the london edinburgh run

The London-Edinburgh Run

KEEN SUPPORT FOR M.C.C.’s FAMOUS ANNUAL TRIAL : PARK RASH PLUS MUD AND RAIN ACCOUNT FOR MANY FAILURES IN

CAR CLASS.

THIS year’s Edinburgh, runlon. May 21st from the usual starting point atiWrotham Park, may be summed up in the words “Park Rash “. This hill proved as difficult as ever and produced a large crop of failures. The M.C.C., however, are not the sort of people to make the same mistake twice, and they were quite prepared for failures, and the delay was comparatively small.

Middle Tongue, a new hill for this year, Askrigg and Stonesdale, proved fairly easy, but the heavy rain made the going over the moors fairly sticky. Having breakfasted at the Granby hotel, drivers were fortified for the ascent of Middle Tongue, and with few exceptions went up with ease. E. A. L. Midgeley’s Ford is now making quite a habit of making star climbs and he was one of the best on this hill. From there the route traversed the moors via Kettlewell to Park Rash, and here the fun started. A good crowd of spectators had assembled in spite of the un

promising weather, no doubt consoled by the fact that their discomfort would be as nothing to the anxiety of competitors in coming on the famous hill in the worst possible condition.

The system used to avoid congestion was that of sending the cars up at minute intervals, and in spite of the many failures, worked excellently. Most of these failures were such as to show that the hill was a very fair, if stiff test, and those cars which were properly handled and not suffering some sudden loss of horses could climb perfectly adequately. Many failures were due to obvious lack of experience of such conditions both in preparing the suspension of the car and in handling it when wheelspin sets in. Good climbs were made by Luizell (M.G. Midget), Strong (Standard Ensign), Sanderson’s Riley, H. B. Browning (Hornet). The Fords, Rileys and Frazer-Nashes showed up well, while Haward (Rover Meteor) had ample power and climbed smoothly.

There was a certain amount of unofficial trouble on the Upper Rash, but when this was over competitors found Askrigg fairly easy. West Stonesdale followed, and the corners gave opportunity for neat handling in which the Talbot “90s “, Fords and Lester Williams’ supercharged Lagonda showed up particularly well.

The stop and restart on Tan Hill followed and the later drivers found the surface badly cut up, but the standard was generally good.

The following failed to finish :D. Short (M.G.), R. Littlewood-Clarke (M.G.), R. Percival (M.G.), P. A. Tanebourne (Austin), J. Lees (FrazerNash), L. Goldsworthy (Lagonda), L. Fillmore (Riley) , G. Harbin (Essex).