The Raymond Mays Salver
The Raymond Mays Salver commemorates Raymond Mays CBE,
who was the first President of the DPRAC. He was a celebrated racing driver
of the pre-war period (photo below), and played an important role in the creation
of the famous ERA and BRM racing cars.
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The trophy is a twelve-inch diameter silver salver, with a Chippendale edge,
mounted on four small feet, to a 1735 design. It is engraved with a map of the
pre-war Donington Park circuit, on which is superimposed an ERA Grand Prix car,
driving gloves and goggles.
The first ever winner of the Raymond Mays Salver was Historic Single Seater racer Ron Footitt. Born in Manchester in 1919 the Englishman began racing in the mid-1950's, his first race being in an Alvis at Silverstone. He also raced MG's and an AC ACE. He then took to entertaining the crowds in vintage and Historic racing driving a Cognac Special, an AC-engined GN Special of 1925 vintage Ron won the prestigeous Richard Seaman Memorial Trophy in 1974, 77 & 79 and carried off the John Holland Memorial Trophy in 1973, 75, 79 and 1980. During 1980 Footitt won seven races and carried off the Donington Historic Single-Seater Championship also taking the DPRAC Raymond Mays Trophy, this at the age of 61. Ron was also of keen member of the Donington RC. |
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Each year the Salver is presented to the top British points scorer over the
Donington rounds of the British Formula Three championship.
RAYMOND MAYS SALVER 2006
Mike Conway retains The Raymond Mays Salver for 2006
Mike Conway became only the second driver to win the Raymond Mays Salver for a 2nd time, and the first to retain it for a second term at a very wet and difficult Donington Park circuit on Sunday May 21st.
Conway started race day as the firm favourite to retain the silverware but things didn't go to plan and his chances looked to be gone after the first race. Things started well as the Kent youngster took control at the front of the field from pole position, but on lap 6 a piece of debris ledged under his car and he flew off the track into the gravel at Redgate. Somehow he managed to drive through the gravel and continue but was way down the field in 8th. Bruno Senna took the lead and stayed there till the flag. Behind Senna the leading British drivers contesting the Raymond Mays Salver were James Walker in 2nd place (12 points), then local racer Stephen Jelly in 3rd (10 points) and Oliver Jarvis in 4th (8 points), which meant there was all to race for in the 2nd race of the day. Other British points scorers in race 1 were Mike Conway 4 points, Jonathan Kennard 3 points and Stuart Hall 1 point.
Following race 1 James Walker was the new favourite to take the honours as he was starting 2nd on the grid, behind Conway who was again on pole, and all Walker needed to do was finish ahead of Jelly and Jarvis. The race started in wet conditions, but the track looked like it would start to dry before the end. Conway got a brilliant start and led into Redgate followed by Walker but Jelly was an early casualty going off at Redgate on lap 1 before returning to the pits and retiring. Hall was the next contender to exit this time into the gravel at Mcleans leaving Conway, Walker and Jarvis as main contenders. This was to change dramatically on lap 7 when Jarvis made a move on Walker at Redgate which ended in Walker, Jarvis and Christian Bakkerud in the gravel from positions 2,3 and 4. Although Walker returned to the circuit to continue he was eventually out of the race on lap 14 and besides Conway the only other points scoring British driver from race 1 to score points in race 2 was Jonathan Kennard who took 1 point for 10th spot. The lights to flag victory for Conway gave the Double r Racing driver 15 points and his second Raymond Mays Salver victory. Other points scoring drivers in race 2 were Charlie Hollings with 3 points and James Jakes with 2.
As the highest British points-scorer across the two rounds, the Double R driver was presented the Donington Park Racing Association's Raymond Mays Salver, which he said he was thrilled to receive two years in a row. "It's a special finish to the weekend. My engineer and mechanics got it spot on throughout and it was great to have my sponsors Toshiba and THB Clowes out in support today." The trophy was presented by Raikkonen Robertson Racing co-owner Steve Robertson, himself a winner of the trophy in 1989, who said that he would love to present the trophy and that it was a great pleasure to do so, especially to one of his own drivers.
FINAL POINTS STANDINGS 2006 RAYMOND MAYS SALVER - MIKE CONWAY 19, James Walker 12, Stephen Jelly 10, Oliver Jarvis 8, Jonathan Kennard 4, Charlie Hollings 3, James Jakes 2 and Stuart Hall 1
Above: Mike Conway receives the Raymond Mays Salver from team owner Steve Robertson as his manager Mark Blundell looks on in the background
PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE RAYMOND MAYS SALVER
| 1980 Ron Footitt |
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