PETERBOROUGH M.C. SILVERSTONE MEETING (SEPT. 17TH)

PETERBOROUGH M.C. SILVERSTONE MEETING (Sept. 17th)

Peterborough M.C. held a race meeting with 199 entries spread over 13 races and are to be complimented on running these off expeditiously in spite of many incidents. Morley’s cut-about 41/2-Iitre Bentley two-seater won the  five-lap Vintage Sports Car Handicap at 67.44 m.p.h. from de Villers’ Austin and Smith in the ex-Footit A.C.-G.N. after Wheeler’s non-vintage-bodied Austin Seven Special had led on the fourth lap. A Saloon Car Handicap saw Hobbs try very hard to catch Nott’s winning A35 by sweeping down the inside of the straight into Wooodcote for the last time. He just failed. the Austin winning at 64.26 m.p.h. from the “automatic” XK 140 with Pilkinton’s A35 third. Incidentally, when we said in the Goodwood report that Hobbs’ win was possibly the lirst-ever by a two-pedal Jaguar, we overlooked his previous win at Snetterton.

In the 1.100 c.c. Sports Car Handicap Catt’s Berkeley 105 was given ii credit lap which enabled it to lead all the way. to win at 64.46 m.p.h. from Saunders’ Victoria, which took Cash’s Lotus 7 out the final lap.

In the 1,101-2.000-c.c. Sports Car Handicap Owen (Ford Special) made a gallant attempt to pass Banks’ 328 F.N.- B.M.W. on the inside through Woodcote but the driver of the Anglo-German sports car was master of the situation, winning at 70.1, m.p.h., with Wilson’s Toucan third.

The programme went till slickly and relentlessly, the over-2,000 c.c. Sports Car Handicap showing the promise of Bill Aston in his very fast Aston Martin DBR2; the test pilot was quite unmoved by a stupendous attempt by Morley, who on lap four thrust his vintage Bentley past the modern Aston Martin at Woodcote Corner. Next lap Aston was well ahead, to win at 81.99 m.p.h. The Bentley now sounded sick, so it was just us well it had a lorry to go home on! Third place was taken by Carden’s quick Austin Healey.

The 15-lap F.J. Scratch Race was excellent value. With the F.J. cars at Snetterton Mallock was the star-turn in his Weber-carburetted, Ford 105E-engined U2. Cooper School driver Jacks in his Cooper-B.M.C. led the initial lap. Mallock, the corner artist, stormed past, then from laps five to eight, Woodley*s Cooper-B.M.C. led Mallock. Mallock then went ahead to a comfortable victory,  at an average speed of 78.2 m.p.h. Retirements thinned the field, so Woodley was secorid, Mew’s Lotus-Ford third. Mallock. who was never given a drive after training with the Cooper School. was justifiably amused at having beaten one of their star drivers!

The 1.100-c.c. sports cars now indulged in a seven-lap scratch race, which demonstrated Lola superiority. Woolfe leading all the way, to win at the excellent speed of 80.24 m.p.h. from two Lotus entries.

A mixed-bag of Formula Libre cars, including two outpaced 2-litre Connaughts, Fought out a 15-lap scratch race, whitch Aston dominated. He won at 82.17 m.p.h. from Chamberlain’s 3.8 Cooper-Jaguar and Woodley’s F.J. Cooper, Simpson’s F.2 Cooper retiring from second place after 12 laps. Larger sports cars had a seven-lap scratch race won without trouble by Hemmings’ TR3A, over a seemingly slippery track. He averaged 75.94 m.p.h.

Naturally, Bill Aston put the over-2.000-c.c. Sports Car seven-lap scratch race in his pocket, at 80.59 m.p.h. from the Cooper-Jaguar and Hobbs’ irrepressible I two-pedal Jaguar and then a big field of 750 Specials proved the virility of the 750 Formula. The dicing was rather hectic and unfortunately K. Dixson, in trying to avoid it spinning car at Becketts, “lost” the orange Ulster Austin, the little car went end over end, flinging out Dixon, who was taken to hospital, no doubt more concerned about this historic car than himself. Warrall’s Austin passed Boorer’s DEB Mk. 2 on the third lap and won a close struggle at 67.69 m.p.h., Small’s furiously understeering Austin third. Starr spun at Woodcote, collecting Jones, who was obliged to retire.

The 1172 Formula Race was epic, for eight cars were involved in a multiple crash at Woodcote after Youlten’s Terrier II had spun and been hit by Tom Dixon’s Lotus, which caught fire in mid-track. There were cries of “red flag” but the race went on. Eason Gibson guarding the wreckage with a yellow flag. Wershat’s Lolita leading throughout to win at 72.98 m.p.h. from Cottrell’s Lotus and Lomas’ Lomas, D-type, none of which had been affected by the spectacular crash.

A somewhat depleted field essayed the Motor Sport Trophy Qualifying Handicap, ably arranged by Charles Bulmer. As he expected, the field bunched for a close finish, the Toucan winning at 74.05 m.p.h. as Aston spun and ran backwards into the Woodcote ditch, in an effort to catch Wilson. So Owen’s Ford Special was second, Carden’s Austin Healey 100M third, the rest breathing down his neck and the organisers breathing a sigh of relief that it was all over. Now for the big B.R.D.C. Club Silverstone over the full circuit, on October1st. – W. B.

MORE STOLEN CARS

Since reporting on the theft al the staff Sprite We have heard from John Howell whose 3-litre Sunbeam was stolen some time ago in Kensington. In desperation he placed an advertisement MOTOR SPORT seeking information on its whereabouts and almost immediately a reader located it in I garage at Brackley near the Silverstone circuit. The car had bren badly damaged sand all the indentilieution marks haul been removed, but at least a valuable car had been found. The police later searched the premises and found other stolen properly, enough to earn the thief three years in prison.