Easter Saturday at Castle Ccombe
Race 1 (6 Laps).-1st Heat, 500-cc Racing Cars
1st : M Barclay (Cooper-JAP), 5 min 20 sec; 70.98 mph. 2nd AD Gill (McKensie-Norton). 3rd : J Coombs (Cooper-Norton).
Race 2 ;-Sports Cars: 850 cc (s/c) and 1,200 cc (non-s/c), (5 Laps). 1,209 cc (s/c) and 1,500 cc (non-s/c.) (6 Laps)
The field consisted of eleven starters in the larger class, of whom Hogg (Bugatti) retired in the third lap. From the fall of the flag FC Davies (Cooper-MG) proceeded to build up an enormous lead and was never challenged. A rather fiercer battle ensued for the remaining places. Jack Weber, in his delightful M.G.-powered special, completed the course in top gear and was fortunate in taking sixth position.
Smaller Class, 1st: JM Sprierowe (Morgan). 10 min 23,6 sec: 53.30 mph. 2nd: IAE Parker (Riley).
Larger Class, 1st: FC Davis (Cooper-MG), 9 min 32.6 sec: 69.40 mph. 2nd a JGS Sears (Cooper-MG). 3rd : TK Line (MG). Fastest lap : FC Davies (Cooper-MG), 1 min 33.4 sec; 70.94 mph.
Race 3 (6 Laps).-2nd Heat, 500-cc Racing Cars
1st : Don Truman (Cooper-Norton), 9 min 12 se.; 72.00 mph. 2nd : F. Westcott (Kieft-Norton). 3rd : G Shillito (Jackson•Norton). Fastest lap : Don Truman, 1 min 29.4 sec; 74.11 mph.
Race 4 (6 Laps).-1,500 cc (s/c) and 2,500 cc (non-s/c.) Sports Cars
Two non-starters in this event resulted in a straightforward battle between the Frazer-Nashes of Tony Crook and Salvadori and the Healeys of John Buncombe, AD Tasker and D Boston, and that was precisely the finishing order.
1st : TAD Crook (Frazer-Nash). 9 min 11.4 sec: 72.07 mph. 2nd : R. Salvadori (Frazer-Nash). 3rd : J Buncombe (Healey). Fastext lap TAD Crook. 1 min 29 sec; 74.44 mph.
Race 5 (6 Laps).-3rd Heat, 500-cc Racing Cars
1st S Moss (Kieft). 8 min 53.6 sec; 74.48 mph. 2nd : Andre Locos (Kieft). 3rd : DHR Gray (Cooper). Fastest lap : S Moss, 1 min 27 sec; 76.15 mph.
Race 6 (6 Laps).-Sports Cars Unlimited
The Ecurie Ecosse came out for their first airing of the meeting (second of the season). Tony Crook’s two Frazer-Nashes, Oscar Moor’s HWM/Jaguar. Boston’s and Buncombe’s Healeys, the XK120s of Hemsworth, Mansell and Riseley-Pritchard, the Jaguar 100 of Manduca, Easdale’s blown 1-litre Alfa-Romeo, and the 41/2 Bentleys of McDonald and Burton completed the field. The HWM/Jaguar retired a hundred yards from the start. Ian Stewart (Jaguar) of the Ecurie Ecosse held the lead from Tony Crook for just over two laps, and then held second place until the end. Salvadori in the second Frazer-Nash was third throughout, and the other two members of Ecurie Ecosse, Sir JLM Scott Douglas and WA Dobson, kept together for fourth and fifth places. The management and pit-work of this Ecurie are noteworthy and they should go far.
Race 7 (10 Laps).-Final for 500-cc Racing Cars
There were seventeen starters in this race; chosen from the previous three heats, and grid positions were taken from the hat. Contestants included three Kiefts (Moss. Loons and Westcott), two Arnotts (Brown and Taylor). three Macksorts (Braid, Shako and Gill), Moore’s JBS, and eight Coopers (Gray, Barclay, Coombs, Heyward, Truman, Issard Davies, Hippos, and Nurse).
There was great excitement during the race, at Paddock Bend. where grass was the order of the day rather than the exception, and it was attended by fist-shaking and what-have-you. Moss took the lead on the third lap with Locus second; Locus took the lead from then until the seventh lap, when Moss-regained it to leave Locus second. Westcott remained almost consistently third except during Moss’ loss of position. On laps seven and eight, and the ominous and obvious fact is brought to light that Kieft secured the first three places, with Don Gray fourth, Gill fifth and Truatan sixth.
1st; S Moss (Kieft). 14 min 56 sec; 74.39 mph. 2nd : Andre Locus (Kieft). 3rd : JV Westcott (Kieft). Fastest lap ; S Moss. 1 min 23 sec: 77.9 mph. (500-cc lap record)