New International Class I and Class J Records

Astonishingly good runs by Lt.-Col. Gardner’s 500-c.c. M.G. and Count Lurani’s 250-c.c. Nibbio.

On the Jabbeke to Aeltoe highway at the end of July, Lt.-Col. “Goldie” Gardner nobly upheld British prestige with his 500-c.c. M.G. and Count Lurani took new records with his rebuilt Nibbio for Italy.

Gardner went out for Class I records in his famous six-cylinder M.G. which has already proved itself the fastest car in the 750 c.c., 1,100 c.c. and 1 1/2-litre categories, With his engine purposely reduced to four working cylinders, 1, 3, 4 and 6, balance weights on the crankshaft replacing working pistons in bores 2 and 5, the M.G. established four new International Class I records, for the fastest kilo, mile, 5 kilos and 5 miles, at mean speeds of 118.016, 117.493, 114.117 and 110.544 m.p.h., respectively. His best run was over the kilometre, at 126.166 m.p.h. in one direction. These splendid figures beat the old records, which were the property of Lurani’s Nibbio, by 7.8 to 11.3 m.p.h. Every Briton should be proud of this astounding little car and we offer Lt.-Col. Gardner our hearty, if belated, congratulations. His records are invaluable to British prestige the world over. His M.G., now quite an old car, with the out-moded o.h.c. engine, was prepared by Thomson and Taylor, Ltd., Brooklands. Ignition was Lucas, the plugs were Lodge, the power was transmitted, and later absorbed, by Ferodo, and Dunlop tyres and tubes carried the load. A jolly good show all round!

On the same day Count Lurani brought out his 250-c.c. Guzzi-engined Nibbio and set up six new International Class J records, in spite of being 100 c.c. under the capacity-limit for this class. The new records comprise the fastest kilo, mile, 5 kilos and 5 miles and the s.s. kilo and mile, at 105.118, 102.915, 96.635, 96.312, 63.297 and 73.022 m.p.h., respectively. Lurani’s best run was at 105.218 m.p.h. over a kilometre — the first time a Class J car has exceeded 100 m.p.h. His figures beat records held by Walters (Jappic), Gush (Vitesse) and Cecchini (Moscerino) at speeds from 10.3 to 19.23 m.p.h. lower. Lurani also relied on Lodge plugs.