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 from the Sunday Despatch reporting on a car race.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\3\ Scan170 | |
| Date | 8th September 1935 | |
| SUNDAY DESPATCH, CONT'D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} 8th Sept. 1935. The final stage of the race was fought out on the tiptoe of excitement. Dixon had the race in his pocket 60 miles from home with approximately four minutes of a lead, but Hall reduced the deficit by 25 seconds a lap. Admirers of Dixon were haunted by the knowledge that his tyres were wearing thin, and the pursuit by Hall was relentless. There were scores of thrills and spills. HIT TOWN HALL Hugh McFerran, a young Belfast driver, escaped miraculously with an injured arm in a 60-m.p.h. skid into the Newtownards Town Hall, which wrecked his car and compelled him to retire. First-aid men rushed to his assistance, and following treatment he was brought back to the pits in the official car. His Bugatti was pushed behind the town hall, round which cars skidded all day at speeds without parallel in the history of the event. Norman Black, a previous winner of the race, also came to grief near the same spot. His car hit the bank and almost overturned, but was righted. Black, however, was unable to proceed. Retirements came thick and fast. The main battle was between "Flying Dixon" and the bigger cars, led by E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hall in his Bentley. The pair staged a dramatic ding-dong duel for the greater part of the race, and Dixon clung tenaciously to his lead. Dixon fully lived up to his reputation for spectacular driving, and survived one terrifying 80-miles-an-hour skid across the square in Newtownards. Fourteen cars finished, and the team prize was won by the Aston Martins. | ||