South African Grand Prix - January 1st, 1960 in 1/52 scale

My son and I are planning to build a temporary 75 metre long Wrenn Formula 152 track and prepare three Coopers, Paul Frere #2 Cooper-Climax (yellow), Stirling Moss #7 Cooper-Borgward (blue) and Syd van der Vyver #? Cooper-Alfa (maroon). This was the first international race I ever attended.

 

We need to find out Syd's race number, and the pole position time in practice

 

Also we need to buy or borrow some T12 curves.

 

Thanks, Rob

Edited by Rob Miller, 23 March 2015 - 14:57.

Hi Rob,

According to "Sun On The Grid" Moss' time was 1:37:3, Van Der Vyver's number was 12. Hope this helps and have fun! I too was there, still have the programme which I had signed by both Moss and Chris Bristow, a treasured item.

Jeff.

Edited by Jeff Weinbren, 23 March 2015 - 17:22.

Thanks Jeff

 

I really must get a copy of "Sun on the Grid".

 

This project is going to take some time to set up.

 

Rob

According to 'A Record of South African Formula 1 Races - 1960-1975' by Peter McIntosh with Paul Sheldon, which gives full entries/ grid and results on 1960 South African Grand Prix, pole position was achieved by Stirling Moss 1'37.25". The other two entries P.Frere 1'39.25" (2nd on grid) and S.van der Vyver 1'43.0" (8th on grid), this time equalled by Don Philp (Cooper 43-Climax), who was 7th on grid.

 

Results were 1st, P.Frere 60 laps,1:43'18.0" = 84.90mph, 2nd, S.Moss, 60 laps, 1'43'53.3", 3rd P.van der Vyver, 59 laps, 1:44'25.3".

 

Fastest lap:  S.Moss 1'38.75" = 88.79mph   

 

Race number correct to earlier replies

Thanks dgs

 

Could you please let us know who were 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 9th on the grid with their race numbers?

 

We can then run three heats of three cars each.

 

Thanks, Rob

Edited by Rob Miller, 26 March 2015 - 09:39.

Hi Rob

 

1960 SOUTH AFRICAN GRAND PRIX

 

Starting Grid:   three - two grid pattern

 

(no 7) S. Moss  1'37.25"    (no 2) P.Frere  1'39.25"  (no 6) C.Bristow  1'39.7"

(no 3) B.Halford  1'41.0"   (no 1) L.Bianchi  1'41.0"

(no 4) D.Gibson  1'41.75"  (no 9) D.Philp  1'43.0"  (no 12) S.van der Vyver  1'43.0"

(no 10) T.Kotze  1'44.0"  (no 11) T.Maggs  1'45.4"

(no 5) I.Frazer-Jones  1'46.75"  (no 15) J.Shield  1'47.2"  (no 14) D.Serrurier  1'47.5"

(no 8)  J.Love  1'48.25"  (no 25) D.Wright  1'50.1"

(no 21) L.Jacobsz  1'50.0"  (no 24)  H.Mentzler  1'50.6"  (no 22) F.Viljoen  1'51.0"

(no 19) S.Tingle  1'51.0"  (no 16) B.Jennings  1'52.8"

(no 17) R.Humphreys  1'53.7"  (no 20) J.Hanning  1'54.0"  (no 23) F.Boyden  1'55.5"

(no 27) E.Glasby  1'56.0"

Thanks very much dgs.

 

Rob

In the February 19, 1960 issue of Autosport there is a report on the race meeting at Grand Central on January 30, 1960 with a picture of Doug Serrurier's Cooper-Alfa Romeo.

The report mentions that this was the first time out for the car and looks forward to seeing it compete with Syd van der Vyver's similar car on the same track.

If this is the case, which car was Doug Serrurier driving in East London on January 1?

Edited by Rob Miller, 29 May 2015 - 00:13.

South African Grand Prix (East London) 1st January 1960, was a Formula 2 race which included 7 Formula Libre cars.

 

The second edition of Volume 7 "A Record of Grand Prix & Voiturette Racing" published 2010 has updated information on Entry 14 Doug Serrurier. Car is shown as Cooper 45-Alfa-Romeo.

 

Entry No 12 Syd van der Vyver, Cooper 43-Alfa Romeo (chassis no F2-22-57).

 

The race held at Grand Central on 30th January 1960 'Transvaal Summer Handicap' was a handicap race which included 6 Formula Libre cars. As a handicap race it is not covered in the 'Record' book, but details are in the 1999 book " A Record of South African Formula 1 Racing, 1960-1975" by Peter McIntosh.

 

In Transvaal race Doug Serrurier is shown as No 5, Cooper 45-Alfa-Romeo, 1st, 20 laps, 33'09" =76.02mph (scratch). Handicap result he was 4th. Syd van der Vyver was not entered in Transvaal race.    

Thanks dgs.

The Autosport report was a 2 page spread by A.R. Hull. I'm surprised he got it wrong.

Tony Maggs was first on handicap and second on scratch in his Tojeiro-Jaguar with John Love (Jaguar D-type) second and third respectively.

Rob

Box arrived today with 90 pieces of track including 10 of the hard to find T12 curves. Spent all afternoon cleaning the paint off.

Rob