Lex Beels, from Holland was a regular 500 racer in Coopers and own cars. He began with a MK III in 1949 and finished third at Zandvoort behind Moss and Aston but beating Brandon and Dryden and followed this with a second at Goodwood in September to Peter Collins. For 1950, he switched to his own Cooper derived Beels cars. He finished third in his heat at Monaco in May but failed to finish in the final. Over the next seven years, Lex became one of the most travelled 500 drivers. Some notable results include fourth at Avus in  July 1951, second in a Cooper at Porrentruy in Switzerland in July 1952 and second at Namur in Belgium in the same month. Second at Chimay, Belgium 24th May 1953, second at Orleans 22nd May 1955 and a win at the Roskildering August. Third at Halle Salle Scheife in East Germany in June and first at Dessau in September 1956. 1957 proved successful in Germany with wins at Wismar in May, Sachsenring in August, Bernau in September 1957 and Dresden.