THE FIRST 1926 B.M.C.R.G. MEETING.

THE FIRST 1926 B.M.C.R.C. MEETING.

THE first 1926 race meeting of the B.M.C.R.C. was held on Saturday, March 20th, under wretched weather conditions, which seemed to depress both competitors and spectators alike. Speeds on the whole were poor and there were no really exciting finishes. Unlike most first meetings, this year’s was noticeable for a lack of anything very special in the way of new machines, if we except the new Wallis with its unusual frame and remarkable steering qualities. The only objects of interest in the competitors’ enclosure, besides the Wallis, were the latest Cotton machines with the engines arranged vertically in the frame, instead of inclined forward, and the record breaking McEvoy-J.A.P. without its supercharger. Its rider, G. W. Patchett, optimistically told us that when

the engine is made to stand up to the supercharger, a speed of 150 m.p.h. should be easily attained. Doubtless at this speed Mr. Patchett will indulge in his usual habit of riding “hands off ! ” The results of the various races were as follows :

THREE-LAP SCRATCH RACE-250 C.C.-350 C.C.

1.-C. W. G. Lacey (3.44h.p. Grindlay-Peerless) ; 2.-C. W. Johnston (3.48 h.p. Cotton) ; 3.-G. E. TotteY (3.44. h.p. New Imperial). Winner’s speed 83.84 m.p.h.

Winner of sealed handicap.-W. A. Jacobs (2.48 h.p. RexAcme).

THREE-LAP SCRATCH RACE-500 C.C.

I.-V. Horsman (4.95 h.p. Triumph) ; 2.-R. N. J mid (4.99 Douglas) ; 3.-A. Denly (4.90 h.p. Norton). Winner’s speed 90.22 m.p.h.

Winner of sealed handicap.-G. C. Cobbold (4.93 11.p. Sunbeam).

THREE-LAP SCRATCH RACE-1,000 C.C.

1.-J. S. Wright (9.76 h.p. Zenith) ; 2.-V. Horsman h.p. Triumph) ; 3.-G. W. Patchett (9.76 h.p. McEvoy). Winner’s speed 98.82 m.p.h.

Winner of sealed handicap.-J. S. Wright.

THREE-LAP ALL-COMERS’ NOVICE HANDICAP.

i.-C. A. C. Birkin (3.48 h.p. McEvoy) ; 2.-R. V. Packman (3.48 h.p. Cotton) ; 3.-W. A. Jacobs (2..18 11.p. Rex-Acme). Winner’s speed 75.12 m.p.h.

TkIRIM-14AP HANDICAP-250 C.C.-350 C.C.

z.-W. Colgan (3.48 h.p. Cotton) ; 2.-C. W. G. Lacey (3.44 h.p. Grindlay-Peerless) ; 3.-G. E. Tottey (3.44 h.p. New Imperial). Winner’s speed 80.72 m.p.h.

THREE-LAP HANDICAP-350 C.C.I ,000 C.C.

I C. Cobbold. (4.93 h.p. Sunbeam) ; 2.-V. E. Horsman (4.95 h.p. Triumph) ; 3.-L. P. Driscoll (4.90 h.p. Norton). Winner’s speed. 69.08 m.p.h.

THREE-LAP PRIVATE OWNERS’ HANDICAP.

r.-G. L. Gray (3.44 h.p. New Imperial) ; 2.-J. W. Marshall (1.90 h.p. Norton) ; 3.-H. J. Knight (9.77 h.p. Zenith). Winner’s speed 69.08 m.p.h. .

THREE-LAP EXPERT HANDicAP-350 c.c.-1,000 c.c. r.-E. W. Guyler (9.77 h.p. Brough-Superior) ; 2.-F’. W. Dixon (5.96 h.p. Douglas) ; 3.-V. E. Horsman (5.99 Triumph). Winner’s speed 96.52 m.p.h.

THREE-LAP EXPERT HANDICAP-350 C.C.

.-A. Greenfield (2.48 h.p. Connaught) ; 2.-C. W. G. Lacey (3.44 h.p. Grindlay-Peerless) ; 3.-S. M. Greening (2.46 h.p. Zenith). Winner’s speed 68.79 m.p.h.

THREE-LAP PASSENGER HANDICAP.

I.-C. S. Staniland (5.88 h.p. Norton and s.c.) ; 2.-J. S. Wright (9.77 h.p. Zenith and s.c.) ; 3.-14. Milne (3.44 h.p, Rex-Acme and s.c.). Winner’s speed 77.81 m.p.h.