The B.A.R.C. Whitsun Meeting

Peter Collins Makes Fastest Lap, at 93.3 m.p.h., in the Thinwall Ferrari, Outclassing the B.R.Ms. Bicknell’s Revis Runs Away with the 15-lap 500-c.c. Race. Jimmy Stewart’s Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar Wins the Johnson Trophy Sports-Car Race.

During an unpromising holiday weekend Goodwood had rain only for the last two races. But the attendance fell from 55,000 at Easter, when Ascari had been expected, to 27,000. Peter Collins was the “star turn,” lapping within 1.23 m.p.h. of Hawthorn’s lap record, using the same Vandervell-entered Ferrari Thinwall.

Goodwood National “500” Race — 15 Laps, Scratch
This was dismally dull. Nine cars started but Nuckey spun off on the first lap, eliminated the Arengo and Elliott’s Cooper, then spun again at Woodcote and himself retired. This left a procession of six, with Bicknell driving well to run clear of the field. Behind, Hall overtook Tyrrell after four laps and after a vast gap came Brandon, with Leston and Jopp in the Emeryson duelling behind, Leston’s new Cooper, entered by the makers, surprisingly finishing last.

1st: R. G. Bicknell (Revis). won by 23.6 sec., at 81.66 m.p.h.
2nd: J. K. Hall (Cooper),
3rd: R. K. Tyrrell (Cooper).
Fastest lap: Bicknell, 82.92 m.p.h.

Five-Lap Scratch Race — Racing Cars, Non-s/c., up to 2,500 c.c.
Reg Parnell led all the way, to a narrow victory, pursued from lap two onwards by Salvadori, who worked harder at the wheel than Reg. No one was in sight of these two at the finish. Dunham’s D.H.S. pushed the G.P. Emeryson hard, Whiteaway’s 2 1/2 H.W.M. held closely to Webb’s Turner, and Leston’s Cooper-J.A.P. 1,100 retired.

1st: R. Parnell (Ferrari). won by 0.6 sec., at 87.63 m.p.h.
2nd: R. F. Salvadori (Maserati).
3rd: J. Somervail (Cooper.Bristo1) — 1st in 2-litre class.
Fastest lap: Salvadori, 90.95 m.p.h.

The Johnson Trophy — Sports Cars — 21 Laps, Scratch
This race, for the Johnson’s Wax Polish Challenge Trophy, produced some excitements and a convincing victory for Jimmy Stewart’s famous Ecurie Ecosse Type C Jaguar, liberally wax-polished for the occasion.

After a Le Mans start, Stewart led his team-mate Sanderson, with Dunham’s Type C third. Salvadori made a poor start in the Gilby Maserati but was soon driving in his dashing style,. throwing his car at the chicane and driving from it like a Continental, while when he might have been baulked he somehow thrust past — Salvadori is a driver worth motoring miles to watch. Lap three saw Gerry Dunham swap places with Sanderson, and as Sir James Scott-Douglas had been grass-cutting, Ecurie Ecosse hopes lay in Stewart. He pulled out a more and more commanding lead, while on lap nine Sanderson closed on Dunham and was back in second place by lap 11, so all was serene in the Murray/Wilky stable. Salvadori just failed to beat Dunham into third place but got past Head’s Type C Jaguar on lap eight.

Rogers hit the chicane paling fence a fine blow on lap five in his Cooper-Bristol, which shot across the course nose-on to the concrete wall, but straightened out in time and went briefly to its pit. Later, Keeling’s Type C Jaguar spun completely round beyond the chicane without stopping but thereafter its driver went much slower! Carnegie’s Allard retired early with clutch failure, and Cuff-Miller clumped the brick chicane wall with a hub, in Alexander’s Allard. Brooks held Hely’s Le Mans Replica Frazer-Nash skilfully in a straight line when the near-side back wheel flew off coming into the chicane.

Chapman’s “aero” Lotus, painted green since Nurburg, won the 1 1/2-litre class, a lap behind the leaders, from Jacobs’ smart glass-fibre M.G. coupé.

Constable’s tail-sliding TD M.G., pressed by Walshaw’s 1,172-c.c. Lotus, eventually stopped.

1st: J. R. Stewart (Jaguar), won by 20.6 sec., at 85.52 m.p.h.
2nd: N. Sanderson (Jaguar).
3rd: G. Dunham (Jaguar).
Fastest lap: Salvadori (Maserati). 87.27 m.p.h.

Goodwood Whitsun Trophy Race Formule Libre-15 Laps, Scratch
For four laps Ron Flockhart had the Mk. II B.R.M. ahead of Peter Collins in the Vandervell Thinwall Ferrari. But Collins closed right up into Woodcote and on lap five the unblown VI2 led the blown V16, taking revenge for Aintree. Salvadori was going great guns in the 2 1/2-litre Maserati, which held third place throughout. Towards the end he made a great effort to take Flockhart but ran onto the grass, recovering with skill. Wharton looked unhappy, but kept his B.R.M. in fifth place ahead of Parnell’s Ferrari — a high-speed procession. The R.R.A. ran out of road, but recovered. J. K. Hall’s Cooper-Bristol took 2-litre honours from Young’s Connaught.

1st: P. J. Collins (Thinwall Ferrari), won by 15.4 sec., at 91.53 m.p.h.
2nd: R. Flockhart (B.R.M.).
3rd: R. F. Salvadori (Maserati).
Fastest lap: Collins, 93.30 m.p.h.