The R.A.C. Rally of Great Britain (March 23rd-28th)

This year’s British Rally went off very well, emphasis being placed more on the special tests at Silverstone, Castle Combe, Prescott, Llandrindod, Blackpool, Lakeland, Turnberry, the Yorkshire Moors and Hastings, than on the road section. Unfortunately, during the Rally Col. Barnes, of the R.A.C., was taken ill and detained in Winchester Hospital, and Dean Delamont, deputy clerk of the course, hit a telegraph pole and damaged his car. There was also an elaborate timed test at Goodwood, calling for braking from high speeds, reversing over lines and taking Lavant and St. Mary’s corners at high speed.

Observing the Goodwood test, we saw white-capped G. M. White (Morgan) select wrong cog at the first stop-line, A. D. C. Gordon (Morgan) brake early and stall his engine. J. L. Kennett do likewise in a Sunbeam-Talbot, and W. C. Slocombe’s Vauxhall jump out of reverse gear.

G. F. Hayward got lots of wheelspin in his Riley. R. Neate was fast to the line but stalled, J. Moore couldn’t easily sort out his Morgan’s ratios, E. J. Haddon’s  Jaguar was noticeable for a huge reversing lamp, and J. A. D. Lucas (Jaguar) slid under the brakes and lost his prop.

E. N. Brinkman (Renault) braked very neatly but lost precious seconds getting away, A. H. Hesp (Riley) preferred a sedate, neat drive, J. O. Grieve took a long time to pull up his H.R.G. but urged it away with body movements, and E. P. Barnfield (Hillman) stalled on braking.

At the second stop-line Peter Morgan made a very polished job of it in a Plus Four Morgan; I. L. Watkins (Sunbeam-Talbot) found an incorrect cog in trying to reverse and shot forward.

Round the circuit, N. Veronique cornered his Ford fast, J. G. S. Sears’ Jaguar looked to be at its limit and later left the road, Gatsonides in a Ford Zephyr was rapid, and A. E. Belshaw (Austin) just missed an errant hare. Grant Norton (Jaguar) was recognised by his shirt, Risk drove his Ford fast, H. Sutcliffe’s Mille Miglia Frazer Nash, hood up, lost a fearful lot of time at line one, baulking D. S. Done’s Vanguard, and B. M. Fursden was neat in a Renault. V. Cooper’s Sunbeam-Talbot snaked into Levant, H. M. Mettrick cornered his Morgan fast on soft tyres, G. H. H. Towse spun his XK120, J. D. Gibson’s Hillman needed lots of road, R. Dickson’s Vanguard was quick, then G. McVoy’s Hillman spun round at Levant in clouds of smoke. E. Elliott’s Javelin sent out a smoke-screen as it stopped; both winner Appleyard (XK120) and P. G. Mallam (Jowett) were excellent.

Results

Outright Winner  —  Ian and Pat Appleyard (Jaguar X K120).

Touring Cars:     Up to 1,300 c.c. — J. I.. Shaw (M.G.);   1,301-1,600 c.c.– E. Elliott (Jowett Javelin);  1,601-2,600 c.c. — R. J. Adams (Sunbeam-Talbot);  Over 2,600 c.c — D. G. Scott (Jaguar Mk. VII). 

Sports Cars:   Up to 1,500 c.c — N. T. Lithgow (H.R.G.);   Over 1,500 c.c — E. I. Appleyard (Jaguar XK120).

Ladies’ Award — Miss S. Van Damm and Mrs. F. Clark (Sunbeam-Talbot).

Team Award — Appleyard, Grounds, Grant-Norton (Jaguars).