VSCC Mallory Park Meeting

Le Mans and F1 having restricted space, here is a summary of what happened at the VSCC racing at the much-acclaimed Mallory Park circuit on July 5.

The first race at this Williams Trophy Meeting was won by Davie (Riley), from the hard-tryer Roscoe in his 4.3 Alvis and Thompson in his Lagonda, the last-named making best lap speed, 0.5mph quicker than the two cars which led him home. Alex Boswell had the 12-litre V8 Bequet-Delage going so well that it took the 12-lap vintage race from Caroline’s Morgan trike and Freddie Giles in the AC/GN, the big car lapping at 80.6 mph. After which Bronson’s Riley outran Bentall’s Bentley and the Roscoe Alvis to win the 8-lap pre-war sports car event, following which things warmed up when A J Mayman used his ERA-Delage to win the pre-war racing cars’ 12-lap race by 6.6s from Sir Venables-Llewelyn’s ERA R4A, which was comfortably ahead of Ure in R9B, which in turn outpaced Ricketts driving R1B. The retirements included Jaye’s Alta and the ERAs R12C, R8C and R11B.

A six-lap Handicap interlude saw Baxter’s Chrysler a popular winner, lapping notably faster than Hancock’s Fiat and Hill’s AC. Sir John, now using a Bugatti, traditionally Lord Raglan’s T51, held off the flying Majzub in his 35B by no less than 17.3s to triumph in the 12-lap Williams Trophy Race for two-seater GP cars, third place going to Anthony Mayman, whose T51 Bugatti was 5.3s down on Majzub’s single-cammer. The Bequet-Delage was fourth this time, and Harper retired the ERA-Delage after seven laps. Mayman lapped quickest, at 86.3mph, 0.2mph faster than the winning Bugatti. Riche’s Riley took another six-lap Handicap from the Wolseley Hornet of Seber and Hancock’s Fiat, and then the post-war Historic racers had their go, over 12 laps, Martin Stretton’s Cooper-Bristol beating Roddie Macpherson’s in a very exciting finish, 0.6s between them, in spite of the latter having lapped 0.9mph faster. Mayman’s Ferrari was third. Both Connaughts, and the ERA Delage in the care of the other Mayman, retired.

The Edwardians were now let loose for six laps and Mike Walker’s aero-engined Monarch, with a lap at 62.7mph, took the flag from the Th Schneider and Tarring’s Napier. Chris Gordon’s Tamplin cyclecar brought up the tail-end of a fine field of eleven.

Two more races remained, to give the spectators value-for-money. Both over six laps, the first was handicapped and saw Hall’s big Lagonda the victor, followed in by Seber’s effective Wolseley and Hudson in an Aston Martin, with dear old Lockhart showing them how, with the Rover lapping fastest at 80.7mph to the winner’s 77.1mph, although this only brought Lockhart into sixth place, in the large field. The final race was a scratch contest, won by Riches’ Riley, from Painter’s small Maserati and Fleming’s Riley. Positions in the MOTOR SPORT Brooklands Memorial Trophy Contest will change after the next two meetings, at Donington on August 9 and Oulton Park on August 22/23, so are not quoted here. The contest will be decided at Cadwell Park on September 20. W B