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).
Newspaper clipping reporting on the R.A.C. Tourist Trophy Race held at the Ards circuit in Belfast.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\2\ Scan094 | |
| Date | 2nd September 1934 guessed | |
| HIGH SPEEDS IN T.T. RACE. SUCCESS OF M.G. MAGNETTE. GREAT DUEL BETWEEN THREE CARS. CORNERING THRILLS FOR SPECTATORS. The R.A.C. Tourist Trophy Race over the famous Ards circuit at Belfast was won yesterday by C. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} P. Dodson, driving an M.G. Magnette at an average speed of 74.65 miles per hour. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hall (Bentley) was second at 78.40 miles per hour, and T. Fotheringham at 74.53 miles per hour was third (Aston Martin). The Hon. Brian Lewis (Lagonda), 77.57 miles per hour, was fourth. The Aston Martins won the team prize. The official times for the first four were: Dodson, 6 hours, 13 min., 24 sec.; Hall, 6 hours, 13 min., 41 sec.; Fotheringham, 6 hours, 16 min. 15 sec.; Brian Lewis, 6 hours, 17 min., 31 sec. At 3.30 the leaders on handicap were Dodson, Hall, and Fotheringham, and by five o'clock Lewis had taken third place. On the closing stages Brian Lewis and Hall fought a duel which was the feature of the race. For lap after lap the Lagonda and the Bentley went round with not more than ten yards separating them. At the same time Hall was making a frantic effort to overtake Dodson, and subsequently succeeded in regaining the lead, Dodson being a close second. With only a little further to go, however, Dodson, driving magnificently, got in front again. He snatched fractions of a second lead over Hall, and, cheered on by the crowd at every corner, the young driver succeeded in flashing past the grandstand about thirty yards ahead of the Bentley. SPILLS AND THRILLS. There were many spills and thrills during the race. The first accident happened to H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} B Prestwich (Riley), whose car overturned at Quarry Corner. His mechanic was hurled into the river, but the driver was thrown clear of the vehicle. It was found that neither had been injured, not even scratched, but the car was withdrawn from the race. The Riley driven by W. R.{Sir Henry Royce} Baird caught fire, but the flames were quickly put out. The car was damaged, and pushed towards the pits. Half-way through the race ten cars had retired. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hodge (Singer) had a lucky escape. The steering gear of his car snapped, causing a violent swerve, and the car finally broadsided into a ditch. Hodge escaped with a few bruises and shock, and he retired. Driscoll went into a terrific broadside skid at the Dundonald hairpin, and Mitchell Thomson, who was close on him, had barely room to scrape through. The forty cars in the race were divided into four classes, according to the engine cubic capacity. Scratch cars had to complete thirty-five laps of thirteen and two-thirds miles—a total of 478 miles—while the others will complete between thirty-two and thirty-five laps and receive a time allowance according to their engines. | ||