LESLIE JOHNSON (B.M.W) WINS F.E.C. CROYDON RALLY

LESLIE JOHNSON (B.M.W.) WINS F.E.C. CROYDON RALLY

W.1 N TRY weather persisted for the Ford Enthusiasts’ Club’s third Croydon Rally on March 26th. L. G. Johnson arrived late, drove beautifully, and won the Challenge Cup from Michael Lawson, who was runner-up. The event was held at the Autodromes School of Motoring, South Croydon, which is an ideal venue. Not only can spectators command a view of several tests at once from the high banks in perfect safety, but competitors drive from one test to the next without delay, so that three runs were possible, the best time in each test counting towards the aggregate on which times were decided. A. E. S. Curtis was a sympathetic R.A.C. Steward and Messrs. Allard, Canharn and Boddy had plenty of willing help in running the show. Forty-nine entries were obtained. The first test consisted of reversing into and driving out of a series of bays. Here K. N. Hutchison (V8 Allard) was best, in 12.8 secs., with Lawson’s white Meadows-H.R.G. runner-up, in 13.2 secs. Johnson’s smart 328 FrazerNash-B.M.W. made best time in the acceleration sprint which followed, in 13.0 secs., which was slower than best time at previous meetings, possibly because a North wind was blowing up the course. The runner-up was Hutchison, in 13.25 sees., and he found considerable dicing desirable at the bumpy uppersection. A double figure-8 test followed, where Johnson required only 19.8 secs., with Hutchison runner-up in 21.0 secs. The popular Monte-Carlo test comprising a line of posts through which cars had to zig-zag followed, and, although the turn back at the end was banked, the re-entry was not at all easy. A Riley Sprite smote the safety fence and severed its near side front spring from the chassis and Miss Wilby’s 2-litre Atalanta saloon removed a driving-school post without much detriment to the car’s front works. Johnson again made fastest time, in 22.4 secs., and after a very spirited run Hutchison.’s Allard, which was neatly spun round the end pylon, beat everyone but Johnson, in 23.2 secs. Westwood over-revved his SmithSpecial Fiat and retired with lots of dying ponies under the bonnet. A tricky hill test followed, in which cars reversed down a hill and hastily up another hill. Johnson narrowly escaped contacting a very solid barrier, to make fastest time in 19.8 secs., and Hutch, diced everywhere, returning 19.8 secs. The results, quite promptly worked out, while corn petitors rested in the lounge and patronised the excellent buffet—where the Autodrome scores again—showed that Leslie Johnson’s B.M.W. had won the Challenge Cup, with 89.7 marks. D. B. Shelton-Ginn took the Cup for the best show by an F.E.C. member with his V8 Ford, which gained 103.65 marks. A complimentary award went to vicePresident S. N. Fry for his run with a most interesting sports version of the model-T Ford, which had red flaked wings, balloon tyres, cable-operated front brakes, an auxiliary gearbox, fuel tanks beneath the rtuming-boards and a white sports body with airship tail. Boddy’s 1912 model-T Ford was on view, but was

not in running order. Altogether a thoroughly successful meeting, which the F.E.C. will repeat on July 16th. The class-placings were :—

Small Ford Class : C. O. R. Goss (Ten), 107.4 marks. VS Ford Class : D. Perring (VS saloon), 104.4 marks Saloon Class : 1, D. Loader (B.M.W.), 103.7; 2, R. Truseott (Talbot Ten), 105.8.

Up to it-litre : 1, M. H. Lawson (Meadows” H.R.G.), 92.7 • 2, D. T. Russell (Aero-Minx), 101.3; 3, R. E. Richards (Rover), 102.0.

Over 14-litre : K. N. HutAtison (V8 Allard), 90.5; 2, D. G. Silcock (V8 Allard), 94.6; 3, C. E. ‘Truett (21.1itre 8.8.), 98.8.