Brian Naylor, a Stockport motor dealer, was the archetypal amateur who were so much a part of the motor racing scene in the 1950s and early 1960s. A late entry to the sport - he did not start racing until he was 31 - his participation was achieved with almost no outside help. He funded his mechanic Fred Wilkinson to build a number of cars which raced under the JBW Cars flag, and the company also prepared Coopers which Naylor entered in Formula Two and One events. Naylor privately entered the German Grand Prix in 1957 and returned a year later.

In 1958 Naylor entered 21 races, winning 14 of them and gaining a further two seconds and thirds. His first full year under JBW in 1959 was dogged by mechanical failures - including his retirement in the British GP - and it was much the same story in 1960, although he managed 13th at Silverstone. In 1961 it was a depressingly familiar tale despite an updated version of the car, with a ninth-place finish at the International Gold Cup a rare moment to savour. At the end of the year Naylor retired from competition and wound up JBW Cars. He retired to live and run a café in Marbella where he died after an accident.

Martin Williamson November 2009