TOURIST TROPHY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 90, 13 October 1934, Page 26

TOURIST TROPHY

NEW DRIVER'S VICTORY

EXCITEMENT AND THRILL

LONDON, September 5.

Cars which raced in the R.A.C. International Trophy race, on the Ards Circuit, near Belfast, on Saturday, .had to be such as could be bought "over the counter," as it were. In' spite of the fact that there was a ban on superchargers and stripping, the. race was an unqualified success, providing as well

plenty of tbrills for spectators. There were crashes, but the only person reported as hurt was a spectator who fell 1 off his seat through excitement. The classic 478 miles race was won by C. J. P. Dodson, the motor-cyclist racer, who only .began motor racing this year. Already he has finished second in this year's Mannin Beg and Mannin Moor races, and eighth in the Junior Car Club International Trophy. The detailed results were as follows:—C. -J. P. Dodson (M.G. Magnette), 74.65 ■m.p.h., 1; E. B. Hall (Bentley), 78.40 m.p.h., 2; T. Fotheringr ham (Aston Martin), 74.53 m.p.h., 3; the Hon. Brian Lewis (Lagonda), 77.57 m.p.h., 4.■ . ■ ■: : The team prize was won by the Aston Martin entries.' . ■ ■'■ ■ Dodson's M.G. Magnette was owned and entered by Captain G. fl.'T. Eyston. The event (writes the correspondent of the "Morning Post")1 was notable for fine driving by the winner, a terrific j duel'for sixty-miles between Hall and Brian Lewis, the wonderful pit work of the Talbot team, the driving of RoseRichards for nearly half the. total distance with a steering, wheel whose; rim had come almost entirely adrift from the spokes, -and' the brilliant reappearance in racing of the new Bentley. Tho crowd was estimated at about 500,000. Hall wen L'away from the field at the start, taking the lead and maintaining it with ease for twelve laps. He then came' in to change allf our tires !and 'refuel. The pit staff 'worked furiously, but the slight camber 'of the' road interfered with the jacking up, of tlie : wheels and the wheel nuts were stiff, so, that.it was 2min: 40sec before Tie was away again, and lie had fallen to sixth place on' handicap. He-was. forced to make bigger demands upon his machine, and he went up the race lap record from 78 to '79, and' then to 80 m.p.h., and gradually wore down the opposition, and at twenty-six laps had regained first place with a small margin. At that time two-thirds of the distance having been covered, he came in for his second pit stop, which lost him the race. It was nearly three minutes before Hall was away again, and as he shot off Brian Lewis, in the big Lagonda, making full use of his extra litre' of engine Bize, thundered up and closed in right on the Bentley's tail as it took Quarry Corner. From that instant it wa's the Bentley versus tlie ; rest; In Dodson's pits the "all-out-" 'signal was naile.d to the counter.' Lewis pressed the big Lagonda to the limit. Opposite the grandstands Lewis regained the lead. And so for' five consecutive'laps the two fought one of tho greatest' duels in motor-racing history. The lead passed from one to the other time after time. The crowd roared itself hoarse as the cars Swept by at 100 miles an hour with a quarter of a length between them. They were lapping together at an average of more than 80 miles an hour. For sixty miles, or nearly six laps, it went on, and then Lewis's tires gave out and the white breaker strips showed. He continued for one lap, scarcely reducing speed, and then was brought in to the pit. His chances of victory were over, but it wns a gallant effort. , Meanwhile Dodson, urged on by that permanently displayed signal, had been holding his handicap lead, and finally succeeded in finishing 17 seconds before Hall. Dodson won because he did not make a single mistake. His pit'work was gond and his driving perfect. Tho highest speed at which the race hns prevously been won is 78.65 m.p.h., by Nuvolari, also driving an M.G.Magnette, but one fitted with a supercharged engine and specially tuned and stripped for racing. Tires''used on the front wheels should be of the same make and tread and have the same number of plies. If the weight or tread1 varies to -ny extent betvreen the two front'tires,-steering trouble, shimmying;' and other difficulties may be experienced.. Sputtering or "popping ■ back" through' the carburettor can usually be traced to old spark plugs, lean mixture, or excessive'carbon. . ' .The California Highway Patrol - is intensifying enforcement of the school zone, speed limit of 15 '.plfl.es an hour and also the law requiring motorists to stop before proceeding past r. school bus which has stopped to take on or dischs&rge, children.-