THE TWENTY-SIXTH "GLOUCESTER"

THE TWENTY-SIXTH “GLOUCESTER” M.G. MIDGET AND FRAZER-NASH-B.M.W. VANQUISH ALL RIVALS

The London Gloucester Trial of the N.W. London M.C., of which the twenty:sixth of the series was held last month, is one of the big trials ” classics.”

Extra fun and games were intended to intrude this year, by reason of .a ruling that required each competitor to undertake to sell his car at list price, if new; or at marketable value, if second-hand, plus an allowance of 331 per cent. to •:over extras and improvements, while his or her signature was required specifying to ownership of the Car driven. This is the famous ” selling-plate ” rule which has been widely criticised, mostly adversely.

The aim, which is that of eliminatiag non-standard and works-maintaincd motors, has our full approval, but it is difficult to see how the signed declaration is going to achieve the desired result awl surely the allowance of 33* per cent. is directly opposed to the object in mind, even though enticing to the few people who spend that amount on adorning otherwise standard trials ears with lulditional lamps, ash-trays and mascots, etc. Another unusual ruling applied to the twenty-sixth ” Gloucester ” was that bonnets and fuel tanks had to be .sealed for driving between checks, which was not likely to bother many present-day ears, though it did stump one of our representatives who contrived to run his tank dry in the wee ma’ hours, as competitors had in a body left behind the usually inevitable spare supplies of fuel.

The only competitors to get through without loss of marks were Miss Phyllis Goodban, driving a Type 55 Frazer-NashB.M.W., and C. A. N. May, motoring behind the wheel of ,a blown PB M.G. Midget. To them hearty congratulations, and the hope that should either of them wish to sell the motor, the N.W. London M.C. will demand to purchase the machines at the prices promised—which is most unlikely, both ways ! The B.M.W. we should class as the standard, and therefore less ” saleable ” motor.

The entry of eighty-eight showed a decrease on the 1935 figure, and nineteen people failed to start, which was regrettable, because the route generally was well chosen. Some persons saw fit to drive motors not originally specified, and at the expense of staleness we feel inclined to ask if they were hoping to dispose of these cars in due course. The Spider’s ‘Web road-house on the Watford By-Pass, at just after 12 .o’clock

onwards, was the Scene of the start, and this event is Of sufficient importance to justify police assistance (in the best sense of the term) for which due appreciation should be accorded.

Breakfast was taken at Cheltenham, after a good night’s motoring. In the early hours, in the dark, Kinetou had to be tackled ; a long lull up muddy grassgrown lanes beside fields, which failed only a few ears and, much later, the MOTOR SPORT conveyance. The special test on Bismore was postponed until -a reasonable supply of daylight arrived, so that ultimately the whole trial ran very late. It was in this test that the tie between Miss Goodban and

C. A. N. May was settled. The average time for the 2-litre class was 70.64 secs. and the B.M.W. took 70.4 sees. The average for the 1,100 c.c. category was 69.84 secs., and the blown 1,11 M.G. asked 66.2 secs. Consequently, May won the Gloucester Cup, while Miss Goodban was awarded the N.W. London Cup and a Gloucester Goblet for her achievement in gaining her third consecutive firstclass award in this trial. She carried ” No. 2,” and drove with screen folded, wearing a beret.

Five cars came to rest on Quarhouse, amid Ham Mill, of rough, curving and extended aspect, caused some bother, Wooding’s Talbot Ten stopping and Cole’s Singer nearly emulating his misfortune. The Frazer-Nash-B.M.W:s of Miss Goodban and Dargue were excellent, hosts of M.G.s showed how to do it, and R. C. Morris showed real skill in the handling of his Alvis, while Warburton’s 30/98 Vauxhall, with folded screen, sketchy wings and a dumb-iron apron, was never in doubt. Only seven cars got up Middle Drag, the honours being divided amongst Miss Goodban’s B.M.W., H. 0. Symmons’s B.M.W., the :41.G.s of C. A. N. May,

D. E. Harris, H. K. Crawford, and A. G. Imhof (” T model), and S. H. Allard’s L.M.B. suspended Ford V8 Special. Allard was by far the most rapid. Goodenough’s M.G. Midget thought it good enough to get almost to the top, and the others did not get that far. It was here that Macdermid overturned his M.G. through reversing at speed downhill after failing, and though he was unhurt and the car only slightly damaged, the episode enabled a wag to remark that the club would not buy the motor now.

Horses were on duty at Middle Drag, which was as well, because rain had played havoc with the leaf-mould surface. Dargue and Miss Goodban nevertheless showed how Frazer-NashB.M.W.s can perform, and Ebdon (M.G.), skilfully chose his path, while May’s M.G. was undismayed by wheelspin. Juniper seemed rather too much of a good thing, as several competitors could not reach the starting-line, and a long string of failures occurred. The only tars to vanquish the altogether exceptional conditions were one Frazer-Nash

. . W. , May’s M.G., Ma cderm id’s M.G. Midget and P. S. Flower’s M.G. Midget. After this Ferrisconrt was the scene of the other special test and Station Lane, in two sections, troubled many people, but gave the Frazer-Nash-B.M.W.s an opportunity to still further improve their reputation.

Miss Milne retired with .a stripped half-shaft on her Singer coupe. Filially, Nailsworth Ladder failed only eight competitors, including Mrs. Vaughan’s Standard saloon that was shod with ordinary covers. Elgood had a nasty moment, but his :3-litre Bentley coildescended not to let him down.

The trial ended at the popular Bear Inn on Rodborough Common. The results follow, and it will be seen that no firstclass awards were lifted. We are unable to devote more space to this important event, but for those who seek the full and complete story the N.W. London M.C. has published a very excellent tabulated list of the happenings. RESULTS

President’s Trophy WO c.c.) : P. S. Flower (M.G.

Midget).

Committee Cup (1,500 c.c.) : A. G. Imhof (M.G.

Series T).

North-West London Cup..(2,000 c.c.) : Miss P.

Goodban (Frazer-Nash-B.M.W.). Thomas Challenge Cup (unlimited) : S. H. Allard

(Ford Vs). Ladies’ Cup : Miss B. M. C. Marshall (Anzaiii

G.N.).

Novices’ Cup : N. :T. Rbdon (M.G. Midget). Team Award : ” Sunbne ” team : Drivers,

C. A. N. May (M.G. Midget, S.), H. K. Crawford (M.G. Maguette), C. D. Buckley (Austin, -S.).

Runners-up : Frazer-Nash-B.M.W. team : Drivers, N. V. Terry, C. G. Fitt, H. 0. Symmons (FrazerNash-B.M.W.$). Silver Medals : R. A. Macdermid (M.G. Midget),

D. E. Harris (M.O. Magnette), H. K. Crawford Magnettc), 11. G. Symmons (Frazer-NashB.M.W.). Bronze Medals : E. H. Goodenough (M.G. Midget), G. T. 1. Taylor (Singer), C. M. Anthony (AstonMartin), N. Terry (Frazer-Nash-B.M.W.), C. G. Fitt (Frazer-Nash-lLM:W.), A. Radon (Singer), it. Lloyd (M.G. Midget), M. H. Lawson (Singer), L. E. C. Hall (Singer).