SOME OF THE NOTABLE CARS SET TO RACE THIS YEAR
Among a bumper grid of 500cc Formula 3 cars entered for Easter Monday’s 2024 seasonopener at Castle Combe, the Cooper-norton Mk8 (chassis Mk8/19/54) of Simon Hewes is of special interest. Recorded as Stuart Lewis-evans’s works car in 1954, it debuted at Kirkistown. A fortnight later, 70 years ago this weekend, the combo finished third in the final at Combe, behind Reg Bicknell (Revis) and Ivor Bueb in his works Cooper Mk8. Wins at Brough, Brands Hatch, Orleans (France), Teramo and Senigallia (Italy) followed. In 1955, entered by Brooklands tuning guru Robin Jackson, Lewisevans was victorious at Charterhall, Brands, Orleans, Oulton Park and Cosenza (Italy).
After Lewis-evans graduated to F1 in 1957, his Kent garage owner father Lewis – known to the fraternity as ‘Pop’ – raced the Cooper. It was subsequently sold to Germany, where 18-year-old Kurt Ahrens Jr, inspired by his speedway racer father, won five times in
1958 en route to a fine Fjunior and F2 career.
Also out at Combe is the unique Jason – reflecting its construction in July, August, September, October and November of 1952 – the creation of Midlander Godfrey Messervy. Then in his mid-twenties, the future chairman of Lucas CAV industries raced it with a fuel-injected Triumph twin engine. Serial
500 restorer Andy Raynor is the proud new owner of this early P1 class contender, Jap-powered since German Heiner Reinhart recommissioned it in the 1980s.
Another interesting debutant repatriated to its birthplace will be the 1948 Cooper Mk2 of James Wilson, who completes a three-strong team alongside aero engineer father Chris and brother Alex, winner here in 2022. Found derelict and incomplete via the legendary Kenny Smith in New Zealand in 2019, it has been subjected to a ground-up restoration, finished with days to spare.