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When I started this thread I could not have imagined the fantastic response to my original question. Well thanks to all posters and to Roger Cowman (who called me today having been told of this thread), we now know most of the history of this famous car. Roger has owned it for years but has it for sale - so let's hope it finds a good home to someone who will put it on the circuits again!
Roger also kindly faxed to me a long feature written many years ago by Mike Kettlewell about the car. Here is an edited version :
The Kincraft-Ford V8 single seater was one of the most successful cars in British Club Racing in the late 60s. From 1965-68 driven by Jack Pearce, John Hine, Robin Darlington and Jim Moore, it notched up a remarkable total of 56 wins and broke numerous lap records.
The car was the brainchild of Midlands industrialist Jack Pearce from Tipton, Staffs, who had previously raced Lotuses with much success. In '64, Pearce approached Lotus designer Len Terry and asked him to design the ultimate Libre car. Terry was under exclusive contract to Lotus but agreed so long as the detail work was given to Lotus draughtsman Martin Wade. Terry based the car on the Gilby B type F1 car he had designed in 1961-62 before joining Lotus. Waide took over and masterminded the construction at Pearce's premises.
As it was to be powered by the Ford 4727 cc engine, the spaceframe chassis had to be strong and was braced by a stressed floor-pan. Brabham uprights, hubs and wheels were utilised to save costs. Transmission was via a 4 speed Hewland LG500 box.
Completed in 1965 and code named Kincraft FL-012-1, the car had its first race at Brands on June 20. Pearce finished 3rd. A week later it won at Snetterton, but disaster struck over in Ireland for the Leinster Trophy on the Dunboyne road course. Pearce collided with the F2 Brabham of Adam Wyllie who was killed. Pearce was uninjured but the Kincraft was badly damaged.
Following repairs, John Hine then raced the car and won at Brands on November 28th. It was then sold to David Bridges for 1966 and finished 2nd and 3rd before being sold to Welsh farmer Robin Darlington. He won 18 races with it! On August 20 '66 it was crashed at Oulton and was returned to Jack Pearce for repairs.
Jim Moore, a garage owner from Thornton Heath bought the car but he crashed first time out at Brands in November. However, in 1967 he won 20 races with it but still had dramas! On Easter Monday '67 he crashed at Mallory, repaired the car for a mid-week test at Brands and promptly overturned it breaking his shoulder. Undeterred he attempted to race 4 days later but the pain from his injuries caused him to crash again! The car was out of action for 3 1/2 months.
Moore kept the car for 1968 winning 18 races including the BRSCC Northern F.Libre Championship title. Again it was crashed due to rose joint failure at Brands but was rebuilt with F1 style wide wheels.
It was the accepted forerunner of F5000 but as this formula was introduced the Kincraft 'disappeared'. It was reputedly sold to John Scott-Davies and was infact entered for the first F5000 race at Oulton on Good Friday 1969 by veteran Cobra driver Lord Cross. It was not seen again until 1971 when amateur driver Max Reinhard raced it on northern club circuits - Reinhard claimed to have found the car 'somewhere in Brighton.'
Reinhard sold the car to Ian Stronach who continued to campaign the outdated car on northern circuits.
When Roger Cowman acquired it the car was a real mess with Chevron style wide nose. It will be sold as it was in 1966 when Robin Darlington drove it. Roger has consulted Robin on its rebuild.
Jack Pearce built further Kincrafts, a Can Am type sports car in 1966 (which did not race until 1978! - now owned by American Richard Blenko) and a series of 'mud plug' trials cars.
So there is the Kincraft story. Keep an eye out for it in future historic events if the new owner can be persuaded to race it!
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