Jack Sears, who passed away on 7 August, may appear to have had little connection with Formula One. But apart from being an outstanding driver and heavily involved with Silverstone and the British Racing Drivers' Club, the tall, urbane Englishman left a lasting impression on anyone attending the 1964 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch.
A former British Saloon Car Champion in cars ranging from a humble Austin Westminster to a monstrous 7-litre Ford Galaxie, Sears could turn his hand to anything. He will be remembered for testing an AC Cobra Coupé for the 1964 Le Mans 24 Hours by clocking 185 mph at an early hour on the M1 motorway. The maximum speed limit may not yet have been introduced but the story made headlines in the national newspapers.
Sears was at the wheel of a 4.7-litre Cobra 289 for the Ilford Films Trophy for Grand Touring Cars, a support race on the morning of the Grand Prix. The similar Cobra of Bob Olthoff should have been on the front row but the South African was a non-starter.
Having qualified on the second row and assuming the grid would shuffle forward to fill the vacant space, Sears took up position on the outside of the front row alongside Jackie Stewart's Jaguar E-Type and David Piper's Ferrari GTO. There was a heated discussion with a marshal but, when the race started, everyone - Sears included -- assumed the matter had been resolved.
The officials had other ideas and held out the black flag. Sears, thinking there was something wrong with his car, dutifully stopped in the pits, only to discover that he had been called in for a dressing down by the Clerk of the Course. The officials felt Sears had, in effect, jumped the start and the pit visit was seen as a form of penalty. Besides, it was thought this might add interest to the race. It did.
Absolutely incensed, the normally affable Norfolk farmer - affectionately known as 'Gentleman Jack' -- floored the throttle of his mighty machine, shaking his fist as he went, the Cobra leaving a trail of rubber as he powered towards Paddock Hill Bend. In case officials were in any doubt about Sears' opinion of their judgement, he shook his fist again at the end of the next lap.
Now began an extraordinary demonstration of barely controlled fury. It is probably fair to say that neither before nor since has an AC Cobra been hurled round the Brands Grand Prix circuit with such spine-tingling vigour. Those who witnessed it still talk about the sight of that bellowing V8 as Sears, headlights blazing in symphony with the mood of the driver, began to storm through the field.
The drama was not confined to the track. A fracas ensued in the pits as John Willment, the entrant of the Cobra and a man of muscular disposition, grabbed the Clerk of the Course by the collar and shoved him into a flowerbed.
Sears, meanwhile, was proving to be an equally irresistible force as the red car with white stripes thundered its way around the track. Nothing would stop him on this day, not even Stewart's leading E-Type. The entire place was on its feet as Sears, cheered to the echo, won by 4.2 seconds.
After such an epic performance, the Grand Prix for 1.5-litre cars was bound to seem rather tame.