WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT CARS?

Sir, Reading your article on ” British High

Performance.” We were particularly interested in your remarks re the ” Ford V8″ as my partner and myself race one of these jobs in Australian road races, and it may interest you to know how the ” V8″ stands up to it. We were this week presented with “The Car” trophy for the best performance for the 1937-8 road race season. Our results for the season were as follows : Cowes (Viet.) Trophy of 75 miles—third ; Lobethol (S. Aus.) 50 mile handicap— fourth ; Albury 150 mile G.P.—first and

fastest ; Phillips Island G.P. of 115 miles— fourth and fastest ; Australian G.P. (150 miles) won by Peter Whitehead in

All these races were completed without a pit stop of any sort. The ” Bus ” is a 1934″ V8 “with a special body, carburetter (unblown) and magneto. It first saw service as a sedan for some 20,000 miles until the body was destroyed by fire—we bought the wreckage. We have now raced and tested it over two seasons for a further 8,500 miles and it is still fitted with the original split skirt alloy pistons, original bearings, crankshaft, connecting rods, valves, etc. (We have fitted one set of Standard rings.) Top speed is slightly in excess of 100 m.p.h. (4,300 r.p.m with a 3f to 1 rear axle) and over 80 (6,000 revs.) in second, and the job weighs 21 cwt. without fuel or driver. Our circuits, with one exception (Lobethol, S.A.), are from 3 to 4 miles long and are just ordinary gravel or dirt roads which usually cut up rather badly and the atmosphere becomes slightly ” murky,” the chassis taking a fair belting. I am, Yours etc.,

J. K. Pun Lirs. Wangaratta, Victoria, A ustrali