THE AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY MEETING of the B.A.R.C.

THE AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY MEETING of the B.A.R.C. Brooklands Makes a Venue for Thousands of Holiday Makers.

AS news the following report cannot be classed as “new” news, but we include a brief report, late as it inevitably is, for the benefit of those of our readers who desire that their copies of Motor Sport may serve as a record and reference of the principal events of the season.

The inclusion of a One Hundred Miles handicap in the programme certainly did much in increasing the public interest in the event and this added to the advance publicity afforded by the proprietors of the newspaper offering the prizes served to remind everyone that such a place as Brooklands race track really existed.

Favoured by glorious weather, first class racing conconditions and a very large attendance, the whole meeting turned out to be an excellent afternoon’s entertainment in which the wonders of automobile design only just eclipsed the charm of the creations effected by the fair devotees of the members’ enclosure and the paddock. Some day the possibilities of Brooklands as the scene of a romantic sporting story will be discovered by our leading novelists, but for the time being the lure of speed alone must be our theme.

The Fortieth 75 m.p.h. Short Handicap.

Among the starters for the first race was to be seen G. N. Norris at the wheel of his new racing Lea-Francis, which made a very successful debut. In appearance this machine should satisfy the most exigent critic, the streamlining being particularly effective and its turn of speed quite surprising.

At the outset things looked fairly easy for Densham’s Bugatti, which got away with characteristic elan, but did not prove fast enough for some of the less supported competitors. Soon the Lea-Francis began to show its paces and after a thrilling duel with the Marandez Special, crossed the line a good 150 yards ahead of the latter at an average speed of 82.04 m.p.h., with Whale’s Calthorpe a good third.

The Fiftieth 100 m.p.h. Short Handicap.

This race served to add yet another laurel to the garland of R. B. Howey’s Ballot, though the now famous car had to be pressed fairly hard to overtake Newman’s Austro-Daimler, the two cars being separated only by 60 yards as they flashed across the finishing line in the Railway Straight. From the distance it seemed doubtful as to who would gain the second place, for Kaye Don on Capt. Miller’s big Sunbeam was roaring along in great style behind the Austro-Daimler, which, however, just managed to get home behind the Ballot. The average speed of the winner was 110.43 m.p.h.

The Twenty-Fifth 90 m.p h. Short Handicap.

Though Meeson on his Vauxhall led throughout the race he was hotly pursued from start to finish by the four-cylindered Grand Prix Bugatti, which was effectively handled by G. E. T. Eyston. The 200 Miles Race Bugatti driven by P. L. Denshan was also well in the running, the cars maintaining the same order until the end, though at one moment the Lea-Francis, which suffered from a re-handicap, looked like gaining a place in the first three. Meeson (Vauxhall) won by 80 yards at 93.17 m.p.h.

The Thirty-Fifth Lightning Handicap.

The fourth race proved to be a meeting of giants for ” Babs,” the Ballot, the big Sunbeam among others turned out to the delight of the spectators. Bone’s Sunbeam-Napier figured on the programme, but the unfortunate accident previously accounted for its absence. George Duller, on Woolf Barnato’s 2 litre Bugatti, j. D. Barclay (T.T. Vauxhall) and Miller (Sunbeam) shot off with 31 seconds start and proceeded to sort themselves out, whilst the Ballot and ” Babs ” were held in restraint by” Ebby.” When his flag dropped in front of” J.G.P.” the fun commenced. Howev gave” Babs “

plenty of room as it streaked past him, allowing Thomas to give yet another of his incomparable displays of track-craft. Kaye Don, however, was not to be denied and pushed the Sunbeam over the line some 150 yards ahead of Thomas, who was swooping down off the banking upon him at a terrific speed, closely followed by Duller (Bugatti), the three finishing in the order named. Thus Kaye Don won a well fought out contest at the creditable speed of 102.65 m.p.h.

Brooklands President’s Gold Plate.

This annual event attracted as usual a good field and produced a somewhat surprising result, for G. W. Olive’s E.H.P., which previously has not shown up to the best advantage, won in the easiest style imaginable, leaving the other cars in the race sadly in the rear. Five cars were more or less bunched together and a keen contest was fought out for the second place in which Marandez on his Special and Dr. Benj afield (Salmson) figured prominently, eventually securing the second and third places respectively. Olive won by over a mile at the speed of 89.05 m.p.h., possibly the biggest margin for a win ever recorded on the Weybridge track.

The Forty-Ninth 100 m.p.h. Long Handicap.

Kaye Don appeared to have this race well in hand, having overhauled E. Poppe on the Rover racer, which showed an improved turn of speed since its first appearance. Just as it was all over ” Bar shouting” as they say in the shilling ring, Thomas swooped down from the banking and caught the Sunbeam which was overtaken as it was about to cross the line, thus leaving the Leyland to win by the narrow margin of 15 yards, at the refreshing speed of 117.88 m.p.h. Kaye Don (Sunbeam) was second and Poppe (Rover) third. Thomas received a tremendous ovation on returning to the paddock for giving the holiday crowd just the sort of win they came to Brooklands to see. The Twenty-Fifth 90 m.p.h. Long Handicap. Olive’s E.H.P. and the new Lea-Francis both put up extremely good showing in the seventh race, but well as

they ran they proved no match for Hazlehurst’s speedy Salmson which won by 70 yards at an average speed of 83.19 m.p.h. Meeson had tyre trouble which spoilt his very good chances on the Vauxhall. The E.H.P. and the Lea-Francis were second and third respectively.

The Thirty-Fifth Lightning Long Handicap.

Something of a close finish with the old WolseleyViper in the hands of Kaye Don well to the fore was expected in this race, but the last named machine refused to do its bit, leaving the issue to be fought out between Duller (Bugatti), J. G. Parry Thomas on the Leyland-Thomas, and Barclay’s Vauxhall. Once again Thomas repeated his well-known tactics and snatched a narrow victory from George Duller, Barclay on the Vauxhall being third. One hundred yards separated the winner and second man, the race being run at an average speed of 116-96 m.p.h.

The ‘4 Evening News” 100 Miles Handicap.

The 100 Miles Handicap was, of course, the star turn of the day and fifteen competitors faced the starter. What with tyre trouble and a host of minor mishaps the field was reduced to three when the bell rang for the last lap, the whole event being full of interest and excitement. Those who had seen the supercharged Salmson make its victorious debut on this side of the Channel predicted an easy win for L. du Marnier, who came over specially to drive the car. Bad luck was his portion, however, and though after frequent stoppages he lapped at 103 m.p.h., he never got on terms with the leaders.

At 50 miles Dunfee (Salmson) was in front, closely followed by Eyston (Bugatti) and Waite on the little Austin, the latter falling a victim to clutch trouble.

Eyston (Bugatti) got into trouble with his lubricating system and had to retire, two other Bugattis, driven by Duller and Capt. Campbell, were placed hors de combat with tyre trouble ; but the reputation of the marque was gallantly upheld by Capt. J. C. Douglas, whose driving, if lacking the dash of the two last-named, proved to be just what was wanted in such a race, for he drove home a good winner at 94.75 m.p.h. Dunfee (Salmson) was second and J. G. P. Thomas on Barclay’s Vauxhall third. During the race the latter broke the 100 miles international Class E record.