon Cars

1959

May 10th BRSCC Meet
Click Here >> August 3rd Bank Holiday Meet
Click Here >> October 4th BRSCC Meet

1960

Click Here >> October 16th National Motor Race Meet

Image of Jack at Brands Hatch 1959

Images of the Car Prior to Shipping to the US

This images shows the race damaged nose from landing on the hedge at Brands Hatch. These are the images that Bob was sent when he was purchasing the car from Jack.

Bob got the car with a Francis Beart Motor, here are the Beart spec with Jack's notes:

Bob Wenz Cooper 500 1960-1986(?)

We are Fortunate to live close enough to Bob that he has been able to come by and confirm every detail of the car. He has confirmed that other than some touch up painting it is exactly as he drove the car. He even gave us some spares he still had for the car.
Bob was a very successful racer on the west coast. While an amateur racer he raced cars for himself and other including Bunny Ribbs. Bob owned Cooper Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, and Formula Juniors. Bob owned Cooper mkV, two mk X, type 43,Type 56,type 76,etc..
Bob is a founding member of the Formula Racing Association which was started by Harry Morrow. He is member number seven. Bob built his own 500cc Formula car the Bob Wenz Ariel Special, based on Fiat Topolino components. It only had an 80" wheel base and a very impressive iron cylinder speedway based Ariel motor Bob says it was scary and eventually cut the car in half. This was the first 500 believed to have been built in the US and it was raced at Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines etc... Next Bob bought his first Cooper a mkV. He then purchased Stuart Lewis Evens (Cooper Copy) Special in the UK which he raced at Brands Hatch before importing it to race. Bob imported quite a few FIII cars along the way.In 1960 Bob purchased this Cooper mk X.

Bob Wenz's Race Record (We are still trying to track more down)

#539 “Cooper Mk X” (green) Wenz Stockton 4/61
#539 “Cooper Mk X” (green) Wenz Laguna 6/61
#539 “Cooper Mk X” (green) Wenz Sacramento
#539 “Cooper Mk X” (green) Wenz Hanford

#539 “Cooper Mk. 10” (green) Wenz Stockton 4/14-15//62
#539 “Cooper Mk. 10” (green) Wenz Cotati 5/12-13//62
#539 “Cooper Mk. 10” (green) Wenz Oakland GP 7/14-15//62
#539 “Cooper Mk. 10” (green) Wenz Cotati 8/11-12//62

#539 “Cooper Mk. 10” (green) Wenz Stockton 63
#539 “Cooper Mk. 10” (green) Wenz Santa Barbara 63

Bob Wenz's Log

Click Here >> to View Bob's Log of the Cooper MK X

Stockton 1963

Bob chasing down those Formula Juniors and kicking their butts. Note the cone waded up under the right front suspension. Bob and Bob Korst used to consistently beat the bigger Formula Junior cars on race track like this. He raced all over the state, running against Corvette's, Formula Juniors,etc... He and Bob Korst at one event started at the back of a 30 car field racing, passed all the formula bigger formula car and sports racing cars. They were promptly protested by the Huffaker factory BMC race squad. Jack Flaherty thought the 500's were dangerous.