THE J.C.C. OPENS BROOKLANDS

THE J.C.C. OPENS BROOKLANDS. GOOD ENTRY FOR NEW-SEASON EVENT.

TAKE a large crowd of enthusiasts, and an assortment of cars ranging from old ” 30-98’s ” to modern touring saloons, apply a series of original tests of skill in the handling of the said cars by the said enthusiasts, and the result is a thoroughly entertaining afternoon for drivers and spectators alike. At least that is what the J.C.C. found when they held their Rally on the 12th of last month, and showed further that the above combination is proof against a biting wind.

A large number of friends and relations made up for the lack of” public,” and the entries exceeded 100 vehicles, which is no mean achievement. The events consisted of a series of driving tests none of which were difficult, and in fact should all have been possible to any normal car and driver.

However, the general excitement of the event seemed to overcome some drivers, who proceeded to display a lack of knowledge of their car’s capabilities, especially in the braking tests, that would land them In serious trouble under normal traffic conditions if it were permanent. A further cause of considerable variety was the evident omission of many to find out what the tests were before attempting them. This of course made them much more difficult 1

The organisation was excellently planned, as the tests followed on steadily from each other and kept drivers on the go and spectators interested for the afternoon. The first test was for easy starting, and here the car was drawn up with the engine stopped and the driver standing at the near side of the car. At the starter’s word he scrambled, leaped, ascended or descended into his vehicle according to its build, and having started it proceeded

over a line 10 yards away. The whole operation had to be concluded in 15 seconds.

Most of the cars started well, while the agility of the drivers was considerable, though some of them appeared to get rather involved in the ratios, and tried to get away in anything but first gear. This test merged into an acceleration cum brake test, in which ” Ebby ” gave the word and cars shot away to stop with their front wheels between two further lines, and immediately continued over a further line as quickly as possible.

The chief point about this braking test was the extremely poor faith many seemed to have in their brakes, applying them vigorously about 40 yards too soon and having to accelerate again to reach the braking area. To vary the proceedings one or two competitors ignored the braking altogether. Miss K. Brunell overshot badly in her triumph, while Gardner in a Speed Model Rover was very neat, as was Fotheringham, Parker (Alvis) and T. C. Mann (Lagonda).

The next tests consisted of reversing and parking. Cars had to be reversed into a space and placed with their off-side wheels on a 9 inch wide line, and then had to park with the near side wheels within 6 inches of, but not touching, a ” kerb ” represented by a baulk of timber. There was a surprising number of failures but some very neat exhibitions of this everyday manoeuvre, H. J. Aldington (FrazerNash) being very quick. When this test was completed cars proceeded to the test hill, and did stop and re-start tests first on the 1 in 8 and secondly on the 1 in 5. Rolling back up to 6 inches in the first case and 12 inches in the second was allowed, this being measured by a highly ingenious instru

ment like a T-square, the rear portion of which showed the marks of erring rear wheels on its fresh whitewash in the case of those who ran back. K. P. Evans’ Alfa-Romeo failed, as did Ward’s Brooklands Riley, which seemed overgeared. There were many other failures, but neat performances were made by Major Gardner (Rover), Potheringham Parker (Alvis), A. H. Oxenford (Standard) and Alan Hess (Vv’olseley Hornet). The star turn was H. J. Aldington’s Frazer-Nash, which in marked contrast to some of the laboured ascents, took off with such verve on the 1 in 5 that he changed up before the top.

Following a series of timed half mile runs, the test hill was attacked once more, this time at speed in top, when drivers had to run down through all gears on the way up. Here the general standard of manipulation was high, and brought a good afternoon’s fun to a close.

RESULTS.

FIRST-CLASS AWARDS (under 1,100 c.c.). —G. H. Goodson (Austin), V. Soper (Riley), R. C. Player (Riley), R. L. Burnet (Riley), W. Busby (Riley).

Over 1,100 c.c.—P. Fotheringham Parker (Alvis), H. Ryan (Armstrong Siddeley), A. L. Baker (Graham-Paige), A. Negal (Morris Major). SECOND-CLASS AWARDS (under 1,100 c.c.).—N. E. Bracey (Austin), E. Gillett (Austin), G. B. Taylor (M.G. Midget), M. T. U. Collier (M.G. Midget), L. L. Schofield (M.G. Midget), J. B. Carver (M.G. Midget), N. C. Killick (M.G. Midget), H. A. Jenkins (M.G. Midget), Miss P. McOstrich (M.G. Midget), W. E. Kendrick (M.G. Midget), Mrs. S. Edmondson (Morris Minor), C. E. Wood (Morris Minor), F. W. J. Bolton (Morris Minor), (continued on page 275) H. C. Hunter (Riley), E. J. Jack (Riley), A. P. Squire (Riley), L. S. Fisher (Riley),

E. N. Ward (Riley), H. J. Turner (Riley), A. H. Oxenford (Standard).

Over 1,100 c.c.—Capt. E. Jervis (Alvis), W. H. Porter (Alvis), Sir A. W. Mac Robert (Aston Martin), L. Baynes (Austin), J. D. Firth (Bentley), Capt. D. K. Kirk (Bugatti), D. G. Evans (supercharged Bugatti), K. G. Gwynn (Buick), W. A. G. Beck (Chrysler), T. C. Mann (supercharged Lagonda), M. H. Selby (Lagonda), T. W. F. Windrum (Lea-Francis), J. W. Drewett (Lea-Francis), B. S. Clavering (M.G. Magna), L. H. Ashcroft Thompson (M.G. Magna), Miss A. Auterac (Morris-Oxford), G. L. Baker (Minerva), Major A. T. 0, Gardner (Rover), W. A. V. Davis (Standard), J. a Williams (Standard), J. A. Peacock (Sunbeam), D. McNeil (Vauxhall) A. C. Hess (Wolseley Hornet). THIRD-CLASS AWARDS (under 1,100 Metchim (Austin), M. P. Tenbosch (Austin), E. A. Denton (M.G. Midget), F. D. Cooper (M.G. Midget), E. Brooks (Riley), J. H. Fuller (Riley), ‘r. A. Boardman (Riley), Miss K. Brunel (Triumph), J. A. Driskell (supercharged

B. N C ) . Over 1,100 c.c.—K. D. Evans (AlfaRomeo), J. Revile (Alvis), M. H. Palmer (Alvis), M. H. Morris Goodall (AstonMartin), Capt. W. L. Bain (Aston-Martin), J. Pollitzer (Bentley), Lt. P. Richards

Brown (Chrysler), R. G. J. Nash (supercharged Frazer-Nash), E. IT. Dean (Hillman), Mrs. L. Ga.rstin (supercharged Lagonda), W. G. Battersby (0.M.), D. Monro (Talbot).

NO AWARDS (under 1,100 c.c.).—M. H. Sprague (Austin), R. Froy (Austin), R. H. Warnes (M.G. Midget), A. J. Bochaton (Triumph), P. W. Sherrin (VernonDerby).

Over 1,100 c.c.—L. E. Marshall (Alvis), Rev. J. Hall Yarr (Alvis), C. B. ChildeFreeman (Bentley), H. J. Aldington (supercharged Frazer-Nash), A. S. Martin. Pratt (Frazer-Nash), A. W. Smith (M.G. Magna), a L. Clarke (Rover).