Stirling Moss Wins Governor's Trophy Race At Nassau - December 4, 1959

December 4, 1959

(Photo; thejudge13.com)

Stirling Moss, driving an Aston Martin DBR2, wins the Governor's Trophy race at Nassau in the Bahamas. Only two DBR2s were built, and they both went on to race extensively in the United States.

(photo credit: HenryFigueroa via photopin cc)
Aston Martin DBR2 57
DBR2/1 initially began competition at the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it unfortunately retired, this was due to a poorly performing carburation system, which in effect was a single carburetor for each cylinder, this problem was resolved for the cars next outing when these were replaced with three twin side draft Webber DCO 50's. DBR2/1 only notable success for 1957 was at the Daily Express Trophy at Silverstone Circuit in the hands of Roy Salvadori. DBR2/1 was entered for the August 1957 Spa Grand Prix. During practice the car was performing well in the hands of Noel Cunningham-Reid, however on his last practice lap, Noel saw what he thought to be one of his team mates up-side-down in a ditch, he was unable to stop and help due to other race car traffic, however, with this on his mind he entered the next bend to fast, he came off the track, went down an embankment when the car turned over, Noel was thrown clear landing in a pile of pine cones, looking up just at that moment to see his car smash into a tree. After an inspection of the recovered car by John Wyer, he deemed the car to badly damaged to continue. Upon return to Feltham, it was found that the chassis was quite badly damaged in critical areas. With this car being booked in to race at Silverstone about three weeks later, it was decided to remove everything of use from the damaged chassis and transpose it to the spare chassis. The damaged chassis was to be disposed of, but ended up in the possession of John Willment

For 1958 the DBR2's were upgraded to 3.9 Litre engines. DBR2/1 won both the Sussex Trophy at Goodwood and the British Empire Trophy at Oulton Park, driven by Stirling Moss in both wins. After finishing 2nd and 3rd at Spa, Aston Martin decided to concentrate on the DBR1 for Europe, while both DBR2s were upgraded to the 4.2 Litre engines and transferred to America where they could compete easier with larger engine capacities. George Constantine drove DBR2/1 to victories at Lime Rock and Marlborough before the end of the season.

Continuing in the United States in 1959, the cars again took victory in New York and twice in the Bahamas, driven by George Constantine and Stirling Moss. Both cars were then returned to Aston Martin in 1960.