BRDC Bulletin

Many wild rumours have been circulating regarding the proposed combined J.C.C. and B.R.D.C. race scheduled for September 28th, including the fantastic story of Nuvolari being offered £1,000 starting money. The facts of the matter are that some time ago the committee of the B.R.D.C. and council of the J.C.C. agreed that if a suitable venue could be found, the two clubs would combine to run a joint event on the 28th of the month.

Meantime, negotiations had been proceeding with the Air Ministry as to the possibility of making available an aerodrome or aerodromes for motor-racing, and Castle Donington was suggested as likely to be suitable. (Ironically enough, this aerodrome is virtually only a stone’s throw from Donington Park with its very excellent ready-made course, still, alas, occupied by the Army.)

The Castle Donington aerodrome seemed to offer great possibilities. The surface was first rate and an interesting D-shaped circuit could be formed by using two sections of runway and a portion of the 45-ft. perimeter track. However, it was found that the aerodrome could not be made available owing to legal difficulties.

Subsequently, another aerodrome was inspected and though, in many ways, not so attractive as Castle Donington, a combination of runways and perimeter track provides a 2-mile circuit with reasonably good surface. It is just possible that this aerodrome may be made available for the meeting on September 28th.

However, with such a short time available, much improvisation will be necessary and it will obviously not be possible to organise anything in the nature of a full-scale Grand Prix, though a scratch race for 1,500-c.c. cars is envisaged as the most important event of the afternoon’s programme, which would also cater for sports cars and unlimited c.c. racing cars.

A definite decision one way or the other will be made very shortly.

Peter Whitehead, H. L. Brooke and Reg. Parnell are due to run in the Turin Grand Prix on September 1st. Brooke will be driving his ex-Dobson E.R.A., and Parnell, making his debut at the wheel of a car of this marque, will pilot the i.f.s. model which he recently bought from Lord Howe. However, attention will obviously be focused on Whitehead’s ” E “-type E.R.A., which ran extremely well when he tried it out on the morning prior to his departure. The race will be run over 60 laps of the wiggly 2.9-mile circuit for which the “E” type is particularly well suited, and Whitehead’s performance will he followed with great interest.

Since 1982, motor-cycle grass-track meetings have been held every two weeks during the season at Brands Hatch, near Farningham, Kent (about 18 miles from London on the main Folkestone road, A.20). Brands Hatch is an estate of about 400 acres, about half of which is thickly wooded, and the one-mile grass track, roughly oval in shape, lies in a little valley, the sides of which form natural grandstands. It is now proposed to build a 45-ft. wide tarmac road on the site of the existing grass track, altering the shape slightly by replacing the sweeping curves at both ends by short straights and hairpins. This will make the circuit more suitable for motor-car events.

Adjoining the grass track is a 50-acre field cultivated by the local War Agricultural Committee. As soon as this field is de-requisitioned it is intended to extend the circuit to about 2 1/2 miles. This full circuit will include 3/4- and 1/2-mile straights and, all being well, should be completed in time for the 1948 season, when it is planned to stage a number of motor-car races.

Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth has graciously consented to act as Patron of the Motor Jubilee Ball in aid of the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund which will be held in the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday, October 9th, 1946, from 9.30 p.m. to 2.30 a.m. Tickets, £1 15s. single and £3 3s. double, may be obtained from the secretary, and it is hoped that as many members as possible will support the function.

Le Mans Fund
(now closed).

Amount previously acknowledged, £314 3s. Grand total £358 11s.

The following racing cars are for sale.
Details from the secretary.
2.9-litre monoposto Alfa-Romeo.
Two 1 1/2-litre Delage.
1 1/2-litre E.R.A.
1 1/2-litre 6-cylinder Maserati.
1 1/2-litre E.R.A.-engined ex-Maclure Riley.
2-litre 8-cylinder Dolomite (s.c.).
1,100-c,c, Magnette