Reports of Recent Events, September 1946

Grand Prix des Nations – Geneva
Heat I (run in the rain). 32 laps of 1.85 miles each. 58.9 miles
1. Wimille (Alfa-Romeo), 59 min., 45.5 sec., 59. 15 m.p.h.
2. Varzi (Alfa-Romeo), I hr. 0 min. 34.1 sec.
3. Villoresi (Maserati), 1 hr. 0 min. 37.4 sec.
4. Parnell (Maserati), one lap behind.
5. B. Bira (E.R.A.), two laps behind, 1 hr. 0 min. 21.2 sec.
6. Sommer (Maserati), two laps behind, 1 hr. 0 min. 39.3 sec.
Fastest lap. Wimmille, 1 min. 47.2 sec. (61.65 m.p.h).

Heat II (dry course). 32 laps, 58.9 miles.
1. Farina (Alfa-Romeo), 56 min. 17.2 see., 62.8 m.p.h.
2. Trossi (Alfa-Romeo), 56 min. 50.4 sec.
3. Nuvolari (Maserati), 57 min. 28.9 sec.
4. De Graffenried (Maserati), one lap behind, 57 min. 20.8 sec.
5. R. Mays (E.R.A.), one lap behind, 57 min. 25.2 sec.
6. Abecassis (Alta), one lap behind, 57 min. 26 sec.
7. Connell (E.R.A.), two laps behind, 57 min. 0.5 sec.
8. Hampshire (Delage), two laps behind, 57 min. 2.9 sec.
9. Gerard ( E.RA.). four laps behind.
10. Schell (Maserati), five laps behind.
Fastest lap. Farina (Alfa-Romeo), 1 Min. 42.3 sec. (64.79 m.p.h.).

Final.
Distance 44 laps. 86,04 miles. One lap. equals 1.85 miles.
1. Farina (Alfa-Romeo, 2-stage blower, 8-cylinder), 1 hr. 15 min. 49.9 sec., 64.10 m.p.h.
2. Trossi (Alfa-Romeo, single-stage blower), 1 hr. 17 min. 0.9 sec.
3. Wimille (Alfa-Romeo), one lap behind.
4. Nuvolari (Maserati), two laps behind, 1 hr. 15 min. 52.3 sec.
5. De Graffenried (Maserati), two laps behind, I hr. 17 min. 4.8 sec
6. B. Bira (E.R.A.), two laps behind, 1 hr. 17 min. 14 sec.
7. Varzi (Alfa-Romeo, 2-stage blower), six laps behind.
Fastest lap. Wimille’s 10th, I min. 36.4 sec., 68.76 m.p.h.

See also “Form on the Continent,” in this issue.

An Allard Fastest at Naish
At the July 20th closed hill-climb at Naish House, Len Parker’s V12 Allard made f.t.d., in 49.4 sec.

Class results: –
Sports 850 c.c. U/S
1st. T. C. Butler (847-c.c. M.G,) … 58.0 sec.
2nd. W. V. Kethro (847-c.c. K.K. Special 65.0 sec.

Sports 1,100 c.c., S., 2,000 c.c., U/S.
1st. R. Way ( 1,971-cc. B.M>W.) … 52.4 sec.
2nd. A. W. Morrish (939-c.c. M.G. s.) 54.0 sec.

Sports, 200 c.c.m S, Unlimited, U.S.
1st. L. Parker (4,400-c.c. Allard) … 49.7 sec.
2nd. D. W. Price (3,922-c.c. Price-Special) … 51.65 sec.

Racing, 1,100 c.c., S., 2,000 c.c. U/S.
1st. B, K. Mardon (1,075-c.c. Loki) … 53.6 sec,
2nd. R. D. Hodgson (847-c.c. M.G., s.) … 54.75 sec.

Racing, Unlimited.
1st. L. Parker (4.400-c.c, Allard) … 49.4 sec.
2nd. K. Hutchinson (3,622-c.c. Allard) 50.35 sec.

Jersey Handical
A 15-mile handicap on Jersey sands followed the Jersey motor-cycle G.P. A broken oil pipe eliminated a V8 “Special” as it was about to win, leaving Le Marquand’s 1934 Sunbeam Twenty the victor. Second place went to Harrison’s Triumph “Gloria”-engined “Special.”

Alpine Rally
Only 13 cars out of 37 starters completed this year’s French Alpine Rally. We offer heartiest congratulations to Miss Betty Haig, whose A.C. won the 2-litre class and the Ladies’ Cup. Other class winners: Huguet (Hotchkiss), Blein (Hotchkiss), Manzon (Fiat) and Angelvin (Fiat).

Sheffielc and Hallamshire M.C. Sporting Trial
Taking place in July, this embraced five hills, a water-splash, and a driving test. Winner was Flather (B.M.W.). Scales (M.G.) was runner-up, and the closed-car class went to James (Wolseley).

Nantes G.P.
This was an unfortunate meeting, because the circuit proved dangerous. Mazaud’s Maserati spun round, then rolled over and over, flinging out its driver in the path of Chaboud’s Delahaye. Mazaud died from his injuries, and Chaboud lost his Delahaye, which he ditched to avoid Mazaud. Wimille’s Alfa-Romeo led easily until the chassis broke. Thereafter “Raph” on a 1 1/2-litre Maserati won easily, in 1 hr. 47 min. 28.4 sec., an average of 64.3 m.p.h. Levegh’s 4-litre Darracq was 2nd, Rozier’s Darracq 3rd, Grignard’s Delahaye 4th, Pozzi’s Delahaye 5th, and Féraud’s Delahaye 6th. Of the small cars, de Cortanze’s Peugeot won one heat, at 60 m.p.h., Gordini’s Simca the other, at 62.6 m.p.h. Gordini then won the final easily from Martin’s B.M.W., taking 56 min. 4.3 sec., equal to an average of 63.5 m.p.h. de Cortanze hit a telegraph pole while in 2nd place, and was placed 3rd, although not finishing; 4th, Mestivier (Amilcar); 5th, de Saugé (Fiat); 6th, Louveau (B.M.W.). This report was written after “Form on the Continent” went to press.

Val Des Terres Hill-Climb
The Guernsey Club’s speed hill-climb was attended by the Governor, H.E. Major-General Sir Philip Neame, V.C., K.B.E., D.S.O. F.t.d. was made by Bainbridge (E.R.A.) in 50.6 sec. Yates, in his 3-litre Maserati, now with Wilson box, was second fastest, in 54.2 sec., third fastest being Le Gallais’s 1927 Wolseley-engined T. M.G., in 54.4 sec. Len Parker’s V12 Allard made fastest sports-car time, but was actually slower than Lones’s “Tiger Cat” in the 500-c.c. racing class, 56.6 sec. against 55,4 sec.

Hartlepools and D.M.C. Speed Trial
Held on the promenade at Hartlepool, in the old-time tradition, this event suffered from bad weather and rather sparse entries. The course involved one bend, but Charles Mortimer managed to make f.t.d. with his 1 1/2-litre Alta, clocking 17.6 sec. on his first run, and 17.4 on his second attempt. An N-type T.T. M.G. Magnate, an open S.S. “100,” and an R-type M.G. shared by Tyrer and Melly, comprised the class winners.

Results: –
12-h.p. Sports Cars:
I. B. Page (1,287-c.c. M.G.), 20.4 sec.; J.Snowden (1,292-c.c. M.G.), 22 sec.
Unlimited Sports Cars:
K. Thorne (Jaguar), 18.4 sec.; J. Spence (Jaguar), 18.6 sec.
Up to 1,100-c.c. Unblown Racing Cars
G. Tyrer (747-c.c. M.G.), 21.2 sec.; H. L. G. Melly, (747-c.c. M.G), 22.2 sec.
Up to 1,500-c.c. Unblown Racing Cars:
G. Tyrer (1,250-c.c. M.G.), 19.2 sec., R. K .N. Clarkson (1,089-c.c. Alexander-Special), 10.4 sec.
Unlimited Racing Cars:
C. Mortimer (1,500-c,c, Alta, s.), 17.4 sec.; C. D. Buckley (3,622-c.c. Alexander-Special), 17.8 sec.; R. K. N. Clarkson (3,622-c,c. Alexander-Special), 18 sec.