LORD NUFFIELD BACKS MAJOR GARDNER

LORD NUFFIELD BACKS MAJOR GARDNER

Lord Nuffield, who has recently handed such big chunks of his fortune to charity, and the M.G. Car Co. Ltd., which used to actively participate in racing, are backing Major A. T. G. Gardner in the construction of a 1,100 c.c. car to attack all Class G records. Robin Jackson will part-design as well as assemble and tune the engine and Reid Railton will look after the wind defeating arrangements. A speed of 170 to 175 m.p.h. is aimed at for shortdistance records. Major Gardner will do

his testing at the Avus Track, Berlin, and make his short-distance attempts during the 1938 German Record Week. With another engine he may attempt to raise the Brooklan.ds Lap Record, standing to the credit of John Cobb’s 24-litres of Napier-Railton, at over 143 m.p.h. It will be recalled that last year Major Gardner’s 1,100 c.c. M.G. just exceeded 150 m.p.h. on a one-way rim, and experts then suggested that with new bodywork and enclosed wheels, 170 m.p.h. should be possible. That Lord Nuffield is putting up the money for this all-British venture is extremely gratifying.

ANOTHER BIG HILL-CLIMB P

It seems that in addition to ShelsleyWalsh, Prescott and Backwell House, we may have another big hill-climb in England this year. The Brighton and Hove M.C. has found a venue on War Office ground which embraces a hairpin bend, S-bend, a horse-shoe curve and a straight, in a total

length of 1,200 yards. The hill is at Dover, was discovered by Frank Illingworth and has been approved by the R.A.C. The proposed fixture is for July. Almost a return to pre ’25 days.