HERE AND THERE, September 1934

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HERE AND THERE

Sports Car Tuning.

IN our description of the workshops cf Messrs. C.-trling Motors, Ltd., last month, we made some reference to the personal experience of the foreman, Mr. 0. A. F. Finch. It appears that our paragraph was not quite accurate in all respects, and we give hereunder the real experience gained by Mr. Finch during the past years. He received his training as a motor engineer at the Automobile Engineering and Training College, Chelsea, where he gained a Diploma and successfully passed the examinations of the I.A.E. and the I.M.T. Subsequently he worked with the makers of Frazer Nash cars for two years. He then joined the staff of Automobile Super Tuners, Ltd., of Hampstead Road, London, and several other firms, specialising in the same type of work, for short periods, during which time he had experience of Maserati, Bugatti, Invieta, Alvis, Austin, M.G., and other sports cars. When we visited the workshops of Carling Motors, Ltd., he was preparing an Arnitear Six with a view to road and track events next year.

Dobson’s Alfa-Romeo.

We are informed by Mr. Austin Dobson that the ” advance publicity” about his Alfa-Romeo referred to in our last issue did not in any way originate from the owner. The car, by the way, is the one with which Chiron and Rossi gained third place in the Mille Miglia last April, at a speed of 65.21 m.p.h. It is a short chassis 2,300 c.c. touring model, bored out to 2,600 c.c. and c’fitted with a special 2-seater body.

An Insurance Concession.

Readers of MOTOR SPORT are already familiar with the Featherstone Automatic Petrol-Ignition Lock, which was fully described in these columns a few months ago. So efficient is this car-lock considered to be, that special insurance concessions are now obtainable from Lloyd’s Underwriters in respect of the insurance of goods against loss by Fire, Burglary, Theft, or Accidental Damage, provided they are carried in saloon cars fitted with

the Featherstone Lock. These concessions consist of a discount of 20 per Cent. off existing rates, and the omission of the usual £5 ‘ excess ” clause.

The makers of this ingenious accessory are Messrs. Allen, Rae & Co., Ltd., Thames House, Millbank, London, S.W. 1.

Tadini Wins the Stelvio.

The annual Stelvio hill-climb differs from most other events of this kind in that only sports and touring cars are eligible to compete. Beginning at Trafoi with a height of 1,553 metres the 14 kilometre timed section shows a rise in altitude of 1,200 metres before the summit at Giogo della Stelvio is reached. The average gradient is 11 per cent. with a maximum of 8.57 per cent. and there are 45 bends. On August 26th fastest time of the day was made by last year’s winner, Mario Tadini, driving a 3-litre Alfa-Romeo On behalf of the Scuderia Ferrari. His time

was 15 mins. 1.4 secs. Steinweg was second with his 2-litre Bugatti, his time being 15 mins. 27.8 secs., which gave him first place in the 2-litre class. Count Lurani won the 1 i-litre category with his Maserati in 15 mins. 38.4 secs., and Cecchini carried off the 1,100 c.c. class in 16 mins. 48.6 secs. with his M.G. Magnette. Sports class winners were as follows : 1,100 c.c., Baumer (Austin), 16 mins. 58.2 secs. ; 1,500 c.c., Argentiero (Alfa-Romeo), 16 mins. 44.4 secs. ; 2,000 c.c., Restelli (Alfa-Romeo), 16 mins. 22.8 secs. ; unlimited, Belmonde (AlfaRomeo), 15 mins. 47.2 secs.

No Grand Prix of Spain.

Political disturbances in Spain have been the cause of the abandonment of the Spanish Grand Prix, which was to have been held on September 23rd.

New Records by Jenkins.

Few record attempts have caused such a stir as that made by the American,

D. A. Jenkins, at Salt Beds, Utah, last year. It will be remembered that eight months passed before his record claims received official confirmation, the most important of these being the world’s 24 hours mark at 117.82 m.p.h. Many people frankly disbelieved these records, although the necessary evidence from the A.A.A. was impeccable.

The news that Jenkins has improved on his previous figures, as well as breaking a lot more records, will set many tongues a-wagging. The only fact so far available, at the time of going to press, is that the International Sporting Commission in Paris has received a telegram announcing the records. By a new rule, made this year, a letter has to be dispatched on the same day, and the necessary documents sent within eight days. Until that letter and the documents arrive it is too early to form any opinion about the records, except to marvel at the rumoured new figure for 24 hours, which is given as 130 m.p.h. !

Comotti Wins the Comminges G.P. for Ferrari.

Whitney Straight finishes third behind Zehender, both on Maseratis. Featherstonhaugh does well before retiring.

The Grand Prix du Comminges this year produced a convincing victory for a little-known Italian driver, Comotti, who filled the place of the lamented Guy Moll at the wheel of a Ferrari-owned Alfa-Romeo. The other 3-litre ntonoposto Alfa was driven by Marcel Lehoux, but retired with a broken valve. The early stages of the race were marked by a meteor c display of driving by

Whitney Straight. At the start his Maserati was in the front row, alongside Lehoux and Etancelin (Maserati). When the flag fell the American driver fairly shot ahead, but after five laps he was passed by Comotti, who set up a new lap record in 4 mins. 16 secs., against Fagioli’s record last year of 4 mins. 29 secs. Lehoux and Etancelin fought their old battle anew, but the former had to stop on his 8th lap to investigate some trouble with his engine. Soon afterwards Etancelin broke a conrod, and he was joined on the retired list by Lehoux, with a faulty valve. Lehoux’s trouble was probably caused by a hair-raising lap covered in 4 mins. 11 secs. ! This proved to be the fastest of the day.

AlthoughStraight was still second, Zehender on another Maserati, was dangerously near. Both drivers refuelled at the same time, and Zehender got ahead by a slightly quicker fill-up. Featherston haugh was also in at the pits, but had the appalling bad luck to break his starting handle. A push-start is forbidden so he retired. It is worth whole noting that Benoit Falchetto disregarded this rule and was fined 500 francs. He finished in fourth place, for which he received a prize of 10,000 francs. At the time of their pit-stop, Falchetto was only 12 secs. ahead of Featherstonhaugh, so it would obviously have benefited the latter to have broken the rule flagrantly, and paid the fine out of his prize-money. That’s what happens when you try to play the game according. to the rules ! No further change took place in the order, Comotti, winning quite comfortably from Zehender, with Straight a good third. At the last moment the latter was delayed by tyre trouble. Comotti’s time for the whole race was faster than Fagioli’s record lap of a year ago, so he is definitely

a driver to watch. Witnille, driving a 3.3 Bugatti, was fined 500 francs for ignoring the signals at the end, continuing for two laps to the considerable danger of the crowd.

RESULT.

Comotti (Alfa-Romeo), 2h. 33m. 49.8s., 150.234 k.p.h.

2. Zehender (Maserati), 2h. 35m. 5s.

3. Straight (Maserati), 2h. 36in. 45s.

4. Falchetto (Maserati), 1 lap later.

5. Wimille (lugatti), 2 laps later.

6. De Villahadierna (Maserati), 3 laps later.

7. Brunet (Bugatti), 4 laps later.

8. Mlle. Belle Nice (Alfa-Rorneo), 4 laps later.

TRAFFIC A.B.C.

Few of us nowadays would come out really well from an examination of our knowledge of the Road Traffic Act, 1930. Perusal of a little booklet which has been published by the Police Review Publishing Co., Ltd., called ” The Traffic A.B.c.” will reveal a number of small points of the Law which every motorist ought to know. The booklet is the work of Sergeant E. Tucker, of the Metropolitan Police, and costs 6d.