AN ASTOUNDING SERIES OF RECORDS.

All International Class H Records now held by M.G.

IT seems only a short time ago that the motoring world was astounded at the news that G. E. T. Eyston had succeeded in reaching a speed of 100 m.p.h. in a 750 c.c. M.G. Midget. Actually, it was two years ago, and a year later, last February, he raised these figures at Pendine Sands to the phenomenal speed of 118.38 m.p.h. Now he has gone one better, and last month achieved the distinction of being the first man to travel at more than two miles a minute in a 750 c.c. car.

The record attempt took place at IVIontlhery, and the car used was the very same ” Magic” Midget with which the 118 m.p.h. record was made at Pendine. For the new attempt, however, certain modifications were made, notably to the exterior surface of the car, in order to obtain still better streamlining. Discs covering even the hub-caps were fitted to the wheels, not only to cut out the wind resistance of the hub cap itself, but to prevent the wind, ” broken ” by the front edge of the wheel being allowed to return and meet the rim at the rear edge.

Probably the most startling change, though, was in the fact that the cockpit was completely enclosed in a safety-glass “conning-tower,” thereby giving a greater degree of smoothness in the top line of the body. Holes in the safety glass provided ventilation. In addition, a new undershield was fitted. On the first day out the ” Magic “

Midget proved to be in great form, beating five International Class H records, all of which were previously held by the same car and driver. These were, the flying kilometre and mile at 120.56 m ph., the 5 kilometres at 120.52 m.p.h., the 5 mi.es at 116.71 m.p.h. and the 10 kilometres at 117.42 m.p.h.

A regular M.G. raid on records was thereby initiated, and the intention was to get every record in Class ” H ” for the M.G. concern. Accordingly, a few days later a standard J.3 Midget was brought out onto the Track, and in the hands of 0. E. T. Eyston, T. H. Wisdom and A. Denley, proceeded to accomplish the second part of the attack, namely the 1,000 miles, the 2,000 kilometres and the 24 hours records. For 4i, hours all went well, and then the little green car failed to put in an appearance. It was seen to have stopped on the far side of the track, and then the driver began to push it into the pits, where it was found that a petrol pipe had broken, After a delay of 26 minutes the car was off again. At last the end of the 24 hours drew to an end, Once, again the M.G. had triumphed, ‘for all three records were taken at the following speeds, 1,000 miles at 69 m.p.h., the 2,000 kilometres at 69.95 m.p.h., and the 24 hours at 70.6 Finally, at 6.30 a.m, on the next day the” Magic Midget” appeared once more, and set out to clean up the bag of records in Class H. Eyston drove first, and lapping steadily at about 95 m.p.h., broke the 200 km., the 200 Miles and the 3 hours records comfortably, the car running, well within its limits. Then Denley took over, and records thereafter fell like ninepins throughout the day, until at 6.30 p.m. in the evening the car had taken’ for the M.G. concern the last remaining record in its class. On this run the following reCords were broken :

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No praise can be too high for this amazing series of new records, for the M.G. .Midget is the first car to hold all records in any International Class. British light car prestige, always high on the Continent, has been given a tremendous fillip, for French and German motorists are astounded at the car’s performance.

No account of the Midget’s achievements would be complete without a tribute to George Eyston, who holds, either alone or as leader of a team, 22 out of the 24 Class H records, the other two being held by E. R. Hall.

These records are nothing short of marvellous.. B.P. Plus petrol, Castro’ oil, Dunlop tyres, ‘Jaeger instruments and K.L.G. Plugs were used.