RILEY OWNERS TRY FOR SPEED
RILEY OWNERS TRY F SPEED
Invariably the Riley Motor Club organises its events every thoroughly indeed, so it was not unnatural that when they decided to hold a speed trial, its officials found a completely new course that very adequately answered the purpose. This new course, Lullingstone Park, near Orpington, in Kent, provides a course of about 600 yards with natural banks for spectators, a right-hand corner near the finish, and a sdrface of rather loose gravel. It is hardly necessary to mention that this event was very well run ; timing, incidentally, was by Bachelier electric equipment on loan from the Cambridge University A.C.
Naturally Rileys of all ages, sizes and types predominated, indeed, the only other “marque “. allowed was E.R.A., though ten-year-old Master P. Maclure was permitted to make a run in a Brooklands-shape Riley whose engine was of only 95 c.c. and by Villiers, while spectators had a brief respite from the dust clouds raised by the faster cars when Kemsley drove up in a two-cylinder 1903 Phenix tandem four-wheeler.
A. E. S. Curtis gave a good broadcast, correcting such prograinatical errors as Fred Dixon being due to handle a sports Riley and A. C. Dobson a touring E.R.A.(!) and all through the event was a great success, sufficiently so for other clubs to eye the new venue enviously.
Mrs. Marcus Brown won the 1,100 c.c. touring class and Bassett’s 1929 Mark IV the sports category. Miss M. Allan had borrowed a Kestrel from R. C. Porter, and managed 36.6 secs. in winning the 1i-litre touring class.
Of the sports ears, F. R. Gerard with a Brooklands model carried all before him, getting down to 32.68 secs. H. J. 0. Ripley got into a Ripley-Special and up the course in 37.57 sees.
So to the racing classes, when the dust clouds became veritable sand-storms. Appleton.’s Special did not arrive with its puzzled owner, and Dobson’s E.R.A. was another absentee, but Freddie and Scribbans gave the crowd full value for entrance money.
Scribbarts clocked 24.1 secs., showing how much faster comparatively a racing job is, and Fred Dixon, trying earnestly was .03 secs. slower. H. G. Dobbs’ familiar 2-litre single-seater, recovered from its sand-digging episode at Shelsrey, was third in 25.36 secs., and Von der Becke’s independently-sprung 2-litre job also ran.
RESULTS Class _Winners
1,100 c.c. touring: 1 Mrs. Marcus Brown (Biarritz) 39.9 sees. 1,500 c.c. touring: I). E. Calder (Falcon) 37.55 secs. 1,100 c.c. Sports: E. It. Bassett (1929 Mark IV.) 37.20 sees,
1,500 c.c. Sports: Miss M. Allan (Kestrel) 36.60 NCB. 2,000 ex. Sports: F. H. Gerard (Kestrel) 37.27 sees. 1,100 0.0. Super sports: F. R. Gerard (Brooklands) 32.90 sees. 1,500 e.e. ,, SS Ps PO
32.94 sees.
2,000 c.c.
32.68 secs. 1,100 0.0. Raring Cars: J. Zillwood (1930 Biarritz)
39.27 sera. 1,500 0.0.
24.49 sees.
2,000 c.o. h 24.10 seas. „ D. H. &Tibbs= (E.R.A.)