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 reporting on the T.T. race, won by Dixon's Riley.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\1\ Scan068 | |
Date | 13th September 1935 | |
458 The Autocar September 13th, 1935. Dixon's Riley Wins the T.T. Mans and at Brooklands, the three Balilla Fiats, and the three white Adlers, the Fiats being Italian and the Adlers German machines. At length the road was cleared of spectators admiring the cars, and as eleven o'clock approached there was one touch of ceremony as the Governor entered his box and the National Anthem was played. Suddenly, while men still talked to one another of the chances of the race, it was seen that some cars were off, the four M.G. Magnettes. The starter was walking down the line of pits to the next group. The race had begun. Once again one can but deplore the lack of drama in the start of so thrilling an event. There was no hush of expectancy, no voice of fate counting off the minutes over the loud-speakers, no thrilling massed rush of cars when a flag fell. Explanations Needed At intervals cars of various sizes, strangely intermingled, with the smallest last and the biggest next to last, were despatched. This peculiar order puzzled all but the initiated, who explained to the less knowledgeable, after some reference to the handicapping system, that the Singers, Balilla Fiats, and Adlers were not really the scratch cars, though they had started last, and were not conceding the Bentley, Lagondas, and Bugattis a start, though these powerful cars had started in front of them. The small cars, they explained patiently, had four credit laps, so that this group had only thirty-one laps to cover, against the big cars' thirty-five. The other groups also had various starts, some on time, some by credit laps, some by both. Anyway, they had all started now, so the only thing to do was to watch the score board. The speakers announced that Seaman's Magnette was leading at Newtownards, but Kenneth Evans' similar car had taken the lead at Comber. At the stands Seaman led the group once more. Dixon headed the 1.5-litre group with his Riley, chased by Paul's Riley and Martin's Aston Martin. Brian Lewis led the big cars with his beautifully turned out blue Bugatti. Hall was behind with his Bentley. Of a bunch of Singers and Fiats, ffrench-Davis led with one of the latter by a bonnet's length from Norman Black's green Singer. At last they were all gone. "Who was leading?" asks the simple spectator. "I suppose it was Seaman; his car came by first." "No, no; I was explaining about the handicap—" says the expert. "Ah, of course!" breaks in the simple man. "Those credit laps!" He refers to his programme. "The small cars had four credit laps, and ffrench-Davis was leading that group. ffrench-Davis was the leader!" The expert shakes his head. "Well, he was in a sense, but that counts for nothing. He merely has the greatest distance to his credit." "Anyway who was leading?" "I am afraid I can't tell you that for another half an hour," ruefully. c 6 F.{Mr Friese} Gordon-Crosby's impression of a thrilling incident at the sharp corner at Newtownards Earl Howe (Bugatti) leads Freddie Dixon's Riley at Newtownards. | ||