Oulton Park National Meeting (April 8th)
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The non-appearance of Jim Clark’s Lotus 30 and Roy Salvadori’s Cooper-Maserati robbed this B.A.R.C. meeting of much of its interest, for the duel between the 4.7-litre V8 Ford-engined Lotus and the 5-litre V8 Maserati-engined Cooper could have been quite something. As it was both cars were still being worked on at their respective factories. These two cars were intended for the main race of the day, the 37-lap Oulton Park Trophy and, as last year, there was a noticeable absence of large machinery.
Jim Clark was offered a Lotus 19 by George Pitt, this car being the ex-B.R.P. car with 2½-litre Climax engine, and he proceeded to make fastest practice lap ahead of Jack Sears in the fierce Willment A.C. Cobra, followed by Bruce McLaren in his newly-acquired 2.7-litre Cooper Special, which used to be known as the Zerex Special when it was owned by American driver Roger Penske. This was throwing a lot of oil about and looked as if it wouldn’t last. The only other big cars to start were Coundley’s 2.7-litre Lotus 19 and Fletcher’s Lister-Jaguar. The field was further depleted after Jackie Stewart had written off the venerable Bernie Ecosse Cooper Monaco during practice, and it is not surprising that he has now declined to drive this car or the Tojeiro Buick any more.
Despite these incidents 25 cars came to the line in mild, dry conditions and, as expected, Jim Clark took the lead and held It comfortably after lap eight Bruce McLaren dropped out of second place with the expected lack of oil pressure. Coundley had already retired with similar troubles, and this left Jack Sears in second place with the Cobra, which he was throwing about quite gaily. He had to keep galloping along quickly however to keep in front of the Lotus 23Bs of Breakall, Sutton and (until his retirement with brake failure) Chris Williams.
Jim Clark—whose 1963 victory in the same race had been just as easy—broke no records, but his exemplary performance with a relatively old car pleased both the crowds and George Pitt and his mechanics, who had spent the previous night checking over a car that was already well prepared by any standards.
Results:
Oulton Park Trophy Race—Sports Cars—37 Laps—100 Miles
*1st : J. Clark (Lotus 19) .. 1 hr. 07 min. 10.0 sec.—91.26 m.p.h.
*2nd : J. Sears (A.C. Cobra) .. 1 hr. 08 min. 00.0 sec.
*3rd : G. H. Breakell (Lotus 23) .. 1 hr. 08 min. 30.8 sec.
4th : J. Sutton (Lotus 23) . 1 hr. 08 mm. 34.2 sec.
*Denotes class-winners.
Fastest lap : Clark, 1 min. 46 sec.—93.77 m.p.h.
In the supporting races Jim Clark won the saloon-car race in a works Lotus Cortina after Jack Sears spun his Galaxie when the brakes failed, and he completed his hat trick by winning the GT race in Ian Walker’s Lotus Elan, while Jackie Stewart won yet another F.3 race in the Tyrell Cooper despite having an inoperative clutch.