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).
Magazine article from 'The Motor' reporting on the 1939 Le Mans 24-hour race, including a summary and full results.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27\3\ Scan122 | |
| Date | 20th June 1939 | |
| The Motor 806 June 20, 1939. 120H [Column 1] THE LAGONDA TEAM, after finishing third and fourth. Left to right are A.{Mr Adams} Dobson and C. Bracken-bury (third); Lord Howe (R.A.C. observer); Lord Waleran and Lord Selsdon (fourth) neither of whom had seen their car until practice days, and Mr. A.{Mr Adams} P. Good, head of the Lagonda company. RESULTS (Provisional) GRAND PRIX D'ENDURANCE, Wimille and Veyron (3.3-litre supercharged Bugatti), 2,083.3 miles, at 86.8 m.p.h. New Record for the course. The old record for the full distance was held by Wimille and Benoist (3.3 Bugatti), in 1937, at 85.13 m.p.h. RUDGE-WHITWORTH BIENNIAL CUP, on handicap.—Gordini and Scaron (1,100 Simca-Fiat), 1,789.7 miles, at 74.7 m.p.h. New Lap Record.—R.{Sir Henry Royce} Mazaud (3.6-litre Delahaye), 25th lap, 5 mins. 12.1 secs. (96.74 m.p.h.). Old Record.—Benoist (3.3 Bugatti), in 1937), 5 mins. 19 secs. (95.42 m.p.h.). Last year's winner.—Chaboud and Tremoulet (3.5 Delahaye), 1,976.6 miles, at 82.3 m.p.h. GENERAL CATEGORY 1. Wimille-Veyron (3.3 Bugatti S), 2,083.3 miles, 86.8 m.p.h. 2. Gerard-Monneret (3-litre Delage), 85.7 m.p.h. (26.4 miles behind the winner). 3. Arthur Dobson-Charles Brackenbury (4.5 Lagonda), 83.5 m.p.h. (77.7 miles behind the winner). 4. Lord Selsdon-Lord Waleran (4.5 Lagonda), 83.2 m.p.h. (83.9 miles behind the winner). 5. Prince Schaumburg Lippe-Wenscher (2-litre B.M.W.), 1,980 miles. 6. Villeneuve-Biolay (3.5 Delahaye), covered 1,971.6 miles. 7. Roese-Heinemann (2-litre B.M.W.), 1,926.3 miles. 8. S. Baker-G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Connell (3.5 Delahaye), 1,875.9 miles (78.1 m.p.h.). 9. Brien-Scholz (2-litre B.M.W.), 1,855.6 miles. 10. Gordini-Scaron (1,100 Simca-Fiat), 1,789.7 miles (74.7 m.p.h.). 11. Chotard-Peylair (3.5 Delahaye), 1,703.7 miles. 12. R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hichins-Morris Goodall (2-litre Aston Martin), 1,675.1 miles. 13. Lapchin-Plantivaux (1,100 Simca-Fiat), 1,638.3 miles. 14. P. Clark-M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Chambers (1,500 H.R.G.), 1,611.8 miles. 15. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} White-C. Anthony (1,104 Morgan), 1,525.9 miles. 16. Vernet-Bodard (1,500 Riley), 1,509.4 miles. 17. Cametano-Louveau (1,100 Simca-Fiat), 1,371.6 miles. 18. A.{Mr Adams} W. Jones-G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Wilkins (972 Singer), 1,296 miles. 19. Brothers Alin (570 Simca-Fiat), 1,239.7 miles. 20. Aimé-Leduc (570 Simca-Fiat), 1,232.1 miles. CLASS WINNERS Over 5 litres: 1, Wimille-Veyron (3.3 Bugatti), 2,083.3 miles. (This car put into this class owing to its supercharger). 5 litres: 1, Dobson-Brackenbury (Lagonda), 2,005.5 miles (83.5 m.p.h.); 2, Lord Selsdon-Lord Waleran (Lagonda); 3, Chotard-Peylair (Delahaye); 4, Walker-Connell (Delahaye). 3 litres: 1, Gerard (Delage), 2,056.9 miles (85.7 m.p.h.); 2, Prince Schaumburg-Lippe Wenscher, (B.M.W. saloon), 1,980 miles (82.5 m.p.h.); 3, Roese-Heinemann (B.M.W.); 4, Brien (B.M.W.); 5, Hichins-Morris Goodall (Aston Martin). 1.5 litres: 1, Clark-Chambers (H.R.G.), 1,611.8 miles (67 m.p.h.); 2, White-Anthony (Morgan); 3, Vernet-Bodard (Riley). 1,100 c.c.:—Gordini-Scaron (Simca-Fiat), 1,789.7 miles (74.7 m.p.h.); 2, Lapchin-Plantivaux (Simca-Fiat); 3, Cametano-Louveau (Simca-Fiat); 4, Jones-Wilkins (Singer). 750 c.c.:—Alin Brothers (Simca-Fiat), 1,239.7 miles (51.6 m.p.h.); 2, Aimé-Leduc (Simca-Fiat). [Column 2] LE MANS THE Le Mans 24-hour race run last Saturday and Sunday on the 8.4-mile Circuit of the Sarthe, for sports cars only, was won at record speed by Wimille and Veyron in a supercharged 3.3-litre Bugatti with two-seater super-streamlined body, after a magnificent race in which the car hung on the tail of the flyers and then moved into the lead. For 20 hours the leader was Gerard's 3-litre unsupercharged Delage, which set up terrific speeds—a magnificent show—and ran into minor trouble two hours from the end, thereafter running second. The two Lagondas, competing in their first and experimental race, also ran to time table and moved into third and fourth positions some hours before the end—a really fine performance. The B.M.W. team (one a new streamlined car) ran like clockwork and immense speed, and finished as strongly as they began. In the opening stages two Delahayes pursued the Delage, and one broke the lap record before they retired. Then a 4½-litre Darracq, driven by Chinetti and Mathieson, battled for the lead until a tyre burst and the car hit a sandbank. Hug, on a second Delage, was fourth, but collided with the Darracq and was forced out. One Darracq spilt oil all over the circuit and caused skidding in all directions and two crashes, but fortunately none of the drivers was badly hurt. GRAND PRIX—Wimille and Veyron (Bugatti) who also set up new course record. [Column 3] Amedee Gordini's 1,100 c.c. Fiat easily won the handicap event. Sommer and Bira, on the new 2½-litre Alfa saloon, had to change a gasket, had brake trouble, and later retired. All the British cars covered them-selves with glory, and only four retired out of 12 starters, whereas 20 of the 42 starters failed to finish. The Race by "Grande Vitesse" LE MANS, Saturday, Midnight. RACE day dawned somewhat doubt-fully bright, and during the day heavy clouds banked up in a somewhat ominous manner. However, after the barometer had dropped for two days, it steadied and began to climb again. An enormous crowd streamed to the circuit by every means of conveyance known to man—even in aeroplanes—until half an hour before the start, at 4 p.m., the huge grandstand, the enclosures, and the fine, new ramp overlooking the pits, were crammed to capacity with a typical French crowd in a typical state of French excitement. The buffets did a roaring trade, so did the loudspeakers, and the big, permanent restaurant, with its white-coated waiters, just beside the circuit, was packed for hours. Flags flew, bunting danced in the breeze, and over all was that very Le Mans atmosphere of excitement and gaiety quite unknown anywhere else. On the road in front of the pits was a bustle of activity. Mechanics put finishing touches to the long line of cars, drivers tried their driving seats for the thousandth time, or walked about, fiddling with goggles and gloves, officials darted about. | ||