Continuing dry sunny weather brought out forty one Formula Juniors, representing all five classes, to race on the International circuit at Silverstone. This two & a quarter mile track omits the GP circuit’s long Hanger Straight plus Stowe, Club & Vale corners and thankfully also the very much unloved Abbey chicane. This International circuit peels off just after Becketts and then the sweeping left curving track runs slightly downhill to a right hand hairpin at Abbey and thence up to Bridge and Priory.
Many drivers of historic cars consider this circuit to be the best at Silverstone.

The main paddock remained quite full of large transporters on the Sunday causing many of our competitors to prefer the outer paddock, forsaking the allocated garages.
However, all the cars gathered in good time for Qualifying perfectly organised by the race directors to the exact minute of the HSCC published start of 10.25am.
A noise test was conducted at the entrance to the assembly area and this caused some disquiet (pun certainly intended) to David Pratley whose Lola Mk2 comprehensively failed despite having a very large silencer fitted. A retest was also failed and so his car was not allowed to take any further part and David was understandably upset by this turn of events, having just completely rebuilt the car. Others also found to be well above the limit included Steve Smith’s Cooper T59 who fitted a supplementary silencer in time to manage 6th fastest in just 6 laps. Aggravatingly, James Murray’s Lola 5A developed a last minute electrical problem but a new battery and some fault finding work resolved the problem in time for the 2nd race.
There was much general discussion afterwards as to how it could be that many cars which passed the noise test at Donington a few weeks previously could in the interim apparently have become louder by several dB. Maybe sight of equipment calibration certificates would have eased the tension.
It also seemed incongruous to many that the thunderous and ground shaking bellow of the Formula 5000 Derek Bell Trophy cars did not seem to cause any noise concerns.
By comparison, the FJs sounded almost mute.

Anyway, defending FJ champion Jon Milicevic made good use of 10 laps in his Cooper T59 and posted a pole time of 1:35.093 pushing recent Brands Hatch winner Michael Hibberd’s Lotus 27 into 2nd place over half a second behind.
Simon Armer, determined to make good his DNF at Donington, was 3rd in his Cooper T59 followed very closely by Andrew Hibberd’s Lotus 22 who completed the two front rows of the grid, marking the traditional rivalry between these two marques.
Class D front man was Chris Drake, Elva 300, with a 1.39.990 netting him 8th place but Ian Bankhurst in ex Dr. Tony Goodwin Class B Gemini Mk2 made an excellent 10th place with a time of 1:41.160.
John Hutchison’s Lotus 18 led Class C with 1:47.607 and the numerically largest Class B cars were heralded by Jack Woodhouse, Elva 100, just ahead of new to FJ Andrew Wilkinson trying out his ex Alan McGregor Cooper T59 for the first time. Their times being 1:45.376 and 1:45.553 for 15th and 16th place respectively.
Derek Walker’s famous orange Terrier was having a rare off day and returned to the paddock after just 7 laps with a slightly crumpled nose, which is an even rarer occurrence. Class A fielded 3 cars and Gordon Wright’s lovely blue Stanguellini headed these with 1:57.511 despite saving a spectacular half spin in the Complex.
Most perplexed driver was probably Stuart Tizzard who had forgotten to remove his Lola Mk2’s carburettor intake covers resulting in a gasping last place, but he was to recover from this embarrassment climbing with style to 14th in the 1st race and finishing 18th in the 2nd race.
After David Pratley, the next most annoyed driver was Steve Futter whose Renault gearbox failed on the start line of the 1st race meaning that his Lotus 20, although qualifying midfield, had to be sadly loaded onto the trailer ready for the long haul back to Scotland without turning a wheel in either of the races.
Roger Dexter, after qualifying 31st, sadly withdrew his Elva 100 from the 1st race and with the patience of Job tried to rectify fuel surge problems with its DKW engine.

So it was then that for the 1st race 38 cars made off towards Copse and straight away Milicevic took command from Michael Hibberd who remained in touch for several laps until dropping back markedly so that his son Andrew, who had passed Armer, moved into 2nd place. Hibberd Snr finally retired to the pits after 7 laps.
Once unleashed, Hibberd Jnr set off after Milicevic clearly on a mission, but Milicevic stretched his lead to an easy 23 seconds by the finish.
Your scribe watched from the BRDC tribune overlooking the Complex and noted Milicevic’s expertly held four wheel drifts through Priory and beyond.
Armer kept his cool head just in front of friend and rival Smith, their similar Coopers finishing 3rd and 4th respectively less than 2 seconds apart. Sadly, Mark Woodhouse’s Lotus 20/22, now resplendent in white livery, began to suffer surging oil pressure with just one lap remaining so he wisely retired immediately.
Paul Smeeth hustled his pale green Lotus 22 past the similar car of the last unlapped John Rees and also Drake’s Elva, to finish 5th less than one second ahead of Pete Morton’s Lightning. Amid much cheering from his fan club Jack Woodhouse drove an impeccable race to finish 9th ahead of several very experienced & skilful drivers. 10th place went to John Boyes’ Lotus 20, beautifully presented as always, although a spin at Priory lost him a little time. Unfortunately at three quarter distance Stephen Gibson retired his Lynx T80 into the safe escape road at Priory and he was unable to compete in the 2nd race. Michael Ashley-Brown was going well in his beautiful Volponi but a misfire set in during the latter stages costing him several places and he too was not able to make the 2nd race.

Before the 2nd race, which was the last of the day, Mark Woodhouse could be seen pondering over his Lotus 20/22 oil concerns and Ian Bankhurst’s Gemini gearbox was being changed but unfortunately he wasn’t ready in time. Stephen Barlow’s petite Huffaker-BMC Mk1 also succumbed to a problem and was loaded up ready for home. Contrasting fortunes for this US marque because David Hall’s Mk2 model finished a strong 12th place in the 1st race. Michael Waller’s Kieft was down on power and although nothing specific could be diagnosed he decided to not contest the 2nd race.

In the late afternoon sunshine the remaining 32 cars assembled for the 2nd race.
The grid was determined by the finishing positions of the 1st race but this was subject to some adjustment at the front when a hand written revised version was issued to the assembly area marshals.

Again Milicevic led away off the start line but hotly pursued by Hibberd who was close for some laps and caught Milicevic napping when they later negotiated back markers, to lead the race for a lap. However, Milicevic immediately retook the lead and scampered away to win by nearly 10 seconds. John Rees’ Lotus 22 had problems on the green flag lap and Lance Whitehead didn’t get his Lotus 20 off the start line and was last away.
Armer and Smith continued their close fought Cooper battle from the 1st race and again Armer prevailed, to lead Smith over the line by just 2 seconds for 3rd and 4th places respectively.
Drake pushed hard to finish 5th but some way back and very closely followed over the line by Morton’s Lightning. Murray’s Lola, now running well, finished 7th, which was a very rewarding result for him in the circumstances. Dexter coaxed his still badly spluttering Elva-DKW into 27th place and was relieved to make the chequered flag.
Alex Morton brought his Ausper T3 home in 16th place, the same result as in the 1st race ahead of David Stevenson’s Mallock U2 and this time also ahead of Tizzard.
Andrew Spence was encouraging his wife Sue in the Elva 200 and she gradually improved her lap times to the point when Andrew said that from now on she could build all their engines if she wanted to. Martyn Crump’s similar model was ahead of Sue in qualifying and in the 1st race but she finished well ahead in this 2nd race.
David Crowther’s Lotus 22 finished well down as did DCPR’s Alexis HF1, both of them behind Peter St.Barbe’s Elva 100. Walker retired after just 2 laps but Andrew Robertson quietly restored family honours by finishing a sound 14th in his Crossle.
Middle order finishers were led by Justin Fleming’s Elva 100 and despite besting John Hutchison’s Lotus 18 by some 9 seconds he could not get near Crispian Besley’s
similar car which finished 13th. Tony Childe-Freeman continued to struggle with a minor gearbox malfunction in his Volpini and had to be content with last place having qualified slightly better. Whitehead managed to ease up to 21st place just ahead of John Dowson’s Elva 200 and they had a clear gap from next man Geoff O’nion who drove his yellow Elva 100 into 23rd place despite a rather better qualifying lap time.

FJHRA doesn’t do tea & sympathy for the disappointed but instead makes do with Derek Walker’s home made flapjack and Crispian Besley’s professionally brewed beer all of which was gratefully consumed by all competitors and which somehow seems to ease the pain of a lost place or even a DNF.
In the unaccustomed silence of a near empty paddock DCPR welcomed all the competitors and especially those new(ish) to the delights of FJHRA racing.
The 1st, 2nd & 3rd place men having been lauded on the official podium it remained for DCPR to congratulate them and to then award Class trophies as appropriate.
Your scribe was unashamedly pleased that Coopers finished 1st, 3rd & 4th overall, plus Wilkinson’s upper midfield finishes first time out in his car.

The two individual races each scored points for the UK Championship.

Round 3 (race 11).
1st overall & 1st Class E, John Milicevic, Cooper T59, 1;35.086
2nd overall & 2nd Class E, Andrew Hibberd, Lotus 22
3rd overall & 3rd Class E, Simon Armer, Cooper T59.
1st Class D, Chris Drake, Elva 300, 1;40.064
2nd Class D, John Boyes, Lotus 20
3rd Class D, David Hall, Huffaker-BMC Mk2
1st Class C, John Hutchison, Lotus 18, 1:46.965
2nd Class C, Andrew Robertson, Crossle 4F
3rd Class C, John Dowson, Elva 200
1st Class B, Jack Woodhouse, Elva 100, 1:42.270
2nd Class B, Ian Bankhurst, Gemini Mk2
3rd Class B, Crispian Besley, Elva 100
1st Class A, Gordon Wright, Stanguellini
2nd Class A, Michael Ashley-Brown, Volpini
3rd Class A, Tony Childe-Freeman, Volpini

Round 4 (race 14)
1st overall & 1st Class E, Jon Milicevic, Cooper T59, 1:35.737
2nd overall & 2nd Class E, Andrew Hibberd, Lotus 22
3rd overall & 3rd Class E, Simon Armer, Cooper T59
1st Class D, Chris Drake, Elva 300
2nd Class D, John Boyes, Lotus 20
3rd Class D, David Hall, Huffaker-BMC Mk2
1st Class C, Andrew Robertson, rossle 4f, 1:45.003
2nd Class C, John Hutchison, Lotus 18
3rd Class C, John Dowson, Elva 200
1st Class B, Jack Woodhouse, Elva 100
2nd Class B, Crispian Besley, Elva 100
3rd Class B, David Stevenson, Mallock U2
1st Class A, Gordon Wright, Stanguellini
2nd Class A, Tony Childe-Freeman, Volpini

Peter Jackson, the Cooper Cockpit Correspondent