THE LATE M. MAURICE BALLOT

THE LATE M. MAURICE BALLOT

We regret to record the death, in Paris, of M. Maurice Ballot, designer and manufacturer of Ballot cars.

Ballot commenced manufacture long before the war, and after the Armistice M. Henry, who had designed the pre-war racing Peugeots and the war-time Bugatti aero-engines, joined the Ballot concern and the first racing Ballot was born. It was a 5-litre straight-eight of the type which the late R. B. Howey subsequently .endeared to the Brooklands crowd, until he was fatally injured when it struck a tree during the Boulogne Hill Climb, and the car was laid to rest in the sea. Ballot took a great interest in the early Indianapolis races and built a team of 3-litre straight-eight cars for the 1920 American classic, three of which, together with a 2-litre four-cylinder Ballot, started in the 1921 French Grand Prix, Ralph de Palma’s Ballot being second and the four-cylinder third The Ballots were first and second in that year’s Italian G.P. The four-Cylinder Ballots were second and third in the 1922 Targa Florio and an eight-cylinder was third in the 1922 Indianapolis race. The latter type was introduced into this country by Clive Dunfee who raced one at Brooklands, which car was later driven there by Miss Richmond and is now owned by C. CluttOn and R. W. Pitchford of the Vintage S.C.C. Ballot ceased racing after winning the

San Sebastian touring G.P. of 1925, but the 2-litre four-cylinder production Model enjoyed considerable •popularity in this country, George Newman being the principal agent. The engine commanded a 112 tax and was notably accessible, and fabric bodywork was usually fitted. The o.h.v., inclined in the sports version, were operated by shaft-driven o.h. camshaft, and the Ballot was a quality production throughout. Two of them have found their way into the Vintage S.C.C. The later straight-eight Ballot is still to be seen on our roads. Before the war the late S. 0. Cummings used Ballot engines in his Cununikar light cars. Unfortunately the Ballot is no longer on the British market.