15 replies to this topic

[Sharman]

On the third of September 1955 a formula Libre race was run at the same meeting as the Telegraph F1 race.

Motorsport doesn't mention it that I can find, does anybody have an Autosport report and as I can find the results but I can't find runners and riders, does anybody have a programme to consult?

Thanks in advance.

[raceannouncer2003]

Did you find the results here?

 

http://www.teamdan.c...flibre.html#3-9

 

That lists six cars.

 

The LAT Photographic Archive has a distant photo of the start.  It appears to show ten cars, and mentions Bob Gerard in a Cooper-Bristol on the front row with Collins and Salvadori.

 

So with the results, that gives you seven of the starters.  Three more to go !

 

Vince H.

[Eric Dunsdon]

There were ten starters and six finishers for this race run over 17 laps The result being as follows.

 

1.Peter Collins BRMV16 Mk2.

2.Roy Salvadori Maserati 250F

3.Tony Brooks Connaught A Type.

4 Bruce Halford Cooper Bristol

5Bill Holt Connaught A Type

6Horace Richards H.A.R

 

Bob Gerards Cooper Bristol was a retirement. Afraid I dont know who the other starters were..

[Sharman]

Yes I got that Eric, I am fishing around trying to find the chassis number of Collins BRM, nobody seems to have the information on which of the chassis were used where.

Certa Cito

John

[Eric Dunsdon]

Yes, sorry John, I realised that as soon as I'd pressed the send button!. Being able to say something about a BRM V16 win got the better of me!.

Good luck with the chassis number. That was the V16's last win of course. Wish I had been there to see and hear it. Even if it was Aintree!.

 

Begone Dull Care!.

[arttidesco]

Yes I got that Eric, I am fishing around trying to find the chassis number of Collins BRM, nobody seems to have the information on which of the chassis were used where.

Certa Cito

John

3/9/55 #22 BRM V16 Mk 2 'No 5' beat Salvadori 250F and Brooks Connaught, from The Masters famous Volume 1

[Sharman]

Ah but how many Mk2s were built

[arttidesco]

According Vol. 1 there are results for two Mk II's  No:4 and No:5 which follows the numbering sequence for the Mk 1's No:1, No:2 and No:3. 

[Macca]

Yes, there were 5 V16s built (though there were never 5 in existence at any one time, much as with the P25s ) - of the 2 'Mk 1' cars, one was destroyed by Wharton at Albi, and the chassis of another was twisted enough to be written-off (despite Wharton winning!) in the collision with Salvadori's 250F at Goodwood. The engines and other parts of those 2 cars were then used in the 2 'Mk 2s'.

In recent years new Mk 1 chassis have been built up to recreate at least one more Mk 1 from spares.

Paul M

[dgs]

II Daily Telegraph Trophy. (Formula Libre)  Aintree  17 laps = 51.00 miles,  03-09-1955

 

Pole:  R.Salvadori  2'07.0"

 

Results:

 

1st  (No 22)  P.Collins,  BRM V16 Mk II,  17 laps, 35'54.8" = 85.20 mph

2nd  (No 5)  R.Salvadori,  Maserati 250F, 17 laps, 37'13.0"

3rd  (No 17)  T.Brooks,  Connaught A-Lea Francis,  17 laps, 37'40.4"

4th  (No 11)  B.Halford,  Cooper 23-Bristol,  16 laps

5th  (No 19)  T.Holt,  Connaught A-Lea Francis,  16 laps

6th  (No 2)  H.Richards,  HAR-Riley, 16 laps

       (No 10)  B.Gerard,  Cooper 23-Bristol, 12 laps, valves

       (No 23)  G.Richardson,  RRA-ERA, 11 laps

       (No 12)  T.Kyffin,  Cooper 23-Bristol,  6 laps

       (No 14)  A.Birrell,  Cooper 20-Bristol, 5 laps

 

Did Not Start.

 

No 1,  J.Fairman, Connaught B-Alta, 2'11.8" (3rd row)

No 2,  R.Parnell, Connaught B-Alta,  (2nd row ??)

No 3,  M.Young,  Connaught A-Alta (5th row  ??)

No  4, H.Gould,  Maserati 250F, 2'09.0" (front row) 

No 6,  L.Rosier,  Maserati 250F, 2'11.0" (3rd row)

No 7,  L.Leston,  Maserati 250F, 2'13.4" (4th row)

No 8,  P.Emery,  Emeryson-Alta (7th row)

No 15, J.Sumervail,  Cooper 20-Bristol (6th row)

No 18,  J.Young,  Connaught A-Lea-Francis (6th row)  engine

No 20,  D.Gibson,  Connaught A-Lea-Francis (???)

 

A check on results on main race of day (II Daily Telegraph Trophy for F1 cars) may give an indication on why several drivers did not start in Formula Libre race.

 

J.Fairman, retired 2 laps, crash

L.Rosier, retired 8 laps, clutch

P.Emery, retired 7 laps, oil pressure

J.Sumervail, retired, 0 laps, crash

D.Gibson, retired, 3 laps, oil pressure

M.Young (qualified 5th row, did not start)

J.Young (qualified 5th row, did not start) 

 

Although R.Parnell finished 5th in main race one lap behind winner, he had some problem with the car, and pushed it over finish line. Perhaps it was not possible to repair car for Formula Libre race.

[Eric Dunsdon]

Good stuff  dgs. Thanks for posting.  .

[bradbury west]

I recall that a while ago someone, poss Graham ?. Heath, published a couple of vols of the full entries and results for Aintree. Mentioned on the book thread ISTR. I believe it is similar to Richard Page's C Palace work in concept.
Roger Lund

[Sharman]

II Daily Telegraph Trophy. (Formula Libre)  Aintree  17 laps = 51.00 miles,  03-09-1955
 
Pole:  R.Salvadori  2'07.0"
 
Results:
 
1st  (No 22)  P.Collins,  BRM V16 Mk II,  17 laps, 35'54.8" = 85.20 mph
2nd  (No 5)  R.Salvadori,  Maserati 250F, 17 laps, 37'13.0"
3rd  (No 17)  T.Brooks,  Connaught A-Lea Francis,  17 laps, 37'40.4"
4th  (No 11)  B.Halford,  Cooper 23-Bristol,  16 laps
5th  (No 19)  T.Holt,  Connaught A-Lea Francis,  16 laps
6th  (No 2)  H.Richards,  HAR-Riley, 16 laps
       (No 10)  B.Gerard,  Cooper 23-Bristol, 12 laps, valves
       (No 23)  G.Richardson,  RRA-ERA, 11 laps
       (No 12)  T.Kyffin,  Cooper 23-Bristol,  6 laps
       (No 14)  A.Birrell,  Cooper 20-Bristol, 5 laps
 
Did Not Start.
 
No 1,  J.Fairman, Connaught B-Alta, 2'11.8" (3rd row)
No 2,  R.Parnell, Connaught B-Alta,  (2nd row ??)
No 3,  M.Young,  Connaught A-Alta (5th row  ??)
No  4, H.Gould,  Maserati 250F, 2'09.0" (front row) 
No 6,  L.Rosier,  Maserati 250F, 2'11.0" (3rd row)
No 7,  L.Leston,  Maserati 250F, 2'13.4" (4th row)
No 8,  P.Emery,  Emeryson-Alta (7th row)
No 15, J.Sumervail,  Cooper 20-Bristol (6th row)
No 18,  J.Young,  Connaught A-Lea-Francis (6th row)  engine
No 20,  D.Gibson,  Connaught A-Lea-Francis (???)
 
A check on results on main race of day (II Daily Telegraph Trophy for F1 cars) may give an indication on why several drivers did not start in Formula Libre race.
 
J.Fairman, retired 2 laps, crash
L.Rosier, retired 8 laps, clutch
P.Emery, retired 7 laps, oil pressure
J.Sumervail, retired, 0 laps, crash
D.Gibson, retired, 3 laps, oil pressure
M.Young (qualified 5th row, did not start)
J.Young (qualified 5th row, did not start) 
 
Although R.Parnell finished 5th in main race one lap behind winner, he had some problem with the car, and pushed it over finish line. Perhaps it was not possible to repair car for Formula Libre race.

This just shows how good Tony brooks was, with a 1700cc Lea-Francis engine only losing a second a lap to Salvo in a full formula 1 car.

[David McKinney]

Why would Brooks be running a 1700cc car when every other Connaught A-Type was 1960cc?

[D-Type]

Why would Brooks be running a 1700cc car when every other Connaught A-Type was 1960cc?

I can only think it's a [period] typo or error in whatever Sharman is looking at.  1500cc could have been substitution of a sports car engine after a breakage, admittedly highly unlikely, but 1700cc doesn't make any sense at all.  Something to do with car no 17 completing 17 laps perhaps?

[Sharman]

Nah it was me with my brain in neutral, the original Leaf engine was 1770 if I remember correctly, and I just writed!