Monday 8th August 2016

Jack Sears RIP

The first BTCC champ dies aged 86

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Jack Sears has been associated with the British Touring Car Championship forever: he was the first series champ in 1958, driving an Austin Westminster, and today his name adorns the Jack Sears Trophy for rookie drivers. Sadly, on Saturday August 6, the successful racer passed away, aged 86. And the BTCC has been quick to pay tribute to the racer known as Gentleman Jack.

"It is with great regret and genuine sadness to learn of Jack's death," said BTCC series director Alan Gow. "I really liked Jack a lot... not only as an extremely talented and inspirational racing driver, but more importantly as a hugely popular, humble and impressive human being.

"Jack loved this championship and continue to play an active part in the BTCC right up until his passing." Indeed, he often presented the trophy named after him at the annual MSA bash; first created in 2013 for the top S2000 runner, it switched to honouring the independent driver who made up the most places over the season in 2014 and today is awarded to the top rookie. Ash Sutton is currently leading it.

Sears had to battle to get his BRSCC British Saloon Car Championship title (the precursor to the BTCC) in 1958, though. He ended the season at Brands Hatch tied on points with Tommy Sopwith. The organisers initially suggested the championship be decided by a coin-toss: outraged, the two drivers suggested a race instead, in two Riley 1.5s. In pouring rain, the drive against the clock for five laps before, for true parity, swapping cars and doing the same again (apparently, one Riley was slightly faster than the other). Sears thus claimed the 1958 title by an aggregate time 1.6 seconds faster than Sopwith.

After winning the 1958 title, Sears raced on in the series for several more years, winning a class title in 1962 before scooping the championship again in 1963. He also raced at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 63, scoring the Ferrari 330 LMB's best finish with a fifth place. He retired from the sport a few years later following a heavy accident. Jack's son David continued the family's racing dynasty, himself driving successfully with results including a podium in the 1990 Le Mans 24 Hours with Tiff Needell and Anthony Reid. David later switched to team management with David Sears Motorsport and Super Nova, and helped drivers including Mark Webber and Juan Pablo Montoya break into F1.

There will be a minute's silence for Sears at this coming weekend's BTCC round at Knockhill on 13/14 August.

 

[silentbrown]

RIP Jack Sears.

For many, many years I've wanted to race a Ford Galaxie. All his fault. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EvYvAKGF0k

[Riley Blue]

RIP Gentleman Jack.

[richardaucock]

silentbrown said:

RIP Jack Sears.

For many, many years I've wanted to race a Ford Galaxie. All his fault. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EvYvAKGF0k

Great share - one to relish in his honour.

[TR4man]

RIP another hero of British Motorsport.

Wasn't Gentleman Jack one of those who used to road test racing cars on that well known test track, the M1?

[Mawsleycarvalet]

We were lucky enough to have lunch with him at last years BTCC final at Brands, then take him to the podium on a buggie to present the trophy. Mega nice man.

[dimma205]

Ive known jack for many years as my mother works on his farm in ashill and ive also works for his sons racing teams a great kind man that will be greatly missed.

[Landamore]

I was fortunate enough to be at Snetterton in 1964 when Jack won the last Autosport race. My memory of standing at the hairpin when the fog came down and watching Jack drive a stunning race still brings a huge smile to my face as it did to a 12 year old schoolboy 52 years ago.

[rtz62]

Strangely I was reading an article about him yesterday.
I was lucky enough to bump into him at the NEC a couple of years ago, a total gentleman, and was happy to chat about his racing days.
They broke the mould when Jack Sears was born.
God bless him.

[DanielSan]

RIP to a touring car legend.

I didn't know/realise David Sears was his son. Just never put the 2 and 2 together

[MG CHRIS]

RIP a real touring car/and race car driving legend.

[andybu]

I unexpectedly met Jack Sears eight years ago at a 2-day weekend event to commemorate the death of Jim Clark.

Clark was my racing hero and once I realized who Jack Sears was I remembered that Jack had competed both with him and against him.

To his great credit, Jack patiently answered my many questions about how things were in the team when both he and Jim Clark raced the Lotus Cortinas. Turned out that, since Jack lived and farmed in Norfolk, not so far from the Lotus factory, he invariably did all the testing and race set-up work on both the saloon cars. Jim was an F1 star by now and very busy travelling and racing.

Come practice day, Jimmy would turn up at whichever UK circuit was hosting the touring cars that weekend and ask about the car, then say to Jack "Which one do you want?". Jack assured me that he always worked through the test laps & with the Lotus mechanics to set up both cars identically. They'd then toss a coin, put their respective race numbers on the doors of their chosen car and then go out to practice.

I will always remember what Jack said next: "Almost every time, within three laps of getting in the car, Jimmy would pull out a faster lap time than I'd done earlier in the week. And then he'd do it again, lap after lap during the race - which he usually won, as long as the car didn't break. He was just that bit better than the rest of us".

I thought then, and still think now, that his remarks were those of an open and honest man. Most of us don't like to get beaten at something we're good at. Even less so when its done in such a public arena. But he never once dissembled in any way in answering my questions and I will always admire him for that. RIP, Jack - a true gentleman.