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THE Brooklands 1925 Season opened in a very

promising manner with a first-class programme drawn up by the Committee of the B.M.C.R.C., who were rewarded by keen support of the public. Not only was the meeting very well attended by almost everyone connected with, or interested in, motor cycling, but many well-known personalities of the motor world were to be seen among the spectators. In fact, as far as one could see, the occasion was used to display numerous sporting cars on public view for the first time.

The weather, if cold, was healthy, and the fitful changes from snow to sunshine added to the variety of the proceedings.

The Three-Lap Scratch Race and Sealed Handicap (350 c.c.).

H. M. Walters, with his 344 c.c. Zenith J.A.P., went to the post a hot favourite for the first event, but as

• things turned out he did not have the race all to himself, for J. S. Worters set up a rattling good pace on a 348 Blackburne, and, obtaining a nice lead, held it without being seriously challenged by the Zenith, and eventually ran in an easy winner with an average speed of 83.84 m.p.h. Walters was second, followed by J. S. Wright on another Zenith J.A.P., the rest of the field coming home some time later. T. R. Wainwright, who seemed to be in trouble with his Cotton-Blackbume, managed to dawdle home unassisted, but D. E. Calder had to get help from the travelling marshal, who towed him in to the paddock.

Besides winning the Scratch Race, Worters also won the Sealed Handicap in this event.

The Three-Lap Scratch Race and Sealed Handicap (500 c.c.).

As the first race was something in the nature of a procession, the spectators were treated to a very keen contest for the second, and though the favourite—Judd (Douglas)—won eventually, he had quite an exciting time in overtaking Horsman’s Triumph, which led for two laps. In the first lap Walters’ Sunbeam was

THE FIRST MEETING OF THE B.M.C.R.C. Good Racing Draws Large Fields and Many Spectators.

running third, but was afterwards passed by Staniland on a Norton. Judd, Horsman and Staniland finishing first, second and third. The winner crossed the line with an average speed of 82.31 m.p.h., incidentally at a slower speed than that of the 350 c.c. winner in the first race. P. M. Walters was adjudged the winner of the 500 c.c. Sealed Handicap.

T. R. Allchin’s Great Race.

Though Allchin’s win in the i,000 c.c. ScratchlRace was very popular, the expected duel between him and C. F. Temple was a very one-sided affair, for the latter’s machine (the 996 c.c. McEvoy-Temple British Anzani, to give it the complete title) put up a disappointing show. In the second lap Temple was obviously in trouble, owing to a rich mixture and the failure of one cylinder to fire. The engine was supercharged, on the air-scoop principle, but the machine never seemed to gather enough velocity to bring the system into action. With a little more tuning, however, we may expect some interesting performances from this machine in the future.

Allchin, wondering when he would catch a view of Temple’s front wheel all the time, romped home quite unattended, at a speed of 97.65 m.p.h., and the Zenith Blackbume had the credit of the fastest time of the day. Horsman and Knight were second and third respectively, Allcb.in’s victory being rendered more victorious by the gaining of the sealed handicap.

The 350 c.c. Three-Lap Handicap.

This race looked an easy thing for J. H. Evans (Black-. burne), who established a very useful lead in the second lap, but Hopkins steadily made up ground on his ChaterLea-Blackbume, and, after some very attractive riding, wrested the first position from his rival, who had to be content with a second place. Walters, the scratch man, on his Zenith, rode a very good race, but could not quite get the legs of the leaders, and finished third. In this race Lord demonstrated a new style of riding by disdaining the use of his foot-rests, and waggled his hind legs about in the air as he sped past the Fork. F. L. Hall packed up on his P. & P., and the other P. & P. machine, ridden by Prestwich, did little to uphold the reputation of the marque. The winner’s speed was 79.05 m.p.h.

Three-Lap Handicap (350 c.c. 1,000 c.c.).

This race was rendered very interesting by the appearance of the new 728 c.c. Zenith J.A.P. in the hands of H. M. Walters, but it failed to get placed.

Temple having given up the idea of continuing to race with his big machine in a semi-tuned condition, figured as a non-starter, and the race developed into a struggle between H. J. Knight (Zenith J.A.P.), E. Mundey (New Hudson) and R. N. Judd (Douglas), who finished in the order named, the winner’s average being 85.43 m.p.h. It may be remarked that most of the running was made by J. Wheeler on a Douglas, who led for two laps.

Private Owners’ Handicap.

In this race Fitzgerald got away very smartly, and kept going at a speed which puzzled the limit man, J. H. Knight, who, after making a gallant attempt to win, was rewarded by second place. J. A. Welch (Excelsior-Blackburne) made a poor attempt at starting, and retired after trying to persuade his engine to fire. H. G. Webb (Indian and Sidecar) held on to the second position for two laps, and, in spite of a bad start, J. H. Evans (Blackburne) gained the third place. Webb appeared to be wobbling rather badly on passing the Fork just before the finish, but managed to straighten out without losing speed. This race was won at an average speed of 65.96 m.p.h.

Three-Lap Expert Handicap.

With a start of 2 minutes 3 seconds, C. W. Johnston made the most of his opportunity, and in close company with J. J. Hall (P. & P.) travelled well for the first lap. In the second lap the leader was challenged by Tottey (New Imperial J.A.P.), and at the latter stages the race developed into a ding-dong struggle between the latter and Judd (Douglas), with Walters running close for the third place, the three finishing in the order named. This race, which was one of the most closely contested of the whole meeting, was won at an average speed of 81.51 m.p.h.

Three-Lap Passenger Handicap (Machines .up to 1,000 c.c.).

J. S. Worters (Blackbume), J. S. Wright (Zenith J.A.P.) and V. Baxter (Rex-Acme J.A.P.) made a very

entertaining spectacle by riding close to each other for the first lap, during which L. P. Driscoll packed up with his Norton. In the second lap Baxter was leading, followed very closely by Wright, but it was seen that Horsman (Triumph) could not be left out of their calculations. Passing the others on entering the Railway Straight, at a high speed, Horsman ran home an easy winner, his riding showing particularly good judgment considering his handicap and the substantial leads established by Wright and Fitzgerald. In this race another supercharged machine—Worters’ Blackburnecame to grief with a seized piston. Winner’s average, 75.01 m.p.h.

Five-Lap Winners’ Handicap.

As a wind-up for any race meeting a Winners’ Handicap always makes an attractive feature, and just at the time when some spectators were thinking of going home the interest of this event caused them to remain. For the first and second laps, Fitzgerald, Horsman and Hopkins had matters their own way, but on the second circuit, Horsman was leading, and Fitzgerald had dropped into third place in favour of Judd, who worked his way into the first place, which he held until the end. Tottey ran into the second position, with Horsman following as third andiWalters fourth, the race being terminated in this order at 86.33 m.p.h.