Peterborough M C Race Meeting, Silverstone - (September 15th)

Dry windy weather prevailed for the Peterborough M.C. race meeting at Silverstone, one of the last of the season. A large number of cars turned up and no serious mishap occurred to mar the occasion.

A five-lap handicap race for vintage ears started the ball rolling. There were six non-starters, leaving 19 gallant men to carry out the proceedings. P. A. Lazarus in the fume old Talbot 105 made off with first position, followed by W. G. Boult in his Ulster Austin Seven. George Burton in his modified Bentley came up into third position.

Next came a five-lap handicap race for production saloons. This event is one of the more popular events at club meetings, as it generally provides amusement for “Joe Soap” in the front row of the stalIs and valuable information for the well-informed sporting types using bread-and-butter transports. Hoffman’s Morris Minor kept pressing forward well,but as time went on it was relieved of its prominent position to one of obscurity; J. C. Armstrong’s old-type Ford Thames van put up a gallant show, as did Charles ‘Meisl’s Popular, both going round Woodcote in very upright positions compared with Morris’ Zephyr. Mrs. Bloxham in her DB2 Aston Martin took first place (67.85 m.p.h.), with C. Davies in a Bristol 403 second.

Another large field took to the track for the third race, the five-lap sports-car handicap. This was split into two parts owing to the large number of entries. G. R. Baird in a Lotus Mk. XI took first place, followed by Graham in a Mk. VI and Mackenzie’s Elva third, so vanquishing the Cooper entries; the second part saw Lisle’s Amilcar away first, a safe bet for the handicappers! Beckaert in a Mk. VI Lotus and Harris in his well-know Austin had a happy dice, and Lewcock busied himself trying to catch the Amilcar with his Austin. Horrid noises came from Wilson’s Buckler, but he continued. C. Bristow came in first in his MGA

Two Bentleys were first over the line in the fourth event, the 1 1/2s of Lawrence and Mason. G. P. Hulbert in a Morgan Plus-4 had the misfortune to do a whirligig at Copse’ and for a moment there was chaos as the rest squeezed past, leaving a rather sheepish Morgan to creep out of the ditch and continue. Merriman also spun his TR2 at Woodeote and, being slow to abandon ship, was nearly struck by the hefty Talbot 105 of Lazarus. so incurring the wrath of the RAC steward.

The F.111 race of twelve laps deservedly went to Robinson in a Cooper after he had held first place for the entire race: Taylor and Barrett followed along behind in crocodile fashion. The J. A. P. award went to Summers, for his efforts at the wheel of a Cooper J. A. P.

In the sixth race, MacKenzie’s Elva took the lead on the first lap but failed to find a place on the final lap. Summers was the winning man in a Cooper-Climax with Tony Marsh in a similar car second. W. S. Frost in a Lotus XI was forced down to fourth place.

The 10-lap handicap for vintage and historic racing cars followed, five E.R.A.s coming to the line, along with a sprinkling of Maseratis, Alfas, Bentleys and Vauxhalls. Stuart and Moss in E.R.A.s took first and second places with Lawrence’s Bentley third. The winner’s average speed was 67.71 m.p.h. This was a spirited race. Spero’s Maserati gave up soon after the start, but Moss crept up to first place and was then overtaken by Stuart.