202 | THE GOODWOOD REVIVAL SALE
Roy Salvadori set fastest time during practice for the 2-litre Production
Sports Car Race, and was leading until he crashed heavily at Stowe
Corner while lapping a group of three slower cars. His Frazer Nash
slid wide and struck a concrete-filled oil drum marking the aerodrome
course. The car rolled over several times, inÅicting severe and near fatal
head injuries from which the unlucky new owner-driver was fortunate to
recover fully, apart from total deafness in his right ear which persisted for
the rest of this most popular celebrity racing drivers long life (he died as
recently as 2012, aged 90).
Anthony Crook Motors at Caterham subsequently rebuilt 'VHX 839' to
the latest 1951 Le Mans Replica specification, with its rear dampers re-
positioned within the bodywork and wing supports hidden benath the
wings. The recovered Roy Salvadori resumed racing this Frazer Nash on
October , 1951, at Castle Combe, immediately finishing a strong third
overall in the unlimited-capacity sports car event.
He then campaigned the car widely during 1952, winning the 2-litre class
and finishing sixth overall in the Silverstone May Meetings Production
Sports Car event" fourth and second in class to Mike Hawthorn in the
May 29 British Empire Trophy event at Douglas, 0sle of Man, and second
to Ken Whartons works Mark 00 Le Mans car in the 100-mile sports car
race at Boreham on August 2. Roy also shared the car with Stirling Moss
in a Castle Combe relay race on April 12 that year.He always recalled VH? 39 with great affection: 0 decided 0 really
needed a car I could use on the road, so it didn't need a transporter,
and that's why I bought the Le Mans Rep. It was a super car to drive.
<nfortunately 0 nearly wrote myself off in it at Silverstone but 0 was racing
it again less than a year later. It was a lovely car and I adored driving it...Late in 1952, Roy Salvadori finally sold what had become his faithful
Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica. The new owner was Peter Kenneth, who
continued to race it through 1953. He placed ninth overall and fourth in
class at that years British Empire Trophy race in Douglas, and entered
the car for driver John Buncombe at May Silverstone.Roy Salvadori, Jersey, 1952 LAT