From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Sunday Express newspaper clipping reporting on Charles Dodson's victory in the 500-mile Tourist Trophy car race at the Ards circuit.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\2\ Scan097 | |
| Date | 7th September 1934 guessed | |
| SUNDAY EXPRESS. age Over T.T. Ca 500 MILES' DUEL WON BY SECONDS NECK-AND-NECK RACE THRILLS "Sunday Express" Motoring Correspondent. BELFAST, Saturday. CHARLES DODSON, idol of racing motor-cyclists, today won, in an M.G. Magnette, the most thrilling race for the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy ever seen over the Ards circuit. Averaging nearly seventy-five miles an hour, he won by only seventeen seconds from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hall in a Bentley. For nearly 500 miles—thirty-five laps—these two raced each other, the big Bentley overhauling all the time. Hall lost because of slow pit work. Twice he changed wheels and each time he lost seconds. There was one crowded hour of thrills towards the closing stages. After Hall came out from one of his pit stops Brian Lewis, in a Lagonda, dashed by him. Time and again these cars passed and repassed each other, taking risks in their fight for inches. [Image of a man with the caption] C. P. Dodson, the winner. RESULTS AND SPEEDS. 1. C. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} P. Dodson (M.G. Magnette), 74.65 m.p.h. 2. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hall (Bentley), 78.40 m.p.h. 3. T. Fotheringham (Aston Martin), 74.53 m.p.h. 4. Brian Lewis (Lagonda), 77.57 m.p.h. The Aston Martins won the team prize. Dodson's speed was .03 of a mile above the handicap speed set him. Almost bonnet to bonnet they tore along the straights while the spectators shrieked with excitement. So engrossed were they in this struggle that they forgot that three miles ahead Charles Dodson was trying to hold the lead which his start had given him. For eighty miles Lewis' red car and Hall's green one thundered along in the most thrilling duel which motor racing has given us. DANGER Then a slit showed through Lewis' tyre. His pit attendant frantically waved to him to stop, for they realised his terrible danger. But Lewis went on ... for another lap. There was a harder task for Hall's Bentley. He had to catch the flying Dodson. With one lap to go only 50secs. divided them. Closer and closer the big Bentley drew, until within sight of the winning post he was also in sight of his quarry. But it was no good—Dodson passed the line a winner by 17secs., and a race which had opened slowly developed into one of the most exciting of all speed events. Dodson was second in both Manx car races this year. COMPUTED The official handicapper, Mr. A.{Mr Adams} V.{VIENNA} Ebblewhite, computed that the winner would take 6hrs. 13mins. 26secs.—he was only 2secs. out. The results were:— C. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} P. Dodson (M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Magnette), 6hrs. 13mins. 24secs.; 74.68 miles an hour. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hall (Bentley), 6hrs. 13mins. 41secs.; 78.4 miles an hour. T. Fotheringham (Aston Martin), 6hrs. 6mins. 15secs.; 74.53 miles an hour. Brian Lewis (Lagonda), 6hrs. 17mins. 31secs.; 77.57 miles an hour. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Hindmarsh (Lagonda), 6hrs. 18mins. 29secs.; 77.38 miles an hour. P. Driscoll (Aston Martin), 6hrs. 18mins. 47secs.; 75.2 miles an hour. Essolube Motor Oil was used by the Aston-Martin team. C. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} P. Dodson used Pratts Ethyl petrol. | ||