THE ESSEX MOTOR CLUB'S BROOKLANDS MEETING.

THE ESSEX MOTOR CLUB’S BROOKLANDS

THOUGH compared with the meetings of the B.A.R.C., the series of races arranged at Brook

lands on Saturday, August the 14th, by the Essex Motor Club provided some very good sport, and exciting finishes were witnessed.

These smaller club meetings are very enjoyable in that the social side of club life is mingled with the interests of the purely sporting fraternity, and, moreover, the proceedings are sometimes brightened by the interposition of private matches to fill any gaps that may occur in the programme. Such a match was witnessed at the last meeting, when two private members, driving a 30-98 Vauxhall and a six-cylinder A.C. had a three lap handicap, favouring the latter, which won easily.

Four starters turned up for the first race, which was the Essex Junior Handicap, and proved to be an easy thing for the Bugatti driven by J. Taylor. G. N. Norris on his smart looking Lea-Francis being second. The winner’s speed was 86.46 m.p.h. The second event was for motor-cycles, being a

was twenty-five miles handicap for solo machines up to 1,000 c.c. In this event J. S. Wright, the Zenith speedman, was expected to exhibit some of his prowess, but his machine was evidently out of temper, and after covering a few fitful laps, Wright was forced to retire. The same fate overtook H. J. Knight on a similar machine, in this case, however, the retirement was reported as being due to burst flywheels.

C. W. G. Lacey on a Grindlay-Peerless was putting up a very good show, but was gradually overhauled by F. G. Hicks on a Velocette, who would have won had his engine not developed a bad attack of misfiring, which allowed W. A. Jacobs (Rex-Acme) to run home a winner at a speed of 69.85 m.p.h., Hicks and Lacey being second and third respectively.

J. G. P. Thomas laps at 126 m.p.h.

The Essex Senior Long Handicap produced a very good race, which started by Hazlehurst (Salmson) making the most of a good start and holding it until the end of the second lap. The Lea-Francis and J. Taylor’s Bugatti then closed in upon him, with Capt. Campbell’s Bugatti, Kaye Don on his big Sunbeam, and Thomas on his Leyland-Thomas bringing up the rear.

The Sunbeam appeared to be quite fast, and was making up ground well, though it bounced over the bumps in a terrifying manner, which must have made the occupants feel very uncomfortable.

Thomas, whose engine seemed to be irregular as it passed the stands, was in reality travelling very fast, for during the race his lap speed worked out at 126 miles per hour.

The race resulted in a win for Norris on the LeaFrancis at a speed of 85.72 m.p.h., with Kaye Don (Sunbeam) second, and Hazlehurst (Salmson) third.

The Essex Lightning Long Handicap was won by Capt. Campbell on his eight-cylindered Bugatti at 104 m.p.h. Kaye Don, whose tyres were in such a bad condition that the stewards should have prevented his running, came in second, and Thomas was third.

Winners’ Handicap for Cars.

The competitors for this race comprised those who had gained first and second places during the afternoon, the handicap being according to the speeds in these races. Norris (Lea-Francis), who had 1 min. 36 secs. start from Parry Thomas, just managed to beat the

latter at a speed of 85.72 m.p.h., with Capt. Campbell, on his Bugatti, third.

Cars v. Motor Cycles Handicap.

Prior to this race, Marzhant, on a Chater-Lea, attempted to lap at 100 miles per hour, but after carrying on for a couple of laps, gave up owing to the rough wind.

In the last race, the cars were represented by Thomas’ Leyland-Thomas, Campbell’s Bugatti, and the twowheelers by C. W. G. I,acey’s Grindlay Peerless and H. J. Knight’s Zenith-Jap.

Lacey got away with I min. 35 secs. start, the order of running for the first two laps being : Lacey, Knight Campbell and Thomas. It then looked as if Lacey would be successful in holding his lead to the end, but on the railway straight he was overhauled by the Bugatti, which ran home an easy first. A lew seconds after Campbell had crossed the finishing line there was a closely packed bunch, consisting of Knight, Thomas and Lacey, who were so close that it was difficult to observe the order in which they actually crossed the line. Winner’s speed : 104.63 m.p.h.