Another interesting old film

[Mike Costigan]

Motor racing at Brands Hatch in the 1950s, lots of Austin Seven specials for people to identify:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js95BPXgjkQ

[PeterN]

Great memories, thanks for that Mike

[dheywood]

This was the 29 June 1958  ‘Trio’ race meeting, run jointly by 750 MC, Club Lotus and 250 MRC. Forty Austin Seven based cars ran in the 750 formula races; three heats and two finals.
Jack French was there with Simplicity, sharing it with other drivers. JG Currie (no 29) won the first final and fastest 750 lap of the day. At least one car was wearing Dante bodywork. C Featherstonehaugh was driving the streamlined car, no 31, which would later provide the design of the Speedex Silverstone. J Wilks’ car no 59 with radiator protruding from its rather untidy bodywork, is seen carrying two passengers at one point. It went on to more success later, with a different  bodyshell and driver. Two Ulster’s appear on the entrants list.
In the Ford-powered 1172 formula, Arthur Mallock’s car no 91 still used an Austin Seven chassis, so it was listed as an Austin. D Rees no 97 was driving a Ford-powered Austin.
There is a nice ex-military breakdown truck at the end.
Information from official programme and 750 Bulletin August 1958

[Ivor Hawkins]

Great info, I’ll watch the film again!

[Duncan Grimmond]

What a treat! I saw only one pair of jeans (with statutory 4" turn-ups) amongst all those pairs of high-waist flannel bags!
Chaps used to wear proper clothes in those days, what?

[dheywood]

Austin Seven components were also to be seen on some of the little single-seaters, racing in the short-lived 250 formula. Light weight was extra important for such low-powered cars, and suitable hubs and brakes were to be found in every breakers yard on Austin Sevens. Formula 3 Coopers and Kiefts, downgraded to 250cc, were also on the grid. One was powered by a two-stroke Excelsior Talisman engine, hence the cloud of smoke. 
Paul Emery was there with his front wheel drive Emeryson, propelled by a Velocette MOV engine. He went on to build Emeryson F1 cars, and racing Hillman Imps. 
As for the race for saloon cars (and vans!) this was on a handicap basis, to give the drivers of smaller cars a chance against Uren’s Ford Zephyr. NT Fryer was driving his one-off ‘Scientific’ saloon special, described with great approval by Bill Boddy in Motor Sport.