B.O.C. PRESCOTT NATIONAL SPEED HILL CLIMB

B.O.C. PRESCOTT NATIONAL SPEED HILL CLIMB (Sept. 13th)

EXCEEDINGLY pleasant in the warm sunshine, Prescott on this occasion saw Boshier-Jones (Cooper 1,100) get within 0.18 sec. of his former course-record and Patsy Burt (Cooper-Climax) break the ladies’ course-record with a model ascent in 44.55 sec.

A considerable crowd arrived to spectate at a meeting lasting six hours; it was concluded on time in spite of a delay in cleaning up an oil trail laid by .1. L. Goddard’s beautifully-restored Type 37 13tigatti, a car modified extensively pre-war by Fielding, including a preselector gearbox. On the subject of immaculate cars, one of the finest present was Vice-President Peter Hampton’s 1934 V12 HispanoSalsa, which has the larger 11.3-litre engine developing 250 b.h.p.

There were a few ” specials ” competing, apart front the usual machinery. For example, Camp drove a car with Shorrock-blown Ford Ten engine, M.G. gearbox and Falcon body shell, Westbury’s M.G.W. bad a highly-tuned M.G. engine in a Buckler frame, Perkins his B.M.W.-engined Lotus, etc.

The first three sports-car classes went to Lotus, Cooper and Lotus. Bristol, respectively, and Scragg broke his own class record in the unlimited category, the H.W.M.-Jaguar easily beating the Chapman Mercury, Barker’s Alton Jaguar and Allard’s Steyr Allard.

The racing-car classes at Prescott are rather specialised, with number of cylinders as well as engine size taken into consideration, but Patsy’s Burt’s Cooper-Climax comfortably beat Clark’s Cooper. Climax in the first category, Dr. Taylor losing a chain on his initial ascent, then being slower than usual in the Caesar. Cleaver’s CooperJ.A.P. vanquished the Norton-powered cars in the 500-cc. class. Phillips improved on the up-to-2,500-c.c. multi-cylinder class course record, his rear-engined Fairley-Climax doing a splendid 43.38 see.. second best of the day, while amongst the vee-twin Coopers (of which nine ran) Boshier-Jones clocked 41.73 sec., later getting down to 41.18 see, in the R.A.C. Hill-Climb Championship Class. A Bugatti Handicap was contested by eight of these fine motor cars, the very long 5.3-litre Type 46 two-seater thriven by Bailey, a car once used by Birkett as a cattle-truck, winning on handicap, Berry’s twin-rearwheeled G.P. going fearfully quickly into the first corner to make best time in 46.47 sec. The Grand Touring Class had attracted some extra machinery, such as a Porsche Carrera (52.29 sec.), a 150$ three-carbaretter Jaguar (54.23 sec.), a Frazer Nash Bristol coupe (55.69 see.), John Broad’s ex-Earls Court V12 Ferrari (51.94 sec.), Goddard-Watts’ 700-c.c. Berkeley coupe (52.76 sec.), Gillie Tyrer’s DB4 Aston Martin (50.81 sec.), and even a B.M.W. 503 convertible driven by Meredith-Owens (5670 sec.). They were all made to look very silly by two Lotus Elites, of which Lewis’ clocked 48.99 sec., breaking the class record set up last year by Jon Fast’s 300SL, Wilson’s 49.58 sec. Only Roberts’ 300SL coupl. gave them a run, recording 49.74 sec. Eunice Griffin, the girl who once out-drove Tony Marsh, did exactly the same time (59.83 sec.) on both ascents in her 747-c.c. Fiat Abarth saloon. Slowest grand tourer was Triumph Herald coupe (65.03 sec.).

There were few incidents but Bailey (Lo:us) came unstuck on both runs, seemingly with a sticking throttle. Marty drivers used twin rear wheels. It was an eventful day, what a Mt a spectator’s Rover running away and landing on some other ears and the business of inserting ” Lofty ” England in a Go-Kart for a demonstration ascent.-W. B. Results s