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 Autocar' magazine detailing a historic motor race in the Isle of Man.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0170 | |
| Date | 18th October 1940 | |
| 402 The Autocar. October 18th, 1940 TWICE-TOLD TALES OF MOTOR RACING No. 24 : THE SPORTS EDITOR The Old 'Un Wins How Seaman Drove the Veteran Delage to Victory in the Isle of Man IN 1936 the great idea in motor racing was to devise short circuits as full of corners as possible. An undoubted heresy, this scheme had a wide influence, so wide that there was quite a danger the logical sequel, a species of circus, would appear. But however magnificent chariot racing may have been in the Circus Maximus, it is a poor model for the motor racing that is its modern equivalent. Short circuits become boring quite rapidly for serious races over long distances. Frequent corners cut the speed down and, if sharp, eliminate much of the advantage skill and judgment can attain over the less proficient. Well, that is as may be. The Isle of Man race for 1½-litre cars that year was run on a new experimental 4-mile-long circuit composed unhappily of a short stretch of the real T.T. course near the Grandstand joined to the two legs of comparatively narrow roads with an apex at Cronk-Ny-Mona. There was quite a bit of fuss about the whole thing before the race as it happens, but even the most irate admitted that another circuit could not be used at a moment’s notice. As things stood, the race seemed to lack vital interest, for the E.R.A.s were in such preponderance as to suggest a one-make event, an idea strengthened by the presence of the official team. True, Dick Seaman had overhauled a very ancient eight-cylinder Delage that once had been the crack racing car of the year, supreme over all rivals, and there were a Maserati or so, a Bugatti, a very small Austin, and some odds and ends, but all of them were judged out of the picture. One Among Many How thoroughly wrong the critics were—to the unconcealed joy of the scoffers—became obvious when the practice lap times showed Dick well up on the list. Still, what was one car among so many? As to the official E.R.A. team, there were curious doubts, the general verdict being that they were good cars ill prepared and all over the place on strategy and tactics. This judgment was further strengthened by a most odd occurrence. The order of the cars at the start was set by the practice times of each machine. Those with the lowest lap times were in front, the others following in strict order. Obviously this meant the order set by the times of a given car with its appointed driver. Yet by some extraordinary mistake that fine driver and most cheery person Lehoux was allowed to put up a fine practice time with Lord Howe's car. Since the sturdy little Frenchman was an experienced driver and his chance much favoured, the result was devastating. Lord Howe was not given a real chance to put up a satisfactory speed with his own car, while Lehoux's personal machine was not ready to achieve real speed. Hence the driver who had put up the fastest lap found himself almost in the back row, while Lord Howe was right in front. The psychological effect on the highly strung Lehoux was immediate. He had, in fact, lost the race before the flag dropped. Well, it was a devastating show. Lord Howe got away well to lead at once, with Seaman, on the Delage, just behind, then the field in a pack. For two most unfortunate mortals the worst had happened. Rayson's Maserati and Humber's Bugatti failed to move an inch, the first with its supercharger gone, the second having thrown a rod. Immediate suicide is the all-pervading desire for the moment when this happens to a driver. For four laps Howe led in style, then Dick came by in one magnificent sweep as the E.R.A. began to develop fuel feed trouble. Dick's need for urge was apparent when you noticed that the enraged Lehoux was doing the wildest miracles to get through the field and was actually succeeding. Car after car the little Frenchman passed, skidding wide on corners, notably unsteady on the straights, but going for all he was worth the whole time. Lord Howe's Troubles The trouble with Lord Howe's E.R.A. was a badly adjusted blow-off valve which allowed air pressure to build up far beyond normal in the fuel tank. Worse than that, the pressure bulged the tank, which was immediately hit and damaged by the rear-axle centre casing, so that the situation was hopeless. Cyril Paul, with another E.R.A., went up to second place and was immediately hit badly in the face by a flying stone. Those stones were the curse of the day as, flung by the treads of rear wheels, they catapulted everywhere. Lehoux had his goggles smashed on his face. The Austin, being low, was hit again and again until a plug was actually smashed in two. Bira, calm as ever, neatly skilful, held third place. Pat Fairfield was coming along well, Mays was doing all he could, but at 21 laps Bira got through to second place only to stop for a refill and drop to third. Paul, in turn, stopped at the pit, and once more the little Thailandese came second behind Seaman, with Raymond Mays now third and Lehoux coming up great guns. It might be annoying to the critics, but there it was—Dick with his magnificent old Delage was keeping everyone else off, giving one of the finest examples of cool, well-judged driving, and seeming to do it with consummate ease. Fancy! It was 1926 against 1936. That makes you think, when the ten-year-old leads. Thirty-one laps, and disaster overtook Ray, whose car went out with an axle shaft snapped like a carrot. Now it was Lehoux whose E.R.A. was third, and he was gaining yards on the Delage. Save for Bira and Lehoux the E.R.A. force was spent. Pat's car was misfiring unpleasantly, well down in speed, and nearly all the others were in dire trouble. Pat indeed had a nasty turn. Coming down fast to a turn he had to use an escape road, only to find Everitt, who had done likewise and was returning, coming fast A 26 | ||