Eastern Counties M.C. Snetterton Meeting

Snetterton on Sunday, June 14th, was the venue of the annual Eastern Counties Motor Club’s “100” Trophy meeting.

Highlight in a five-event programme was the 100-mile (37-lap) saloon car race, counting for the B.R.S.C.C.’s Saloon Car Championship, the winner taking the Eastern Counties “100” Challenge Trophy. First was Sir Gawaine Baillie in an Equipe Endeavour 3.4 Jaguar, after his team-mate Jack Sears had been forced to ease off with no brakes on the 34th lap, having led the race almost from the drop of the flag.

Class winners were J. M. Uren (Ford Zephyr), who was third overall; P. J. Pilsworth (Riley 1.5); and Doc Shepherd (Austin A40). Shepherd and Len Adams (Speedwell A35) amazingly took fifth and sixth places, respectively, in overall classification, beating the entire field in the next highest (1,301-1,600 c.c.) class.

A 10-lap scratch race for Triumph sports cars gave the winner (Syd Hurrell) the Alick Dick Trophy. He was never bothered by the rest of the field, the nearest opposition coming from Roy North (TR3) and Hextall (TR2), who crossed the line in very close formation. Mike McKee retired his healthy-sounding TR3 after six laps when well placed, having duelled closely with North and Hextall up till then. The latter was lucky not to lose any places when he spun at the hairpin on lap six.

J. Whitmore (Lotus Elite) had a fairly easy victory in the 10-lap production sports-car race (counting for the Autosport Championship) that followed. Having worked his way through the field, he took the lead from Buxton’s ailing Elite on the fifth lap, and from then on was never challenged. A close dice went on behind the leader between Fergusson’s Elva Courier, Wayne’s similar car, Needham’s twin-cam M.G.-A and Paddy Gaston’s fleet Sprite, eventually resolving itself in the order mentioned. Gaston beat, among others, Tomei’s Elva Courier, Bob Gerard’s Turner and Vincent’s Elite!

Fifteen laps for Formule Libre brought the laurels to John Bekaert in the 3.8 Lister-Jaguar. He coped very well with the car’s abundant power, and was never seriously challenged for victory by the pack of F.2 machinery that engaged itself in an almighty struggle for positions behind him. It was never certain until the finish just who else would finally feature in the leader board, but eventually it read Bekaert, Dennis Taylor (Lotus), Ian Burgess (Cooper), Tim Parnell (Cooper), Brian Whitehouse (Cooper) and Alan Stacey (Lotus). Fastest lap went to the winner with a speed of 93.28 m.p.h., no mean feat on what was a very slippery track.

Two larger car classes then contested another 10-lap Aurosport Championship heat. This time Dick Protheroe soon got the XK120 Jaguar well in front, and stayed there. A 2-litre A6GS Maserati driven by H. R. Jones just managed second place from Dick Stoop’s Sebring Frazer Nash. Sir Gawaine Baillie motored 4.6-litres of Chevrolet Corvette in fourth place throughout. Jack Sears’ change back to his more familiar mount, the Austin-Healey, did little to change his luck, for he spun when sixth early in the race, and from then on was too far back to be able to make much impression.

A pleasant meeting, made all the more so by informal organisation and interesting racing that was notably free of serious incidents.

D.J.R.

The Alvis O.C. at Coventry on July 5th

The Alvis Owners’ Club will be holding a rally to Coventry, the first of its kind, which will commence from the “Sportsman’s Arms” on A 45 Birmingham/Coventry Road, Allersley, Coventry, at 10.30 a.m. on July 5th, when, after a drive through Coventry, all vehicles will make their way to Baginton Aerodrome. The programme will include a Concours d’Elegance and a visit to the Alvis Works, etc. All Alvis owners are welcome. Tickets from E. Oakman, 40, Brooks Hill Drive, Oadby, Leicester. The General Secretary’s address is now: Mr. K. R. Day, 55, Motspur Park, New Malden, Surrey.

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The price of the Lotus Elite has been increased to £1,949 0s. 10d., inclusive of purchase tax.

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Those who like to display indemnity plaques in their vehicles telling passengers that the ride is at their own risk, can obtain these in ivorine from Clarke & Co., Coombe Road, Salisbury, Wilts. for 3s. each and an s.a.e. for delivery.