THE B.A.R.C. AUTUMN MEETING.

Historical Dead-Heat between Alvis and Austro-Daimler cars

Though a very representative list of entries marked the programme for the Autumn Meeting of the B. A.R.C., fewer spectators than usual gathered to witness what turned out to be a fine afternoon’s sport.

Vernon Balls’ Amilcar was re-handicapped for the first event on account of the new streamline body which was fitted, the new figures leaving him but a poor chance of success. A. Jackson’s Alvis got away well and set-off at a good speed in company with Sir R. Gunton’s ” Bora.” At first, the issue of the race seemed uncertain until J. P. Turner with his 2-litre Austro-Daimler gathered speed, and coming off the home banking at a great pace made after the leaders, overtaking all except H. W. Purdy on the Alvis, with whom he dead-heated, thus creating the outstanding feature of the meeting. Some eighteen years ago, Cecil Edge and Charles Jarrott ran to a dead-heat, since when, no race, until the last meeting, has been finished under this condition. The Austro-Daimler duel was at an average speed of 87 1/2 m.p.h.

Barclay won the second event on his red Vauxhall at ggi m.p.h., overtaking Meeson also on a Vauxhall and George Duller. Barclay is rapidly becoming one of the star turns on the Broo-klands course, and great things may be expected of him next season.

Ninety-three miles per hour is good going for a standard Chrysler chassis, but this is the speed at which Malcolm Campbell won the third race on his well-tuned Chrysler with one of the smartest streamline bodies we have seen on the track for some time. Meeson and Duller were second and third respectively ; the race having been robbed of some of its interest by the failure of H. S. Eaton’s home-built Gwynne racer, which retired owing to a broken driving chain. In the fourth race, J. R. Cobb drove Mr. Warde’s Fiat to victory at an average speed of 104 m.p.h., an excellent performance for this veteran machine. He led well from the start, and was closely followed by Kaye Don on the huge Wolseley “Viper,” Howey’s Ballot and Thomas on the Leyland-Thomas bringing up the rear. Thomas, who has now recovered from his recent spill at Boulogne, drove with his usual dash, but was unable to make up the space between him and the leaders.

An ancient, but speedy, vehicle took part in the next race, in the shape of J. S. Spencer’s Napier, which, in spite of its age, put up the respectable average of go m.p.h. From the start, Gillon’s Riley was better at accelerating, but the advantage was soon reduced, and Spencer took the lead again. On the second lap, Morgan’s Thomas-Special got on terms with the leaders, but by clever driving, Turner on the Austro-Daimler worked up into a good position. Morgan on the Thomas passed the Napier, as did the Austro-Daimler, these two cars finishing first and second respectively. Winner’s average : 904 m.p.h.

R. B. Howey won the sixth race on his brother’s Leyland-Thomas, after an exciting tussle with Barnato on his streamlined Bentley. Cushman drove his blue Crossley with fine effect, but the car lacked the speed of the Lanchester driven by J. G. P. Thomas and Barnato’s Bentley. Howey ran in a fairly easy winner with an average speed of 109 m.p.h.

The seventh race was more or less of a procession, consisting of Barnato on the Bentley, Morgan on the Thomas-Special, followed by Purdy on his Alvis. There was little chance of any close finish or change of positions and the event went to Barnato whose average speed was 921 m.p.h.

A very high lap speed was put up by R. B. Howey on the Ballot in the course of the last race, this being timed at 116.2 m.p.h. Howey caught up with Barclay’s Vauxhall at the Fork and with Thomas close on his heels, won the last race for big cars at Brooklands this year, with an average speed of 108.46 m.p.h.