Thrilling a large and appreciative audience at Saturday’s Silverstone Vintage Sports-Car Club Spring Start race meeting, US-domiciled Briton Mark Gillies landed his 12th Patrick Lindsay Memorial Trophy victory in Dick Skipworth’s ex-works/Luis Fontes ERA R3A.
Half a second separated Gillies, Ben Fidler (ex-Raymond Mays/Ken Wharton R4D) and a ballsy James Topliss – racing the ex-Pat Fairfield R4A for the first time – in practice as the best ERA turnout in years highlighted the event.
Fidler led for two laps before Gillies sizzled the Lincoln green machine past the works development car, there to stay. “I had a bit of oil surge so slowed it down in a couple of corners,” said Gillies afterwards.
Last year’s victor Fidler and Topliss – in father Nick’s 2024 winner – chased hard, James having boldly overtaken Robin Tuluie’s fearsome American aero-engined Riley Menasco Pirate, which finished fourth.
Notable performances from Stephanie Wilton (ex-Arthur Dobson R7B) – the first woman to race an ERA since Narisa Chakrabongse bravely piloted R2B Romulus in the wet Shuttleworth & Nuffield Trophies race at Donington Park in 1987 – and Duncan Ricketts in the ERA-derived Parnell Challenger coloured the feature.
Tony and Pia Bianchi’s Revolution 50s sportscar race attracted a wonderful pre-1961 pack. An anomaly of the VSCC qualifying format, whereby competitors in multiple races run once before being shuffled into grids, left FISCAR doubler Clive Richards’ 1098cc Lotus-BMC 7 on pole, ahead of local ace Gary Pearson’s Lister-Jaguar Knobbly.
“It was bone dry for me, but wet for them,” said past Caterham and Lurani Trophy Formula Junior champion Richards almost embarrassedly, “but I won’t be ahead for long!” Swallowed by the pack at the lights, his steed conked out before Maggotts!
Morley was not able to prevent Pearson from triumphing in pre-1961 contest
Photo by: Mick Walker
A stoppage to recover Paul Pochciol’s Jaguar D-type gifted Stuart Morley, in Richard Hudson’s hulking Lister-Chevrolet Knobbly, a second opportunity to pressure Pearson from the restart. Shadowed by Andrew Smith (Cooper T49 Monaco), Morley’s ballsy 90mph traverses of Woodcote came up 1.498s short.
Mark Donnor (Lister-Jaguar Costin) relieved Oliver Llewellyn (Allard J2) of fourth with a final flourish. Tommy Waterfield was a fine eighth in Tim Ross’s Cooper T39 Bobtail, the best tiddler.
Former F1 engineer Tuluie won the Silverstone Trophy Specials race after a mighty skirmish with fellow German Rudi Friedrichs’ Alvis Firefly. Friedrichs switched to his ex-Jack Brabham 1960 Cooper T53 to win the Rothschild & Robert Ashley Trophies race from American Michael Gans (ex-Bruce McLaren Tasman Cooper T79) and Nick Fennell’s wailing 1500cc Lotus 25 V8.
Max Sowerby growled his Talbot Lago T23 up from fifth to hound Rob Beebee’s Frazer Nash TT Rep in the Fox & Nicholl Trophy sportscar set. Simon Blakeney-Edwards (FN Super Sports) held off second qualifier Sue Darbyshire’s Morgan Aero for third.
When leader Glen and Rory Tollett’s Austin-Healey 100M fell to an oil leak on the final circuit, Adrian King struck FISCAR gold in David Cottingham’s AC Ace. Mark Groves, in the vermillion Lotus Elite started by tyre baron Dougal Cawley, ambushed Tania Pilkington (Maserati 300S) for a last gasp second. Irishman Eddie McGuire’s Gordini T23S wilted when pole-setter Miles Griffiths jumped aboard.
Dane Christian Pedersen won the Allcomers closer in his supercharged 1936 Austin 7 Monoposto ‘Miss Green’. Pursuer Richard Carter’s similar machine ‘Mis-Demeanor’ lived up to its name, finishing with oil smoke billowing from its engine bay.
FISCAR featured a surprise ending when the lead changed on the final lap
Photo by: Mick Walker
We want to hear from you!
Let us know what you would like to see from us in the future.
Take our survey
– The Autosport.com Team
Read the full article here
