Cooper 5055 & the VSCC

Of course much of what R. C. Bergel (Cooper JAP Eligibility) says is correct. The VSCC did, and still do, as I’m very much aware, think that rear-cngined post-war cars are duller than 250F Maseratis etc., though I doubt if many of them have seen, or much less, driven, them recently. D. Andrews no doubt thought Breads’ driving of Bugattis was exciting, but it’s irrelevant. Thc facts speak for themselves to anyone not saddled with bigotry or blinkered by profit. My 1949-50 V-twin 996 c.c. Cooper JAP and like cars which

raced in Formula II events of that period, are of more historic interest and worthy of preservation than new “fakes”.

I don’t want to stop anyone making cars and having fun but Inkiest to the restrictions that stop Andrews, myself and others racing anywhere in this country in our single-seater cars. It would be a great benefit to all if those who condemn our type of cars would, instead of writing inane letters to magazines and attending discussions behind closed doors, come, see, hear and smell one in action. Then listen to the reasoned arguments for the cars’ inclusion into Historic Racing. We have heard all their arguments for exclusion and we accept them no longer.

Could we present ourselves and cars to a club or organisation to put our cast for racing these historic cycle cars? They are rapidly going out of existence as spares for GN specials, Morgans and the like. Modern AMC gearboxes replace the Manx Norton ones and speedway 500 c.c. engines replace one of the greatest of all British racing engines in its final stage of development. Akeley P. R. E. WIGGLESWORTH