Brighton speed trials

Despite a poorly-supported racing-car category, there was a very large and lively entry exceeding 250 cars for the Brighton Speed Trials on September 17th. Competition in the well-supported saloon classes was fierce, with a 7-litre Dodge Charger breaking the class record by 3.3 sec.: in a 1,870-c.c. Martin-powered Fiat 600 John Bekaert easily won his class with one run, 4.4 sec. inside the record. but the bearings failed on the line next time!

In bright sunshine, afternoon conditions were about perfect for Chris Summers to break his own outright car record for the standing kilometre in the 5.3-litre Lotus-Chevrolet, and he duly obliged with a run in 20.70 sec. His second run was spoilt by a false start, but his terminal velocities were 162 and 163 m.p.h. for the two runs. Next fastest times fell to the big sports and GT cars, Burnard’s 7-litre Cobra managing 22.74 sec. A Galaxie powered “Egal” Jaguar E-type was a real handful on the slightly curved start, returning a best time of 23.0 sec. and achieving. 150 m.p.h.

Outright f.t.d. was put up, as usual, by a motorcycle, Ian Ashwell’s Vincent Satan turning in a run at 19.47 sec., so “Nero’s” record lives for another day.