Anyone who has indulged in any form of motor sport is aware that it is an expensive hobby but, before sponsorship arrived with its associated commercial pressures that changed the nature of the sport, it was once possible to purchase a suitable car, drive to a circuit and, hopefully, drive home. This was a time when enthusiasts raced mainly for fun rather than glory or to enhance their ego.
One such competitor was Bob Burnard who, in 1962, decided to race his AC Ace and have some fun. Despite coming to the sport in his fourth decade he proved quite competitive and in 1964 he was offered the opportunity to race a Abarth-Simca 2000 for Swedane Engineering which he did with some success, eventually winning a race series, the prize for which was a Formula Junior Lotus 27 that was supplied in kit form. Once assembled he found the Lotus was very small while he was very tall so it proved a less than ideal combination. He continued to race the Abarth in 1965, recording 5 national victories and 2 international victories in 15 races. During the latter half of 1966 he graduated to a very different type of race car when was offered the opportunity to drive a race-prepared Shelby Cobra 427 with a dry-sump 7-litre NASCAR engine. The Cobra had been ordered from Shelby American by a Los Angeles lawyer, Edward Freutel, who planned to travel to Europe in order to compete in the major international sports car races at Spa, the Nurburgring and the Targa Florio. Having only raced an MG in the past it proved to be a daunting experience so after the three races the car was sold in the UK at a considerable financial loss and Freutel returned home. Bob Burnard raced the Cobra in mid-1966, entering a handful of club events where he had to compete against the all-conquering Ferrari 250LM of Ron Fry. Silverstone was Fry’s home circuit where he was always expected to win but he was doubtless surprised to be beaten to pole position by the Cobra. Bob advised Ron to be careful when the flag dropped as the Cobra was uncontrollable off the line and had a nasty habit of going where it wanted, not necessarily in a straight line. Bob hung on and the Cobra arrived at the first corner in the lead where it remained to the chequered flag; the Ferrari had a problem getting past due to the Cobra sliding sideways in the corners and powering away in the straights. The next race at Silverstone saw Ron Fry arrive with his new GT40 and eager to defeat the Cobra but despite the GT40 taking pole position and fastest lap, Bob Burnard powered the Cobra to another win. But due to business interests and a sense the sport was moving away from its amateur roots, Bob retired from racing at the end of 1966. The photograph shows the 427 Cobra being hustled through a bend at Silverstone in October 1966, with the Ford GT40 of Ron Fry in hot pursuit.
