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 article from 'The Autocar' detailing the T.T. motor race, including results and a photo of the winners.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\1\ Scan072 | |
| Date | 13th September 1935 | |
| 462 The Autocar September 13th, 1935. Dixon's Riley Wins the T.T. officials also gave him the "come in" signal. Donald Barnes, somewhat relieved when he heard what had occurred, drove slowly into the retired car park. Discretion was the better part of valour! At 3.30 p.m. Hindmarsh was still second on handicap, Hall third, Dodson fourth, and the inseparable Brackenbury and Penn-Hughes fifth and sixth, but now first Dodson and on the next lap Hindmarsh brought their Lagondas in for another change of all four wheels and replenishment. Hindmarsh took 2 min. 15 sec., and lost his lead on distance to Hall, who thus took second place once more on the handicap, the order at 4 p.m. being:— 1. F.{Mr Friese} W. Dixon (Riley) m.p.h. 77.14 2. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hall (Bentley) 80.21 3. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} S. Hindmarsh (Lagonda) 79.69 4. C. Brackenbury (Aston Martin) 75.76 5. C. Penn-Hughes (Aston Martin) 75.69 6. Earl Howe Bugatti) 79.07 Now the battle was on with a vengeance. Dixon, knowing that the Bentley was chasing him, crammed on sail and on two consecutive laps improved the class record, first at 79.31, then at 79.44 m.p.h. Hall skidded round at the Moate, and on this lap not only did not gain the 34 sec. that were necessary to match Dixon's speed on the handicap, but actually lost 5 sec.! Dodson slipped by Seaman with his Magnette—still going well, but not fast enough to do any good— by a fine piece of driving at Ballystockart. Hindmarsh overshot the hairpin at Dundonald. Even Dixon knocked a little piece out of a wooden post at Dundonald Bridge! Behind them Lord Howe's Bugatti was going better than ever, third on distance covered behind Hall and Hindmarsh, and now rapidly coming up on the handicap. Two great efforts ended, however, about this time, when Powys Lybbe at last had to retire, amid much applause, with piston trouble, while Irench-Davis stopped near the Moate with his Fiat, which had never quite recovered from that fierce opening battle with the Singers. On the Sand Bank The Marendaz Special, driven by W. T. McCalla, which had also been putting up a fine run, rammed the bank at Quarry Corner, but proceeded. Then another spectacular accident occurred at Newtownards Town Hall, where Von der Becke was just about to take the sharp right-hand turn when he heard a horn close behind, and, looking round, saw Hall's Bentley right on top of him. Both cars could not take the corner at once, and Von der Becke ran straight into the sandbank, where the car was firmly embedded. Disregarding a spade which an onlooker thoughtfully provided, the driver dug his car out with his hands, and went on with sand pouring from the front of the car. Baird, a local man with much knowledge of the course, so that each lap at Comber he seemed faster with his Magnette than anyone else, now had a terrific skid at Newtownards, but no damage resulted. As light relief from the stern struggle between the leaders, a horse got on to the course near Dundonald, and several cars had to be flagged down before it was secured. Just as Hindmarsh seemed in a challenging position once more, cruel luck caused him to stop for four minutes while a petrol pipe was repaired. At this stage such a delay was fatal, and interest now centred upon Dixon and Hall. With four laps to go Dixon led by 4 min. 37 sec. Hall had made up 27 sec. on the previous lap, but it was not enough. Next lap he gained 25 sec., but it was evident that, barring accidents, the Riley must win. Dixon could even afford to take his corners more slowly, and, try as Hall did, he could not get on terms. The last lap came with Dixon taking it easily, with a lead of over two minutes, and he finished amid shouts of acclamation 1 min. 13 sec. to the good in front of Hall, while Lord Howe's well-earned third place was very popular with the crowds. The Aston Martin pair, Brackenbury and Penn-Hughes, who had run in company ever since the ninth lap, completed the course with only a single second between them, but there was a terrific finish for sixth place. Hindmarsh and Dodson had started their thirty-fifth and final lap together, and were coming up hand over fist behind Paul. The Riley pit staff stood on their counter looking anxiously towards Dundonald. The little blue car came in sight! Behind it thundered the huge red Lagondas. Paul, Hindmarsh, Dodson! Only a second between each car. Of the finishers, the first five beat their handicap schedules. All cars were due to finish according to calculation on the handicap in 6 hr. 10 min. 36 sec. Dixon finished in 6 hr. 3 min. 31 sec. RESULTS. 1. F.{Mr Friese} W. Dixon (Riley) m.p.h. 76.00 2. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hall (Bentley) 80.38 3. Earl Howe (Bugatti) 79.43 4. C. Brackenbury (Aston Martin) 75.76 5. C. Penn-Hughes (Aston Martin) 75.77 6. C. Paul (Riley) 77.29 7. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} S. Hindmarsh (Lagonda) 78.87 8. A.{Mr Adams} C. P. Dodson (Lagonda) 78.86 9. C. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} P. Dodson (Lagonda) 75.64 10. R.{Sir Henry Royce} J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} B. Seaman (M.G. Magnette) 75.68 11. T. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Rose-Richards (Aston Martin) 73.11 12. W. P. Baird (M.G. Magnette) 72.31 13. K.{Mr Kilner} D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} Evans (M.G. Magnette) 69.68 Team Prize.—C. Brackenbury, C. Penn-Hughes, T. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Rose-Richards (Aston Martin). Winner Class C.—T. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Rose-Richards (Aston Martin). Winner Class F.{Mr Friese}—F.{Mr Friese} W. Dixon (Riley). FLAGGED OFF. A.{Mr Adams} Dobson (Fiat), 1 lap to go. W. T. McCalla (Marendaz), 1 lap to go. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} C. Martin (Aston Martin), 2 laps to go. RETIRED. A.{Mr Adams} C. Dobson (Fiat), 26 laps covered. Petrol shortage. A.{Mr Adams} Powys-Lybbe (Alvis), 25 laps covered. Piston. F.{Mr Friese} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Irench Davis (Fiat), 23 laps covered. A.{Mr Adams} C. B. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Davis (Singer), 21 laps covered. Crashed. A.{Mr Adams} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Le Fanu (Adler), 16 laps covered. Engine. Hon. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Lewis (Bugatti), 15 laps covered. Clutch. P. L. Donkin (Aston Martin), 15 laps covered. Engine. N. Black (Singer), 15 laps covered. Crashed. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Langley (Singer), 12 laps covered. Crashed. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Chambers (Riley), 10 laps covered. R.{Sir Henry Royce} McClure (Riley), 10 laps covered. Oil trouble. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} C. McFerran (Bugatti), 10 laps covered. Crashed. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} Manders (Adler), 8 laps covered. C. M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Bira" (Aston Martin), 6 laps covered. Oil trouble. D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Evans (M.G. Magnette), 6 laps covered. L. Klem" (Adler), 5 laps covered. Oil trouble. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} Millar (Lagonda), 5 laps covered. Big-end. R.{Sir Henry Royce} J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} L. Falkner (Aston Martin), 4 laps covered. Oil pressure. EQUIPMENT. F.{Mr Friese} W. Dixon's Riley used B.P. fuel, Castrol oil, S.U. carburetters, Champion plugs, Scintilla magneto, Jaeger rev. counter, Dunlop tyres and wheels, Ferodo brake linings, Hartford shock absorbers. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hall's Bentley used Esso fuel, Castrol oil, S.U. carburetters, K.L.G. plugs, Rudge wheels, India tyres, Ferodo brake linings, Hartford shock absorbers. Earl Howe's Bugatti used Shell fuel, Shell oil, Champion plugs, Bosch ignition, Jaeger rev. counter, Rudge wheels, Dunlop tyres, Scintilla magneto, Ferodo brake linings. Team Prize Aston Martins used Esso fuel, Essolube oil, S.U. carburetters, Champion plugs, Scintilla magneto, Jaeger instruments, Rudge wheels, Dunlop tyres, Ferodo brake linings, Hartford shock absorbers. Winning smiles—Freddie Dixon (centre), first; E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hall (right), second; Earl Howe (left), third. C 14 | ||