CAREER OF A CHAMPION
BSCC driver, Martin Thomas, said of Jack Sears: ‘He was very clean in a car; he always tried to bring a car home, working under the theory that if it does, you’re in with a chance of winning. His consistency took him to where he was, being fast and being an excellent driver. He thoroughly enjoyed motor cars all his life.’ Here, we look back on the highlights from Jack’s racing career that show there was much more to his motor sport talents than driving saloon cars.
1948
Jack Sears begins competing in rallies, sprints and hillclimbs, having been gifted a Morgan 4/4 by his very generous father.
1950
Sears makes his racing debut at Goodwood in a supercharged MG TC.
1955
Jack Sears joins BMC as a works driver at the behest of his friend, Peter Reece, who sadly diea in a road accident shortly afterwards.
1956
Sears takes part in the Monte Carlo Rally with Archie Scott Brown in an Austin A50 with a tuned MG Magnette engine, finishing 50th out of 300 starters – the car withstood substantial damage after brake failure caused the car to roll.
1958
Jack Sears becomes the inaugural BSCC champion after entering his own Austin Westminster with BMC works backing.
1959
Sears leaves BMC Works to join Tommy Sopwith’s Equipe Endeavour, entering the world of GT racing soon after.
1963
Jeff Uren, now competition manager for Ford dealer, John Willment, approaches Sears to pilot a combination of Fords (Cortina GT, Galaxie and Lotus Cortina) to win the BSCC for a second time. Sears co-drives a Ferrari 330 LMB to a fifth-place finish at Le Mans with Mike Salmon that same year.
1964
Jack Sears records 185mph on the newlyopened M1 motorway in an AC Cobra ahead of the Le Mans 24 Hours. There were no restrictions at the time, though many suggest that it’s no coincidence that a national speed limit followed.
1965
Sears crashes a Lotus 40 during tyre testing at Silverstone. Having spent a year recovering from his injuries, he retires from racing.
1968
Sears plans and undertakes a full recognisance of the London to Sydney Marathon route, later becoming a BRDC director.
2016
Jack Sears dies on 6 August, aged 86 after battling cancer.