CAMBRIDGE WIN AT LAST

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CAMBRIDGE WIN AT LAST NEW HILL STOPS ALL BUT FOUR COMPETITORS IN INTER-‘VARSITY TRIAL

CAMBRIDGE; University scored a decisive victory over Oxford in the annual Inter’Varsity Trial, held on November 13th in the HindheadPetersfield area.

It is said that there is strength in numbers (or is it safety ?), but although for several years the Light Blues have had a numerically stronger side, one has to go back to 1933 for their last previous success in this event. This year Cambridge had so large a team that it was divided into two portions, one of resident members of the University, and the other of “veterans,”

or those who have gone down. The veteran team scored 1,171 marks, out of a possible 1,200, and just beat their colleagues, the residents, who put together 1,158 marks.

The Oxford club appears to be in deep waters at the moment, owing to University regulations which put a check on motoring, and could only muster half the strength of either of the Cambridge sides. In an endeavour to equalise matters, marks scored by all Oxford starters were doubled, and in the end totalled 1,101. The double-circuit scheme, originated in this event two years ago, was again in use. Each circuit was 34 miles in length, and while the odd numbers were tackling one set of hills, simultaneously the even numbers were on the other lap. In the afternoon the two contingents changed over. Thus by a convenient arrangement both the start, the lunch stop, and the finish were at the same point, the Royal Huts Hotel, Hindhead,

and it would be difficult to find a better spot as the headquarters of an event. The weather left nothing to be desired. It was one of those bright, sharp autumn days when some brisk motoring round the borders of Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire is a real pleasure. Even the organisers were not displeased, for they had provided an alternative hill on one circuit, so difficult that it could only be used in dry weather conditions. Competition tyres, chains, and non-standard solid axles were all barred,

On Friday night, as the weather appeared set fair, it was decided to put in the new hill, Hatchfarm, and forthwith reels of telephone cable were taken

out, and threaded through the woods by the aid of electric torches. Hatchfarm is nearly a mile long, and was in two sections. First, competitors had to descend a steep, grass slope, then, after a short run, came a considerable gradient, deep in leaves and mud. Then the hill levelled out, till at the top an

other steep, slippery section was preceded by an acute corner, where great skill was necessary to retain sufficient speed. A miniature telephone exchange was

established in the middle, where there was plenty of room to re-start competitors. Competitors began to arrive early, having encountered no difficulties in the dry conditions up to that point. Even Begley Farm, which last year stopped a third of the entry, caused not a single failure I’m this occasion, while Cotchet Farm, another hill new to this event., was absurdly easy, compared with what it might have been. The climb of Hatchfarm was optional, but dangled a prize of bonus marks. An early disaster befell the Oxford hopes, for their staunchest supporter, R. E. Tongue, after making a brilliant climb of the lower section with his T.T. type M.G., unfortunately ran over a boulder at high speed on the top part and split

his petrol tank. ” Reggie ” had to retire, to everyone’s disappointment, for at one time it had seemed likely, owing to lack of Oxford entries, that the event would be known as the Cambridge v. Tongue Trial. Seldom have so many marshals been seen together on one hill, and on both lower and upper sections all were kept busy noting down failures, and shoving

heartily. An early success was that of A. W. ChadbUrn’s H.R.G., for the Cambridge Residents ; handling his car well, he rounded the corner on the top section with surprisingly little loss of speed. M. W. B. May (Alvis) and A. C. Fairtlough (A.C.) both made fine climbs for the Veterans, but the finest performance of the whole: day was that of Neil Watson (Cambridge Veteran), driving a supercharged Alfa-Romeo. He simply rocketed up the slippery bottom section, and arrived at the

telephone exchange in the middle with his passengers gasping for breath. Then he set off up the firm slope to the top section, the blower noise whining among the trees, rising to a sharp bark at the corner. Anxiously the marshals telephoned up the hill. ” O.K.! Next car 1 ” It was the last ” O.K. ” of the day for both sections, however, for only Chadburn, May, Fairtiough, and Watson

climbed the entire hill. ” Bill” Inder_wick, of Oxford, was the only other driver to climb the top section, with his Batten Special, but he unfortunately had stopped lower down. Four cars actually failed on the downhill section after the start, so deep were the ruts. One of these, D. D. Clapham with his Alvis, was certainly to be condoled with, for he proceeded to climb the uphill gradient which followed ! Eighteen drivers actually climbed the lower section, including the four who climbed the whole hill. The varied makes are worth studying – Oxford

R. E. Tongue (M.G.), D. 11. Tindall (Aston-Martin). Cambridge Residents A. W. Chadburn (11.R.G.), Viscount Hanwortla, R. D. Poore (M.(.$); G. Kinsey-Morgan (Ford V8) ;

K. S. Lindsay, M. M. Clews (Morris); K. R. S. Tomkinson (Alvis). Cambridge Veterans N. G. Watson (Alfa-Romeo) ; 14. W. B. May (Alvis) ; A. C. Fairtiough, Hon. R. de Y. Batcson,

L. P. Jaques (A.C.$); T. F. B. Law (Railton) ; P. S. Hollings (Morris); I). H. C. Fry (Fraser-Nash); J. H. Adams (M.G.). On the other circuit, Steep Hill was the principal difficulty. Also run in two sections, it was at its worst in the morning,

when only six cars were successful over the lower part, and only four got up the whole hill. A most tunitorious performance was that of J. P. Astbury (Resident) with an old M.G. Six, and the others who were successful were D. H. Tindall (Aston-Martin), Dr. A. B. Waters (Vortic Velox Special), and. C. C. D. Miller (Riley). The two unfortunates who failed • at the top were J. C. Henderson-Hamilton, of Oxford, with an A.C., and T. F. B. Law (Cambridge Veteran) with his Railton. Law charged into the quarry at the foot, but was allowed another run, when he succeeded on the lower section.

Curiously enough, Steep Hill got easier as the day went on, so that when the odd numbers, decimated by Hatch f arm, reached it, they had an easier task, and there were few failures.

The other terror of the Trial, Unterturkheim, which has had to be cut out for two years in succession, failed to live up to its reputation, and caused only three failures. It was outdone by Oakshott, where five cars stopped. There was a special test on each circuit, at Cosford on a leafy surface, and at Scotland Hill on a firm gradient. Best times were :— Cosford N. G. Watson (Alfa-Romeo) and H. W. Inderwick (Batten Special), 10fs.; R. E. Tongue (M.G.),

D. H. Tindall (Aston-Martin), and A. W. Chadburn .R.G .), 1 1 is. Scotland

N. G. Watson (Alfa-Romeo), 151s., D. H. Tindall (Aston-Martin), 16is.. H. W. Inderwick (Batten Special), 1681. A word of praise must certainly be given to the hosts of marshals who had

turned out to help the C.U.A.C. on this event, particularly those at Hatch farm, where they had a most difficult task, yet kept the delay down to a minimum. RESULTS

1. Cambridge University Veterans, 1,171 marks.

2. Cambridge University Residents, 1,158 marks.

3. Oxford University, 1,101 marks.

May Cup (best Cambridge resident) : A. W. Chadburn (H.R.G.).

Veteran’s Cup (best Cambridge veteran): N. G. Watson (Alfa-Romeo).

Founder’s Cup (best Oxford resident): J. C. Henderson-Hamilton (A.C.).

Evans Cup (best Oxford veteran): D. H. Tindall (Aston-Martin).

Palmer Cup (best Cambridge resident., 850 c.c.) : F. G. H. Minter (M.G.).

Fairt1ough Cup (best Cambridge resident, 1,500 c.c.): Viscount Hanworth (M.G.).

Slaw Cup (best Cambridge resident, unlimited): J. P. Astbury (M.G. Six).

Team Prize : Cambridge Veterans • P. 8. Hollings (Morris), 11. N. Adams (M.G.), L. P. Jaques (A.C.). Scores and Placings Cambridge Veterans : 1, N. G. Watson (AlfaBorneo), 105 • 2, A. C. Fairtiough (A.C.), 105; 3, H. W. B. May (Alvis), 105; 4, D. H. C. Fry (FrazerNash), 100; 5, H. N. Adams (M.G.), 996, Dr. A. B. Waters (Vortic Velox Special), 97; 7, L. P. Jaques (A.C.), 90; 8, P. S. Hollings (Morris), 95; 9, T. A. Frazer (Riley), 93; 10, K. N. Smith (Fraser-NashB.M.W.), 93; 11, J. 0. Belsey (Lancia), 91; 12,

D. Clapham (Alvis), 89.

Cambridge Residents :1, A. W. Chadburn (H.R.G.), 105; 2, F. G. H. Minter (M.G.), 100_; 3, Viscount Hanworth (M.G.), 100 ; 4, C. C. D. Miller (Riley), 100 ; 5, J. P. Astbury (M.G.), 100; 6, T. F. LlewellynLloyd (Ford), 98; 7, B. Heath (Humber), 95; 8, P. R. Birks (M.G.), 84; 9, H. D. Seccombe (Ford), 93; 10, C. Kinsey-Morgan (Ford), 92; 11, R. H. B. Mason (Rover), 9’2 ; 12, S. B. Wills (Triumph), 89.

Oxford : 1, D. H. Tindall (Aston-Martin), 100; 2, H. W. Inderwick (Batten Special), 100; 3, L. S. Dickson (M.G.), 93; 4, J. C. Henderson-Hamilton (A.C.), 89; 5, C. Tompkinson (Bentley), 86: (1. B. T. Sharp (Austin), 85.