By Steve Hirst

FIFTY years ago today, July 20, 1957, the Southport area was basking in the glory of one of the greatest days in British motor racing history.
On that date, Stirling Moss took the checkered flag at the British (and European) Grand Prix, at Aintree in a Vanwall, providing the country with its first all-British World Championship Grand Prix victory, since the series was instigated in 1950, and the first in a major GP since 1923.
The story of the race was straight out of Boys’ Own.
In its race morning edition, the Southport Visiter reported that Moss, who stayed at the resort’s Royal Hotel on race visits to Aintree, “had not recovered from his sinus trouble� and was having treatment in Southport Hospital.
But he made it to Aintree to take up pole position on the grid, sharing the front row with French ace Jean Behra (Maserati 250F), and his Vanwall team-mate Tony Brooks, still suffering from leg injuries sustained in an accident at Le Mans.
Behra led off the line, but Moss was in front at the end of the first of 90 laps in the 270- mile race.
Already the 100,000 crowd was anticipating a repeat of 1955, when Britain’s racing hero won his first World Championship Grand Prix at Aintree, driving a Mercedes-Benz.
Suddenly, on lap 21, Moss pulled into the pits with exhaust trouble. Any chance of victory looked doomed.
Vanwall team manager, David Yorke, had a brainwave and called in Brooks, clearly in pain, to hand over his car to Moss.
Leaving the pits in Brooks’s car and now in ninth place, a win seemed impossible.
Relentlessly, Moss pursued the pack ahead, smashing the Aintree lap record (at over 90 mph), and was up to sixth place in nine laps.
At half distance Behra held a comfortable lead, until the clutch/flywheel assembly shattered on his Maserati.
Britain’s Mike Hawthorn took over up front, but almost immediately, his Lancia-Ferrari picked up a puncture.

The commentator announced that Moss was in the lead which he held, apart from a fuel stop, to the finish.
History had been made and the Visiter reported: ‘‘There were wildly enthusiastic scenes at the end of the race. The crowds rushed across the track to acclaim Moss.’’
A recreation of that historic day was featured at GP Live at Donington Park recently, where now Sir Stirling, 77, and Tony Brooks, 75, who shared the win, were reunited with a Vanwall.
The heroic pair are still great pals and firmly believe that victory that day, was a turning point for British racing manufacturers.
Sir Stirling, who wrote regular motoring articles for the Visiter in the 1950s, said: “It was an enormous fillip for British motor racing.�
Brooks compared it to Roger Bannister’s feat of breaking the four-minute mile: ‘‘It broke a psychological barrier.’’
Last week Sir Stirling was at Silverstone for the British GP to see young star Lewis Hamilton in action and believes he has the potential to be as good as his own hero and race rival, five times World Champion, Juan Manuel Fangio.
But looking at the changes in safety, Sir Stirling told the Visiter: “Hamilton would not get into one of our cars today. If you made one mistake it could be your last in the 1950s.�

l For you chance to win a copy of the full results from the race in 1957, bearing the autographs of Sir Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks, simply answer this question:
In which year did Stirling Moss win the British Grand Prix at Aintree in a Mercedes- Benz?
Answers, on a postcard, to: Stirling Moss Competition, LookBack, Southport Visiter, 26-32 Tulketh Street, Southport, Merseyside PR8 1BT.
Closing date is July 26.

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