Oliver on starting grid for new generation with a need for speed

And now, the new kid on the block – or rather starting grid.

Grandson Oliver, aged 11, a Telford schoolboy who completes three generations of one Shropshire family with a need for speed.

As Oliver geared up for his competitive go-karting debut, the trio got together at a historic Midlands venue with a special place in both motorsport history and the family story – the Chateau Impney Hotel, near Droitwich.

Between 1957 and 1967 the hotel grounds were used for hill climb sprints, which were revived in 2015.

For the Cottams, it is 60 years since Alan’s explosive first – and last – appearance there in the 1958 event.

“I am one of the last remaining people who competed in the original Chateau Impney sprint, although it was not the same course then,” said Alan, from Broughton, near Claverley.

“I was in an ERA – English Racing Automobiles, it stands for. I put a big hole in the front of somebody’s Porsche. My gearbox exploded on the start of the second run and the shrapnel hit them.”

For this get-together Oliver had his go-kart, in which he was about to compete in the X30 Mini race at Whilton Mill race track, near Daventry, on the Bank Holiday weekend.

Alan, complete with his original 1950s driver’s helmet, took to the wheel of a Connaught, in which he raced many times, while Edward’s mount, for the purposes of the picture, was a 1934 ERA, a sister machine to that driven by his dad at Chateau Impney all those years ago.

It was though not a day for racing – no wheels were turned in anger – but to remember an illustrious past and look to future glory as well. And that’s not just through Oliver, as Edward still races and Alan’s licence has been renewed this year.

There’s a plan that Alan will race that same ERA from the 1958 event in this summer’s Chateau Impney hill climb.

Or, in his words: “There’s just the vaguest rumour I might be asked to drive it up the course.”

Oliver’s potential has been spotted by top go-karting outfit Msport, which is supporting him. “He was a natural from the off, consistently getting quicker and quicker,” said dad Edward, from Shifnal.

He turns 12 on June 2 and has already proven his racing aptitude in an entirely different sphere, being the undefeated under-12 champion of all Asia in racing Laser sailing dinghies.

Oliver speaks fluent Chinese – Edward worked in China for nine years, returning to Britain fairly recently.

Alan said: “I did quite a lot of motor sport from 1955 to 1983 – sports cars and single seater racing cars, all over.”

His racing achievements?

“I think I had nine consecutive fastest times of the day at Prescott Hill Climb near Cheltenham. I had several at Shelsley Walsh and quite a few in circuit racing.”

All this was remarkable because at the age of 20, even before he started racing, he lost his lower leg when his motorcycle was hit by a drunken driver, and it was reattached in an operation which was revolutionary for the day.

He said the ERA was fantastic to drive, but not as quick as the Ferraris.

Outside of racing, Alan was an engineer at Boulton & Paul at Wolverhampton. Edward said: “It’s very rare to find three generations still active in motorsport. Dad has been racing since the early 1950s, to the present day. I started racing when I was 18 on hill climbing, then went on to the track when I was 20 to 21 racing Cooper Bristols for customers.”

Edward has driven some rare pre-war Grand Prix cars and this year will be in action in the Silverstone Classic.

In another motoring connection, Edward’s mother Barbara is from the AJS family, her father and brother being Arthur and Ronald Stevens of AJS, a famous motorcycle firm.