TIM BIRKIN'S DEMISE

TIM B1RKIN’S DEMISE

SIR,

I read with interest the article in the September issue concerning the manner in which Tim Birkin received his burns at Tripoli in 1933. When I was an apprentice I met Clive Gallop, who was at that time working for Cape Asbestos, through an ex-Bentley Motors mechanic.

Clive invited me to accompany him on the 1948 Brighton Speed Trials in a Mark VI Bentley saloon, during the course of the day this subject came up. Clive said the Italians were so concerned that BirIcin might win the race that they removed some items from his pit counter. During a pit stop he added engine oil, and not having a suitable funnel to hand he steadied the can of oil by resting his arm on the exhaust manifold. Clive was convinced that the funnel was one of these items.

Presumably this incident occurred on lap 16, and no doubt somebody with knowledge of the engine layout could give an opinion as to whether there is a risk of getting burnt when adding oil in these circumstances. JAM, yowls; DC, MR CC Mw, ROMFORD, ESSEX I also know Clive Gallop; he lent me the Zborowski albums and! went with him to go on the Zboroviski twin-cam Aston Martin, but he never told me this interesting story. WB