Harper's Monaco is best, not bust

A non-championship race at Silverstone in early November offered the BRDC Historic Sports Car racers a late-season thrash, and it was John Harper who mastered the greasy conditions best in his Cooper Monaco.

However, Gary Pearson, the leader for the first six laps, ran Harper close, managing to stay within a second of the nimble Cooper all the way to the flag aboard his faithful Lister-Jaguar.

Nick Linney, switching from a Lister-Jaguar to a Cooper Monaco for the day, tried to go with the leading pair, but gradually dropped away into a secure third slot.

Behind the fourth-placed Lister of Bob Gilbert came Octagon Motorsport’s top man Murray Smith in his Lotus 15, while Sid Hoole made it three Cooper Monacos in the top six.

It was Pearson, however, who set the fastest lap, 1 min 10.818sec (83.31mph).

• The Royal Purple Healey team won the Birkett Six-Hour Relay at Silverstone on October 26 — a fitting result in the marque’s golden jubilee year.