A good day's racing

It’s hard to imagine a more picturesque setting then Cadwell Park, the ebb and flow of the circuit allowing all the drivers to show off their skills and machinery to an appreciative crowd.

The Austin 7 of Frank Hernandez led away the opening race for the Spero and Voiturette Trophies, followed closely by Barry Foster’s MG and Freddie Giles in his Morgan GN, who both demoted him on lap four to dispute the lead. Giles almost lost control of the Morgan topping the Mountain on lap five trying to pass Foster, who had the blower drive break on the following lap, handing the Spero trophy to Giles, while Hernandez followed the Morgan across the line, picking up the Voiturette award.

In the Frazer Nash/GN event John Giles led from the off in his AC/GN, until an over enthusiastic approach to the Mountain section saw him spin off into retirement. This left the closely following Andrew Smith to take victory in his Nurburg in front of Martin Stretton and Al Boswell.

A sudden rain shower greeted the Scratch race competitors, but it didn’t effect John Ure, who took to the grass in the Riley at Coppice in a successful attempt to lead onto Park Straight for the first time. Ted Dunn maintained a watching brief and slipped by on lap three at Coppice, but Ure quickly repassed to run out victorious.

Martin Stretton’s Frazer Nash briefly headed Tim Llewellyn in the eight lap Vintage Scratch race, but the 8-litre Bentley powered back in front over the start/finish line. Tom Threlfall astonished the crowd at Hall Bends, as well as Julian Ghosh, when he straight-lined the corners in a brave overtaking manoeuvre, while David Caroline’s Morgan three wheeler yo-yoed up and down the race order depending on how hot his rear tyre got, to finish in front of the entertaining pair.

A generous handicap allowed David Fairley to take victory in race five.

The opening laps of the Williams Monaco Trophy were disputed between Julian Majzub and Rodney Felton, with Majzub retiring his Bugatti with engine problems from the lead on lap three. This left Felton’s Alfa Romeo to fend off Sir John Venables-Llewelyn, who was now warming to the task of defending his trophy. Felton was under increasing pressure as the race progressed, but his race was cut short on lap seven when a big end gave way in the Monza, leaving Lord Raglan’s Bugatti to finish second in front of the AC/GN of John Giles.

The second Handicap event fell to the Lagonda of N Morley who had no trouble in overcoming his 75 second penalty. Favourite for the Christies’ supported Allcomers race, Anthony Mayman quickly retired the Raymond Mays ERA with a blown supercharger, leaving Duncan Ricketts to head the field into the opening corner with Bruce Spollon in his wheel tracks. The quicker speed of Ricketts on the straights kept Spollon’s attempts limited to the slower corners, but the narrow confines of the Lincolnshire track thwarted all his attempts, allowing a delighted Ricketts to take his maiden VSCC victory in Sally Marsh’s ERA. The Frazer Nash of Mike Stretton easily took both the Melville and Geoghean Trophies, having led from the start, while behind the runaway winner, Alex Boswell’s Frazer Nash overcame the Bugatti of Hugh Conway in a race long contest. The final race, a five lap handicap, was won by the Lagonda of Len Thompson. But for a spin by Duncan Ricketts, it may have been closer than the two second margin he had over Bill Fox’s Delahaye. LB