Goodwood in the Wet
THE July B.A.R.C. Members’ Meeting at Goodwood opened in torrential rain, through which splashed nine 1,100-c.c. sports cars. Only de Selincourt (Lola) felt like trying to race and he averaged only 51.87 m.p.h. in winning from Howard (Lotus Eleven Series 2). although his best lap was surely an aquatic record 62.7 m.p.h. The next three Lotus drivers were actually a lap in arrears as de Selincourt crossed the line and the Victoria-Climax had covered only eight of the 10 laps.
Howard had deputised for his wife, who had started the day with toothache. Her husband stopped at another dentist’s on the Way to Goodwood, extracted the tooth, and continued the journey, and Mrs. Howard came out in slightly less humid conditions for the subsequent 5-lap Handicap. This was led for three laps by Holford’s 1935 Le Mans “works” Singer, now a rare sight, but this couldn’t last, and J. Binns, in his first race, won at 65.65 m.p.h. in a Triumph TR3A from White’s Sprite and Franklin’s TR2. Mrs. Howard retired after spinning off. Incidentally, there should have been a link with the old Brooklands days at this meeting, where the girls raced quite frequently but at Goodwood the rest of the ladies, with the exception of Mary Wheeler (T.V.R.) non-started. Before the war, you may recall, Gwenda Stewart put the Brooklands’ ladies’ lap record to 135.95 m.p.h., after which they called a halt to this female lark. . . .
Back to Goodwood—the 10-lap F.J. race had but seven starters, of whom Andrews’ Lotus-Ford ran right away from the others, to win by 49.4 sec., at 78.99 m.p.h., after a fastest lap of 81.2 m.p.h. Second place, in spite of a spin, went to Ames’ Elva-B.M.C., from Wills’ Lola-B.M.C. The Deep Sandersons were at the end of the small field in this dreary race but that with Fish carburetters was much faster than t’other.
The 10-lap Marque Scratch Race followed, McCowen, American driver in the Cambridge University Team, driving very nicely to keep his A.C.-Bristol in front, although Hextall, leader of the Dixon Trophy Contest, was never far behind. Dibley did the lot in his A.C. Aceca coupe, to come home third. A dynamo bracket broke on Peterson’s TR3. The A.C. won at 78.16 m.p.h. and put up the fastest lap, at 80.3 m.p.h.
The big sports cars came out next and Salmon streaked away in his ex-Ecurie Ecosse 3.8 Jaguar to win comfortably at 84.7 m.p.h., after circulating at 86.4 m.p.h. De Selincourt drove his usual fast, steady race to bring the Lola home second, in front of the Swiss driver de Waldkirch in his Lotus Seventeen, Nicholson’s Lotus Eleven fourth. Martin’s Triumph TR3-powered Tornado Thunderbolt with rack-and-pinion steering and curious fibreglass coupe body didn’t do its reputed 130 m.p.h. on this occasion.
Up to date the racing had not been inspiring and it is a fact that whereas in previous years the stands were crowded for these Members’ Meetings, this year only a handful of spectators have come to watch. Perhaps a demonstration by an unusual car, a Historic Racing-Car event, or some fresh attractions are needed. As the rain cleared away an attraction did arrive at the July meeting—World Champion Jack Brabham landed in his new aeroplane.
The sixth race, a 5-lap Handicap, was better, Bill Moss driving the first production Marcos coupe, with 105E Ford engine, on the limit, yet failing after three laps to stay in front of the D.R.W.-Ford, with similar engine, which Murrell drove to a convincing victory at 77.4 m.p.h. This new car, intended for sale in kit-form, made best lap, at 79.85 m.p.h. Naylor came in a good third in a Sprite tuned by his wife, who lapped Brooklands on two wheels at over 100 m.p.h. before the war. Marsh’s prototype Side-valve 1172 Marcos was naturally far slower than Moss’.
The Closed Car Handicap is always fun but the fast stuff. including Uren’s scratch 3.8 Jaguar with 1)-type head, were heavily handicapped this time. For three laps Wheatley’s smart push-rod FiatAbarth 750 coupe led, but Roach’s A35 took it on lap four and on the last lap Verney’s old Prefect, with four Fisher carburetters and WillIllent head, its lights on, also scraped by. Aston, lapping faster even than Urea, at 76.06 m.p.h.. got his wire-wheeled, disc-braked 3.4 Jaguar home fourth, ahead of Pearce Pope’s surprisingly fast pre-war Fiat 1100 with 1,498-cx. engine. The A35 averaged 66.99 m.p.h.
The final 5-lap Handicap was dull until the run-in, when Mike Salmon, just. failed to nip past Dibley’s A.C., losing by 4.8 sec.. while Mackay’s Austin Healey 100 took Adodan’s 1 R2 with Harwell head, which had otherwise led all the way. The winner averaged 77.53 m.p.h. and Salmon naturally made fastest lap, at 86.57 m.p.h.
Two Speed Hill-Climbs
During the second weekend in August two worthwhile fixtures in the sprint firmament are the Hants. & Berks. M.C. Great Auclum Hill-Climb on Saturday, August 6th (start 2.30 p.m.) and the West of England M.C. Hill-Climb at Wiscombe Park on Sunday, August 7th (start 2 p.m.).
The Great Atlanta quarter-mile course is notable for its banked right-hand bend after a downhill straight from the starting-line, the remainder of this short hill being distinctly twisty. There are classes for racing as well as sports cars and we cannot wait (as we have waited for years!) to see who will win the prize for the fastest turbine car. The event counts towards the R.A.C. Hill-Climb Championship, so the “top-brass” of the sprint world should be present. Spectator facilities are good and the hill will be found at Burghfield Common, five miles from Reading (‘buses virtually pass the door). Admission costs 2s. 6d. per person (children 1s.), the car park 2s. 6d., or 1s. for motorcycles.
Wiscombe Park is a splendid new sprint venue in Devon, very conveniently situated on the A35 road near Colyton, between Lyme Regis and Sidmouth, so competitors can combine business with a bathe and holiday-makers tired of the beach should give thought to seeing some motor racing on August 7th. The hill is getting on for half-a-mile long with some very interesting corners, culminating in a hairpin before the finishing straight. This is also a saloon, sports-car and racing-car meeting. Car parking costs 5s., motorcycles 2s. 6d. Both these speed hill-climbs should be worth an afternoon of your holiday.
Saab on the Right
A right-hand drive version of the Saab 96 is shortly going into production and will probably be available in Britain by the end of the year. Saab will be represented at the Earls Court Motor Show.
New Marque
B.M.C. have registered the name of a new marque. This will be known as Vanden Plas, who will be responsible for the luxury cars in the B.M.C. range including the 3-litre and 4-litre Princess saloons and limousines. The name Vanden Plas will be used in log books and on Road Fund licences.
New Turbospeeds
Avon Tyres have ‘announced that the popular Avon Turhospeed tyre will now he available in a larger range of sizes in future. These will include tyres suitable for the Jaguar Mk. VII, VIII and IX, Rover 3-litre and Austin Healey Sprite.
Tailpiece
We have published many pictures of the well-known Land Beetle and have illustrated the Water Beetle. Now, by courtesy of Hall Photos of Loughborough, we are able to include a picture of the Flying Beetle.