Tommy Sopwith Leads on Points in "Motor Sport" Brooklands Memorial Trophy Contest

In ideal conditions the B.A.R.C. ran off its 19th Members’ Meeting at Goodwood on June 18th. Tommy Sopwith, starting with a nil-score in the Motor Sport Brooklands Memorial Trophy contest, soared into the lead by winning three races. Driving his Cooper-Climax neatly, he won two scratch races, the first from Mackenzie Low in the Elva by 25.2 Sec, at 78.54 m.p.h., with Liddell’s Buckler-Climax third, and the other from Liddell, whom he beat by 31.4 sec. at 77.75 m.p.h., with Riley’s Lotus third. Sopwith then got his Armstrong-Siddeley Sapphire through the field from the 40-sec. mark to win the Closed-Car Handicap at 69.28 m.p.h. from Clay’s ugly but effective Healey and Foster’s M.G. Magnette, Graham being awarded loud applause for his tricycling feats round the corners in his Austin A30. Sopwith’s best lap in the Cooper-Climax was at 80.6 m.p.h.

The other star performer was George Abecassis, who, in a new, unpainted H.W.M.-Jaguar, won the 10-lap scratch race at 82.92 m.p.h. from Head’s D-type Jaguar and Scott-Russell’s Lotus-Bristol, and went on to finish third in one handicap and then win another from scratch at 83.51 m.p.h., lapping at 85.21 m.p.h.

The Ladies’ Handicap saw Hazel Dunham in fine form in spite of dents inflicted on her A.C. Ace from a tail-slide into the chicane hurdles; she finished second to Lorna Snow’s XK120 Jaguar coupé, which had 45 sec. start, and made fastest lap at 73.72 m.p.h. Lorna averaged 67.66 m.p.h. and Jean Bloxam’s Aston Martin DB2 was third, while Mrs. Ashby led for three laps, handling her Wolseley 6/80 more neatly than her husband did subsequently.

R. Ireland re-passed Barrett’s Buckler in the first handicap with his Simonized 1933 ex-Dixon Riley Nine, to win by 0.4 sec., both cars starting together, a maker’s slogan thus refuted! Another old-timer, Watson’s Alvis, was third, Parkin’s Triumph TR2 pulled off the third 5-lap handicap from the “limit” mark, in spite of gyrating as it left the chicane on the first lap. It was chased determinedly by Barthel’s Aston Martin DB3. A. D. Brooks entered the chicane too fast and slid onto the grass and, continuing, left the course again at Madgwick on the last lap in his Frazer-Nash. Lusty’s TR2 retired after a chicane incident, and Bailey’s Allard after both door and luggage boot had sprung open. Abecassis, in finishing third, as recounted, took Head’s Jaguar on the outside at St. Mary’s and Scott-Russell’s Lotus-Bristol on the inside at Madgwick! It was good to see John Heath driving again, in the other H.W.M.-Jaguar.

Abecassis won the last race in fine style, loud screaming of tyres denoting the H.W.M.’s passage. Applebee’s Leonard-M.G. (which commentator McDonald Hobley called an A.C.) was second and Odoni’s TR2 third.

The day’s casualties consisted of Dennis’ Austin-Healey, badly bent on the chicane wall in practice; Buss’ TR2, less badly damaged in going head-on into the same wall after a tail-slide; and Sparrowe’s glass-fibre special-chassis M.G. coupé, the shape of which was altered appreciably after it had dived right through the chicane. The drivers were unhurt save for Buss, who cut his lip. Slowest time of the day was probably made by Joan Winterbottom’s TC MG.! Very smart was Cunningham-Reid’s black and white Lister-Bristol.

The leading placings in the Motor Sport Brooklands Memorial Trophy contest, which will be decided at Goodwood on September 24th, are: T. Sopwith, 12 points; G. Abecassis, 10 points; M. Head, 9 points.

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The latest addition to Minimodels replicas is a 5 ¾-in.-Iong Sunbeam Alpine, with keyless “Startex” clockwork mechanism The maker’s address is Tennyson Road, London, N.W.7, and the price is 5s. 11d.

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R. B. Bensted-Smith (Triumph TR2) won the Mobilgas Economy Run with 71.02 m.p.g. Class winners: B. Cumbers (Renault 750) 76.39 m.p.g. ; C. Walker (Simca) 57.03 m.p.g. ; H. Kendrick (Austin-Healey) 48.36 m.p.g. Amongst the retirements a Fiat 1,100 and a Buckler blew gaskets and a Standard Eight burnt a piston.