Motor Racing legend
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Pre-War Sports Cars at the Algarve Historic Festival
Talk about David and Goliath. The first half of the Motor Racing Legends Pre-War Sports Cars race on the fantastic, undulating Algarve race circuit was dominated by a jaw-dropping battle for the lead. The pole-sitting bulk of John Paul Mason’s Alvis Speed 25 Tourer repeatedly swapped places with the tiny, light, 3-wheeled Morgan Super Aero, with Sue Darbyshire at the wheel. The Morgan’s 1260cc engine was no match for the 3.5-litre Alvis on the long, fast straight – but the left-hand hairpin, followed by a steep climb, offered the perfect opportunity for Darbyshire to nip past and re-take the lead. This happened lap after lap, only for the Alvis to thunder past on the straight once more. Riveting stuff.
The pre-War grid was small, but the action was so spectacular as to make it a genuine highlight for spectators. Tackling the hills and dips, fast and slow corners, it was a real challenge for both driver and car. On exiting that tight, uphill hairpin, for example, some cars would slide with perfect control – while others took several laps to get to grips with it. “That downhill stretch into the hairpin is hard on the brakes,” said race winner Mason, “but the beauty is that everything cools down again on the long straight.” Joining Mason on the podium were Rob Blakemore and Steve Skipworth, whose Riley TT Sprite Replica finished second; and Richard Lake and Jane Varley, who took their Aston Martin 15/98 Speed Model to a fine third place. |
“We were really going for it, and I was thinking ‘I’m not sure I can keep this up for a whole hour!’” said Mason after the race but, sadly, the Morgan hit an electrical problem which saw Sue suddenly drop back. Ever the gentleman, Mason backed off long enough to check his opponent was okay, before surging forward to take the now undisputed lead. A pitstop and driver change for the Morgan didn’t sort the electrical issues but the team wasn’t going to give up just because the car was one cylinder short. Now running on one cylinder (and three wheels), and with Gary Caroline in the driver’s seat, the little Morgan carried gamely on to finish eighth.