Paddins Dowling

MASERATI BIRDCAGE

“Other than a run up the driveway, the first time I drove the Maserati Birdcage was at Goodwood. It really was a baptism of fire – or rather a baptism of ice and snow,” jokes Paddins Dowling, who is better known as an ERA ace.

“The Birdcage was perfect for such a novel debut. The car is neutral with superb brakes. In contrast to my ERA, which you steer on the throttle, the Maserati is controlled by the superb steering. I’d love to have run faster, but the conditions made me extremely cautious.”

Four Birdcages were entered for the Salvadori Cup, but only two braved the freezing conditions on race day. Dowling sliced 12 secs off his best practice lap time and finished a strong 12th, sandwiched by a Lotus 15 and a Cooper Bobtail.

Recently acquired from the late Rodney Smith’s collection, the Birdcage joins ERA R2A and a Maserati 4CL. The car was built for Smith by Crosthwaite and Gardiner, and was previously raced by Mark Gillies, who 10 years ago took Dowling for a pretty rapid spin around Silverstone on an HGPCA test day: “That run really impressed me, and when the opportunity arose I simply had to buy it. The engineering is just beautiful.”

“I always enjoy Goodwood,” says the United States-based Irishman. “It’s a fast circuit where you can really get everything out of a car.” Dowling has no immediate plans for the Birdcage but is now focused on guestdriving the ex-prince Bira ERA ‘Remus’ at Monaco.