COVE TO DEBUT DRYBROUGH’S MARCH THIS WEEKEND

Dental surgeons Ross Drybrough and Tony Cove will go head to head in Historic Formula Fords at Silverstone this weekend as March’s unusual Us-market 709 model (pictured) makes its UK racing debut close to its original Bicester birthplace.

“Tony lives in Canada, but we’ve been friends since dental school,” explained Scottish implant specialist Drybrough.

“He’s been racing Formula Fords out there and in the USA for more than a decade; I caught the Fford bug when I visited in 2014, then won my class at last year’s VARAC Mosport event in Tony’s Canadian-built Ferret.

“Tony spotted an advert for 709-1 there, thus I became the proud owner of one of just two. I’ve spoken to Wayne Mitchell, who imported it to California [in 1970], recommissioned the chassis, rebuilt the gearbox, fitted a new Neil Bold engine and tested it.

“Tony will debut the March in the HSCC championship finals;

I’m in my regular Merlyn [MK20AS].”