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Peter Munro Jopp began racing 500s with a
Cooper in 1952, taking fourth in the Junior Race Final at Brands in
October. In '53 he took a respectable fifth place in the Easter 20 Final at
Brands on the 7th April before moving to an
Emeryson in which he won the Consolation Final on 14th June, took second
in
In 1954 he finished a creditable fifth in the Whitsun meeting at Goodwood and sixth in the Yuletide Trophy at Brands. One amusing story concerns the fellow driver and gentlemen, Arthur Gill who used to travel to events with the family butler, Courtney. At one meeting Gill was parked next to Peter whose car was suffering from transmission troubles. Seeing Joppie’s plight, Courtney was summoned: “pour Mr Jopp a Pimms and then fix his clutch”, was the order. Peter used to recall the moment with a big grin and say he knew he was in the right sport from that moment onwards!
In 1956, Peter partnered with Reg Bicknell in a Lotus XI
for the the Le Mans 24 hour race. They finished seventh overall and won the
1,100 cc class. He competed several more times at Le Mans in an Triumph TR3,
Sunbeam Alpine and AC Cobra before turning his attentions to rallying for Rootes, Ford, Lancia and BMC.
Peter also became a
Director of the BRDC. Peter died in August
Photo courtesy of the Association of Rootes Car Clubs. |