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).
The R.A.C. Tourist Trophy Race with photos and race order updates.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\1\ Scan049 | |
| Date | 4th September 1934 | |
| The Motor | 200 | September 4, 1934. THE R.A.C. TOURIST TROPHY RACE—Contd. (Continued from page 197) Image caption: The fateful pit call. Hall stops to change wheels after 25 laps and lends a hand to save seconds. Had he saved 20 secs. on his two pit stops he would have won! past three Hall brought the Bentley in for its second and last stop amidst tremendous popular enthusiasm, changed all wheels and got away again in 2½ mins. In the light of subsequent events, it is of academic interest to wonder whether, other things being equal and Hall had managed to clip 10 secs. off each of his pit stops, he would have won the race by 3 secs. But, of course, 'other things' are so rarely equal. ORDER at 3 p.m. 1. Hall (Bentley), 78.65 m.p.h. 2. Dodson (M.G. Magnette), 74.56 m.p.h., 1 min. 36 secs. behind on handicap. 3. Hon. Brian Lewis (Lagonda), 77.65 m.p.h., 2 mins. 17 secs. behind. 4. Hindmarsh (Lagonda), 77.46 m.p.h., 3 mins. 5 secs. behind. 5. Fotheringham (Aston-Martin), 74.12 m.p.h., 3 mins. 37 secs. behind. 6. Driscoll (Aston-Martin), 73.97 m.p.h., 4 mins. 5 secs. behind. Then came drama—in the shape of Brian Lewis's scarlet Lagonda flying up the road from Dundonald, just as Hall's Bentley was moving out from its pit. The Greatest T.T. Conflict Ever Seen With a roar of excitement 3,000 spectators came to their feet. Lewis went by the accelerating Bentley, and the two big cars disappeared, locked in conflict, round Quarry Corner and stormed up the slopes of Cree Hill. At last a T.T. duel which everyone could watch all round the course. Two of the biggest cars in the race running neck and neck for second place—perhaps to win! Down to Comber the Bentley slowly drew ahead and held the lead to Dundonald. Up the long, gentle slope to the start the two cars thundered side by side. Then Lewis put his off-side wheels in the gutter, flung up a cloud of dust high in the air and dashed past the cheering crowds a length in the lead. Image caption: W. T. McCalla, in one of the three Ford V8's, taking Dundonald corner. ORDER at 3.30 p.m. 1. Dodson (M.G. Magnette), 74.45 m.p.h. 2. Hall (Bentley), 78.11 m.p.h., 56 secs. behind on handicap. 3. Fotheringham (Aston-Martin), 74.02 m.p.h., 1 min. 2 secs. behind. Up Cree Hill and down Bradshaws Brae they went, rocking and swaying through the streets of Newtownards Square, out along the straight to the Moate, and at Comber seeing a length separate them. At Ballystockart Hall repassed. At Dundonald he led, and once again as they came up to the pits the Lagonda drew out, level and passed. Great Duel Thrills the Crowd All round the circuit half a million people crowded to the fences and hedges to see this marvellous battle, and all round the course the distance between the two cars varied only by a few yards. Lewis led by 50 yds. at the Brae. Hall closed to a yard or two at Newtownards, drew closer on the flat-out blind past the Moate, closer still at Comber, lay a bare yard to the rear at Ballystockart—and led round Dundonald hairpin. Image caption: Storming up Cree Hill.—Some of the Singers, Frazer-Nash and other 1-litre cars, which lapped in close company for a long time. p18 September 4, 1934. | 201 | The Motor THE R.A.C. TOURIST TROPHY RACE—Contd. Image caption: A struggle at the Horse Trough. T. S. Fotheringham (1½-litre Aston-Martin)—third man home—passes the Hon. Peter Mitchell-Thomson (1½-litre Frazer-Nash), who finished 15th at 68.88 m.p.h. 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. Hall (Bentley), 78.29 m.p.h., 48 secs. behind on handicap. 3. Lewis (Bentley), 78.14 m.p.h., 47 secs. behind. 4. Fotheringham (Aston-Martin), 74.48 m.p.h., 1 min. 5 secs. behind. 5. Hindmarsh (Lagonda), 77.76 m.p.h., 2 mins. 5 secs. behind. 6. Driscoll (Aston-Martin), 74.20 m.p.h., 2 mins. 58 secs. behind. For lap after lap the Lagonda-Bentley duel went on. Fotheringham (Aston-Martin) — ousted from third place—was driving calmly and well. Hall lap behind Lewis for the whole of the 29th lap, both cars averaging a shade under 80 m.p.h., and the Magnette next lead them 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 3 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 scream as he flung the car left and right through the unnameable bends. Dodson took Quarry Corner in one long slide, with the tyres almost rolled off the rim. Lewis's Tyres Giving Trouble Theo 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. Gain, 44 secs. in the lap, and with 15 secs. lead on handicap. ORDER at 4.30 p.m. 1. Dodson (M.G. Magnette), 74.96 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., 33 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 chances, 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), 74.95 m.p.h. 2. Hall (Bentley), 78.51 m.p.h., 23 secs. behind on handicap. 3. Hon. Brian Lewis (Lagonda), 78.24 m.p.h., 42 secs. behind. 4. Fotheringham (Aston-Martin), 74.65 m.p.h., 57 secs. behind. 5. Hindmarsh (Lagonda), 77.89 m.p.h., 2 mins. 20 secs. behind. 6. Driscoll (Aston-Martin), 74.45 m.p.h., 2 mins. 43 secs. behind. The last lap. Dodson led by 42 secs. at Newtownards, 35 secs. at the Moate, 31 secs. at Comber. Lost 4 secs. at Ballystockart. But 4 more at Dundonald, and with foot 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. n21 | ||