Event Information

Race Results

DATE	DESCRIPTION	RACE RESULTS
April 25th, 2009	Arbuthnot Latham Race for Pre’61 Grand Prix Cars RM Auctions Race for Pre’66 Grand Prix Cars

Race Report

The Association visit to Brands Hatch in 2008 was very nearly a ‘wash-out’. Torrential rain flooded the track severely curtailing the planned programme. Despite this we decided to continue our support of the Masters event on the Grand Prix circuit in 2009 and were rewarded with an excellent warm weekend, good organisation and a friendly welcome.

The pre 1961 grid consisted of seventeen front-engine and seven up to 2 litre rear-engine cars, whilst the later grid consisted of 32 rear-engine cars, a number of whom were in both grids. Each grid had a twenty minute practice on Sunday and a twenty-five minute race on Bank holiday Monday.

First out in practice were the younger cars and John Harper in his Tasman specification Brabham quickly established fastest time. Mark Piercy was second in his Type 53 Cooper with Will Schryver, driving the Lotus 27 excellently, posting third fastest time. Ian Ashley, after his non-start at Silverstone with transmission problems, led class 10 and, in fourth place, was Roger Wills two tenths of a second behind. Sid Hoole led class 11 with Tony Ditheridge fastest car in class 9. It was very nice to see David Coplowe competing for the first time in his V8 engine Lotus 24.

John Palmer in the very unusual Brabham and Andrew Smith both had problems and failed to complete a practice lap but were added to the back of the grid. Only twenty-one cars took part in practice for the pre 1961 race; Tony Ditheridge was initially fastest with Nick Eden second and Tony Smith, driving the 3 litre Ferrari with verve, third. Lap two and Philip Walker had the Lotus 16 on pole only for Tony to better him by two tenths of a second a couple of laps later. Rod Jolley placed the Lister Monzanapolis third on the grid with Tony Ditheridge fourth and Nick Eden fifth. Stefan Schollwoeck had the Maserati 4CM flying around the track to post sixth fastest, ahead of many younger and more powerful cars. Ian Nuthall led the class five cars in ninth place.

It was spitting with rain just as the cars for the pre 1966 race were called to the assembly area but the sun prevailed and we had a dry race. The starter on Jon Fairley’s Brabham had failed and sadly no amount of pushing in the assembly area would make the wretched car start – one less in the race.

At the end of the first lap Mark Piercy led Will Schryver, with John Harper in third place and Roger Wills fourth. Ian Ashley led Alan Baillie followed by John Clark and Nigel Bancroft. John Harper closed the gap to the leaders and, when at half distance, Mark Piercy retired, John led. His lead was short lived as, on the following lap, transmission failure sidelined him. Roger Wills was driving superbly in second place but, on the last lap made a mistake, and dropped back to third. This left a delighted Ian Ashley to claim a well deserved second in the race. Further down the field Pietro Silva, in his first race with the Association, was having an excellent battle with Sid Hoole’s Cooper.

The pre 1966 race had been held under overcast skies but by the time the pre 1961 grid assembled for their race, the sun shone brightly. Tony Smith made a good start to lead the field around Druids corner with Philip Walker’s Lotus second and Rod Jolley third in the Monza Lister. Philip had his feet all crossed up going into bottom bend – in fact got his foot caught in the pedals and decided the only way to slow down was to spin which put him to the back of the field. As excellent drive through the field saw him post fastest lap in the race but he was not able to catch the two in front, partly due to having only fifth gear for the last five laps. An excellent race was developing mid-field between the font-engine Alta driven by Ian Nuthall and the two rear-engined Coopers of Richard Pilkington and John Bussey. Another excellent mid-field performance was the Cooper Alta driven by David Clewley; his best lap was only two tenths of a second slower than class leader Ian Nuthall. Sadly a small electrical problem stopped him on the tenth lap.

All competitors in the HGPCA races agreed that the Grand Prix circuit at Brands Hatch is a drivers’ circuit – fast sweeping corners, no chicanes and plenty of elevation changes – there is a wish to return again next year! Off the circuit the Association hospitality in the Red Truck was as excellent as ever. A fine lunch was available on Sunday and Monday and, on Sunday night, a wonderful ‘Hog Roast’ was served courtesy of Dick and Ollie Crosthwaite of Crosthwaite & Gardiner. Our grateful thanks to father and son for their generous hospitality.

A successful prize-giving rounded off the weekend with John Chisholm winning the ‘driver of the day’ in the pre 1966 grid for his fine effort on the Lotus 18. The pre 1961 winner was a close call between Hubert Fabri, driving his Aston Martin DBR4 and Stefan Schollwoeck in the little Maserti; in the end they both got a prize!