‘Alexis Corner’

Alexis Cars Ltd from Alum Rock Road, Ward End, Birmingham may have been one of the smaller UK race car manufacturers from the 50’s through to 1975, but it was undoubtedly their greatest day at Snetterton on Sunday, with Benn Simms winning at the Jim Russell Trophy Meeting, with two strong drives in his orange 1967 Russell-Alexis Mk 14, on one taking the lead from young Ben Mitchell on the very last lap, and then in the second, wet Formula Junior race, Stuart Roach gave the FJ Mk IV its first race victory, after running second place to Jon Milicevic in Race 1.
The biggest change of course was to the circuit! Now extended by a twisty infield, with Armco barriers all too close – but nonetheless getting the seal of approval from the majority. There were changes, too, to other corners, with Russell chicane much changed and renamed, but the ‘bomb hole’ and Coram Corner remained.
It was the F3 500’s who ruled the day on Saturday, with 90 year old Jim Russell there to present the Jim Russell Trophy in person to Nigel Ashman (Cooper Mk XI) from a down on power Richard Ellingworth (ex Reg Hargrave, Kieft) with David Lecoq battling through to third.  In addition to celebrate the day, there was a small display of Jim Russell cars, with Robert Barrie’s Lotus 18, and Laine Martin’s ex-Fred Boothby, Frank Gardiner Jim Russell Lotus 20 amongst them.
Sad to record that one notable non appearant for the 500 race was David Stevenson, who, like Stirling Moss, albeit David, a few years older, had finally hung up his driving boots after more than 60 years on the track.  The Cooper Mk VIII is now sold.
By the Saturday evening many of the Juniors – with 38 entries ,  far and away the biggest field of the meeting – had arrived, and a little posse from both groups headed for Troston Hall, and Paul Hewes’ regular drinks on the lawn, followed by a splendid supper cooked by Jenny, and friends.
Sunday still beamed fine and sunny, but the forecasted weather was soon to evolve – but practice, at least, was dry.
Not to be seen this weekend were Denis Welch, who had withdrawn – no Hibberds to challenge, and the thought of a Milicevic walkover unappealing – while Taff Smith was too busy with the March 4 wheeler F1 project to escape.  For the rest, it was trial by noisemeter, with Richard Smeeton (Lotus 22 – not Wainer) tended by John Wilkie, Keith Roach (Gemini II), George Cooper (Cooper T59), Richard Utley (Caravelle I) and Laine Martin (Lotus 20) amongst the failures – it was great to see Richard back after his recovery from pneumonia at Pau, but the aggravation can hardly have done him, or George Cooper any good  - while neither he nor Laine Martin hardly managed any laps at all, and the length of silencer attached to Smeeton’s 22 must have been positively dangerous, if it had ever come dislodged.
Whilst Jon Milicevic was convincingly quickest, both Sam Wilson (Cooper T59) and a surprisingly neat and quick Nick Fennell (Lotus 27) were well up with him, Clive Chapman personally being in attendance with Nick.  Albeit 3s adrift was a satisfied Stuart Roach (Alexis MK4), whilst improvement also came from Mark Pangborn (Lotus 20B ex-John Monson).  Team Deeley was back, Jeremy in the ex-Mark Green Cooper T52, while his new acquisition, the ex-Peter Jackson Cooper T56 was entrusted to former BTCC driver Charlie Butler-Henderson – coasting to a halt at the new hairpin with seized brakes and petrol starvation.
Near the back was Chris Wilks, thoroughly enjoying himself in the Deep Sanderson, now with 1100cc motor.  Brian Mitcham’s U2 was comfortably fastest of the front engined cars, while Derek Walker’s Terrier T4 pitted with a plug lead loose, shortly followed by son-in-law Andrew Robertson – again! – in the Crosslé – however, this time both were fixed.
By the time Grant Wilson had weighed a sample of the cars, and assistance had been given to Alastair Pike’s BT21 Brabham to practice for the CRC race, it was soon time for Race 1, this being a double header meeting, with both races counting separately for  UK Championship points.
Jon Milicevic lead the orderly field round in just slightly damp conditions – 5 seconds; and away, with Sam Wilson on his tail, but sadly not for long, as the events of 2010 repeated themselves, and two laps completed, Sam’s T59 drive shaft broke, wreaking havoc with the rear suspension.  Behind, Stuart Roach was up to 2nd, and held station, only a second a lap down, with Nick Fennell an excellent third. Behind these three, however, was a good battle, with Mark Woodhouse (Lotus 20/22) working up to head James Claridge (Lola MK5A), with Mark Pangborn slipping back, but ahead of Pete Morton’s Lightning.  Two outstanding performances were from George Cooper in his T59, a whole 11 seconds faster than his (albeit noise depleted) practice time, and showing that his recent Pau GP outing was no fluke, and from Laine Martin, up to 17th and just ahead of the battling Elva 100’s of Justin Flemning and Peter St Barbe, vying for front engined championship honours, though both were trailing Brian Mitcham’s U2 Mk2, after Derek Walker spun at the hairpin leaving John Chisholm (Gemini II) nowhere to go but to demolish the Terrier nose. Sue Spence (Elva 200) just held off David Grunberg (Lotus 20 1Litre) while Gordon Wright (Stanguellini) nipped past Michael Ashley-Brown’s Volpini in front of the flag.
The rain had definitely arrived in time for Race 2, with Richard Smeeton (Lotus 22) also withdrawn with engine worries.  Drama came in the holding area, with Jon Milicevic’s Cooper T59 unable to run cleanly.  The Caravelle team ran to collect a spare coil, which was quickly double fitted and wired up, leaving Jon to follow the field out, at least a third of a lap adrift.  Amazingly he reappeared in about row 10 for the start – all to no avail, having risen to 5th place before terminal misfiring reappeared, although one can’t help thinking that a penalty would in any event, have been in order for not lining up at the back, having been passed by the field on the green flag lap.  Mark Pangborn also seemed to be out of position, but that clearly wasn’t to hinder him.  With Jon driving into the paddock direct from the hairpin on lap 2, it was Stuart Roach who led comfortably but controlled.  Behind, however came a star drive from Charlie Butler-Henderson, moving through from mid field, with James Claridge (5A) behind him for a while, until the latter spun. Finally Mark Woodhouse was disposed of, and he started to cut into Stuart’s lead – however Stuart was watching, and set a clear fastest lap to take a secure first FJ victory for Alexis, from Charlie and a delighted Mark Woodhouse.  James Claridge recovered to 5th, ahead of Nick Fennell who was being seriously circumspect in the wet conditions with his monocoque Lotus 27.  This time, three excellent drives; from Mark Pangborn in 4th; George Cooper, outstanding, and only ½ sec behind Fennell at the flag, and only 3s per lap slower than the leader – obviously well trained at Knockhill’s wet mountain circuit!!  - and from Robert Barrie, now fully reliable in his Lotus 18.  Pete Morton had an early spun, but was never in contention, and Brian Mitcham did the same, but recovered to pip Paul Smeeth’s Lotus 22 at the flag, just ahead of another impressive drive, this time from the experienced Peter St Barbe (Elva 100) to take second front engined honours.  David Grunberg (20) was simply delighted to finish his first race without being lapped. This time Michael Ashley-Brown pipped the Stanguellini of Gordon Wright, with Sue Spence, just trailing FJHRA treasurer, Stephen Bulling, (Sadler), both a lap behind.  Chris Wilks, still smiling with enjoyment, brought up the rear in the Deep Sanderson.
With the rain, Duncan adjourned the prizegiving to the garages. A much enjoyed meeting by all.

DCPR