WHAT could be better – bright sunshine, a day watching motor racing and a few bottles of beer.

These men, all Cowley car factory workers, were enjoying a day out at Silverstone racing circuit in Northamptonshire in August 1949.

The picture was sent in by Roy Bolton, of Keydale Road, Wheatley.

He is the 17-year-old in the front row, on the extreme left.

Mr Bolton writes: “The occasion was an outing from Morris Motors comprising members of the tuning department, final test and inspection.

“I cannot recall all the names, but those I do are Tony Monk, Tom Cooper, Pete Wylie, Fred Double, Les Sammons, John Mason and Pat Gannon.

“No doubt your readers will be able to recognise others in the picture.”

As a racing venue, Silverstone was in its infancy at that time.

Silverstone airfield had been built in 1943 to train RAF crews to fly Wellington bombers during the war, but once peace returned, it was decommissioned by the Air Ministry.

In 1946, Maurice Geoghegan, who lived in Silverstone, used the runways and perimeter road to test his sports car.

Word spread about the attraction of the site as a motor racing circuit and the following year, 12 men took part in an unofficial race.

It was later dubbed the Mutton Grand Prix, because one of the cars crashed into a sheep.

Meanwhile, the RAC was looking for a suitable site to stage the British round of the new Formula 1 Grand Prix series.

It contacted the Air Ministry, a lease was agreed and official racing began, initially with just hay bales protecting spectators from the speeding cars out on the track.

The 1949 visit to Silverstone was clearly an exciting day for the Morris Motors’ party. Mr Bolton recalls: “The legendary Juan Fangio was one of the star drivers in his Alfa.”

The Silverstone circuit is still hosting the very best motor racing action 60 years later, with this year’s British Formula 1 Grand Prix taking place there on Sunday, June 21.

Any memories of the day out in 1949, and can anyone name more in the group?