MOTOR SPORT

Continental Notes and News

By

HAROLD NOCKOLDS

Alfa-Romeo Victories in the Targa Abruzzo. ALTHOUGH overshadowed in importance by the Mille Miglia, the

• Targa Abruzzo race for sports cars has become firmly established on the Italian calendar. The event held on August 12th and 13th was the third of its kind, and took place over the Circuit of Pescara. There were two groups, one for supercharged and the other for unsupercharged cars, and these groups were divided into three classes, 1,100 c.c., 2,000 c.c. and unlimited. A mark of respect to the memory of two lamented drivers was made by the organisers in donating a Coppa Campari for the first group and a Coppa Borzacchini for the second.

An entry of 18 supercharged cars was received, all Alfa-Romeos but for three Ma.seratis. In the second group, however, no fewer than 34 cars were entered, Fiats preponderating. There were also entries by owners of several Alfa-Romeos, Bugattis, Lancias, and a Ford. There were no English cars in the race, but the following drivers participated on AlfaRorneos, Earl Howe and Rose Richards, Penn Hughes and Clifford. The start was an impressive business, Marechal Balbo sending the 45 cars away on their 24 hours journey. The midday sun was intensely hot, and a huge crowd had assembled to watch the race. A fast pace was set from the start by the supercharged cars, the struggle being waged by the following teams : Moll and Ghersi, Nuvolari and Sommer, Pellegrini and Quarantoni, Dusio and Rovere, all on Alfa-Romeos, and the Maserati driven by Zehender and de Villapadierni. The lap speed was in the neighbourhood of 75 m.p.h. During the evening Moll and Ghersi drew ahead, but Nuvolari and Sommer were not far behind. Towards

— 2 o’clock in the morning, however, the leading Alfa-Romeo developed back-axle trouble, and the Nuvolari-Sommer combination moved up to the head of affairs. Then exactly the same misfortune befell the new leaders, and it was the turn of the un-supercharged Alfa-Romeo handled by Seven i and Cortese to lead the field. Their car was entered by the Scuderia Ferrari, and held its place until the end, finishing 12 kilometres ahead of a similar car driven by Barbieri and Tadini, also entered by the Ferrari stable.

General Classification. 1. Severi—Cortese 2,300 c.c.),

1. Severi—Cortese (Alfa-Romeo 2,300 c.c.), 2,482 k.m. 082, 103.420 k.p.h.

2. Tadini —Barbieri (Alfa Romeo, 2,300 c.c.), 2,470 k.m. 816.

3. Rosa—Conotti (Alfa-Romeo, 2,300 c.c.), 2,470 k.m. 548.

4. Faccioni—Moretti (Fiat, 995 c.c,). S. Ravano —Zuccarini (Fiat, 995 c.c.).

6. Castelbarco —Lurani (Bugatti, 1,500 c.c.).

7. Gabini—Zappacorta (Alfa-Romeo, 1,900 c.c.).

8. Loretelli— Lunardi (Fiat, 995 c.c.).

9. Maccia—Jelmina (Fiat, 995 c.c.).

Camped Cup.—Earl Howe—T. E. Rose-Richards ( Alfa-Romeo).

Borzacchini Cup.—Cortese—Severi (Alfa-Romeo).

Braillard to Rest. Early this season, in April to be exact, 1ouis Braillard haul a bad accident at

Saint-Lo, which laid him up for a considerable time. He has taken part in one or two events recently, but on the advice of his doctor he has decided to take a complete rest from racing for the remainder of the season. Next year will see him in action once more, however, piloting a Maserati for the stable run by his sister, Mlle. Nellie Braillard.

And Now for Monza.

The last of the national Grand Prix races is the Italian G.P., which will take place on September 19th at Monza autodrome. A special circuit of four kilometres in length has been chosen, and this will be covered 125 times. Four cars from each manufacturer will be permitted to enter, and the prize money is as follows : 50,000, 40,000, 30,000, 20,000, 15,000, 12,000, 10,000, 9,000, 8,000, 6,000 liras.

Straight to Attack Hour Record.

At the end of July Whitney Straight arrived at Montlhery autodrome with the intention of making an attempt on the

World’s Hour Record. Unfortunately, the American driver fell ill and had to postpone the attempt, by which time his racing engagements demanded his presence elsewhere. He firmly intends to return to Montlhery at the earliest possible opportunity, however, and try to beat Von Stuck’s existing record of 135 m.p.h. made with an Auto Union.

A Moving Ceremony.

Many well-known pereonalities in French motor-racing circles attended the funeral of Jean Gaupillat, who was killed so tragically in the Dieppe races, The ceremony took place at the little church of Bellevue, and the feelings of regret which Gaupillat’s untimely death have aroused could be seen by the vast number of wreaths from friends and admirers all over France, and the actual presence of M. Perouse, president of the French Sporting Commission, M. Julien, organising president of the Dieppe meeting, M. Letorey, director of Montlhery, and many drivers including Z(.1inder, Scaron, Falchetto, de Villapadierna, Vagniez, Mine. Si ko, Mlle. Helle-Nice, Lony, Maurice Benoist, R. 13runet and Rene Thomas.

Maag Killed in Road Accident.

The promising young Swiss driver, Ulrich Maag, was killed last month in a road accident near Parma, Italy. He was on his way to Pescara, where he had arranged to share the driving of an AlfaRomeo with Hans Ruesch in the 24 hours Targa Abruzza. Coming round a corner at speed, Maag collided with a stationary lorry. lie was severely injured about the head, and passed away in hospital that night. Ulrich Maag was the 1934 champion of Switzerland, and had been racing for

about four years. Even when he first took part in big events, at the age of 18, he always maintained a remarkable coolness and sang-froid, and he possessed all the attributes of the first-class driver. His death will be deeply regretted in European racing circles.

Cancellations.

I am informed that the following events appearing on the International Calendar have been cancelled by their organisers : the Poetschen Hill climb, the Circuit of Vienna, the Zirlerberg, and the Circuit of Cremona.

Mrs. Stewart’s Magnificent Records.

When Mrs. G. M. Stewart broke the lap record for Montlhery track last year at a speed of 145 m.p.h., and made world’s and class records at a corresponding velocity one did not think that there could be very much room for improvement. But the world’s finest woman driver simply went back to the Derby works at Courbevoie and set about thinking of ways and means wher,eby the Derby Special could be made to go still quicker, in company with W. D. Hawkes, the brilliant head of the factory.

Last month the car was deemed to be ready for further action, and an official attempt on the mile and kilometre records in Class E (up to 2,000 c.c.). The run was completely successful, from the record point of view, and the new figures were found to be 147.9 m.p.h. in each case. Her previous best was 143.29 m.p.h. for both. Added to this Mrs. Stewart had set up a new speed for the lap record, at 147 m.p.h., a really amazing performance, and one which sets the seal on her reputation as the finest woman driver in the world. Having accomplished her aim, Mrs. Stewart nearly came to disaster in pulling up from her maximum speed. With typical coolness, and regarding the attempt with mechanical interest, she switched off the engine in order to inspect the state of the plugs at the end of the run. The sudden lack of adhesion from the engine-power on the front wheels threw the car into a skid, causing the car to dash off the track into the protection zone on the inside. It almost turned over several times, a sight which caused the utmost consternation and alarm among the assembled spectators. To everyone’s relief, however, it was found that Mrs. Stewart was not nearly so seriously injured as the gravity of the accident would infer, and after being X-rayed, the doctors declared her to have a broken rib, a broken collar-bone, and several

torn muscles. Her convalescence is expected to take about a month. As for the car, it was not badly hurt, the damage being of a superficial nature.

Everyone will congratulate Mrs. Stewart on her wonderful achievements, at the same time feeling grateful that she has emerged from a most dangerous accident without excessive injury.