No. 19: Rover
In 1925, when the 14/45 Rover with its complicated valve gear was a brave new model and not the disaster it was subsequently found to be, J. K. Starley was Managing Director of the Rover Company, having been Works Manager from 1903 and successor to Harry Smith in the top position. "The Rover" was in those days at the Meteor works, Coventry, where 1,500 workers were employed. The...
75 years ago
I have been reminded that it was 75 years ago this month that an important trial took place, which is usually regarded as having set the seal to the fame of the Laurence Pomeroy-designed 20 h.p. Vauxhall, which led on to his renowned Prince Henry, 30/98 and other desirable Luton-built motor cars. This was the RAC International Touring Car Trial of 1908, which covered nearly 2,000...
The Motor Sport Book of the Austin 7, recently republished by the Pre-War A7 Club, tells in detail how Metchim and Masters attempted in 1933-34, not to win, but to finish the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time with a 750cc car.
In 1930 Sir Francis Samuelson had tried with co-driver Kindell in an MG Midget, but an oil pipe fractured after 20 hours. He drove the damaged engine back to the factory...
Sir,
I read with interest the article entitled 'Fiberglas'. I have a long term interest in this material and Keith Howard enlightened me quite a bit on it's origins. However one omission needs correcting — the second GRP monocoque car was not the Clan Crusader, but the superb Rochdale Olympic, designed in the main by Richard Parker and built by partners Harry Smith and Frank Butterworth in their...