John James

John, an engineer by profession, had his first race in a Lea Francis at Brooklands immediately before the war, and when competition resumed he competed in hill-climbs and sprints with a Monza-type 2.3 Alfa Romeo. This was replaced by a Type 54 Bugatti for similar events in 1948 before one of two Sunbeams which he had stored away throughout the war was completely rebuilt. It was this car that brought James a fourth place in the 1949 Wakefield Trophy at the Curragh in Eire.

In 1951 John purchased a Maserati 4CLT from Reg Parnell and, apart from his appearance in the British Grand Prix, piloted it to eighth places in both the Woodcote Cup and the Daily Graphic Trophy races at Goodwood. With the change in regulations rendering the 4CLT suitable only for Formula Libre events in 1952, John used it mainly for fun in sprints until his retirement from the sport the following year.