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).
Magazine page reporting on the Le Mans race and other general motoring news.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27\3\ Scan127 | |
| Date | 20th June 1939 | |
| The Motor 810 June 20, 1939. LE MANS Contd. well above the record speed of two years ago when the Bugatti averaged 85 m.p.h. Both the Lagondas were lapping at 87 m.p.h. or more, while the Bugatti was knocking out 92-94 m.p.h., speeding up now as the race position clarified. Gerard, in the Delage, was doing 5 mins. 28 secs. per lap, the Bugatti 5 mins. 21 secs., the Dobson-Brackenbury Lagonda 5:46. Just after mid-day the Bugatti was a lap behind the Delage and all the time the B.M.W. team was going as strongly as when they started, with the saloon car in fifth place. Then, after 20 hours' racing, what had long been expected happened: the Delage came into the pit with an enfeebled engine, and the Bugatti sailed past into the lead. The Delage restarted but stopped next lap, and the Bugatti rapidly piled up a lead of several laps and slowed down, still running with plenty in hand. POSITIONS AT 1 P.M. (After 21 Hours' Racing) 1. Wimille-Veyron (Bugatti), 219 laps. 2. Gerard-Monneret (Delage), 213 laps. 3. Dobson-Brackenbury (Lagonda), 208 laps. 4. Selsdon-Walters (Lagonda), 208 laps. 5. Schaumburg Lippe - Wencher (B.M.W. saloon), 206 laps; 6, Villeneuve-Biolay (Delahaye), 204 laps; 7, Roese-Heinemann (B.M.W.), 201 laps; 8, Walker-Cuddon-Fletcher (FrazerNash-B.M.W.), 196 laps; 9, Briem-Sckoln (B.M.W.), 196 laps; 10, Gordini-Scaron (1,100 Simca Fiat), 187 laps; 11, Ch.-Chamber-Horton (Aston); 13, Clark-Chambers (H.R.G.); 15, White-Anthony (Morgan); 16, Vernet-Bodard (Riley); 18, Jones-Wilkins (Singer). Only 20 left in race. British Cars Doing Well The British cars were doing extremely well, with very few retirements. The Morgan, H.R.G. and the French-entered Riley, the remaining Singer and, of course, the two Lagondas, were all going as hard as ever and were well up, and the three B.M.W.s were still amongst the fastest cars on the course, having hardly varied their pace since the start and lapping at about 86 m.p.h. The Jones-Wilkins Singer ran into a spot of bother just after 2 p.m. and was at rest for some while, then restarted and tooled round and round at touring speed. The Delage stopped again to change drivers and soon went off, second now and sounding quite healthy, but three laps behind the Bugatti at 2 p.m. The Bugatti meanwhile had slowed right up and was rotating on the circuit at 85.5 m.p.h.—a reduction of 10 m.p.h. The H.R.G. lost a cylinder and went on to finish, having already done its minimum laps. At 2 o’clock the Bugatti led by three laps, the Delage second, Dobson eight laps behind, Waleran fourth on the same lap, then the B.M.W. saloon two laps behind. The other two B.M.W.s were 7th and 9th, the Aston Martin 12th, H.R.G. 13th, Morgan 15th, Riley 16th and Singer 18th out of 20 runners. Bugatti Set to Win With two hours to go the Bugatti had the race in its pocket, the Lagondas were running to finish and the saloon B.M.W. was closing up on them. At 3 p.m., after 23 hours motoring and with one hour to go, the Bugatti still led by three laps from the Delage, and was about to break the mileage record of the race (2,043 in 1937) set up by the 3.3 unblown Bugatti driven by Wimille and Benoist. Dobson was ten laps behind the leader, Selsdon a lap behind him, and the B.M.W. saloon two laps behind Selsdon. The Bug. had slowed right up to 82 m.p.h., the Delage was doing 83.8 m.p.h., the saloon B.M.W. 86.9 m.p.h., and the Dobson-Brackenbury Lagonda 87.2 m.p.h. With 20 minutes to go the Singer had one lap to limp to qualify—and then a horde of officials strolled across the track and embarrassed the drivers flashing down past the pits, which occasioned howls of execration from the audience. Lap by lap the remaining half-hour ticked away without any alteration in the order, and at 4 p.m. once again the marque Bugatti was the winner, and once again at record speed, then came the Delage after a wonderful performance, and then the two magnificent Lagondas, finishing their first race in as good order as when they started. WRONG DIRECTION for the streamlined Talbot No. 8, which skidded right round, on an oil patch left by another car, in the face of a Simca Fiat. D16 Other Sports News Off to the States, as a Party ON Saturday last, 20 car loads of Junior Car Club members and passengers started on a rally to the United States and Canada. They sailed from Liverpool on the new S.S. Mauretania, which is making its maiden voyage. The cars include many famous British makes from Rolls-Royce downwards, and a very elaborate itinerary has been arranged for them. They are due to arrive at New York at the end of the week, their first call being the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York, at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Over the weekend they will visit the World's Fair and take part in an interesting programme arranged by the American Automobile Association. The Veterans in Scotland NEXT Saturday the R.S.A.C. will hold a veteran car run, starting from Glasgow at 11 a.m. and passing through Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch, Kilsyth, Falkirk and Linlithgow (about 50 miles). All cars competing will have been made before 1909. Welsh Rally Entries Closing THE final closing date for entries for the Welsh Rally (July 19-22) has been extended to June 26. Already over 100 have been received. What Can You Do on a Gallon? THE well-known Vauxhall consumption tests whereby private motorists can drive a Vauxhall Ten over a selected route to see how far they can make it go on a measured quantity of petrol, without coasting, of course, is being held this month in the London area. Go to your local Vauxhall dealer and he will provide you with a Vauxhall Ten fitted with a special test tank on the dashboard so that the fuel remains visible until the last drop. In the course of these tests in other parts of the country some extraordinarily good figures have been obtained—equal to 55 m.p.g. and over 60 m.p.g. by some competitors. London is divided into different areas and the best from each will compete later in a final event, the winner of the all-London final being presented with a brand new Vauxhall Ten de luxe saloon, value £175. There will be numerous consolation prizes as well. It only costs 1s. to compete, the entrance fee being donated to the local hospitals. This is a very amusing as well as instructional sort of competition, which is enjoying considerable popularity throughout the country. Applications may now be made for the renewal of licences for next quarter. | ||