Double Dutch for Alfa Monza

MRL | Assen | Aug 14-15

The Dutch circuit of Assen hosted the second round of the Motor Racing Legends Pre-War Sportscar series. After two 45-minute races, the Alfa Romeo 8C Monza of Bill Ainscough and James Baxter was victorious, having won both legs.

In Saturday’s race, Ainscough/ Baxter won convincingly, but on Sunday, after the driver change, they had a fair deficit to the Frazer Nash of Chris Chilcott/Sam Stretton. It was only at the last gasp that it forged ahead of the hardcharging ‘Nash.

Another Nash, in the hands of Phil Champion, clinched third place once the pair of V12 Lagondas in the field hit dramas: ignition woes claimed the car of David Brock-Jest, while Mark Butterworth suffered a serious loss of brakes and ploughed into a gravel trap.

All the way from the USA came George Holman along with his Stutz Blackhawk. A broken valve spring put it out of the opening race, but some excellent overnight work had it ready for the second, when Holman claimed sixth place.

Holman’s Stutz was one of two, as John Guyatt raced Norman Barr’s version to fourth place on aggregate after a splendid contest with the 4.5litre Bentley of Paul Carter.

The use of Assen, better known as the venue of the Dutch bike TT, proved a big success, with its flowing circuit drawing an enthusiastic response from drivers.