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).
Article from 'The Motor' magazine about motor racing, including a tribute to driver H. C. Hamilton and details on upcoming races.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\1\ Scan051 | |
| Date | 4th September 1934 | |
| The Motor 204 ON ROAD AND TRACK—Contd. from page 193. September 4, 1934. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} C. HAMILTON A Brilliant Young Driver THE tragic death of Hugh Hamilton in the Swiss Grand Prix on August 26 came as a great shock to enthusiasts in this country. "Hammy," with his screwed-up eyes and quizzical smile, was universally popular. Despite his youth (he was 29 years old) and the fact that he had been in the racing game a matter of four years, he could claim a place in the front rank of British drivers. It will be remembered that last year he had a bad smash in the comparatively obscure Masaryk Grand Prix, on the Brno circuit in Czechoslovakia, when, driving an M.G., he overturned on a corner and was badly injured. This year he has been a member of Whitney Straight's Maserati team. His record this year alone speaks for itself: he drove in the Casablanca Grand Prix in May, ran third behind Chiron and Etancelin for 42 laps and retired. In the Montreux Grand Prix in June he finished fifth, behind Whitney Straight. He was well in the picture at Barcelona later that month but retired, and then on July 8 finished fourth, two laps ahead of the next man, in the Marne Grand Prix. Won Easily Next came the Albi Grand Prix, where Hamilton finished second, 2½ mins. behind the winner, and then, on August 12, he ran clean away with the Junior event in the Acerbo meeting, driving his M.G. Magnette. Hamilton came to motor racing by way of trials driving, and his first appearance at the wheel was with C. R.{Sir Henry Royce} Whitcroft, of The Motor, sharing the driving of a Riley Nine in the J.C.C. "Double-Twelve" of 1930, which finished third, and won the 1,100 c.c. class. Next he raced M.G. cars and handled a Midget in the "Double-Twelve" of the following year, driving single-handed for the two days and finished third again. In the T.T. of that year (1931) Hamilton drove an M.G. Midget once again, set up the 750 c.c. lap record and retired after working his way to second place. Then followed the J.C.C. Thousand Miles Race, in which he partnered Major A.{Mr Adams} T. C. Gardner in an M.G., and in July he made his appearance in Continental racing, handling Lord Howe's Bugatti for the concluding phases of the French Grand Prix on the Rheims circuit and finishing ninth. A week or so later he went to Germany for the Grand Prix on the Nurburg Ring with an M.G. Midget, and quite easily won the 800 c.c. event. During practice for the T.T. in August he astounded everyone by breaking his own lap record three times, leaving it at 74.53 m.p.h. from a standing start. Then he crashed, fortunately with slight injuries D24 Hugh Hamilton—a characteristic pose. The next race was the Mannin Beg of last year, in which his M.G. Magnette headed the race for over 35 laps before a broken axle robbed him of victory. Donington followed, at which he broke the standing and flying lap records and the five-lap record, again with the M.G. Magnette. The Tourist Trophy came within the month, and it is a matter of history how, with Nuvolari close on his tail, a pit stop robbed "Hammy" and his marvellous Midget of victory by 40 secs. on the last lap. Then came the expedition to the Masaryk Grand Prix and the crash which put him into hospital with severe injuries. The Donington Open International Car Races I CAN now give for your consideration the handicapping arrangements for the open meeting to be held on the Donington Road Circuit on Saturday, October 6, commencing at 1 p.m. As I remarked last week, there are three events in the programme—the first a 10-lap handicap for those cars up to 1,500 c.c. which are not running in the other two events on the card, the second a 20-lap (50 miles) scratch race for cars up to 3,000 c.c., the third a 100-mile (40-lap) handicap race for cars up to 1,500 c.c. Large money prizes are being given for this meeting; in the first event the first man home will net £50, in the second event the winner will receive £100 and the Park Trophy, the second man £50 and the third £25, and in the third event (for the Nuffield Trophy) he will receive the Trophy and £200 in cash, the second man £100, the third £50 and the fourth £25. Of this money £250 has been contributed by Lord Nuffield of Oxford. DONINGTON HANDICAPPING (Giving estimated speeds) 10-lap Race Supercharged cars.—750 c.c.: 50 secs. (64.20 m.p.h.). 1,100 c.c.: 10 secs. (66.04 m.p.h.). 1,500 c.c.: scratch (66.9 m.p.h.). Unsupercharged cars.—750 c.c.: 2 mins. 10 secs. (60.85 m.p.h.). 1,100 c.c.: 50 secs. (64.20 m.p.h.). 1,500 c.c.: 10 secs. (66.04 m.p.h.). 40-lap Race (Estimated speeds as above) Supercharged cars.—750 c.c.: 1 lap plus 56 secs. 1,100 c.c.: 40 secs. 1,500 c.c.: scratch. Unsupercharged cars.—750 c.c.: 3 laps plus 4 secs. 1,100 c.c.: 1 lap plus 56 secs. 1,500 c.c.: 40 secs. The entry fees for this meeting are £3 for the first race, £5 for the second and £5 for the third. Cars in any trim with single or two-seater bodies and with engines not exceeding three litres are eligible to compete. Entries, plus 10s. to cover compulsory third-party insurance, close on Wednesday, September 12. Lord Howe has already intimated that he will compete at this meeting, and I gather that Raymond Mays will enter at least one of his team of E.R.A.s, and that Whitney Straight will also run. And Why Not? The National Federation of French Automobile Clubs has made strong representations to the Government that support should be given to French factories for the building of Grand Prix teams to stem the tide of foreign victories. Kent and Sussex L.C.C. HEREWITH I publish the class winners at the recent speed trials held by the Kent and Sussex Light Car Club at the Race Hill, Lewes:— Frazer-Nash cars (any type): S. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Cummings, 27 secs. 1,100 c.c. sports: J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Eason Gibson (Riley), 31.4 secs. 1,100 c.c. super-sports: A.{Mr Adams} Lemaire (Austin Seven), 30 secs. 1,500 c.c. sports: S. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Cummings (Frazer-Nash), 26.8 secs. 1,500 super-sports: G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Walker (Frazer-Nash), 24.8 secs. Unlimited super-sports: F.{Mr Friese} Lycett (8-litre Bentley), 23.4 secs. 1,100 c.c. racing: H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} W. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Clayton (Clayton-Special), 23 secs. 1,500 c.c. racing: R.{Sir Henry Royce} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Nash (Anzani-Nash), 22.2 secs. 2-litre racing: R.{Sir Henry Royce} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Nash (Anzani-Nash), 22 secs. Unlimited racing cars: R.{Sir Henry Royce} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Nash (Anzani-Nash), 21.6 secs. Handicap class: A.{Mr Adams} M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Leitch (1,089 c.c. Frazer-Nash), 20.8 secs. (net time). Crawshay Challenge Cup (fastest racing car): B. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Nash. Baker Challenge Cup (fastest sports car): F.{Mr Friese} Lycett. Silver Cup (fastest visitor): A.{Mr Adams} Eason-Scott (2-litre Bugatti), 22.4 secs. De Paolo Convalescent Peter de Paolo, badly hurt in practice for the Penya Rhin race early in the season, has left the American hospital at Neuilly and has returned to America. He is still far from full recovery. THE ST.{Capt. P. R. Strong} GAUDENS CIRCUIT A map which helps to explain Lehoux's phenomenal lap at 99.32 m.p.h. in the recent Comminges Grand Prix. ST.{Capt. P. R. Strong} GAUDENS R.{Sir Henry Royce} GARONNE VALENTINE | ||