DAVE DOWNER vs DEREK MINTER
Yes, I was there, perched at my favourite spot near to what used to be called Southbank Bottom Bend at Brands Hatch on the fateful day in 1962 – a meeting which Paul Dunstall recalled in the August issue of CB when recounting the development of his Domiracer. I was expecting to witness Chris Vincent winning the sidecar events – but first he turned out on his ‘pet’ solo 125cc Honda. Sadly, he ‘disappeared’ after a rare off, but luckily he only sustained a cut across the top of his nose, so he did compete in the sidecars – and still won!
Back in those days, Kent’s Derek Minter was virtually unbeatable at Brands, so it was no mean feat for Paul Dunstall to lend a spare bike to his elected rookie, Dave Downer, who lined up astride a Domiracer on the front row next to ‘The Mint’. Jaws dropped as the pair battled it out tooth and nail, lap after lap, with Dave seeming to have the slight edge. It came down to a last-lap decider – whoever got into Clearways first would win. Suddenly, heads turned and the crowd went silent... both had ‘disappeared’ as the result of a coming together at Dingle Dell. Minter got away with back injuries, but sadly Paul died. Some say it was oil on the circuit or on Minter’s bike that caused a slide, others say just they touched. Who knows, but Dave left us as a hero. For me, that particular competition lives on as a vivid memory, equal to the legendary duel at Mallory when John Cooper on a BSA Triple took on Agostini on a factory MV-3 and won!