c.1951 JBS-Norton 500cc Formula 3 Racing Single-Seater
Chassis no. to be advised

Goodwood Revival: Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia|18 September 2021, 13:00 BST|Chichester, Goodwood

c.1951 JBS-Norton 500cc Formula 3 Racing Single-Seater
Chassis no. to be advised

* Developed and designed by speedway ace Alf Bottoms
* JBS's were driven by upcoming greats, John Coombs, Les Leston and Peter Collins
* Part of the Forshaw Collection for over 40 years

Footnotes

This potentially highly competitive little 500cc Formula 3 racing car has been preserved within the Forshaw Collection for well over over forty years. The JBS 500 was developed by father and son team, Charles and Alf Bottoms, from an earlier design known as the Cowlan which was built in Preston, Lancashire by R.L. Coward and G. Lang, with technical assistance from Noel Shorrock who was the brother of famous supercharger manufacturer, Chris Shorrock.

The 1948 Cowlan was a very quick early 500cc racer and in April 1950 it was acquired by Wembley Speedway motor-cycle racing star Alf Bottoms, who re-designed its rear end, and renamed the little car the JBS.

One of the main features of 500cc racing during 1950, its first season as the Internationally-recognised FIA Formula 3, was then the meteoric rise Alf Bottoms who developed both his JBS car and his driving technique so effectively that by the close of the season he seemed virtually unbeatable. The news that he was going into production with a customer version of his JBS car caused great excitement within the previously Cooper-dominated class.

While the 1950 prototype JBS had used a box-section chassis frame, the Bottoms family replaced that structure for 1951 with a multi-tubular design. The engine mounts were welded into a fixed position, duralumin adaptor plates then enabling customers to fit any engine of their choice. The frame weighed only 45lbs. Suspension was by unequal-length wishbones with twin hydraulically-damped helical spring units providing the suspension medium each side at the rear, and a single strut for each front wheel. Steering was by rack-and-pinion. Standard power unit preferred initially by Alf Bottoms was the well-tried single-cylinder air-cooled JAP motor-cycle unit, driving via a Norton clutch and gearbox to the rear wheels.

JBS cars were built in Bedfont Lane, Feltham, Middlesex, and customers beating a path to the Bottoms' door included 'Curly' Dryden, Frank Aiken and the immensely promising young Peter Collins. Original price was publicised as just £515 less engine and gearbox.

The most important early race in the 1951 500cc F3 calendar was the Luxembourg GP on the Findel road circuit. Tragically, in practice for the race, 32-year-old Alf Bottoms appeared to have the throttle of his JBS jam open on the approach to a hairpin bend. He crashed into a parked vehicle, and was fatally injured. Next day, however, 'Curly' Dryden won Heat 1 of that Luxembourg GP in his JBS-Norton, while his rival Don Parker - in a JBS-JAP - won Heat 2.

Peter Collins also chose a Norton engine for his JBS and he won the 500cc Ulster Trophy race in it on the daunting Dundrod road circuit just outside Belfast. Such other prominent names as Les Leston and John Coombs also campaigned JBS cars with JAP and Norton engines. However, with the passing of Alf Bottoms, there was little to keep the JBS venture going, and the marque faded from the scene.

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