1950 Cooper MkIV

This is a photograph I took in the paddock at the Aston Martin Owners Club's Autumn Historic Car Races meeting at Oulton Park in September 1992.

The cars are waiting to take to the track for the morning practice session for the Historic Formula Junior Race. Number 53 is the 1950 Cooper MkIV of Bill Needham which competed in the 500cc Formula three cars class as did the car to the left which is Roy Hunt's 1952 Jason F3. On the right is the 1961/62 Lotus 20/22 of Denis Chorley which was in the class for Rear Engined Formula Junior Cars.

1955 Cooper Mk IX

I took this photograph at McLeans Corner during the 5 lap Scratch Race for Formula 3 (500cc) Racing Cars at the Vintage Sports Car Club's SeeRed meeting at Donington Park in May 2011.

Leading is John Turner in his 1955 Cooper Mk IX, followed by Frederick Harper who was competing in the Invited Class in a 1950 Cooper Mk IV with a 1,100cc engine. After the Second World War motor racing in the UK was slow to re-start, partly because of petrol rationing and the cost of running a suitable car. Home-built ‘specials’ powered by 500cc motorcycle were created to provide a reasonably cheap way means of getting involved in the sport. John Cooper and Eric Brandon, with the assistance of John’s father Charles, decided in 1946 to build two cars, and in 1947 in the second post-war race meeting to be held Eric Brandon won the first race to feature 500cc cars. In 1950 this 500cc class of racing was adopted by the FIA as a new Formula 3, and John and Charles Cooper went on to build a series of these 500cc cars, eventually graduating to Formula 2, then Formula 1 culminating in Jack Brabham winning the World Drivers’ Championship in 1959 and 1960 in the 2½ litre Cooper Climax. There's a 500 Owners Association for enthusiasts and owners of these cars.

1950 Cooper Mk IV

I took this photograph at McLean's Corner during the Formula 3 (500cc) Racing Cars race at the SeeRed meeting at Donington Park in May 2011.

The leading car here is the 1950 Cooper Mk IV of Frederick Harper followed closely by the 1952 Mackson F3 500 of Gordon Russell. 

After the Second World War motor racing in the UK was slow to re-start, partly because of petrol rationing and the cost of running a suitable car. Home-built ‘specials’ powered by 500cc motorcycle were created to provide a reasonably cheap way means of getting involved in the sport. John Cooper and Eric Brandon, with the assistance of John’s father Charles, decided in 1946 to build two cars, and in 1947 in the second post-war race meeting to be held Eric Brandon won the first race to feature 500cc cars. In 1950 this 500cc class of racing was adopted by the FIA as a new Formula 3, and John and Charles Cooper went on to build a series of these 500cc cars, eventually graduating to Formula 2, then Formula 1 culminating in Jack Brabham winning the World Drivers’ Championship in 1959 and 1960 in the 2½ litre Cooper Climax.

The Mackson was one of three cars that were built in 1951 and 1952 by Gordon Bedson and 'Mac' McGee.

500cc Formula 3 cars

I've shown previously photographs of Formula 3 cars of the 1950s, and here are some more, this time cars that took part in the HSCC Summer Race Meeting at Oulton Park in July 1992.

This is the 1955 Cooper Mk9 of John Turner

Here's the 1951 JBS of Richard Utley. The JBS was developed by James Bottoms & Sons from the Cowlan Special of R L Coward and Geoff Lang

.The 1952 Kieft of Rod Delves

This car is described in the programme of the event as B R Banyard-Smith's 1955 Cooper MkIV, but the MkIV was a 1950 model, and this looks more like the MkIX of 1955.

The website of the 500 Owners Association gives lots of information about the cars that took part in Formula 3 racing in the 1950s. Just click on 'Marques' in the list on the left-hand side of the 'Home' page.

500cc Formula 3 Cars

I've featured the 500cc Formula 3 cars of the 1950 twice before, at a 1982 Oulton Park meeting on 2 April 2013 and at a 2011 meeting at Donington Park on 11 August 2015. Here are photographs of some more of the 500cc cars at that Donington Park SeeRed meeting in May 2011.

Rodney Delves' 1952 Kieft CK52

Sir John Chisholm's 1952 Arnott 500

George Shackleton's 1952 Cooper Mk VI

Neil Hodges' 1954 Cooper Mk VIII

Xavier Kingsland's 1953 Staride Mk III

Frederick Harper's 1950 Cooper Mk IV

Mrs Shirley Monro's 1950/51 Cooper Mk IV

Mark Palmer's 1956 Wishart Mk II

Roy Hunt's 1953/54 Martin 500

David Whiteside's 1953 Cooper Mk VII

Vernon Williamson's 1950 JP Prototype

John Turner's 1955 Cooper Mk IX

Nigel Challis's 1954 Cooper Mk VIII

More details of the cars, and all aspects of 500cc Formula 3 racing can be found on the 500 Owners Association website.