Solved NIC #21 - 1954 Mike Appel Special driven by Hilton Gray.

[nicanary]

Year, car and driver required for one point.

[nicanary]

Experts?

[richard cuyler]

South African? Based on a Fiat Topolino? Check out the understeer!

[nicanary]

South African? Based on a Fiat Topolino? Check out the understeer!

It is indeed South African. I have no details of the car's construction, but the point's yours if you can name the car and driver, and the date of the race.

[richard cuyler]

Got it!  It's Hilton Gray driving a special built by Mike Appel during the Easter races at the Pietermaritzburg Roy Hesketh Circuit in 1954. Initially I thought it was at Gunner's Circle in Cape Town, but something about the background didn't look right, so I checked Hesketh Circuit photos and there it was. This was an enormously popular venue from the 50s to the 80s, when it closed. I recall Mike Hailwood and Bruce Johnstone were regular competitors and the variety of cars was vast, from home-built specials to factory team cars. This was really close and enjoyable racing in the days prior to the all-electronic circus of today - and much the better for it, in my opinion.

[nicanary]

Wow ! Well done - that's a very complete answer, and of course absolutely spot on. It was one of those puzzles where you need to know where to look, and I thought it would hang around for a while. One point for you.

[richard cuyler]

Yay! Finally a point!