THE SENIOR RACE

THE SENIOR RACE RUDGES REPEAT THEIR SENIOR T. T. SUCCESS

THE Senior Manx Grand Prix September 11th was run conditions which were a change from the wetness of the Race, and several of the who had braved the elements on Tuesday, appeared again on their machines to show what they could do the sunshine.

The lack of spectators on Tuesday amply made up for by the huge crowds Thursday.

Forty-six starters gave every of a good race, though the Rudge were without the support of L. A. ings who was disqualified for being “holder of a world’s record.”

As several papers have either nothing of this, while others have made a ” sensation ” of it, a short planation will not be out of place.

Hutchings is an R.A.F. officer, and therefore hardly to be connected with the motor trade. However, one day time hung heavy on his hands he ceeded, in turn with J. J. Hall, of “pipsqueak record” fame, to encircle Brooklands for some hours on a diminutive machine at some 30 m.p.h. or at any rate at a speed. slightly higher than had been previously accomplished in. that class. He therefore appeared in danger of being a “holder of a world’s record,” which, as anyone scanning the rules will observe, is not allowed.

Duly noticing this he approached the A.C.U. and, said “What is a recordholder ? ” And they replied to the effect that he or she was the person who obtained, the permit to attempt the said record., and who later (if successful) claimed the said record. Hutchings having done none of these things said ” O.K. Chief,” or words to that effect, and proceeded to enter his Rudge, which he had won incidentally in a competition in “Motor Cycling,” and when the Manx club made enquiry in high places it was shown that none could say him nay I So far, so good.

But shortly before the race the said club said that he had broken a record, which still remained broken by him and by none other, and therefore he was barred.

Whereupon the were once more dragged into the question, and replied that he was not a record, holder within the meaning of the act, adding a rider to the effect that it would be better all the same if he was excluded ; and it was so ! Which all seems rather a pity. However it is now over and done with, and Hutchings was as enthusiastic a spectator as he would have been a competitor. The only comment we can make is this. If the Manx club were so fastidious in regarding the letter of the law, as to exclude a rider, who from his very calling is as nearly an amateur as a man may be, on the grounds that he was a record holder,

why should they not have the same regard for the same letter, when. it was proved that he was not ? No prizes are offered for a solution !

No. 1 on the starting grid. was J. Swan (490 Norton), and was duly followed by the remainder of the entry, including several Velocettes, who were to show that although 150 c.c. smaller than their opponents, were better than all except the very best of the 500 c.c. motors.

Pine and Harding, first and second respectively in Tuesday’s event, were now riding under consecutive numbers. Frith and Muir, whose efforts in the Junior had earned such praise were now out to raise the dust instead of the spray, and were forging their way through the field.

Mavrogordato, faithful as ever to Scotts, was riding beautifully, and looked like warding off the bad luck which has pursued him in the island in past years, but it was not to be.

The first lap saw Rudges in the lead, and also three of the Junior Velocettes in the first six.

…

Naturally under such ideal conditions for high speed, mechanical trouble was not uncommon, broken rockers accounting for Croft’s Norton and Jordan’s New Hudson, while Daniell (Norton) who on practice form was a formidable competitor, retired with a split tank at the Bungalow.

Mavro was going great guns and by a terrific second lap pulled up from comparative obscurity to third place only a few seconds behind Wood and Merrill on the leading Rudges.

…

Merrill was evidently having no easy task to keep his lead, and the pack at his heels were so close that he could afford to make no mistake. Mavro was still riding magnificently but his bad luck had not forsaken him, and as he roared down to Sulby his forks broke and he hit the bridge good and hard, fortunately without personal damage. His retirement let Pixie’s Velocette onto the leader board.

… ” A. Macintosh” failed to navigate Craigna-baa, and made use of the padding so kindly provided by the “John Bull” people, and later retired with lack of stopping power, after riding consistently well for two laps. Minor troubles were assailing various riders, but the motto was “keep going somehow” and, D. Kenyon was without a low gear, Merrill although still clinging grimly to his lead, was without one of his knee grips, and also every

gear except third. And yet he lapped in 31m. 50s. on his third lap (71.13 m.p.h.).

M. J. Dawson very nearly lost everything including his balance at the 33rd milestone, but after a hectic career over the grass got back to the road and got away with it.

C. P. Tutt was less fortunate at the same spot and parted from his model, all evidence of the great pace being set. I4evings was having trouble and dropped out of the picture, while Frith was now in third place, his Velocette having so far averaged 68.76 m.p.h.

Frith’s game little machine had already had more than its fair share of speed, and two races consecutively proved beyond its powers, and he retired on his fifth lap. Poor Merrill, all unknown to the watching thousands who wondered what was slowing him, had only third gear left and in getting away from the Gooseneck he had to do violent things with his clutch and footslog as well. How his engine stood the strain of screaming its heart out on the straights and down the mountain, only its makers could say. However,

he was still in the lead.

A. feature of the later stages of the race was the terrific spurt of Gledhill on his Norton who had, leapt up to third place from nowhere and 1,113S seriously threatening the leaders.

Wood did not seem aware of his chance to catch the crippled Merrill, or perhaps he might have been spurred to just that little extra which would have made the difference. But he was in front of Merrill on the road and his pit were therefore unable to give him up to date information. Shortly after Wood finished, Merrill

… also crossed the line, and in a few minutes came the news that he had won by 19 seconds, one of the most popular victories in spite of difficulties in the history of the I.O.M. races. The first sixteen riders

qualified for replicas.