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312The ex-Jack Pearce, John Hine, Robin Darlington, Jim Moore1965 Kincraft-Ford Formule Libre Racing Single-SeaterChassis no. FL-012-1Engine no. X36Here we offer one of the most successful of all British club racing carsof the late 1960s. From 1965-68, driven by Jack Pearce, John Hine,Robin Darlington and Jim Moore, the Kincraft Formule Libre singleseateraccumulated no fewer than 56 race victories while also breakingthe lap record at many of Britain’s most familiar racing circuits.The Kincraft project was launched by Staffordshire industrialist JackPearce, from Tipton, who in the earlier 1960s raced sports and LibreclassLotuses with considerable success.In 1964 he commissionedLotus designer Len Terry – one of Britain’s most accomplisheddesigners with successful development of the Lotus 25 to hiscredit as well as the earlier Gilby and Terrier competition cars. LenTerry agreed to advise on the project but recommended Lotusdraughtsman Martin Waide to detail the design drawings.He drew upon his experience with the Gilby Formula 1 car of 1961-62 which he had designed before joining Lotus while Martin Waidethen finalized detail design and manufacturing drawings. He thensupervised construction at Pearce’s premises.The spaceframe-chassised car emerged with a rigidly attachedstiffening floor pan. It was powered by a 427 cubic inch Ford ‘289’Cobra V8 engine, driving through a four-speed Hewland LG500gearbox. Jack Pearce drove the Kincraft-Ford in its debut at BrandsHatch on June 20, 1965, finishing third. A week later it won the Scott-Brown memorial Trophy race at Snetterton, but next time out on thepublic road circuit at Dunboyne in Eire, the Leinster Trophy race sawPearce collided with young Scot Adam Wyllie’s Formula 2 Brabham.Wyllie was fatally injured when his car struck a roadside pole. JackPearce was unhurt but his new Kincraft was badly damaged. The carwas rebuilt, and John Hine promptly won the November Cup Librerace in it at Brands Hatch on November 28, 1965.194 | Goodwood festival of speed