Page 8 Advertisements Column 3

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20098, 29 November 1930, Page 8

NOTE —A few weeks ago the cables told of the new records set up at Brooklands in the "Flying 500" motor race. Details are now to hand of this epic contest. The following condensed report of the event taken from reliable English journals, is authorised by Messrs. DAVID CROZIER LTD., "Austin" Distributors. BROOKLANDSFASTEST RACE * AUSTIN BABY SHOWS HEELS TO INTERNATIONAL FIELD RACE WON AT RECORD SPEED Details of the "Flying Five Hundred' 122.9 Miles per Hour I*—AUSTIN (Britain), The Earl ofi March and S. C. H. Davis. 6hrs. Omin. l&ecs. 2.-—Bentley (Britain), J. D. Benjafiield and E. R. Hall. 6hrs. Jmins. 34secs. 3. —Ssunbeam (Britain), H. W. Purdy and L. Cushman. 6hrs. I7tnins. 23secs. 4---Talbot (Britain), The Earl Howe and B. E. Lewis. 6hrs. 18mins. 42secs. 5. —Amilcar (France), R. P. Twist and R. C. Porter. 6hrs. 20mins. 4secs. Such was the result o£ the British Racing Drivers' 500 Mile Handicap, held at Brooklands on Saturday, October 4th. The event is the £astest race staged on the famous track. Thirty-seven cars from the most famous racing makers in the world started. But such was (he terrific pace only nine finished. In a thrilling duel between big and small cars, the Austin 7 maintained die lead and won by s matter of minutes. Davis's (Austin) skilful driving averted disaster when a rear wheel (shed by Dunfee's Sunbeam) flashed across his track. In spite of desperate weather the M 500" was judged "just about as good a race as there has ever been on the track." Towards the finish Bcnjafield (Bentley) pushed his lap speed to the astonishing figure of 122.97 m.p.h., and held a consistent lap speed of 120 m.p.h. Instantly, the Austin 7 increased to 87 m.p.h., and it was a fine sight to watch the giant Bentley and the tiny little orange Austin (travelling faster than a car of this class has ever done in such a race), while the drivers watched each other's every move and change of tactics. Fast as the Bentley went, and it averaged the highest speed ever recorded in a race, magnificently as Benjafield drove it, the small Austin held its place (now doing nearly 90 m.p.h.) to cross the line a triumphant winner. Undoubtedly the little victor and its driver earned their laurels, for, apart front the matter of handi» cap, their average speed was higher than that of the existing record by a very big margin. * ;

« ii lit m m I ■ Si mm i XT mm m i 1 r 1 An impression (vide "Autocar," October 10th), of the remarkable incident when a Sunbeam shed one of its Austin. wheels, narrowly missing S. C. EL Dartrt Tragedy Narrowly Averted LONDON, Saturday. Olio by one tlio wonderful machines crumpled up under tlio terrific denjands made upon them. Thero is no reproach in this, for many engineers claim that materials cannot possibly stand the fatigue engendered by such a terrific gruelling. All competitors felt the strain of the terrific fight. Actual class battles were obscured by tho tlirills of the main combat. The wliolo centre of interest continued in the great fight between the Austin 7, the Delage, tho Riley, the Grand Prix Sunbeam, and the Bentleys. As tho race proceeded tho sua broke through, drying tho track. This was extremely welcome relief for the drivers after the morning's unpleasantness. Once, as a group of fast machines swept by, somebody's helmet flew off to be hit again and again by the racing machines until only the pulp remained. Oar crews became unrecognisably black, cars lost the crispness of their exhaust and showed obvious signs of tho stress of a long, fast race. Jlore and more it became a question of fighting off serious mechanical trouble in tho hope of finishing. Meantime tho Austin continued to hold off its pursuers, and with never a chango in the engine note went by averaging well over 80 m.p.h., and apparently iu perfect fettle. * Austin Career Almost Terminated. Then with dramatic suddenness its career was almost terminated. The thing happened thus: Cleve Dunfee had already come in to re-fasten the steering column steady bracket of the Sunbeam. He had only just left again when one rear axle driving shaft broke. The car crashed down on its brakes, and the right-hand rear wheel with a foot or two of its shaft hurtled off into the centre of the track. Davis carried St. Christopher on his dashboard, and the little Saint must have been watching over him, when at 90 m.p.h. he was compelled to negotiate the Austin 7 in some hurried acrobatics in order to miss the huge bounding wheel off the Sunbeam. Davis's Austin missed the flying obstacle by what seemed inches. the gruelling pace iad else could be done! Jiit.erow™' . Baby produced the extra mwl lapping now at very nearly * JLmftH small car held its £& the line a winner, the tered, and the flame-coloured piloted by Pressman handled with such looked more pugnacious and than it had been when it rtanea .. hours thirteen seconds before. . Nine of the 37 cars startingAiWP the race. *~Af It will be observed that toe BOT which gained second engine capacity more th« that of the winning #»# to observe that the first I . British. ~ Baby Austin's Triumphant Ounce." "Last Pressman and Peer. —S. C. H. Davis (left) and the Earl of March, who piloted the Austin Seven to a remarkable victory on the Brooklands Track in Britain's fastest speed event. Consistently showing improvement on the handicap, the Austin then set itself grimly to hold its position, for although the mortality had been high the giant Bentley was making its one last effort to win. Then ensued the extraordinary duel between Davis and Benjalield. Up went the Bentley speed to 122.97 —a record for the race. It looked as though the Bentley might do it. But the little car continued to harass tho magnificent Bentley performance. The Austin pits saw tho danger. They signalled Davis for more speed. How optimistic! Was not the Austin producing marvellously for its tiny compass? Over 450 miles of the bace in Otmasa > length of BAOB-W®. miles. THE Track. TITLE Drivers' CO Briti* Drivers' r Italy, Belgium. -- jj TIME—6 hours, 0 ininnte* seconds. . records staged on Brooklands by and small cars. When deciding on a Light Car, remember the Austin 7 achiev*" ments and all that they imply could mole convincing proof of the Davis's Austin is basically the same o jus in esign car as you can buy. Austin does not basic correctness all( l build be found? It is well to rebuild tlb( , r that the patented features that " t '' , DUC OI ? 1 J r aaapts mVdo the Austin Seven the pioneer light ® t . and l ar< ? model s for competitive work. ' arc found only ill the Austin. It .sign, materials and workmanship n"s for these features that America, are ldcn tical in every Austin sold. France and Germany pay royalty rights to uso them. This shows their When deciding on a light car rememcsscntial nature in light car construe- ber the Austin 7 achievements, and all tion, they imply. The new Austin 7 now available, is still the same mechanical masterpiece Prices range with improvements in body, beauty, ports, comfort and refinement. It now seats four adults comfortably. But Austin economy—running costs are less than tram fares—and Austin performance are still its proud heritage and fundamental distinction. NEW AUSTIN SEVENS *&>* es range from Pay £SO deposit an * mijA bsl&n66 will .r car away, -i" 6 nftYxnefl** 5 12 or 18 monthly pay® o " When may we demonstrate* | DAVID Worcester Street West,