Snetterton "International"
September 17th
ON September 17th the Snetterton Motor Racing Club organised the first International meeting. Regrettably, through no fault of the organisers, it was International in name only, but nevertheless a good sized crowd saw some very good racing between the majority of the major British competitors in Grand Prix racing, only the works Cooper team being absent.
The meeting opened with the John Law Trophy for Formula Junior Racing Cars, for which over forty entries were received, as a result a qualification practice was held on Friday to select the 28 who were to be allowed to start. As is becoming usual in these events, the race became a straight fight between the three team Lotus cars of Clark, Taylor and Arundel’, the private Lotus’s of Surtees and McKee., and the Lolas of kshdown mid Prior. At the start Taylor led, with Arundel’, Prior and Clark close behind. Ashdown made a poor start, then retired on lap three while lying seventh. On the fourth lap Taylor, who was leading, went up the escape road at the end of the home straight dropped to fifth, then retired next lap. By lap six Surtees had worked up to second place; but he must have had a moment somewhere, as on the following lap he was fourth again, and the race ran out without further change in order among the leaders. Arundell won at an average speed of 92.07 m.p.h. with Clark second, Prior third and Surtees fourth. Surtees made fastest lap in 1 min. 44:2 sec., 93.63 m.p.h.
The main event of the day, the Lombank Trophy for Formula 1 ears had an unusually interesting entry. Rather surprisingly, so late in the season, it was to be the debut of the new cars, the Lotus-Vanwall, to be driven by C. A. S. Brooks, and the new 1961 B.R.M. Unfortunately, neither started, though both practised. The Vanwall developed engine trouble. rumoured. though not. confirmed, to be stretched valve, and the. new BALM. refused to start, owing to a defective magneto. When the new car wouldn’t start. the Owen Organisation produced another of the old cars for Gurney and they were unable to start that one either, so poor Dan became a spectator.
On the first lap Team Lotus came through in line astern in the order: J. Clark, Surtees and Ireland. Henry Taylor was fourth with the Yeoman Credit car fifth, G. Hill, sixth Dennis Hume the young New Zealander with the other Y.C. car, seventh Salvadori with Tommy Aitkins’ Cooper, eighth Bonnier and ninth the first of the Formula 2 cars, Tony Moggs with the Essex Racing Team Formula 2 Cooper.
On the second lap Ireland pased Surtees into second place, and Hill and Bonnier got past Henry Taylor. After five laps both Hill and Bonnier took Surtees, who didn’t seem very happy and soon retired. Hill was even less happy two laps later when he missed his braking point, and went up the escape road before the Essex, dropping well back. This escape road was proving very popular and Henry Taylor used it on lap 11 and then, on lap 13, the leader, Clark, confusing, as he put it, his Formula. 1 and Formula Junior braking points, went up it for a considerable distance and let Ireland into the lead. Meanwhile, Bonnier and Salvadori had become locked in a most interesting fight for third and fourth place, which lasted 18 laps, and was eventually resolved on lap 31. When Salvadori arrived at the Esses in neutral and on the wrong line he got through, fighting the gear lever all the way, but Bonnier now had a secure third place. On lap 32 Hill retired. And so the race ran out, with Ireland and Clark secure in first and second place, just touring home and Bonnier and Salvadori the only other Formula 1 finishers. The winner’s average speed was 102.73 m.p.h. and the fastest lap was made by Clark at 105.36 m.p.h., a new lap record.
In the Formula 2 section, Lewis was first at an average of 95.76 m.p.h.. and also made fastest lap in 1 min. 40.6 sec., an average. Of 96.98 m.p.h., which is a new Formula 2 record. The final event of the day was the Three-Hour Race for Production Sports Cars for the Autosport Trophy. From the start it developed into a very fine duel between Chris Summer’ Lotus Elite, and J. R. Stoop’s Porsche Carrera. There seemed to be very little in the performance of these cars, who swopped places every other lap. After half an hour racing, the commentator at the hairpin reported a fan belt lying on the track, and a few minutes later Sultan’s Austin Healey came into the pits wreathed in steam. It lost about one and a half laps on its only other competitor in its class, Bloxam’s Frazer Nash, but was to make up the deficit before the three hours was up. The race seemed very hard on transmissions, as Byant ((Turner), Gaydon-Whitehead (Elva), Gerard (Turner) and Mackenzier (Alexander Turner) were all in at the pits in the first hour and a half with either clutch or gearbox trouble.
After the first hour the position was Summers, Stoop, Foster (M.G.), Bridges (M.G.) Nurse (Elite) and Paddy Gaston’s incredible Sprite. Then Summers made his cornpulsory Stop for fuel, and the pattern for first place began to emerge. This stop put him 27 sec. behind Stoop, and it became obvious that first place was going to depend on Stoops’ pit crew. He left his stop until very late, and got away still with a lead of about 5 sec. Summers made ‘a last effort, and closed right up but it was no good, and he began to fall back, and in the last three-quarters of an hour he lost some 20 sec, to the Porsche, who won a well-deserved victory. Summers in gaining a seettud. place. clinched the Autosport Trophy for 1960.
Results:
Formula 1:
1st : I. Ireland (Lotus F.1) … 102.73 m.p.h.
2nd: J. Clark (Lotus F. I).
3rd : J. Bonnier (B.R.M.).
Fastest lap : J. Clark, 1 min. 32.1) sec.-105.36 m.p.h.
Formula 2:
1st : J Lewis (Cooper F.2) … 95.76 m.p.h.
2nd : R. Halford (Cooper F.2).
3rd : J. Whitmore (Cooper F.2).
“Autosport” “Three Hours” :
Overall Result:
1st : J. R. Stoop (Porsche) … 82.14 m.p.h.
2nd: C. Summers (Elite).
3rd : A. T. Foster (M.G.).
Fastest lap : J. Stoop. 1 min. 56.1 sec.-83.80 m.p.h.
Class A:
1st : J.H. Gaston ( Austin Healey Sprite).
Class B:
1st : J. R. Stoop (Porsche).
Class C:
!st : J. Sutton ( Austin Healey).
Formula Junior:
1st : P. Arundell (Lotus F.J.) … 92.07 m.p.h.
2nd: J. Clark (Lotus F.J.}.
3rd: R. Prior (Lola Junior).
Jottings
It was rather regrettable that the commentator was so biased against the Porsche, His obvious hope that the Elite would win was rather out of place. Surely a commentator should inform, not broadcast his personal feelings.
* * *
Full marks to Dick Jacobs for his beautifully turned out cars. They are a credit to motor racing. Why had Paddy Gaston a rear facing camera mounted in the Sprite? Could it be to picture the anguish on the faces of drivers of bigger ears as he goes past?
MUSEUM PIECES
In spite of the number of museums which have opened recently and absorb interesting motoring items and books, the Editor of Moron SPORT is deeply appreciative or the fact that generous readers still send valuable material to hint from time to time. Recent contributions to his private ” musetun ” have included some early motorcycle catalogues and publications, early issues of the Cyciecar, car name-plates and parts from obscnre vehiclee, and many historic photographs, etc. Very matey thanks ! —-
—-LAST BRANDS
The last Brands Batch meeting of the season will take place on Sunday. October 16th. This Neill take plate over the short 1.24-mile course and will include the 12-1ap LewisEvans Trophy for F.2 cars and the 15-lap John Da% y “reophy for F.J. cats. fleeing starts at 1 p.m.