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).
Race report from the 1934 R.A.C. Tourist Trophy Race, continued from a previous page.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\2\ Scan089 | |
| Date | 4th September 1934 | |
| September 4, 1934. 201 THE R.A.C. TOURIST TROPHY RACE—Contd. IMAGE CAPTION: A struggle at the Horse Trough. T. S. Fothringham (1½-litre Aston-Martin)—third man home—passes the Hon. Peter Mitchell-Thomson (1½-litre Frazer-Nash), who finished 15th at 68.58 m.p.h. IMAGE SIGNATURE: Bryan de Grineau, Belfast 1934 flat-out blind past the Moate, closer still at Comber, lay a bare yard to the rear at Ballystockart—and led round Dundonald hairpin. Then for the third time Lewis passed the Bentley as they came past the pits and stands. Such a fight had not been seen since the Kaye Don-Leon Cushman epic of 1928. And all the while little Charlie Dodson and his wonderful Magnette sped towards the finish a lap ahead—leading by 46 secs. on handicap. ORDER at 4 p.m. 1. Dodson (M.G. Magnette), 74.55 m.p.h. 2. Hon. Brian Lewis (Lagonda), 78.15 m.p.h., 29 secs. behind on handicap. 3. Hall (Bentley), 78.14 m.p.h., 47 secs. behind. 4. Fothringham (Aston-Martin), 74.48 m.p.h., 2 mins. 4 secs. behind. 5. Hindmarsh (Lagonda), 77.76 m.p.h., 2 mins. 4 secs. behind. 6. Driscoll (Aston-Martin), 74.20 m.p.h., 3 mins. 5 secs. behind. For lap after lap the Lagonda-Bentley duel went on. Fothringham (Aston-Martin) — ousted from third place—was driving calmly and well. Hall lay behind Lewis for the whole of the 29th lap, both cars averaging a shade under 80 m.p.h., and the Magnette's lead came down to half a lap with five laps to go! One of the Fords at this point executed a terrific skid at Dundonald, the second Invicta gave up after a prolonged struggle with engine trouble and then Dodson lapped at 74.97 m.p.h. and led by 9 mins. 11 secs. actual time. The two big cars were chewing up his lead at the rate of over 20 secs. per lap. This was going to be one of the finest finishes ever seen in the history of the race. The cornering was becoming alarming. Hall’s tyres were sending out an almost constant screech as he flung the car left and right through the innumerable bends. Dodson took Quarry Corner in one long slide, with the tyres almost rolled off the rim. Lewis's Tyres Giving Trouble Then Hall passed the Lagonda again, and Lewis flashed past his pit frantically waving that his tyres were going. On that lap Hall set up a new record—81.15 m.p.h.—and, realizing that Lewis was done for, dashed flat out after Dodson, 1 min. 44 secs. in the lead and with 15 secs. lead on handicap. ORDER at 4.30 p.m. 1. Dodson (M.G. Magnette), 74.34 m.p.h. 2. Hall (Bentley), 78.55 m.p.h., 15 secs. behind on handicap. 3. Hon. Brian Lewis (Lagonda), 78.32 m.p.h. 20 secs. behind. Brian Lewis was now slowing. His tyres would no longer permit cornering on the limit, and the breaker strips were showing. At 4.45 p.m., when Dodson had only three more laps to cover, and while the breathless crowds were eagerly discussing Hall's chance, Rose-Richards came in with the Talbot to change both front wheels in 50 secs.—a beautiful piece of work by the two mechanics. A few minutes later they did a similar office for Lord Howe. Thunderstorm at Comber. In torrents of rain Dodson shot over the dangerous level-crossing a good 10 m.p.h. faster than had been thought feasible on a dry surface—an easy 85 m.p.h. But Hall had gained 29 secs—and Brian Lewis stopped for a frantic change of all wheels. ORDER at 5 p.m. (one lap to go). 1. Dodson (M.G. Magnette), 74.66 m.p.h. 2. Hall (Bentley), 78.78 m.p.h., 19 secs. behind on handicap. 3. Hon. Brian Lewis (Lagonda), 78.24 m.p.h., 58 secs. behind. 4. Fothringham (Aston-Martin), 74.65 m.p.h., 2 mins. 41 secs. behind. 5. Hindmarsh (Lagonda), 77.89 m.p.h., 2 mins. 53 secs. behind. 6. Driscoll (Aston-Martin), 74.45 m.p.h., 3 mins. 6 secs. behind. The last lap. Dodson led by 42 secs. at Newtownards, 35 secs. at the Moate, 31 secs. at Comber, lost 8 secs. at Ballystockart, lost 4 more at Dundonald, and with toot flat down came up past the pits like a scalded cat 17 secs. ahead of the thundering green Bentley. The Tourist Trophy Race—and what a race!—had been lost and won. p21 | ||