The Austin Seven Article

Sir,

On behalf of members of the 750 Motor Club and, I am sure, all true worshippers at the shrine of the Winged Wheel, I should like to thank you, and Holland Birkett for the excellent and instructive article appearing in your May issue.

This will be of inestimable value to those of us who fall into the third category deseribed by Mr. Birkett. There is one statement of his with which I must beg to differ, that is “that it seems well enough proved that the high-revving Austin engine prefers the long narrow tail pipe.” The 7/8 in. tail pipe was compulsory in order to observe the Brooklands silencing regulations of the period and these regulations were also, in most sports-car races organised by the R.A.C., imposed.

To confirm this I rang up Mr. Charles Goodacre and he told me that my observation was quite correct and, further, that the small diameter tail pipe reduced the power output by from 5 to 8 per cent.

I think that the standard production “Ulster” as distinct from the works cars, used a slightly larger tail pipe.

                                                                                          I am, Yours. etc.,

                                                                                                            H. BIGGS.