{"id":214,"date":"2013-04-09T16:07:12","date_gmt":"2013-04-09T16:07:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/colinchapmanmuseum.org.uk\/?page_id=214"},"modified":"2022-06-24T08:19:37","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T08:19:37","slug":"leslie-ballamy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/colinchapmanmuseum.co.uk\/?page_id=214","title":{"rendered":"Leslie Ballamy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Leslie Ballamy 1903-1991.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leslie Ballamy was an inventor and motor engineer who was involved in British motor sport including the 750 Motor Club in both the pre and post war periods. He was gifted, talented, self taught and independent.
\nAlthough considerably older he was a peer of Colin Chapman and his thinking on independent front suspension may have inspired Chapman in part.
\nThe term \u201cBallamy wheel\u201d has entered folklore. Leslie Ballamy was very influential in production sports car racing and his range of products \/ components contributed significantly to Ford specials of the 1950\u2019s and the 1172 Formula racing with which Chapman and Lotus as so identified.<\/p>\n

Leslie Ballamy: The Man<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leslie Mark Ballamy was born in Camberwell. South East London in 1903. He was a Scout but left school young without qualifications or any evidence of engineering interest or potential.
\nHe was however to develop into a gifted, intuitive, focused practical engineer with a bent towards exploration and research. He tackled a diverse range of problems as his designs and patents prove. [See below]
\nAs young man he travelled in Europe acquiring some basic engineering and mechanical skills.
\nHe returned home and set up a business with his brother possibly in Hammersmith
\nAt the end of the 1920\u2019s he established independently; from his own premises at 13 Leigham Hall Parade, Streatham, South London, SW16 & 63 Old Town Clapham, SW4 c 1935 [note shared Town location with Allard [see below] and possibly a branch in Thornton Heath<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Independent Front Suspension<\/strong><\/p>\n

LMB had possibly commercial as well as theoretical reasons to improve the Austin Seven front suspension.
\nC1933 he split the front beam axle in a way that he considered improved handling and safety. This product was put into production and was primarily aimed at Austin Seven &Ford 8\/10 owners. However this suspension system he fitted to other cars including Allard, Bugatti, Delage V12 and Bentley.
\nIt ought be recorded this was not a first and other major manufacturwres had experimented with this arrangement.
\nIts very possible that major mass production manufacturers did not believe the system cost effective and that their customers were satisfied with the product and its value for money in the utility car class. A combination of reasons including existing patents might have prevented the LMB systems wider adoption.<\/p>\n

Lotus Connections: Direct and Indirect<\/strong><\/p>\n

LMB was known to Colin Chapman but they were not in direct competition within racing classes although both has some parallel involvement first with Trials and the use of Austin Seven and then Ford 1172 side valve components. Both may been aware of each other through the 750 Motor Club. As noted Chapman may have taken some inspiration from Ballamys IFS.He certainly dramatically simplified it but retained the same essential components.
\nIn Russell\u2019s book further connections are noted:<\/p>\n