GOODWOOD AT WHITSUN

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THE B.A.R.C. Whitsun Goodwood Meeting produced a pleasing variety of racing but rain in the morning emphasised that something really should be done about the Paddock quagmire— and we understand something will be done before the T.T. in September.

The Autosport Series Production Scratch Race (12 laps) developed into a grand scrap between Whiteaway’s A.C. Bristol and Wilks’ Frazer-Nash. Wilks braked later and gained through the corners but the A.C. had greater speed. On the last lap but one Wilks hit the wattle leaving the chicane and slid across the course. He held the slide with skill but lost ground, leaving no doubt about the issue. Whiteaway won at 78.36 m.p.h. and made fastest lap at 80.15 m.p.h., Wilks second, Crabb’s Austin-Healey 100S third.

On its way to the start of the Historic Racing Car Scratch Race (10 laps) Spero’s 3-litre Maserati broke a rod, which severed the crankcase on both sides, setting the engine momentarily on fire. W. F. Moss led all the way in the E.R.A. “Remus,” leaving Hull’s ex-Wharton 2-litre E.R.A, out of sight. Goodhew finished third in the E.R.A.-Delage, but it was noticeably slow through the corners, although able to hold off Carnegie in the Lago-Talbot. Which was hotly pursued by Brewer’s ex-Seaman E.R.A. G. Chapman spun out of the chicane on lap 1 in the ex-Scribbans’ E.R.A. and Waller spun the ex-Sharve Taylor E.R.A. at Madgwick. What more could you ask—Moss prepares his E.R.A. splendidly and drives it immaculately. He averaged 82.14 m.p.h. and made fastest lap at 85.54 m.p.h. Tozer’s Amilcar Six won the 1,100-c.c. category.

Main race of the afternoon, the Whitann Trophy for sports-cars (21 laps) had a La Mans start. Halford’s Lister-Jaguar led for six laps but spun “in the country,” putting Duncan Hamilton’s D-type Jaguar in the lead. Helford worked his way back to first place on lap 16 only to retire when a throttle connection came adrift. Graham Whitehead had now really got his Lister-Jaguar wound up and it took the Hamilton Jaguar on lap 19 to win comfortably at 84.41 m.p.h. from Duncan, Bristow’s 2-litre Hume-Lotus a very creditable third, after passing Dalton’s noisy Aston Martin DB3S as they went for the chicane three laps from the finish. Whitehead set fastest lap, at 88.52 m.p.h.

After this fast rare the Marque Spoils Car Scratch Race (10 laps) was very dull, Shale’s Austin-Healey 100 Six being flagged in with a trailing exhaust pipe when in the lead. After that Jack Sears was the obvious winner in his rapid and very stable AustinHealey 100 Six coupe. Fletcher’s A.C. Ace was second, North’s Triumph TR2 third. Some of the drivers toured round but Sears set fastest lap, at 78.54 m.p.h.

The Production Saloon Car Scratch Race (10 laps) followed and had the spectators enthralled. Duncan Hamilton in Coombs’ disc-wheeled 3.4 Jaguar, which he flung round at very advanced angles, beat Sopwith’s 3.4 Jaguar comfortably (averaging 78.95 m.p.h.) Baillie’s 3.4 Jaguar a more sober third, ahead of Uren’s 3.4 Jaguar. Capt. Miller’s Ford Zephyr got well away from Foster’s M.G. Magnette but the little cars in a group, positions constantly changing, stole the thrills. Until it fell back and retired Marriott’s Morris Minor pushed its way through, he and Springers Austin A35 coming up one each side of Harris’ Borgward into the chicane on one lap— the crowd roared. Eventually Sprinzel worm his class, and Everley’s Hillman Minx beat the Borgward and Clarke’s 1.5 Riley in the 1,600-c.c. class. Fastest lap was made by Hamilton at 79.85 m.p.h.

Racing concluded with a 10-lap Handicap which Bruce Halford (Lister-Jaguar) won at 87.33 m.p.h. from Hicks’ Lotus-Climax and Hamilton’s Jaguar, he and Graham Whitehead’s Lister-Jaguar both making fastest lap time, equal to 89.07 m.p.h., some compensation to Brian Lister for his withdrawal of the two works Listers. The Listers which did run had 3.4-litre engines. When the spectators were told that Vanwall had won at Zandvoort, with B.R.M.s second and third, enthusiastic cheers broke out from the grandstands.