SOUTH-MIDLAND CENTRE CHAMPIONSHIP TRIAL

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SOUTH-MIDLAND CENTRE CHAMPIONSHIP TRIAL.

SAtirday, July 12th, is the date chosen for this event, which will be open to solos, sidecars and cyclecars.

BRINSLEY AND D. M.C.C.

Results of the 45-mile reliability trial held recently were :–1, C. Atkin, Nottingham (New Imperial) ; 2, H. Wagstaff, Brillsley (B.S.A.) ; 3, Shared between J. Pace, Langley Mill (Norton), and W. Isaac, Nottingham (New Imperial). Nearly 1,000 people enjoyed a programme of thrills at Eastwood on May 10th, and there was an excellent entry. The results were : Novices, 350 c.c. : 1, E. Harrison (Calthorpe) ; 2, B. Wood cock (Matchless). Novices, 500 c.c. : I, L. Johnson (Norton) ; 2, H. Morton (James). Experts, 350 c.c-. : 1, T. A. Wilde (Raleigh) ; 2, C. Smithem (Ai .5.). Experts, 5(X) c.c. : 1, C. Sraithem ; 2, 1). Smedley (Raleigh). Experts, Un limited : 1, T. A. Cockerill (A.J.S.) ;

2, C. Smithem.

ILFORD M.C. AND L.C.C.

Results of the MargarettingBraintree Trial held on May 11th are as follow :—

Solo Cup : 1,. J. Foley (990 Matchless), Passenger Cup : A. H. Finch (Austin 7). Silver Medals : H. H. Fuller (349 B.S.A.), H. Wood (499 P. and M.), 1). A.

Horton (Austin 7). Bronze Medals : C. W. Ball, W. j. Cullington, Miss I. Crow, R. M. Ascoli, H. Irwin, D. F. Gadsdon, C. E. Cook, II, Coker.

NORTH LIVERPOOL M.C.

Sand racing was held near Harrison Drive, Wallasey, on Saturday, May 10th. The afternoon was dull but the racing attracted about 3,000 people, who took advantage of the promenade as an ideal grand-stand.

LONDON DOUGLAS M.C.C.

The trial for the (lover Cup was run On Sunday, May I lth, under the worst weather conditions, hard rain prevailing and washing out most of the dye. In spite of this there was a good turnout. The cup was won by D. L. Dixon riding a. 600 o.h.v., with sidecar, who put up a magnificent performance. The silver medal was won by J. May, riding a 600 S.V, solo. Bronze medals were won by E. W. Snow and A. 0. Barber, riding a 600 s.v. with sidecar and a 350 s.v. respectively.

BEAR’S HEAD2M.C.C. (GLASGOW).

The annual trial for the James Cup was held on Saturday. May 10th, over a (30mile course. Seventy-five per cent, of the riders finished and the first place was gained by J. Geddes Troup (490 Fudge), while last year’s winner, T. Duncan Fletcher (499 Arid) and J. Taylor (Coventry-Eagle s.c.) tied for second place, with Norman Mackenzie (B.S.A.) third man.

SIX DAYS IN SCOTLAND

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along Which we were asked to Conduct the models. The surface consisted of gullies, holes, boulders, logs of wood, and bogs, but the whole lot Was hidden by the long coarse .grass, so that one progressed to a series of resounding clashes fromthe forks, and agonised ” ouches ” from the ridcr, but quite unable to see anything!

One can Always be assured of a ” ,square deal ” in the Scottish .Six Days. The officials are friendly and helpful, the hills fair, and with footing penalised only on the easiest, it is not really difficult for a private owner tO get round.

… • • •

Thus the initial Alfa-Romeo advantage had been somewhat diminished, for Chiron was now in second place, and Diva was dangerously near Campari. Just as the hopes of the Bugatti team began to rise however Fate overtook one of its fastest cars. Albert Diva, after crossing a narrow bridge, missed the second curve of a short S-bend and his car shot up a stone wall which was inclined at 45 degrees and flanked the outside of the road. The wheel hit the top of the wall and was shattered, and the car then slid back onto the road. Nothing daunted Diva and his mechanic hastily changed the wheel and got going again. But it soon ‘proved that the impact had also bent the stub axle, and the car was almost unsteerable. Diva finished the lap, but by the time he reached home he had fallen from fifth to twelfth place, and his Bugatti was withdrawn.

On this lap also Arcangeli met with an accident which fortunately caused no injuries. A brake on his Maserati seized on a bend, the car left the road and turned several somersaults. Luckily neither Arcangeli or his mechanic were injured, but soon afterwards the car had to retire. The positions at the end of the third lap were as follows :

Thus although Bugatti had now lost Diva, the position of the team did not look so bad. Chiron was closing up on Varzi, and on the third lap Nuvolari had fractured a front spring eye, and had been passed by Campari. Then on the fourth lap Campari found that his third speed would not stay in engagement, and this hampered him considerably with the result that he was repassed by Nuvolari, and also by Conelli on the second of the Bugattis. Setting out on the fourth lap, Varzi was covering a stretch of extremely bad surface, when suddenly his spare wheel came adrift and fell off. He had now to cover two laps with no spare, knowing that Chiron was

…

less than two minutes behind ‘him. A single puncture and the Targa was lost to Alfa-Romeo, and worse still the wheel had knocked a slight hole in the petrol tank. At the end of the lap the Alfa-Romeo dashed into the depot, all four tyres were hastily changed, the mechanic seized a can of petrol, and the car got away again.

At the conclusion of the fourth lap Williams was so exhausted that he was unable to continue, and his car had to be taken over by Diva. The excitement was now intense for Varzi had a lead of less than half a minute over Chiron, and while the Bugatti was quite sound, the Alfa had no spare wheel and a leaking petrol tank.

As he set off up the mountain it became clear that the leak had done its work, for the engine started to pop back and it was obvious that the fuel was low. But Varzi would not stop. Kneeling on the seat his mechanic proceeded to pour petrol into the tank out of the can which they had taken on board, while the car was racing round the Targa circuit. Naturally much of the spirit was spilled, some fell on the hot exhaust pipe, and in a moment flames began to play round the back of the car. They reached Varzi’s neck, but still he would not stop. Beating wildly with the seat cushion his mechanic managed to get them out, but the delay had been considerable, and Chiron was now leading.

Moreover Chiron was driving like a demon, unaware of the fate of the Alfa-Romeo. Howling downhill from Polizzi on second gear, the Bugatti entered a bend on which the surface was very loose, while the tyres were now nearly smooth. The Bugatti skidded all four wheels and with a crash went into the retaining wall. Both near side wheels were smashed, and Chiron and his mechanic leaped out and changed them. Then the Bugatti shot away again ; but the delay had been too long, and Varzi using his full 120 m.p.h. along the seafront, the only fast stretch on the circuit, had dashed home, winner of the Twenty-First Targa Florio by less than two minutes. Italy had won !

Behind Chiron came Conelli, having passed Nuvolari on the last lap, and the two 1,750 c.c. Alfa-Romeos were fourth and fifth. Sixth place was captured by the 6-cylinder O.M. driven by Morandi, a truly wonderful performance for what is after all really a sports car. Diva brought Williams’ Bugatti into seventh place, and Maserati on the car bearing his name was eighth. Of the nineteen starters, twelve finished, and of those no less than five bettered the record time set up by Diva last year.