1958 Lister Jaguar Knobbly
Now Sold
29 wins from 53 podiums between 1958 and ’63, and complete with totally documented history. Recognised as the most successful original Lister Jaguar Knobbly.
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1958 Lister Jaguar Knobbly
Original and hugely successful Lister Jaguar
Ordered new by Le Mans winner Peter Whitehead
29 wins from 53 podiums between 1958-63
Unique period bodywork
Complete with valuable original D-Type gearbox
Full and extraordinary history
Current HTP Papers
Astounding spares package
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An outstanding, original and successful example of this indomitable British sports racing car.
Anyone in attendance at one of the major historic race meetings today would be forgiven for thinking that, of the handful made, all Lister Jaguar ‘Knobblys’ were all were created equal. But this Knobbly, known by its chassis number BHL 103 and appropriate ‘NBL’ registration number, is however unique.
It was ordered new by 1951 Le Mans and two-time Reims 12 hours winner Peter Whitehead, and he stipulated that the Williams & Pritchard body be made with bespoke and distinctive large cooling vents behind the front wheel arches – something of an exaggerated design used by Aston Martin on their DBR1. Perhaps a nugget of superior intelligence picked up after a season racing an Aston in 1957…
Whitehead also specified a beefier Jaguar XK steering rack, replacing the standard Morris Minor unit, and, after some initial teething troubles with just the third-built customer Knobbly, began to realise BHL103’s potential. With wins a both Goodwood and Leinster, Whitehead was no-doubt on course for a stellar first season with BHL103. But tragically Peter wouldn’t live to see 1958 out. Navigating for his half-brother Graham in the infamous Tour de France Automobile, Peter was sadly killed when their class-leading Jaguar MkI saloon left the road and plunged 30ft down into a ravine.
For the Lister however, its life was just beginning and privateer Derek Wilkinson acquired the car from Whitehead’s estate for the 1959 season. With John Bekaert installed for driving duties, BHL103 embarked upon the most successful period of its career; proudly carrying on from where Peter Whitehead had started.
Over 1959 and 1960, the Lister proved unstoppable and racked up 22 wins, 11 second places and 6 thirds; statistics which would be fantastic for a combined team of Listers, let alone just one of them! Such sensational and consistent results ensured that BHL103 frequently became a familiar sight both on track and pictured, with registration number ‘NBL 660’ clearly visible, in the weekly copies of Autosport and monthly editions of Motorsport. Copies of race reports and images from both of these legendary publications are on file in abundance, and bring this car’s astounding career to life.
In 1961 the Lister was sold to Bill de Selincourt, who persisted to add to this car’s already impressive haul of silverware. Two podiums at Goodwood led to outright wins at both Oulton Park and Goodwood’s 49th Members Meeting in 1962.
For 1963 BHL103 was acquired by Allan Deacon, a Fleet Air Arm officer used to handling powerful machinery, who was able to tease another podium out the then 5-year old race car.
The 1970s saw the rise of the burgeoning historic racing scene and BHL103 was there right from the start. Bert Young acquired the Lister in ‘73, the Knobbly having just been rebuilt under the ownership of Gordon Lee, and ran in the JCB Championship and Nürburgring Historics. It may have been on one of these trips to Germany that the Lister caught the eye of collector Count Hubertus Dönhoff, who was able to add it to his museum collection by the late 1970s.
BHL103 would remain in Germany for the next quarter of a century, but fortunately not as a static museum piece. Hans-Peter Glück had managed to prise BHL103 from the Count’s collection by the early 1980s and began enjoying it as originally intended almost straight away. On file is a logbook of events that the Lister contested (usually driven by Udo Rüttcher) during this period of 1982-2003 and it is staggering to see that it was raced every single year, bar four!
During this time the Lister competed at the Nürburgring’s inaugural ADAC Eifel Klassik, the very first Le Mans Classic and, quite evocatively, returned to Goodwood for the second running of the Revival in 1999; 51 years after having achieved its first race win there.
In 2004 the Knobbly was repatriated to the UK and joined Shaun Lynn’s world-class collection of historic competition cars. The collection is renowned for both its quality and competitiveness, with Shaun and his cars a familiar sight on the podium at Europe’s greatest historic events. The Lister was the perfect addition.
Between 2004 and 2015 the Lister became a regular front-runner and podium finisher at Goodwood’s Revivals and Members Meetings, Le Mans Classic, Silverstone Classic and Spa Six Hours. Alongside a hoard of race and qualifying print outs, on file are a simply breath-taking amount of invoices for race preparation and the restoration by historic Lister and Jaguar specialists CKL.
Also on file and fully documented is Shaun Lynn’s purchase of another Lister which had been built around this car’s original 1958 chassis. That chassis had been removed after John Bekaert had an accident at Aintree in 1959 and owner Derek Wilkinson, a perfectionist to the core, insisted that the simple repair wouldn’t suffice. The chassis in BHL103 today is the original Lister factory replacement from 1959 and, now reunited, the original 1958 unit accompanies the car too, as you can see from the image showing the wealth of spares that this Lister has. What all this means is that, unlike many other highly important 1950s sports race cars, where chassis and identities can become unclear at best, this car has the provenance to equal its pedigree.
In 2017 Goodwood honoured Lister legend Archie Scott-Brown with an eponymous Lister-only race at the 75th Members Meeting and BHL103 was invited to lead the cars to the grid with Dario Franchitti behind the wheel. Fittingly, it was this very Knobbly that won the 1960 Archie Scott-Brown Memorial race for sports cars.
According to Robert Edwards’s book Archie and the Listers just 10 Jaguar-engined Lister Knobblys were built for customers in period, making them considerably more rare than a D-Type Jaguar and indeed a Ferrari 250 Testarossa. Factor in its simply outstanding history and authenticity, and BHL103 is without question one of the most desirable competition cars of the 1950s.
Now available for sale and, with that aforementioned spares package including a 3.8 litre engine with original DCO Weber carburettors, numerous suspension components and a whole host of extras, BHL103 is the perfect entry for the 2020 season. Eligible for all the Blue Riband events, BHL103 is your ticket to Goodwood, Le Mans Classic, Silverstone Classic, the Spa Six Hours and many more besides.
Race Results 1958-1963
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Race Date
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Race
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Drivers
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Car No.
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Result
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Race Date
07 April 1958
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Race
Goodwood Sussex Trophy for Sports Cars over 1100CC
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Drivers
Peter Whitehead
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
Retired (gearbox)
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Race Date
12 April 2018
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Race
Oulton Park BRDC British Empire Trophy over 2000cc Sports Car race
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Drivers
Peter Whitehead
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Car No.
64
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Result
Retired in qualifying (lost exhaust)
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Race Date
03 May 1958
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Race
Silverstone BARC International Daily Express over 1500cc Sports Car Race
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Drivers
Peter Whitehead
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Car No.
31
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Result
9th
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Race Date
18 May 1958
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Race
Spa Francorchamps Sports Car Grand Prix
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Drivers
Peter Whitehead
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
9th
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Race Date
26 May 1958
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Race
Goodwood BARC Handicap Race
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Drivers
Graham Whitehead
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Car No.
3
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Result
1st
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Race Date
12 July 1958
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Race
RUAC Leinster Trophy Race, Unlimited Sports Car Class
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Drivers
Peter Whitehead
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
1st
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Race Date
18 July 1958
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Race
Silverstone
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Drivers
International Daily Express Sports Car Race
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Car No.
31
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Result
N/A
September 1958: Peter Whitehead sadly dies in a MkI Jaguar driven by Graham Whitehead during the Tour de France. Derek Wilkinson bought BHL103 in February 1959 from the Executors of Whitehead's estate. Wilkinson sponsored privateer John Bekaert to drive BHL103 in 1959 and 1960.
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Race Date
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Race
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Drivers
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Car No.
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Result
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Race Date
15 March 1959
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Race
Snetterton John Bekaert's first test
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
N/A
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Race Date
22 March 1959
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Race
SMRC Unlimited Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
2nd
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Race Date
22 March 1959
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Race
SMRC Unlimited Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
3rd
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Race Date
30 March 1959
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Race
Goodwood BARC Easter Monday Meeting over 1100cc Sports Cars Race
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
47
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Result
7th
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Race Date
11 April 1959
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Race
Oulton Park BRDC Over 3000cc Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
3rd
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Race Date
19 April 1959
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Race
Snetterton BRSCC Formule Libre, Heat 1
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
126
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Result
2nd
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Race Date
07 April 1958
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Race
Snetterton BRSCC Formule Libre, Heat 2
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
126
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Result
1st
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Race Date
07 April 1958
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Race
Snetterton BRSCC Formule Libre, Heat 2
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
126
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Result
1st
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Race Date
25 April 1959
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Race
Brands Hatch AMOC & JDC 5-lap race for Jaguar Powered Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
80
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Result
1st
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Race Date
25 April 1959
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Race
Brands Hatch AMOC & JDC Scratch Race for C & D-types and Jaguar Powered Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
80
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Result
1st
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Race Date
25 April 1959
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Race
Brands Hatch AMOC & JDC Martini Trophy Unlimited Sports Cars Scratch Race
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
80
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Result
1st
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Race Date
09 May 1959
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Race
Silverstone MMKCC Unlimited Sports Cars, Heat 1
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
1st
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Race Date
09 May 1959
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Race
Silverstone MMKCC Unlimited Sports Cars, Heat 2
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
1st
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Race Date
09 May 1959
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Race
Snetterton Race for Sports Cars Over 3000cc
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
2nd
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Race Date
18 May 1959
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Race
Goodwood BARC Whitsun Trophy
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
5
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Result
2nd
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Race Date
24 May 1959
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Race
Snetterton WECC Double Twelve Trophy Race for Sports Cars over 1100cc (over 3000cc)
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
157
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Result
1st
-
Race Date
24 May 1959
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Race
Snetterton WECC Formule Libre
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
157
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Result
2nd
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Race Date
30 May 1959
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Race
Snetterton SMRC Over 3000cc Sports Cars Race
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
1st
-
Race Date
30 May 1959
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Race
Snetterton SMRC Formule Libre
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
3rd
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Race Date
13 June 1959
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Race
Silverstone NSCC Unlimited Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
74
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Result
1st
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Race Date
13 June 1959
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Race
Silverstone NSCC Formule Libre, Heat 2
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
74
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Result
1st
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Race Date
13 June 1959
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Race
Silverstone NSCC Formule Libre, Final
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
74
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Result
2nd
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Race Date
14 June 1959
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Race
Snetterton ECMC Formule Libre
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
84
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Result
1st
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Race Date
20 June 1959
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Race
Aintree BARC Handicap "A" for Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
37
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Result
2nd
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Race Date
20 June 1959
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Race
Aintree BARC Handicap "C" for Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
37
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Result
4th
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Race Date
20 June 1959
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Race
Aintree BARC Unlimited Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
37
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Result
1st
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Race Date
11 July 1959
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Race
Dunboyne-Eire Leinster Formule Libre, Race A
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
4
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Result
6th
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Race Date
11 July 1959
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Race
Dunboyne-Eire Leinster Scratch Goodyear Trophy Scratch Race
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
4
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Result
1st
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Race Date
18 July 1959
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Race
Aintree Grand Prix
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
5
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Result
DNF
Minor accident at Aintree resulted in the obsessive Derek Wilkinson insisting on a replacement chassis being fitted, despite the fact there was only easily-reparable damage to one front suspension corner. As the new chassis available was to the updated ‘Costin’ specification, this is what was used.
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Race Date
-
Race
-
Drivers
-
Car No.
-
Result
-
Race Date
19 September 1959
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Race
Silverstone PMC Handicap Race for Sports Cars over 1500cc
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
111
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Result
3rd
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Race Date
19 September 1959
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Race
Silverstone PMC Formule Libre Scratch Race
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
111
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Result
1st
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Race Date
19 September 1959
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Race
Silverstone PMC Handicap Race to qualify for the Motor Sport Trophy
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
111
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Result
3rd
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Race Date
19 September 1959
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Race
Silverstone PMC Scratch Race for Sports Cars over 1500cc
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
111
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Result
1st
-
Race Date
26 September 1959
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Race
Silverstone JDC Handicap Race for Jaguar, S.S. & Jaguar-engined Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
17
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Result
2nd
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Race Date
26 September 1959
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Race
Silverstone JDC 10 lap Scratch Race for Bentleys, Jaguars, S.S. & Jaguar-engined Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
17
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Result
1st
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Race Date
26 September 1959
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Race
Silverstone JDC Handicap Race of 10-laps for Jaguars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
17
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Result
3rd
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Race Date
26 September 1959
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Race
Silverstone JDC Handicap 15-lap Race for "All Comers"
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
17
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Result
1st
-
Race Date
26 September 1959
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Race
Silverstone NSCC Handicap 5-lap Race for Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
17
-
Result
3rd
-
Race Date
03 October 1959
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Race
Silverstone NSCC Formule Libre Scratch Race
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
-
Result
1st
-
Race Date
03 October 1959
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Race
Silverstone NSCC Unlimited Sports Cars Race
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
Retired (cyl. head gasket)
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Race Date
11 October 1959
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Race
Stapleford Hill WECC Unlimited Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
1st
-
Race Date
22 March 1960
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Race
Snetterton SMRC Over 3000cc Sports Cars Race
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
1st
-
Race Date
22 March 1960
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Race
Snetterton SMRC Formule Libre
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
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Result
6th
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Race Date
18 April 1960
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Race
Goodwood BARC Easter Monday Meeting over 2000cc Sports Cars Race
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Drivers
Graham Whitehead
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Car No.
72
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Result
N/A
-
Race Date
14 May 1960
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Race
Silverstone BRDC International over 3000cc Sports Car Race
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
23
-
Result
Retired
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Race Date
22 May 1960
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Race
Snetterton BRSCC Unlimited Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
-
Result
1st
-
Race Date
10 July 1960
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Race
Snetterton SMRC Archie Scott-Brown Memorial Meeting Scratch race for Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
111
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Result
1st
-
Race Date
10 July 1960
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Race
Snetterton SMRC Archie Scott-Brown Memorial Trophy Formule Libre Race
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
111
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Result
5th
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Race Date
16 July 1960
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Race
Silverstone BRDC Over 3000cc Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
34
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Result
2nd
-
Race Date
07 August 1960
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Race
Aintree BARC August Bank Holiday Meeting Sports Car Race over 1100cc
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Drivers
Gerry Ashmore
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Car No.
N/A
-
Result
2nd
-
Race Date
21 August 1960
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Race
Snetterton SMRC Unlimited Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
-
Result
2nd
-
Race Date
10 September 1960
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Race
Silverstone JDC Handicap Race for Jaguar, S.S. & Jaguar-engined Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
-
Result
2nd
-
Race Date
10 September 1960
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Race
Silverstone JDC Michael Head Trophy Scratch Race for Jaguar, S.S. & Jaguar-engined Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
N/A
-
Result
1st
-
Race Date
10 September 1960
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Race
Silverstone Club "All Comers" Handicap Race
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Drivers
John Bekaert
-
Car No.
N/A
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Result
10th
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Race Date
01 October 1960
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Race
Silverstone BRDC Over 3000cc Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
-
Car No.
N/A
-
Result
2nd
-
Race Date
09 October 1960
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Race
Snetterton BRSCC Unlimited Sports Cars
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Drivers
John Bekaert
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Car No.
69
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Result
1st
-
Race Date
16 October 1960
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Race
Brands Hatch BRSCC Over 1500cc Sports Cars Race
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Drivers
John Bekaert
-
Car No.
69
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Result
3rd
January 31 1961 - Reported in Autosport that "Bill de Selincourt has acquired Derek Wilkinson's Lister-Jaguar, which John Bekaert drove last season."
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Race Date
-
Race
-
Drivers
-
Car No.
-
Result
-
Race Date
11 March 1961
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Race
Goodwood BARC 44th Members' Meeting Unlimited Sports Car Race
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Drivers
Bill de Selincourt
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Car No.
33
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Result
2nd
-
Race Date
22 March 1961
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Race
Goodwood Whitsun Trophy Unlimited Sports Car Race
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Drivers
Bill de Selincourt
-
Car No.
N/A
-
Result
2nd
-
Race Date
22 March 1961
-
Race
Goodwood Whitsun Handicap Race
-
Drivers
Bill de Selincourt
-
Car No.
N/A
-
Result
N/A
-
Race Date
17 March 1962
-
Race
Oulton Park BARC Oulton Park Unlimited Sports Car Race
-
Drivers
Bill de Selincourt
-
Car No.
N/A
-
Result
1st
-
Race Date
24th March 1962
-
Race
Goodwood BARC Scratch Race for Unlimited Spots Cars
-
Drivers
Bill de Selincourt
-
Car No.
49
-
Result
1st
-
Race Date
24th March 1962
-
Race
Goodwood BARC Handicap Race
-
Drivers
Bill de Selincourt
-
Car No.
49
-
Result
2nd
-
Race Date
April 1962
-
Race
Brands Hatch
-
Drivers
Bill de Selincourt
-
Car No.
26
-
Result
N/A
-
Race Date
23 April 1962
-
Race
Goodwood Sussex Trophy
-
Drivers
Bill de Selincourt
-
Car No.
72
-
Result
3rd
-
Race Date
12 May 1962
-
Race
Silverstone BRDC International over 2000cc Sports Car Race
-
Drivers
Bill de Selincourt
-
Car No.
36
-
Result
N/A
-
Race Date
26 May 1962
-
Race
Goodwood BARC 50th Members' Meeting
-
Drivers
Bill de Selincourt
-
Car No.
N/A
-
Result
DNS
BHL103 acquired by Alan Deacon at some point prior to the 1963 season
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Race Date
-
Race
-
Drivers
-
Car No.
-
Result
-
Race Date
17 March 1963
-
Race
Snetterton SMRC Sports Car Race
-
Drivers
Alan Deacon
-
Car No.
143
-
Result
3rd
-
Race Date
03 June 1963
-
Race
Crystal Palace BARC Crystal Palace International Race for Sports cars over 1150cc
-
Drivers
Alan Deacon
-
Car No.
3
-
Result
6th
-
Race Date
22 June 1963
-
Race
Goodwood BARC Scratch Race for F.J. and Formule Libre cars
-
Drivers
Alan Deacon
-
Car No.
N/A
-
Result
N/A