McAfee's pebble dash

Sir,

Thank you for the fascinating article on Pebble Beach. Just a couple of observations: in the 1956 race, which unfortunately led to the closure of the circuit, Ernie McAfee’s big six-cylinder 4.4-litre 121 LM Ferrari was far too highly geared for the narrow, twisty course. I think he really wanted to race his OSCA, which was a second a lap quicker, but had retired it while leading the under-1500cc race. Racing Jack McAfee’s 857S Monza, and struggling with the 121LM’s heavily spring-loaded first gear, he locked his brakes on oil and hit a tree.

Secondly, Masten Gregory never actually raced at Pebble Beach. In 1954, he appeared with his ex-works 4.5-litre 375MM Ferrari, but in the words of Road &Track he ‘lost an argument with a tree before race day’.

I am, Yours Etc, Chris Thomas, Stockport, Cheshire