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).
Race report from the R.A.C. Tourist Trophy Race, continued on page 197 of 'The Motor' magazine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\2\ Scan088 | |
| Date | 4th September 1934 guessed | |
| 197 THE R.A.C. TOURIST TROPHY RACE—Contd. [LEFT COLUMN] Dundonald hairpin—Lord Howe (2.9-litre Talbot) screaming his tyres at the most acute turn on the Ards Circuit, followed by Cyril Paul (Riley Nine). Lord Howe's best lap was at 73.84 m.p.h. ORDER at 1 p.m. 1. Hall (Bentley), 80.33 m.p.h. 2. Dodson (M.G. Magnette), 74.69 m.p.h., 1 min. 6 secs. behind on handicap. 3. Hon. Brian Lewis (Lagonda), 78.51 m.p.h., 1 min. 24 secs. behind. 4. Fothringham (Aston-Martin), 74.90 m.p.h., 1 min. 31 secs. behind. 5. Driscoll (Aston-Martin), 74.60 m.p.h., 1 min. 59 secs. behind. 6. Eyston (M.G. Magnette), 74.14 m.p.h., 2 mins. 2 secs. behind. Class records were going up and up. The fastest 1,500 c.c. went to Driscoll (Aston-Martin) at 76.24 m.p.h., J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hodge (Singer Nine) stole the 1,100 c.c. lap record from the Rileys at 71.37 m.p.h. and Rose-Richards went round at 75.54 m.p.h. Hodge's effort proved his last. Just on half-past one Hodge went sideways into a Ballystockart ditch—out of the race at high speed—without personal damage. Steering gear breakage was blamed. Lap Records Go Up Despite these alarums, those lap records still went overboard. Dodson, rapidly advancing to first place, registered 76.36 m.p.h. (and this in an unblown 1,287 c.c. M.G. Magnette, re-member), Von der Becke scored 71.48 m.p.h. in the 1,100 c.c. class with the Riley, Fothringham (Aston-Martin) thought 76.60 m.p.h. might do, but Driscoll, in a sister car, thought 76.72 m.p.h. an improvement. It was at this period that a telephonist, earnestly talking into his instrument at Ballystockart, had the mouthpiece knocked sideways by a stone artlessly catapulted at him by Hall's Bentley as it swept past. Many Pit Stops Pit stops were coming thick and fast as many cars were coming in for their first refill. At 1.21 a violent blowing of high-power horns heralded Hall's stop to change all four wheels, fling into the tank 8¼ large cans of fuel, have a drink and get away again—in 2 mins. 48 secs. This stop brought Hall down from first place to sixth, 2 mins. 9 secs. [RIGHT COLUMN] The Motor behind Dodson on handicap, and grimly he set about fighting his way back again. ORDER at 2 p.m 1. Dodson (M.G. Magnette), 77.17 m.p.h. 2. Hon. Brian Lewis (Talbot), 78.53 m.p.h., 25 secs. behind on handicap. 3. Fothringham (Aston-Martin), 75.24 m.p.h., 44 secs. behind. 4. Driscoll (Aston-Martin), 75.05 m.p.h., 1 min. 6 secs. behind. 5. Hindmarsh (Lagonda), 78.25 m.p.h., 1 min. 34 secs. behind. 6. Hall (Bentley), 77.96 m.p.h., 2 mins. 6 secs. behind. At ten minutes after two Von der Becke pushed his record up to 71.89 m.p.h. and Hall dispensed with another 4 secs, and averaged 81.01 m.p.h. Ten minutes later C. Penn-Hughes (Aston-Martin)—who had an early pit stop—lapped at 77.44 m.p.h. in the 1,500 c.c. class. The A.M.s were pressing hard. About this time Rayson's Invicta broke a piston on the Ards straight—and that was that—while Handley was having an anxious time with a top-gear which wouldn't work. Eventually this derangement forced his retirement. Some Rapid Tyre Changes There was some very smart pit work during the next half-hour—and some not quite so smart. George Eyston refuelled and changed four wheels in 1 min. 55 secs. Newsome (Riley) changed three wheels, took on 12 gallons and tightened his shock absorbers in 2 mins. dead. Then at half- (Continued on page 200) The first Riley to finish: A.{Mr Adams} Von der Becke swirling into the right-angle turn in Comber Village, leading C. S. Staniland in the six-cylinder Riley and W. Sullivan's Ford V8. Von der Becke averaged 70.32 m.p.h. and finished ninth. | ||