White follows in local hero's wheel tracks

Kenneth White retained the Bob Gerard Memorial Trophy during the VSCC’s annual visit to Mallory Park.

Forty-six years after Gerard drove the first laps of the Leicestershire circuit in a Cooper Bristol, White won the race for pre-1955 singleseaters in a similar machine. Mac Hulbert, fresh from his victory at Shelsley Walsh, led the chase of White in his ex-Raymond Mays ERA R4D from Paul Jaye’s Alta. Hulbert had earlier clinched a scratch race victory from Mark Gillies in the Riley Treen.

The other feature event celebrated another famous Leicester racer in the John Taylor Memorial Trophy for Formula Juniors. Simon Diffey proved his growing versatility by jumping into the lead in his Lotus 20 and fending off the challenge of Mark Gullies (Cooper T56) in the shortened race. Into third came Major Bob Birrell in his Brabham BT6, while Reg Hargrave won the 500cc class in his Kieft.

Another award retained was the Patrick Marsh Trophy for vintage racing cars, Tim Llewellyn’s Bentley 3/8 proving too strong for the opposition. Geraint Owen continued his good season by taking runner-up slot in the De Havilland-Riley.

The intrepid Clive Press hauled his Peugeot to victory in the Edwardian Handicap, while the Nash of Brian White took the Pre-War Sports Car race.