Page 109 - Classics Issue

In the 1940s and 1950s Jabekke in western Flanders was renowned for the number of records set on a measured kilometre of highway, and not just for absolute speed records, manufacturers wanted each model’s maximum speed measured and certifed by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium, Jaguar ran a XK120 (126MPH) and Rovers Jet 1 Turbine also ran at Jabbeke amongst others.In 1952 after famously failing to purchase the Morgan car company, Sir John Black unveiled Standard Triumphs new sports car concept-the 20TS (or TR1) to an unenthusiastic reception. The car looked stubby and the spare wheel plonked on the boot lid was less in keeping with the curvy, clean styling the company had desired. Alas when BRM’S experienced test driver Ken Richardson drove it and described it as “ a bloody death trap.A less then glittering debut then for the sports car we all know and love.However, never one to give up, Sir John Black persevered. A year later the expertise and talent at Standard Triumph developed the car and at the 1953 Geneva Motor Show, the redesigned body and longer more proportionate profle the newly named TR2 was launched and well received.Warmly received was never going to set the critical American market alight and that was crucial to the success of the new sports car. What was needed was a marketing and PR campaign that truly captured the imagination, hearts and minds of the American public. The competition was pretty ferce with other Brits from MG and Austin Healey all after the Yankee dollar and to be the British sports car of choice across the atlantic, and to make matters worse the Rootes group also from coventry announced their new offering - the Sunbeam Alpine being built on the East side of coventry at Ryton on Dunsmore while Triumph on the west side in Canley.The opportunity arose in the guise of a city Derby to take place in Belgium that ran near to the West Flanders town of Jabbeke. The highways in Belgium had ben completed following the routes mapped by Hitlers regime during World War II with the purpose of transporting arms to the front line for the planned invasion of Great Britain, it would be a further fve years before the UK would enjoy any roads of this type, long, straight and virtually traffc free.It already had public association and support from local authorities with the afore mentioned speed records by Jaguar and the Rover Jet car- the Jabbeke highway was the obvious location.The importance in March of 1953 Geneva Motor Show was not the only thing of importance for Triumph, the other news that took headlines was that Sheila Van Damn and Stirling Moss had broken the production sports car land speed record in the new Sunbeam Alpine with a top speed of 120.135 mph. The Rootes groups new sports car was already named after the companies signifcant successes on the Alpine Rallies. Sir John Black needed to respond quickly or risk being overshadowed by his rivals, so he instructed Ken Richardson to prepare a car for a record attempt.On the 20th of May 1953 the team arrived with a pre-production prototype car bearing the registration MVC 575 ftted with optional streamlining parts including an under-tray, rear arch spats and a metal cockpit cover. Richardson was a slight man, but recognising the aerodynamic 109