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).
Letter to 'The Autocar' magazine regarding the Tourist Trophy Race on the Ards Circuit.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0049 | |
| Date | 25th November 1940 | |
| The Editor, The Autocar" Dorset Stamford Street, LONDON.S.E.1. 25.11.40. Sir, ARDS CIRCUIT. Your article on the last Tourist Trophy Race, held in Ulster, was of great interest. The object of these races has always been to improve the breed of the high performance touring car, and the Ards Circuit was ideal for the purpose, being in the opinion of many, the best road course ever utilised for a race. I had the good fortune to be there in 1934, 1935 and, in 1936 we were all looking forward to something exceptional, since there were no less than 11 entries in the over 3,000 c.c. class and 5 of these, Delahayes, had wheel bases of only 8'9" as opposed to about 10'6" for the Bentleys and Lagondas. However, the weather took a hand, and on the morning of the race, having seen the streaming rain, the bookies made Freddie Dixon firm favourite. They were right. The storm for the first two hours slowed up the big cars. They never recovered from this and Dixon made the most of his opportunity. I thought the Bentleys and Lagondas more than sustained their country's reputation as they beat the Delahayes handsomely, putting in the fastest times for the Course. One could not help feeling sorry for Eddie Hall. Driving single-handed, non-stop, through the bad weather, he gave a superb exhibition of reliability and speed, and for the third time in succession, just failed to hold the winners. Let us hope that after the war, the classic T.T.Race may once again be held on the road, even though it may be too much to expect that it will ever again be possible to use the magnificent Ards Circuit. Yours faithfully, | ||