Reports of Recent Events, June 1947

Mid-Surrey A.C. and V.S.C.C. Grand Cup Trial
This famous trial, in its austerity guise, was confined to hills around Pirbright, after starting from a puzzled village in that area. Michael May was the leading light in organisation, rushing hither and thither in his mother’s S.U.-carburetted Austin Seven “Chummy” with the brave owner as passenger. Nine observed sections and two special tests defeated much of the entry of the combined clubs in this carefree event and several cars, Birkett’s Austin Seven included, failed the brake-test, while Uglow’s H.R.G. made best time in the figure-of-eight test, in 21 sec. Some cars never reached the later sections, Grosscurth’s 1922 Mors amongst them — possibly this was just as well, as we were pained to observe the cruelty done to Anderson’s beautiful 1911 “Silver Ghost” Rolls-Royce tourer, which is doubtless excellent for touring but ill-at-ease (and sadly comic to the uninitiated) on tank-testing hills.

Best Performances by V.S.C.C. Members: Sports Cars prior to 1931, Morrish (Anzani-Frazer Nash); Touring cars prior to 1931, Cuthell (“12/50” Alvis).
First Class-Awards: Potter (Allard), Wadsworth (Ford V8), Moore (Riley).
Mid-Surrey A.C. Sopwith Cup: Uglow (H.R.G.)
Winner of Class for Cars up to 2 1.2 Litres: Undery (B.M.W.).
Winner of Class for Standard Cars up to 2 1/2 Litres: Fairclough (Austin).

S.U.N.B.A.C. Colmore Trophy Trial
The “Colmore” was postponed from its winter date on account of severe weather and was run off on April 26th last under such fine conditions as to render it comparatively easy. There were 80 entries and the route covered 42 miles, embracing seven sections and a special test. Not a single car failed on the usually difficult Gypsy Lane, but a stop and restart test at the top failed 30. A timed climb of a portion of Postlip saw f.t.d. go to Guy Warburton’s blown Ford V8, which was 1/5th sec. more rapid than Best’s blown “PB” M.G. Tyrer’s B.M.W., Murkett’s blown “PB” M.G., Mansell’s Allard and Marrish’s blown “PB” M.G. all tied, with the excellent time of 21.2 sec. Quite a few failures were scored by the second section of Mill Lane, but Lower Ginting stopped only the Rollason Special and Fellows’ elderly Salmson. A “X-roads” driving test saw Ken Rawlings’ M.G. do a rousing 14.6 sec., while the Wharton-Special clocked 14.8 sec. Kineton was another hill that was in easy mood, although the Richards-Special, Woodall’s Ford Ten powered Wolseley, Lowe’s Austin Seven, Wise’s blown Austin Seven, Price’s T-type M.G. and a Jeep failed here. Camden Lane saw only the Salmson cease (for mechanical reasons), but Laverton I stopped 13 cars and Laverton II 18. The Colmore Trophy winner was Rawlings (M.G.).

Results
The Colmore Trophy (best performance): K. Rawlings (907-c.c. M.G.)
The Rhode Cup (best performance under 1,100 c.c.): K. Wharton (1,081-c.c. Wharton Special).
The Shell Cup (best performance between 1,100 and 1,500 c.c.): R. W. Phillips (1,172-c.c. Fairley).
The Bernard Norris Cup (best performance over 1,500 c.c.): G. Tyrer (1,911-c.c. B.M.W.).
The Club Team Trophy: The Sheffield and Hallamshire “A” team (C. A. N. May, K. Wharton, R. W. Phillips). Runners-Up: Harrow and District Car Club (D. W. Price, V. S. A. Biggs, D. Murkett).
First-Class Awards: G. N. Mansell (3,917-c.c. Allard), G. Warburton (3,622-c.c. Ford), C. L. Bold (1,089-c.c. Riley), C. A. N. May (3,622-c.c. Ford Special), J. H. Appleton (4,000-c.c. Allard), D. Murkett (939-c.c. M.G.), M. Wick (3,917-c.c. Allard), D. W. Price (3,922-c.c. Price Special), G. W. Best (939-c.c. M.G.), V. S. A. Biggs (1,496-c.c. H.R.G.), A. L. S. Denyer (1,496-c.c. Lea-Francis), L. Potter (4,000-c.c. Allard).
Second-Class Awards: T. C. G. Butler (1,991-c.c. Daisy), K. Scales (1 ,748-c.c. M.G.), T. W. Dargue (1,911-c.c. F.N.-B.M.W.), K. Welfare (747-c.c. Austin), C. C. Evans (1,296-c.c. Ophelia), A. M. R. Malloch (747-c.c. Austin), D. K. Mansell (3,917-c.c. Allard), C. W. Yates (1,172-c.c. Austin), K. E. O. Burgess (4,000-c.c. Allard), R. Kemp (4,086-c.c. Humber), K. McAlpine (4,400-c.c. Allard), D. Pritchard (3,622-c.c. Allard), W. Kirby (2,600-c.c. Willys Jeep), W. V. Kethro (847-c.c. K.K. Special), H. Birkett (747-c.c. Austin), E. B. Wadsworth (1,911-c.c. B.M.W.), A. C. Challands (1,089-c.c. Riley), W. C. Butler (3,622-c.c. Butler Special), W. M. G. Marshall (2,468-c.c. M.G.), J. S. French (747c.c. Austin), T. Lund (939-c.c. M.G.), E. J. Newton (1,292-c.c. M.G.), W. A. Goodall (1,207-c.c. Morgan), A. W. Morrish (939-c.c. M.G.), B. Hankins (3,622-c.c. C.W.S.), S. Asbury (3,622-c.c. Ford Special), H. W. Morgan (1,496-c.c. Riley).
Third-Class Awards: J. Clegg (1,172-c.c. Ford), J. Virr (1,470-c.c. B.M.W.), B. Humphreys (747c.c. Austin), H. T. Rollason (3,622-c.c. Rollason Special), R. B. Lowe (747-c.c. Austin).

Lancashire and Cheshire C.C. 7th Derbyshire Sporting Trial
With nine hills in 74 miles and one of them stopping all but Phillips’ “Fairley” and Wharton’s Wharton-Special, this was a really stiff event. Good driving by Mrs. Flather (M.G.) and Tyrer (B.M.W.) was noted and in the two timed tests best times went to C. A. N. Mays’ Ford “V8” and T. C. Harrison’s Riley, respectively.

Results
Quick Trophy: B. W. Phillips (Fairley).
Mawrey Trophy: R. E. Holt (M.G.).
Visitors’ Prize: C. A. N. May (Ford).
Runner-Up Prize: W. C. Butler (Ford).
Team Trophy: Sunbac team — C. A. N. May (Ford), K. Wharton (Wharton) and C. L. Bold (Riley).
First-Class Awards: T. C. Harrison (Riley) and K. Wharton (Wharton).
Second-Class Awards: S. Asbury (Ford), G. Hankins (Ford), B. Hankins (C.W.S), A. M. R. Mallock (Austin), V. R. Pilkington (M.G.) and C. L. Bold (Riley).

N.L.E.C.C. Closed Spring Trial
In this trial Wadsworth’s 4 1/2-litre Lagonda took the only 1st-Class Award and 2nd-Class Awards were won by Rowse (Ford Ten), Rivers-Fletcher (Hillman Minx), Mountfield (Morris Eight), Langrische (Morgan), Cruikshank (Austin Seven “Chummy”), Render (Austin Seven “Ulster”), Taylor (M-type M.G.), Barre (Austin Seven) and Vickery (“TA” M.G.).

Perpignan Grand Prix
The usually-victorious Maserati didn’t pull it off at Perpignan, for Sommer, after leading everyone and setting fastest lap at 60.24 m.p.h., faded out 14 laps from the end. Wimille, fairly throwing his Gordini Fiat around, contrived to hold second place ahead of the big fellows, until he too, had engine trouble. Grignard (Delahaye), Etanalin (Delage), Achard (Delage) and Loyer were involved in a four-fold crash, but all were unhurt. That gave the race to Chaboud, driving the ex-Chiron 4 1/2-litre monoposto Darracq. He won in the record time of 1 h. 35 m. 6.8 s. for the difficult 58-lap (91 1/2 mile) race, an average of 57.67 p.11. Louveau in his Delage was 2nd, only just ahead of Cabantous’ 3 1/2-litre Delahaye. Levegh’s Delage, Grignard’s Delahaye, Rosier’s 4 1/2-litre Darracq and Triffaud’s Delahaye were next, in that order.

Berkhamstead & D. M.C. and C.C. Winwood Cup Trial
This classic trial was very “sticky” and one hill had to be cut-out. Wick made best performance of the day in his Allard, taking the Winwood Cup, while the Visitors’ Cup was won by Biggs’ H.R.G. 1st Class Awards: Yates (Austin) and Brown (Ford-Special). 2nd Class Awards: Jane (Lancia) and Wood Dow (H.R.G.). Team Prize: Jane, Hancock (Singer) and Wadsworth (Railton). Two-some Prize: Wick and Biggs.

B.M.C. & L.C.C. Naish Hill Climb
On May 10th the Bristol Motor-Cycle and Light Car Club’s first 1947 Naish Speed Hill Climb for cars provided an entertaining afternoon’s sport for both competitors and spectators and the times improved on the second rims as the course dried out, heavy rain having fallen in the morning. There were 31 entrants of whom two were non-starters.

K. Burgess in his Allard achieved the fastest time of the day with 49.7 secs., only .3 sec. short of the record for the hill.

Excellent climbs were made by A. W. Morrish and G. W. Best in supercharged “PB” type M.G. cars, and the latter while driving in Class “F” (large sports car class) recorded a climb of 52.0 secs. Morrish’s best time was 52.8 secs., but in producing this count he indulged in some hectic slides on the second bend.

J. Bosisto made a debut in his 500-c.c. Special and had the satisfaction of winning Class “H.”

Results
Touring Cars Over 1,100 c.c.: C. Coaker (Austin), 62.0 sec.
Sports Cars up to 850 c,c., unsupercharged: T. Butler (M.G.), 58.2 secs.
Sports Cars 1,100 c.c. Unsupercharged-850 c.c. Supercharged: W. Cleave (Morris), 55.2 sec.
Sports Cars 1,500 c.c. Unsupercharged-1,100 c.c. Supercharged: G. Best (M.G. s.), 52.6 sec.
Sports cars 4,500 c.c. Unsupercharged-1,500 c.c.Supercharged: K. Burgess (Allard), 49.7 sec.
“Specials” up to 1,100 c.c.: J. Bendle (Salome), 54.6 sec.
“Specials” 1,100 c.c.-3,000 c.c.: J. Bosisto (Buggle), 58.8 secs.

Sheffield and Hallamshire M.C. Harrison Trophy Trial
The Harrison Trophy was awarded to Wharton’s famous Ford Ten-engined Austin Seven.

1st-Class Awards: Phillips (Fairley), Bold (Riley), Pearce (Lagonda).
2ne-Class Awards: Mrs. Flather (E.G.), May (Ford V8), Bateman (Allard).
Team Prize: Messrs. Wharton, Phillips and May.

An Allard Victory
Warmest congratulations to A. G. Imhof and K. N. Hutchison, on winning the International Lisbon Rally, beating 172 other entrants on a very tough 1,400-mile run.

East African M.S.C. Brackenhurst Speed Hill-Climb
F.t.d. was made by Major MeIvor’s Ford V8.