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).
Page from 'The Motor' magazine reporting on the Oxford University Trial and the Coventry Cup trial.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 128\3\ scan0127 | |
| Date | 14th February 1939 | |
| February 14, 1939. 59 The Motor J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Clifford-Smith (Austin) pauses to reflect on Crowell. R.{Sir Henry Royce} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Richards (Rover Special), winner of the Oxford Trophy. DIFFICULT OXFORD UNIVERSITY TRIAL Only One Premier Award THE first invitation trial organized by the Oxford University Motor Drivers Club and held among the Chilterns last Saturday proved to be on the stiff side owing to a preponderance of mud. Of the 36 starters only three managed to climb Crowell, the first hill; six conquered Radnage City; and not a single competitor could reach the summit of Hale Wood, although four managed to get to the last section of this hill and were credited with clean climbs, there being a bonus for the final section. Before competitors tackled Crowell they had to undergo a test at the foot of the hill; standing start at line A, accelerate to and stop astride line C, reverse to line B, with a flying finish over line D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Tindall (1,991 c.c. A.C.) could not find any forward gears after having reversed to line B. Next came the ascent of the hill itself, which is long and very narrow with a sharp drop on both sides and deeply rutted. The only entrants who did not get stuck here were R.{Sir Henry Royce} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Richards (1,398 c.c. Rover Special), E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Humphris (747 c.c. M.G.) and T. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Lewin (1,358 c.c. M.G.). The most amusing attempt was made by R.{Sir Henry Royce} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Gordon in an old bull-nosed Morris, who, with the assistance of a bumping passenger, almost reached the top amid clouds of smoke and steam. The passenger became so enthusiastic that he threw overboard a petrol can, the back cushion, and, as the car hit a bump, almost went over the side himself. D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} Tilley (Morris Eight) lost his lady passenger near the foot of the hill. She was riding "pillion" on the rear bumper and slipped off, falling flat in the mud, fortunately without injury. The second hill, Radnage City, was slightly easier, six competitors reaching the top non-stop; on Chorley Farm the order was reversed, and only six failed. After lunch came Hale Wood, which was to prove the undoing of every competitor. The principal reason was a sharp left-hand bend which was a mass of gluey mud. Those who did get to the top section did so by charging up the bank and turning on the top of it. T. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Lewin showed real promise until he ran foul of a sapling. PROVISIONAL RESULTS Oxford Trophy: R.{Sir Henry Royce} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Richards (1,398 c.c. Rover Special). Premier Award: E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Humphris (747 c.c. M.G.). Second-class Awards: K.{Mr Kilner} N. Smith (1,911 c.c. Frazer-Nash-B.M.W.), T. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Lewin (1,358 c.c. M.G.), Johnson (for best student), M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} F.{Mr Friese} Laudan (1,287 c.c. Wolseley). Best Oxford Resident: R.{Sir Henry Royce} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Sykes (1,100 c.c. Riley). Team Prize: R.{Sir Henry Royce} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Richards, K.{Mr Kilner} N. Smith and S. K.{Mr Kilner} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Thwaites (1,292 c.c. M.G.). Allard Wins Coventry Cup Few Failures on Dry Kentish Hills GLORIOUS springlike weather robbed the hills of Kent of much of their usual interest when the North-West London Motor Club held the annual Coventry Cup Trial on Saturday. Although the entry of 21 which faced the starter at Wrotham was not as big as in previous years, it made up in quality what it lacked in quantity. It was a big car's day out. So easy were most of the hills that special test times decided the destination of the awards. Three hills produced no failures at all, and only Knatt's Valley retained its reputation. First hill was Hognore, where everybody made clean climbs. Whitehorse was not quite so easy. This long, narrow, winding hill has been known to cause no little havoc in more normal weather. On Saturday it was very dry, except at the top, where it is steepest. W. Dargue (1,911 B.M.W.) was first with a fast and steady climb. As usual, the Allards of K.{Mr Kilner} N. Hutchison and S. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Allard were impressive by reason of their speed; so, too, were H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} L. Hadley (747 Austin S.) and D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} Murkett (939 M.G. S.). H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Lewis (Riley saloon) and D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} A.{Mr Adams} Naar (Ford V8) both found their engines tiring and came to rest. Despite phenomenal r.p.m., R.{Sir Henry Royce} M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Henning's L.M.B. Ford Ten ceased forward motion within sight of the finish; he subsequently retired. Petrol starvation afflicted R.{Sir Henry Royce} F.{Mr Friese} Hield's M.G., but he coaxed the car over the summit. Special Test A was of the normal in and out of the bay variety, but a very wet surface caused the complete failure of no fewer than five. Beechy Lees was the scene of the acceleration test over a time section of about 30 yds., including a bend on a gradient of 1 in 6. L. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Johnson (B.M.W.) and L. L. Burroughs (Ford V8) tied for best time in 7.8 secs. Knatt's Valley was included as a bonus hill. A new course was used, branching from the original one to the left. Apart from the gradient and the mud, a new menace appeared in the form of the Father of All Bumps right across the course at the beginning of the second section. It would be difficult to say who bounced highest and farthest, but Burroughs (Ford V8) has a strong claim to the distinction, while M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Lawson (H.R.G.) indulged in some intrepid aeronautics. Among the few who made the grade were Dargue and Johnson (B.M.W.s), Hutchison and Allard and D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} W. Price (Ford V8). D17 PROVISIONAL RESULTS Coventry Cup: S. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Allard (Allard Special); runner-up, L. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Johnson (Frazer-Nash-B.M.W.). Whittingham Cup (best in opposite class): G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} F.{Mr Friese} Pentony (847 M.G.); runner-up, H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} L. Hadley (747 Austin S). Gwynne Cup (to entrant of winning team): K.{Mr Kilner} Hutchison (Allard). First-class Awards: W. W. Dargue (Frazer-Nash-B.M.W.), L. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Johnson (Frazer-Nash-B.M.W.), K.{Mr Kilner} Hutchison (Allard), C. O.{Mr Oldham} Jackson (1,292 M.G.), D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Silcock (Ford V8), G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} L. Burroughs (Ford V8), M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Lawson (1,497 H.R.G.), D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} W. Price (Ford V8), D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} Murkett (939 M.G. S.), H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} L. Hadley (Austin). Second-class Awards: Mrs. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Wood (Frazer-Nash-B.M.W.), C. R.{Sir Henry Royce} Y. King (Frazer-Nash). Third-class Award: F.{Mr Friese} D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} Bacon (972 Singer). Team Award: Ford Enthusiasts' Club (K.{Mr Kilner} Hutchison, D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Silcock and S. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Allard). Third- | ||