Lessons of T.T.

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 438, 21 August 1928, Page 7

Lessons of T.T.

Motor Cycle Classic Shows Trend of Design In this year’s International Tourist Trophy motor-cycle races, held in the Isle of Man, the results of which were given in The Sun on June 26, there was not a single foreign machine contesting. Last year the British motor-cycle was seriously challenged by Italian competitiors, and a few years ago the foreign contingent used to be quite strong. This year’s races were marked by bad -weather and a notably large number of retirements. The failure of so many machines is not so remarkable when it is borne in mind that speeds continue to increase. The lightweight race, for machines with engines up to 250 c.c., was won at the excellent speed of 62.9 m.p.h.—an improvement of 25 per cent, since the race was inaugurated seven years ago. In the case of the junior race, which is confined to machines with engines up to 350 c.c., the winner averaged 68.65 m.p.h., which was 1.46 m.p.h. fa-ster than last year, 1.95 m.p.h. faster than the year before, and 3.5 m.p.h. faster than in the 1925 event. This poinfs to the speed of the 350 c.c. motor-cycle—which is generally considered to be the most popular type—having reached anything but finality. A noteworthy feature of the races was that not a single engine was supercharged—the “blower” not yet having invaded the sphere of motor-cycle road racing, in spite of the very great amount of interest and large entries which the numerous motor-cycle “classics” attract. The popularity of the “one-lungers” doubtless accounts for this. In the T.T. races a slight tendency towards the wider adoption of overhead camshafts was noticed, but it was significant that two manufacturers who had tried them in the past, reverted to push-rod valve operation for this year’s events. Overhead camshaft engines, however, scored heavily in the junior race. Velocette machines, fitted with them, finishing first, second and fourth. In the lightweight race no machines with overhead-camshaft engines were entered, while in the senior race the machines which ran first and second were of the single-cylinder push-rod operated, o.h.v. patern. The watercooled twin two-stroke type of engine, as exemplified by the present-day Scott, and pioneered by the same manufacturer, scored a notable come-back by finishing in third place. RESULTS OF ONE-DAY TRIAL WELLINGTON MOTOR-CYCLE CLUB The following- are the complete details of the one-day winter reliability trial, held by the Wellington MotorCycle Club on Sunday, August 5, the number of points lost by each rider being given: T. Morgan (HarleyDavidson sidecar), 10 points, 1; M. W. Small (Triumph solo), 13 points, 2; F. Stewart (Indian, sidecar), 13 points, 2; F. Jewell (Super X solo), 14 points, 3; H. Boden (Harley-Davidson solo), 16 points, 4; C. E. Freckling (Indian solo). 16 points, 4; E. S. Woodward (A.J.S., solo), 17 points, 5: R. Harris (Indian, solo), 18 points, 6; F. Weldon (HarleyDavidson, solo), IS points, 6; C. W. Sinclair (Harley-Davidson, solo), 18 points, 6: H. Warcup (Harley-David-son 23 h-Ils), IS points, 6; E. J. Harvie (Douglas, -solo), 19 points, 7; J. Lawton (Harley-Davidson, solo), 20 points, 8. Sidecar Class.- —T. Morgan (HarleyDavidson), 1; F. Stewart (Indian), 2; J. Richards (Indian), 3; A. Booth (Indian), 4. Under 350 c.c. —E. S. Woodward (A.J.S.), 1; H. Warcup (Harley-David-son), 2; E. J. Harvie (Douglas), 3; J. Peterson (Velocette), 4. Under 600 c.c.—M. W. Small (Triumph). 1; S. Grove (Norton), 2; St. J. Coventry (Indian), 3; F. Spencer (Norton), 3; L. Dunstill (New Hudson), 4. Unlimited. —F. Jewell (Super X), 1; C. E. Freckling (Indian), 2; H. Boden (Harley-Davidson), 2; It. Harris (Indian), 3; F. B. Weldon (Harley-David-son), 3; J. Lawton (Harley-Davidson), 4. Teams. —Harley-Davidson No. 2 (Weldon, Sinclair, Boden), 1; Harley,Davidson No. 1 (Morgan, Ludlow, Lawton), 2; Norton No. 1 (Spencer, MeKeen, Grove), 3: Harley-Davidsor No. 3 (Walker, Duff, Mumford), 4. The route lay from Wellington tc Palmerston North, via the Manawatu and return, via the Wairarapa. BRITISH CARS IN AMERICA SUNBEAMS BECOME POPULAR Tho United States is the most diffi cult market in the world for the British car manufacturer. Xhe large selec tion of home produced cars from whicl the American motorist can choose, an the extremely high duties which hav I to be paid on all imported cars, ha prevented British makers from devel oping business of any magnitude. 3 Each year a limited number c l British cars are bought by America . motorists who appreciate Britis: quality and are prepared to pay th heavy import duty to gratify their de r sires. As an instance, when Majo Segrave on the 1,000 h.p. Sunbear , achieved the first speed record eve ' attained over 200 m.p.h., he had wit ’ him a standard three-litre Sunbear ) sports model. He was literally be . seiged with would-be buyers for thi l car, and it was eventually sold to M: Gar Wood, the American speed motor 5 boat builder. Had there been a stoc of Sunbeam cars available in Americ 1 when the speed record was made, the t would undoubtedly all have been sol within a very few hours. 1 Other Sunbeam cars have been pur i chased from time to time by America L motorists, and a Florida owner of 20 h.p, six-cylinder Sunbeam recentl i wrote expressing his complete satis : faction with this British-built car, an s also intimating that he proposed oi - dering another Sunbeam—a three-liti model—at an early date.