Peter Stubberfield

Peter Stubberfield.

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Peter Stubberfield was to Motor Hill Climb Racing as Sir Stirling Moss was to the Formula V500 Cooper and Formula 1 Grande Prix racing world. In a note that I received from Sir Stirling, he said that at that time of hill racing at Prescott quoting “That we were at that time in different classes, and Peter was winning all the trophies.”

It was in 1948 that I first knew that we had a racing car in Cookham. For across the field and Widbrook Common came the sound of an engine being finely tuned outside Cliveden View Cottage. So as a young man interested in things mechanical I walked over and met Peter and his wife for the first time.

He was very happy to show me the workings of the Bugatti 35B-racing car and the conversions that he had made from a twin seat to a single seat car with offset steering. Offset steering may have looked awkward to the average driver, though as Peter proved he over came that handicap to win a whole string of events in the world of hill climb racing.

Sadly I was informed that Peter passed away in 2008 at the grand old age of 98.

Here below, are some of this mans achievements of his racing career. Though he lived in Cookham for a short time, he added some colour to the history of the village.

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PETER STUBBERFIELD

TROPHIES.

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The trophies in the cabinet are representative of the successful hill-climbing career of Peter Stubberfield, who has kindly donated some eighty-four trophies and awards to the Bugatti Owners’ Club.

In the main they date from 1946 to 1957 when Peter retired from competitive hill-climbing. Peter Stubberfield was a newcomer to the sport when he made fastest time in a Bugatti Type 35B at the VSCC Prescott meeting on 31st August 1946. This set a pattern for the next eleven years. In 1951 alone he received 14 trophies with numerous 1st places and some five fastest times of the day.

The trophies include the one received for the Members’ Meeting on June 24th 1951 when he made FTD in 46.54 seconds. This was the last time that a Bugatti has made FTD at a BOC Prescott meeting and the first time since Arthur Baron’s wins in 1938 and 1939.

At the National Meeting on 5th May 1957 Peter Stubberfield won the Bugatti handicap with a brilliant climb of 44.87 seconds. This is believed to be his best ever climb and remained unbeaten by a Bugatti for nearly 25 years.

Sadly I was informed that Peter passed away in 2008 at the grand old age of 98.

Here below are some of the mans achievements of his racing career. Though he lived in Cookham for a short time, he added some colour to the history of the village.

THE VICTOR LUDORUM TROPHY 1951. Awarded for scoring the highest number of marks during the season; such marks to be scored at any event held by the Club at which all members are eligible to compete.

JEAN BUGATTI CUP 1950; ‘51; ’56; ‘57. Awarded, at the discretion of the Council, to the member who puts up the most meritorious performance in a Bugatti car in any event in Great Britain whether run by the Club or not.

THE KENNETH BEAR (MEMORIAL) TROPHY 1950; ‘51; ‘52; ‘53; ’54; ’55; 57. Awarded annually to the member who puts up the fastest time during the season in a Bugatti, at a Prescott meeting organised by the Club (now excluding any short course meeting).

THE PERCY FAWCETT CHALLENGE CUP 1948; ‘49; ‘50; ‘51; ‘52. Awarded for FTD at a Members’ Meeting in June (or July).

THE JOHN BOWEN CHALLENGE CUP 1956. Awarded to the winner of the Bugatti Handicap at the Members’ Meeting in June (or July).

With all the above a replica is awarded to the winner.

THE BARACCA TROPHY. Awarded for the fastest time by a Gran Turismo car in the Ferrari Handicap. Any hill climb meeting at Prescott organised by the Club to count excluding short course meetings.

This article would not have been possible without the help of Mr. Paul Gibbons of the Bugatti Owners Club Archives, and of course Sir Stirling Moss.