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© Brooklands Museum |
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Brooklands - a racing legend |
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Tom Delaney recalls...
Every year, Tom had to have a rigorous medical in order to retain his international competitor's licence - he has always passed it. This has allowed him to indulge in his passion for the track, competing in at least a dozen races a year.
He has had to maintain a natural fitness and his slight of build disguises the strengths needed to control leviathan cars that have no power steering and tyres that lack the track hugging characteristics of Formula One cars.
But off-track club life was an important part of life then too. Tom says: "We had a good bar and a very good restaurant - drivers would meet there after any race day, and when they would organise a proper dinner in the evening, everyone would be present.
© Daimler Chrysler
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"Speeches were afterwards, Earl Howe - he was President of the club; he was a great speaker - very amusing too. And others like Sammy Davis and Campbell would invariable get up and give a few words - it was all very friendly. Of course there weren't all that number of racers and cars around in those days."
Tom Delaney recalls...
But it has been racing that has spurred Tom on. He recalled two great races: "In the Canada Trophy Race, around the outer circuit - I was leading for quite a way, when I got the signal from the pits to go a bit faster. I went a bit faster each time round, but I didn't want to harm the engine.
"Then I saw a car coming up behind me, an Alvis, I thought I'd let him get level with me and see what speed he's doing ... when he came along side, I saw I was doing 4,950 revs a minute ... but I decided to keep it down to 4,700, and I knew it wouldn't give me any trouble.... I had to be content with second place, but it was a jolly good race."
Tom Delaney recalls...
Tom can never be parted from his racing. Nor can he be parted from his beloved Lea Francis - he just needs to keep passing his medicals - maybe it is a special mix of oil, petrol and a shot of Red X that keeps him going!
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