1938-10-05 — Page 21

THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 5, 1988

“Bira's" Brooklands Triumph

Wins British

Racing Drivers' Club 192 Mile Road Race

By brilliant driving, he corrected: hir skidding car, only to glide the other way towards the grass verge on the other side, but managed to straighten out and carry on. ⠀

Bira took the lead again, notwith- standing the fact that he spun, com- pletely round at the end of the straight,

THRILLING DUEL WITH RAYMOND and lost valuable-seconds, but, within

MAYS

London, September 22.

Prince Birabongse of Siam, driving a 11⁄2 litre E.R.A., entered by his cousin, Prince Chula, on Saturday, won the 192 miles road race at Brooklands of the British Racing Drivers' Club.

the next few minutes, Mays regained] the lead on handicap by a few seconds. Ho continued to increase this lead un- til the last few seconds of the race, when Bira shot past the pits, to be signalled the winner.

The result was:-

Birabongse), E.R.A.

Aver.

H. M. S. m.p.h. Laps.

Twenty-one cars took part, and the race, run on handicap lines, 1. "B. Bira" (Prince resolved itself into a thrilling duel between the Prince and Raymond Mays, one of Britain's crack racing drivers, in a larger car of the same make. Mays was leading when gear-box trouble robbed him of victory, and the £250 prize which goes with it.

2 15 8 2. Raymond

Mays, E.R.A. 2 12 54 3. The Hon.

Peter Aitken, ER.A.

83.41 60

84.54 59

2 14 21

81.05

58

2 13 15 80.25

57

E.R.A.

The race, which was run on a tyres screeching as he slackened, he got special course embracing part of the into a skid on the dry track, and made 4. Earl Howe,

straight for the pits. Campbell road circuit and part of the ordinary track, was preceded by a 50 miles event on the original Brooklands course. In this, eight of the fastest cars in Britain took part.

140 MILES PER HOUR

A high wind made it difficult at times for the drivers to keep the cars on the track, but, in spite this, Oliver Bertrain, a young London bar- rister, driving Captain Woolf Bar- nato's Barnato-Hassan Special, the scratch car, succeeded in lapping at 140 m.p.h., and on many laps was only a few seconds short of John Cobb's lap record of 143 m.p.h.

The event was won by G. A. Wooding, in a Talbot, at 111.17 m.p.h., with Charles B. Follett (Rail- ton), second.

Bertram, flashing high on the steep banking, forged his way into third place, with an average of 133.- 53 m.p.h., but, although he had the fastest car, he was unable to pass Wooding and Follett, who had 5 minutes 24 seconds, and 6 minutes start, respectively.

60 TIMES ROUND THE COURSE

After a short interval, the 21 cars in the road roared away together from the start, thrilling the vast crowd, which included 4000. Boy Scouts, who were the guests of Lord Howe. From the road circuit they flashed round a corner on the steep, banked part of the old track, and round the Byfleet, banking to join the new road circuit again on the railway straight.. Round this course of just over three miles they had to speed 60 times,

Although it was a massed start, the cars were grouped into three classes, and two groups were credited with a number of laps. Bira at once took the lead on handicap, closely followed by Mays, and throughout the race the lead was held alternately by these two drivers. Louis Gerard, the French ace, who won the T.T. a fortnight ngo, was quickly in trouble with the same car, a huge Delage, and his mechanics worked hurriedly changing the plugs and the jets of three carburettors. The Frenchman went out again, but had to retire shortly afterwards with back- axle trouble.

The pace, well over 80 m.p.h., was gruelling, and retirements were frequent. For mile after mile only two seconds separated Mays and Bira until, shortly after half-dis- tance, Mays took the lead. He had averaged over 85 m.p.h., and Bira was then three seconds behind. Cudden-Fletcher driving and L. was third at this stage.

AVOIDING A COLLISION

There was excitement when Cudden- Fletcher came up the straigh

Lew

minutes, later. Another car was pull-

HOR

HAVE AN H.B.

AND THEN TRY"

H. K.

KOWLOON.

Junior Game At Recreio

In connection with the report published in this journal yester- day to the effect that the Hong Kong Cricket League authorities were endeavouring to arrange re- presentative cricket matches for next Sunday between Junior and Senior Island and Mainland teams, It is now learned that both mat ches will definitely. be played.

It was hoped at one time that Kowloon Cricket Club ground would be available for the Junior game but this has been found to be impossible and Club de Recreio have kindly placed their ground at the disposal of the League.

The Senior game will be played at Hong Kong Cricket Club, com- mencing, at 11 am.

& Distillery Lt