CONAN DOYLE'S ACCIDENT

CONAN DOYLE’S ACCIDENT

We have received a letter from Denis Conan Doyle, an interesting letter plaining the cause of his crash at Leinster when at the wheel of the big Mercedes Benz. The upper floorboard of the driving compartment worked loose in such a manner that the foot-brake pedal became jammed and would not apply

the brakes. Consequently the S bend approaching Tallaght was entered too fast and Conan Doyle’s only chance was to skid round broadside on the wet surface. The narrow width of the road at this point, and the presence of another crashed car in the road, caused the Mere. to hit the obstruction when half round, mount the bank, leap into the air, and finally land upside down in the ditch, pinning its driver beneath it. Fortunately the left-hand driving position coincided with the ditch, and the one and threequarter tons of motor-car were held from the driver, whose chest, nevertheless, shattered the massive steer

ing-wheel. Conan Doyle suffered only a bruised chest and torn muscles in back and spine. He wishes to pay tribute to his brother Adrian, who came to his aid and with drew his Bugatti from the race, and to thank the Civic Guards, the St. John Ambulance men, and Dr. Fitzsimmons for their kind and much appreciated assist

ance. This episode has a happy conclusion, in that Denis Conan Doyle was married to Princess Nina Mdivani, the recent entrant of his racing-cars, at Bridgend on August 18th. The Conan Doyle brothers take their motor-racing very seriously, yet they have had a more varied experience than most of those who race in the grand manner, numbering associations with Mercedes, Bugatti, Austro-Dainiler, Nazzaro, Frazer-Nash, Maybach-Mercedes, Fronty Ford, Delage and other marques.

THE PHCENIX PARK RACE

Yet another of those excellent Irish road-races is due to be run off on September 26th—this time the classic Phcenix Park International Contest.

The race will be run over forty-seven laps of a 4 mile 460 yard circuit, to make up a total distance of 200 miles 500 yards. Entries closed at single fees on September 12th, and at higher fees on September 21st,

at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. respectively on those days. The single fee is 0, and the higher fee 00, inclusive of insurance. All types of cars may compete, closed cars excepted, and two drivers may be nominated to each car. Practising will take place on September 25th, and the race starts at 4 p.m. on September 26th. A system of handicapping by credit laps will be imposed, which lightens the task of the slower cars from a reliability standpoint. ‘ream entries will be accepted up to 6 p.m. on September 21st. The good teamwork of Irish race officials is evident by the proximity of the entry closing date to the actual race date and a small gap in this matter should draw entries.

All Irish enthusiasts should make an effort to be at Phcenix Park. The race is organised by the Irish Motor Racing Club, and is, of course, approved by the S.M.M.T. Full particulars are available from 1, Cavendish Row, Dublin, telephone number Dublin 44264. The winner on handicap will receive a silver trophy and replica and 000, with a silver trophy, replica and L50 for the entrant of the second car, and a silver cup and £25 for the third car home on handicap. There are, in addition, many other valuable prizes.