THE TOURIST TROPHY FOR DONINGTON

THE TOURIST TROPHY FOR DONINGTON

As we close for Press we learn that the R.A.C. has announced that Donington has been chosen as the venue for the T.T. race on September 4th.

As the I.O.M. courses proved impractical, the decision lay between Brooklands, Donington and the Crystal Palace, and in view of Mr. Fred Craner’s offer to extend the Donington circuit, and its resemblance to a true road course, the R.A.C.’s decision should be a popular one.

At present the Donington course has a lap of just over two miles, but by taking the road straight on at Starkey’s hairpin for half-a-mile, constructing a new hairpin turn, and continuing the course at Red Gate Corner to rejoin the existing road between Red Gate and Holly Wood., a lap of about four miles will be provided. Work has already begun and an ample practising period is anticipated.

With two important sports-car races as well as its Grand Prix, Nuffield Trophy and 200-Mile Races, Donington becomes a remarkably important motoring centre and we hope that Derby, Leicester and Ashby will cater for a flood of visitors and prosper accordingly. Naturally the English course will not be on a par with the old Ards circuit, but it is the best of those available, and well situated from the viewpoint of both competitors and spectators. Capt. Phillips of the R.A.C. inspected the alternative courses in Ireland, but roads were mostly of inadequate width, very flat, or not formed so as to constitute a complete circuit. Mr. F. H. Rogers, Chairman of the T.T. Race Committee, endeavoured to sanction the by-passing of the populated portions of the Ards circuit and hoped for the support of the Government of

Northern Ireland, especially as the Prime Minister had invited in his official capacity the R.A.C. to hold the 1937 race on the Ards circuit. The value of the race from the research point of view, and the particularly successful showing of British production-type cars in past T.T. races was clearly emphasised, apart from the financial gain to the surrounding district. However, the proposition was rejected on April 2nd by the Finance and Law Committee of the County Council.

There is a strong sense of resentment at the loss of the T.T. in Ireland that extends beyond the motoring circles, and the position is admirably summed up in the March and April issues of the Ulster A.C. “Monthly Review.”

In the meantime congratulations to Mr. Fred Craner on Donington getting our most important fixture.