Relay Race Matters

Sir,

In your report of the Six-Hour Relay Race mention was made of my being summoned to the Clerk of the Course’s office subsequent to hitting a straw bale, in tire pit approach road. I think it fair to point out that the straw bale incident, which was caused by a grabbing front brake, was in no way connected with the interview I had with the “headmaster.”

In fact, I was severely taken to task-for an incident of which I had no recollection, and it was only after a few minutes’ argument that it transpired that my number had been wrongly quoted in place of that of another car with which I had been closely engaged for several laps and which hail finally spun off. Explanations all round and everyone was quite happy.

I have followed with great interest the arguments as to the relative merits and faults of the TR2 and Austin-Healey, and have watched their behaviour in a number of club events in which I have participated with my own TR2. I have only driven an Austin-Healey for about fifty miles so I can claim no real knowledge of these cars. However, we all know that the care of both types which are raced at club events every weekend are in all sorts of states of tune and it is difficult to arrive at an objective decision as to which is the better of the two makes.

I think that a good TR2 will usually beat a good Austin-Healey on the club or long “Birkett” Club circuit at Silverstone if the TR2 has the stiff “competition” suspension and grab-free brakes. This latter is no easy state of affairs to come by, but I have found that Mintex M-20 linings go a long way towards curing the trouble. The Austin-Healeys seem more prone to spinning than the TR2s, but less likely to roll over when they do get off the course. I have had my TR2 now for eighteen months and it has done two seasons’ competition work. The only thing that has gone wrong with it in that time has been failure of two big-ends, and that was entirely my fault.

I think its value can best be summed up by trying to think of another car of similar capacity at anything like the same price which has a comparable performance; I do not know of one. Incidentally, what a pity that there were no Triumphs at Le Mans this year. No one would have expected them to win but a consistent performance such as they have put up in the past would probably have boosted sales both in this country and in the U.S.A.

I am, Yours, etc., St. Albans, D. A. Wilcocks.

[Regarding the first paragraph of this letter, apologies. It comes of too hastily adding up 2 and 2 and getting 5, and that seems to go for the race-spotters, too! – ED.)