The Vintage Sports-Car Clubʼs annual quest to discover the ʻBest Touring Motor Carʼ returned to the Silverstone circuit on 25 February. Completing five tests for the Pomeroy Trophy was a diverse, 97-strong field, ranging from a 1913/ʼ14 Oakland Romano Special to a 2021 Toyota Yaris GR.
First thereʼs the slalom, then a start-stop braking test, followed by a standing-start quarter-mile sprint that goes into a flying-start 250m sprint, and finally a high-speed reliability trial where each competitor is given 40 mins to complete a set number of laps. Plus, each car must be able to properly carry two suitcases of a prescribed size – failure to do so carries a significant penalty.
The idea was the brainchild of The Motorʼs technical editor, Laurence Pomeroy, in 1949, using efficiency formulae to determine the best touring car, and 74 years on itʼs still a hard-fought contest.
In the timed ʻwiggle-woggleʼ slalom that opened proceedings, Andrew Smith (1926/ʼ29 Frazer Nash Super Sports) and Jonathan Gomm (1963 Lotus Cortina) were the top performers, with perfect scores of 100 each. Close behind was Robert Cobden with 97 in his ʼ64 Elva Courier; Martin Short in the aforementioned Yaris and David Wylie (1928 Frazer Nash-AC) each with 94; then John Felstead (ʼ04 Subaru Impreza) and Edward Williams (1929 Frazer Nash Super Sports) scoring 93 apiece.
Martin Hunt (1952 Frazer Nash Targa Florio), Robert Beebee (1932 Frazer Nash TT replica) and James Baxter in the Oakland Romano Special achieved a maximum of 50 in test two, with Felstead maintaining his strong start at 49 – and only Gomm could better him in the third discipline.
Across the final two tests, the Imprezaʼs run of form continued and, with 426.06 points, it claimed the Pomeroy Trophy, with Smith taking the Densham Trophy and Tony Lees the Pomeroy Edwardian Trophy in his 1913/ʼ18 Vauxhall Viper Special. Richard Stott (1934 MG PA) took the Voiturette Trophy, while Tom Waterfield (Ford Capri) scooped the Gordon Spice Cup.
Volvo victorious on the Isle
This yearʼs HERO-ERA Three Legs of Mann on 17-18 March marked the 60th anniversary of the first Manx Trophy Rally. Paul Crosby and Ali Procter were the early leaders in their Porsche 911, but endured a tough night in the fog and rain and slipped back, leaving Dan Willan and Mark Appleton (Volvo PV544, left) to seize the advantage. Another
