From Searchlights to an Aurelia

[GT]

I am always delighted when Lancia pops up unexpectedly in an unrelated field.

My lockdown walks take me past a WW2 Searchlight position and it made me think that an Anti-Aircraft Gun location must be not too far away. The New Forest is well documented with regard to WW2 and sure enough there had been an airfield in the locality. RAF Ibsley operated from 1941 to 1951 and is just north of Ringwood. It was an important fighter base for the RAF and USAF in the lead up to D-Day. Now a nature reserve it is known as Blashford Lakes. However from 1951 to 1955 it became a motor racing circuit like many other old airfields. Digging deeper it got more interesting when my research showed Mike Hawthorn won the 1952 Non-Championship Ibsley Grand Prix in a Cooper-Bristol beating George Abecassis (HWM) and Roy Salvadori (Frazer-Nash). Even more interesting was that in 1955 he drove his newly acquired Aurelia B20 to the circuit, entered it, and set the fastest lap. See the link below which shows him racing the B20 and also lists his cars. He had an Aprilia as well. Now, it's back to try and find that AA gun emplacement.

   https://www.mike-hawthorn.org.uk/laurelia.php

Stay safe. Gerard.