BMW wins Pom

That long-established contest to which the VSCC admits modern cars (devised by the late Laurence Pomeroy to define, by a series of tests and a high-speed trial, which is the best all-round fast touring car) was enacted again at Silverstone on February 20, in bright, but cold, weather. Despite the varied nature of the competing motor cars and the drivers’ tests, no incidents occurred. The entry of 67 was decimated by 11 non-starters. The cars that braved a Pomeroy scrutiny ranged from Trevor Tarring’s ex-Ron Barker 1908 Napier to WJ Mahany’s 1992 supercharged Reliant Scimitar. In fact, 21 pre-war cars had to grapple with the rest.

In the end it was Richard Wills’ 1938 328 Frazer Nash-BMW which took the coveted Pomeroy Trophy, a fine model of a 1914 GP Vauxhall if my memory is not deserting me. However, vintage honour was upheld by Spencer Flack’s 1924 4 1/2-litre Bentley, which was second overall, only 7.37 marks in arrears, to take the Densham Trophy. The only Edwardian competing was the Napier; it completed the required tests and so gained the Pomeroy Edwardian Trophy, placing 45th.

First Class Awards were won by Andy Bell (1935 Aston Martin LM), Dr C Pearson (1954 Triumph TR2) and Steven Roberts (1953 Frazer Nash). Those who took Second Class Awards were Paul Stafford (1970 Datsun 240Z), Tom Threlfall (1953 Targa Florio Frazer Nash), Charles Barter (1971 Datsun 240Z), Rod King (1936 Talbot 105), Tim Blackburn (1976 Ferrari 308) and Sir Aubrey Brocklebank (1986 Alfasud). Those qualifying for Third Class Awards were Robert Britcher (1930 Alvis Silver Eagle), John Harper (1958 D-type Jaguar), John Savage (1955 Lancia Aurelia), Mark Scottie (1932 Frazer Nash) and Weston Mitchell (1974 Reliant Scimitar GTE).

But now, for the rest of 1993, the VSCC will concentrate mainly on pre-war machinery.

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