The Eight Clubs at Silverstone

The most noticeable dice of the day at sun-drenched Silverstone on June 4th was a tussle for microphone time between the two commentators whose verbal versatility overlapped almost as often as the circulating cars and duets were as much in evidence as solo efforts. Entries were down somewhat on last year’s meeting, and we wonder whether the recently introduced fire regulations have something to do with this. After all, a fireproof bulkhead cannot always be fitted ad lib, particularly to some of the machinery which the Eight Clubs meeting attracts. These regulations raise an interesting point; if a series production car complies with them it will not, of course, conform to the International Appendix J as there are body trim modifications involved. Food for thought ?

Despite the lack of a single-seater race, there was a reasonable band of spectators occupying the stands, but the excursions into the bank (and there were two near the pits during the day) seemed to interest and excite them more than the racing. Nevertheless, there was much back-slapping in the paddock afterwards, competitors and officials obviously having had a good day’s sport. Among the forty starters in the 30-min. High Speed Trial, run in two heats, twenty-six qualified.

Winners of other races are as follows:
5-lap Handicap Race :
1st: J.R. Trace (Elva Courier) … … 7 min. 47.8 sec.-71.86 m.p.h.
5-lap Scratch Race :
1st: A.T. Sandars (Lotus Seven) … … 5 min. 50.6 sec.-82.56 m.p.h.
5-lap Scratch Race for 1172 and 750 Formula cars :
1st: B.E. Light (Jenoby Special) … … 6 min. 34.6 sec.-73.35 m.p.h.
1st, 750: A.P. Ingham (750 Special) … … 7 min. 36.0 sec.-63.47 m.p.h.
5-lap Handicap Race :
1st: A.T. Sandars (Lotus Seven) … … 6 min 47.0 sec.-82.23 m.p.h.
5-lap Scratch Race :
1st: J.R. Trace (Elva Courier) … … 6 min. 48.4 sec.-70.87 m.p.h.
5-lap Handicap Race ;
1st: M. Evans (MG-B) … … 6 min, 55.2 sec.-69.71 m.p.h.
Holland Birkett Inter Club Team Race (5 laps):
1st; J. Gott (Austin Healey 3000) … … 7 min. 0.050 sec.-77.18 m.p.h.
Team Prize : Hants. and Berks. M.C.
High Speed Trial Team Contest
Winning Team : A.T. Sandar (Lotus 7), J. Gott (AH. 3000), W.A. Monk (Aston Martin); 67 laps.