From the archives of Bob Montgomery, motoring historian
BILLY COTTON - RACING DRIVER: To an older generation the name of Billy Cotton is forever associated with the cry of 'Wakey-Wakey' on his radio and television variety shows.
Dubbed by the Variety Club as 'Mr Show Business', Billy Cotton brought happiness and pleasure to millions through the years of his long career from his band-leading days to success on television. But there was far more to 'Mr Show Business': a talented pilot, a power-boat enthusiast, a League footballer; a boxer and a successful racing driver.
Like so many in the 1930s, Bill's motorsport career began on motorcycles, racing first on Magilligan Strand and several other sand racing venues. In 1935 he raced at Brooklands for the first time driving a Riley Nine prepared by his friend Charlie Martin of Byfleet Motors. Undaunted by his comparative lack of top-class racing experience, Bill entered for the feature event, the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) 500-mile race. However, it was to be a short-lived debut as he retired with a split exhaust manifold after only 20 minutes racing.
The following year he was back racing an MG K3 Magnette which he entered in the Long Handicap race at Brooklands. Second place ahead of the experienced Earl Howe's GP Bugatti suggested that the lad might have some talent! Shortly afterwards he forged a partnership with the great 'Wilkie' Wilkinson who prepared his cars for the remainder of his racing career. In August, Bill won his first race - the Long Handicap at Brooklands - and followed this up with third in the prestigious British Empire Trophy race. In the BRDC 500-mile race he finished fifth.
During 1937, Bill raced in Ireland at Phoenix Park. Now driving an ERA, he and Wilkie recounted surveying the trophies for the race which were on display in a shop window in Grafton Street. Pointing to a very grand gold cup, Bill said to Wilkie "This is the one we want." He won the trophy but was enormously disappointed when the organising club presented him with a replica at the prizegiving ceremony, saying they would not allow the gold cup to be taken out of Ireland!
Bill was also racing in sand events, in which he had a number of close calls. There were a few on the circuits as well including going backwards into the woods at Donington.
In 1938, Bill was selected with Arthur Dobson and Johnny Wakefield for the British Team against the Germans in the Grand Prix at Donington. In a race which was to become famous, Nuvolari took the individual win in an Auto-Union, while the British team took the coveted team prize.
At the finish all depended on Cotton and Dobson bringing their ERAs to the finish ahead of the third Mercedes. This they did, in the process igniting scenes of excitement in the crowd seldom seen at motor racing.
The drivers fled the approaching mob and had to climb out of reach on to the top of the pits. Unsurprisingly, Bill Cotton regarded this as his finest win.
The second World War interrupted Cotton's racing career, but in reality he had been finding that he was neglecting his duties as a band leader while racing, so when he returned to racing after the war it was somewhat half-hearted compared to his prewar efforts.
Thus it was no surprise when he ended his serious racing career at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 1948. A talented amateur, Bill Cotton gave 100 per cent to his motor racing, just as he did to all aspects of his varied life.