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 motor race, complete with photographs and captions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\1\ Scan040 | |
| Date | 7th September 1934 | |
| 428 The Autocar September 7th, 1934. [Caption for map] The Bentley, leading the race at the time on handicap, has to change wheels. [Main text] not held by supercharged cars were in these two classes, and it was in these two classes only that lap records were beaten. Furthermore, although Hall on the unsupercharged Bentley had at 3.0 regained the lead on handicap at 78.62 m.p.h., Nuvolari won the whole race last year at an average of 78.65 m.p.h. on a supercharged car with an engine less than one third of the size. This detracts in no way from the remarkable speed of the Bentley, but is merely inserted in fairness to the supercharger, which was somewhat decried. At 3.0, then, with the fever of the pit stops for the most part over, when the sound of wheel hammers was no longer incessant and only “Dunlop Mac{Mr Macintosh}'s” air bottles hissed at the pits as he changed over tyres in peace, Hall led on handicap, Dodson was second, then Lewis, Hindmarsh, Fothringham, and Driscoll. Handley had retired with gear box trouble, so that with Eyston still dropping back much responsibility fell upon little Dodson, referred to most picturesquely in a Sunday paper as the 'pocket Hercules.' The Aston Martins were running strongly for the team prize, their chief rivals being the Lagondas. The six-cylinder Frazer Nashes were delayed by ignition trouble, in addition to “intermittent” brakes on Aldington's car, which Casswell had taken over. By the twenty-fourth lap Hall was actually fourth on distance, a little over four minutes behind Dodson, with Fothringham and Driscoll second and third, and Penn-Hughes fifth. Lewis and Hindmarsh lay sixth and seventh on distance. On the twenty-fifth lap Hall came in, changed wheels and refuelled, and got away, having taken 2 1/4 min., just in front of Lewis. Next lap, amidst terrific excitement at the stands, the red and the green cars came into sight together still, and then Lewis brought everyone to their feet by passing Hall right in front of the grandstand. Again next lap they came by neck and neck, while Hindmarsh followed some way behind as best he could, and sandwiched between the trio, somewhat worried at being suddenly caught in the focus of the race, came the placid John Cobb with the third Lagonda, who, as a matter of fact, was a lap behind, actually in eleventh place on distance. The duel was terrific. All round the course spectators went nearly mad with excitement, for Lewis hung grimly to his lead. Another lap saw the position of the two unaltered, and another. For [Caption for map] Only one more lap to go! Dodson passes the stands with a precarious lead. [Caption for photo] Dodson crosses the line a winner! But officials had Hall's number ready, as well. [Text from photos] SHELL-MEX AND BP LTD DUNLOP DAILY MAIL 27 [Footer] G 18 | ||