Jack Sears

CHAMPION 1958, 1963

Jack Sears goes down in history as the first ever British Saloon Car champion, but the motorsporting all-rounder achieved success in GT racing too and he was a regular at Le Mans.

The Norfolk farmer began his career in rallies, and made his race debut in 1950 at the Goodwood circuit.

He also briefly raced single-seaters, but his fame came in tin-tops. His run to the 1958 British Saloon Car title was not an easy one, as he and Tommy Sopwith had tied on points and Sears prevailed in a two-legged shootout in a Riley 1.5 at Brands Hatch at the end of the year.

His second BSCC title was achieved in 1963 using a variety of cars, including a Ford Cortina GT, a Lotus Cortina and a Ford Galaxie, bringing American V8s to UK tin-top racing.

Sears came to the public’s attention in 1964 when he tested an AC Cobra Coupe on the M1 motorway in preparations for Le Mans. He topped 180mph and it hit the headlines in several national newspapers and questions were even asked in Parliament. It was often cited – incorrectly – that his antics prompted the 70mph speed limit on motorways. That is something that irritated Sears for years.

Sears raced extensively in Europe in a Lotus Cortina, but a big testing accident at Silverstone in September 1964 prompted him to retire from motorsport and return to his farm.