Special Feature

Blacksmith Revolution

Pete Lyons
Jack Brabham at the wheel of the Cooper T-53 ÒLowlineÓ that carried him to his second Formula One Championship, during a Formula Libre race at Watkins Glen in October 1960. Brabham went on to finish 2nd behind the Lotus of Stirling Moss, but ahead of the Cooper Monaco of Roy Salvadori. Photo: Ozzie Lyons Ð www.petelyons.com

Interview most any racecar designer and you’ll likely hear a beautifully turned tale of insight, and enlightenment, and clever science artfully applied.

Then, there were the Coopers. Neither father Charles, nor son John, were science-minded. In fact, they had no more than basic formal education. What they did bring to the workbench was imagination and good sense.

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