1959 Ken Wharton Memorial Driving Tests

Hagley and District Light Car Club Meeting Won by Ulster Team.

This report is reproduced from Autosport Magazine, October 23 1959, kindly turned up by Joe Duggan.

The Hagley and District Light Car Club held the third of their annual driving tests to commemorate their friend and colleague, the late Ken Wharton, possibly one of the most versatile “conductors” of all time.

Each year a different venue has been chosen. In 1957 Chateau Impney was the arena, 1958 saw in use the gigantic indoor garage of Marsh and Baxter, Ltd., but on Saturday, 10th October, the site was the huge Vono Works at Tipton. Staffordshire, by courtesy of the Duport Group.

Here was selected, in a concrete-floored courtyard, a space measuring some 175 yards, the whole amply guarded by a strong barrier of coir bales (mattress stuffing to you and me!). A grandstand had been erected and seating accommodation arranged for a vast crowd of spectators. Unfortunately, it rained hard, but so good were the tests and the standard of driving that all who arrived stayed!

For the third time in succession, this event received full B.B.C coverage, three cameras being in attendance. Now to merit this, the organisation concerned has to run to split-second timing; that is just what the Hagley Club did. Cars moved in and out of the arena like guardsmen on parade, and the speed of the army of white-coated “removal” men when erecting and dismantling a test had to be seen to be believed.

As in the past, teams from Scotland (the holders), the South, South-West, Midlands, North, and the West were in attendance, and for the first time, visitors in the shape of Northern Ireland, competed for the trophy. Each team was, as usual, composed of a special, a sports car and a saloon, the combined score over a series of five tests to count, each test being perfectly marked by well-defined black and white posts or pylons.

The proceedings opened with test five, which ran forwards from a start line until the front wheels crossed a baulk line. Next came a reverse around a pylon, continuing in reverse until the rear wheels crossed a second line, then forwards to finish in a box. Fastest times here were made by Peter Cooper, Ford Special, (South 1) in 16.9 secs., Frank Livingston, TR3 (Midlands 2), in 164 secs. and Freddie Stang, Dauphine (Scotland 3). in 17.3 secs, Penalties of ten seconds for “disturbing pylons” were the fate of South-West 1, South 3 and West 3. The state of the poll after the first test read: Scotland, 53.7; Northern Ireland, 54.6 and equal third, the Midland and the North with a total of 54.5.

Next came test one, which entailed a forward run from the start line to enter four garages, all back to back in a square formation. These could be entered in any order either ahead or astern, then a return to the finish box.

Here better times were made by Brian Jenkins, Berkley (West 1) in 34.9 secs., Ian Mantle, Berkley (South 2) in 32.8 secs. and Freddie Stang, Dauphine (Scotland 3) in 34.5 secs., penalties being collected by Scotland 1.

The scoreboard now showed:

1. The Midlands, 164.2;
2. Scotland, 168.4; and
3. The North, 168.8.

Test two involved a reverse into garage one, forwards into garage two, reverse all four wheels over a baulk line, then forwards without crossing another, then a further “reverse and forwards” manoeuvre, again to finish in a box. Best times here were made by Paddy Hopkirk, Sprite (Norther Ireland 2) with a most fantastic run in 40.6 secs., Tony Marsh, T.M.S. (Midlands 1) 43.2 secs., and Frank Robinson, VW (Norther Ireland 3), in 44.5 secs. Again penalties fell to Scotland 1 and North 3.

The overall positions now were:

1. The Midlands, 296.6;
2. Northern Ireland, 299.5; and
3. The South, 310.2.

Test three alternated first left and then right through a number of pylons (in other words, the “wiggle-woggle”) then forwards into a garage, reverse out, then through an offset chicane to the box finish. Faster here were Tony Marsh, TMS (Midlands 1) in 29.9 sees., Bill Turnbull, Sprite (Scotland 2)in 31.8 secs., and Freddie Stang, Dauphine (Scotland 3), in 32.3 secs. Penalties were the fate of Midlands 2.

This meant that, going to the last test, Northern Ireland remained the only team unpenalised, which put them into the lead with a total of 397.6! Second came the Midlands with 400.2 and third, the South with 407.5. One penalty from any of the leaders would put paid to the lot!

Test four, an old favourite which simply involved the entry and exit through a space of 5 ft. 6 ins. into a box measuring 45 ft. by 27 ft. Now to make any sort of a time, a spin turn in the box is an essential, a reverse will cost seconds! This is fairly easy for an expert in a special or sports car, i.e. classes one and two, but not tres facile for a saloon, particularly those with engine astern! Tony Marsh again led for the Midlands in the Specials Class with a run in 18.6 secs. Paddy Hopkirk (Northern Ireland) levelled for the sports cars in 19 secs.

The saloons ware all so good that at least four must be quoted, Freddie Stang, Dauphine (Scotland) was fastest in 19.8 secs. Next came, for the South, Robin Richards in a Mini-Minor in 20.2 secs. Then a manoeuvre by Mike Hawley (Midlands) set the crowd “a-roaring” when he drove the Goggo-mobil round in the box to score 20.9 secs.!

The totals now being so close, it all depended on the last man: Northern Ireland’s Frank Robinson, who, entering the box at high speed, flicked the VW round on its tail and roared out to the tune of 20.8 secs., thus securing for his team the coveted Ken Wharton Trophy Trophy, a fine effort by grand sportsmen who will be more than welcome ad infinitum!

FRANCIS PENN.