But Only A Scratch Bideford Driver’s Escape In Autocross Race

When his little Austin A35 turned completely over and ended up back on its wheels at the North Devon Motor Club’s Autocross meeting at Fremington on Easter Monday, W J Blight escaped with only a scratched hand.

Mr Blight was lying fourth when his car hit an oil drum marking the course. As the car rolled over Mr Blight put a hand against the roof to brace himself and as the car came to rest back on its wheels ambulance men raced up only to find Mr Blight uninjured. “I could have carried on in the race if the battery lead had not come off” said Mr Blight, who is a former stock-car driver. His car suffered only a damaged wing and Mr Blight later drove it into third place in another race for small saloons.

M Fishleigh, of Buckland Brewer, driving a Jaguar Mark VII, finished third in the large saloon class and later won the non-winners event. W J Elliott, of Bideford, finished third in one of the special classes driving his Ford special and in a similar event J Kivell, of Bideford, in a Dellow, was first over the line.

Gazette article dated 11 April 1958