Special Feature

The Don

Michael Lawrence
Mike Lawrence

Once in a while a photograph gives me pause, and one such was in the December issue. It showed the start of the 500-cc support race to the 1953 International Trophy at Silverstone where not even one straw bale was in sight.

Leading from pole was Don Parker on his way to his first British Formula 3 Championship, aged 45. Reg Bicknell later drove for Team Lotus and built his own Revis-Norton F3 car and Revis-Borgward 1.5-liter sports racer. Eric Brandon, friend of John Cooper, owned one of the first two Coopers ever. With Alan Brown (on the second row) he was half of Ecurie Richmond and he and Alan each won a 500-cc Championship in 1951. In 1952 they were the first Cooper works team in the World Championship.

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