11 replies to this topic

[rbm]

At Silverstone 6th August 1960 Gordon Jones in a Cooper mk XI won the Commander York Trophy (the 100 mile race for 500cc Formula 3 race cars).

Was this the final time that the Commander York Trophy was run as (ex-)Formula 3, 500cc racing was in serious decline having already been replaced by Formula Junior?

Did the Commander York Trophy then evolve into something else?

With the potential revival of the original race next season at Silverstone, does anyone have any idea where the original trophy is?


regards Richard

[Vitesse2]

Colin Rawlinson's book on the 500s says 1960 was the last running of it. No further info though.

[Tim Murray]

Google throws up several references to Mike Spence's victory in the 1961 Commander York Trophy, including this copy of the first part of the Autosport event report from Jane Prophet's website on her father:

http://www.janeproph...t_Aug4_1961.pdf

Edit: ... and according to this site the 1962 event was held on 31st March and won by Dickie Attwood in a Cooper T59.

Further edit: The F Junior section of Stefan Örnerdal's site has the results for the 1961 and 1962 events, but nothing thereafter.

Edited by Tim Murray, 26 November 2012 - 12:29.

[David McKinney]

So 1960 remains the last running for 500s, the next two years being FJ

[Eric Dunsdon]

I was delighted to see that there is a planned revival of the Commander Yorke Trophy at Silverstone next year. Would it be at the VSCC's two dayer perhaps?. If so, I'll be optimistic and enter it into my new diary!. Those 500cc meetings were always great fun.

[rbm]

I was delighted to see that there is a planned revival of the Commander Yorke Trophy at Silverstone next year. Would it be at the VSCC's two dayer perhaps?. If so, I'll be optimistic and enter it into my new diary!. Those 500cc meetings were always great fun.

At the moment next years races are not fully defined, however it is planned to be at the VSCC Silverstone with a total of one hour on track (rather than 100 miles) spread over the two days.

[RWB]

At Silverstone 6th August 1960 Gordon Jones in a Cooper mk XI won the Commander York Trophy (the 100 mile race for 500cc Formula 3 race cars).

Was this the final time that the Commander York Trophy was run as (ex-)Formula 3, 500cc racing was in serious decline having already been replaced by Formula Junior?

Did the Commander York Trophy then evolve into something else?

With the potential revival of the original race next season at Silverstone, does anyone have any idea where the original trophy is?


regards Richard

Mention of Gordon Jones leads me to ask which Lister Jaguar he drove in 1959?

[David McKinney]

I don't think he did

Perhaps it's Gordon Lee you're remembering? He drove the ex-Jim Clark (etc) car - the one with so-called "flat iron" bodywork

[RAP]

I don't think he did

Perhaps it's Gordon Lee you're remembering? He drove the ex-Jim Clark (etc) car - the one with so-called "flat iron" bodywork

Robert is quite correct, G M Jones did race a 3442cc Lister n 1959. I have the Brands Aug Mon programme open and he was #69 and was 3rd in the over 3000cc class

RAP

[David McKinney]

Quite right - I'd somehow missed that

And as Gordon Lee was second in the class, it can't have been a programme misprint...

But I still don't know which car he drove

[D-Type]

Robert is quite correct, G M Jones did race a 3442cc Lister n 1959. I have the Brands Aug Mon programme open and he was #69 and was 3rd in the over 3000cc class

RAP

That's the only start that Martin Krejkci lists for Gordon Jones. He has him non starting at the 29th August Farningham Trophy at Brands and the 18th May Whitsun Trophy at Goodwood. All list him as entrant. The August Bank Holiday meeting is the only mention in Archie and the Listers. If these records are complete these entries aren't many for a pricey car like a Lister - perhaps Gordon Jones used the car for hillclimbing or sprints.

[RWB]

That's the only start that Martin Krejkci lists for Gordon Jones. He has him non starting at the 29th August Farningham Trophy at Brands and the 18th May Whitsun Trophy at Goodwood. All list him as entrant. The August Bank Holiday meeting is the only mention in Archie and the Listers. If these records are complete these entries aren't many for a pricey car like a Lister - perhaps Gordon Jones used the car for hillclimbing or sprints.

According to the BARC records he did start at the Whitsun Goodwood, finishing 16th and last in the Whitsun Trophy and 9th in the First Whitsun Handicap.