GREAT MOTOR RACE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 107, 19 April 1933, Page 11

GREAT MOTOR RACE

BRITISH CARS’ TRIUMPH. MANY THRILLS IN ITALY. LONDON, April 10. Two M.G. Magnettes, flying tiny Union Jacks and driven by George Eyston and Lord Howe, were first and second in the 1100 cubic centimetres class in Italy’s “1000 miles,’’ the most dangerous motor race in the world. Eyston finished in 18h Im Is. and averaged 59.60 miles an hour. Lord Howe averaged 56.82. All other cars in this class were more than an hour behind the British. The course begins at Brescia, and thence forms a giant figure of eight through Bologna, Florence and Rome and back to Brescia, via the Adriatic. It passes through narrow village streets, congested cities, dangerous mountain passes, and yawning chasms thousands of feet deep, whore safety depends on the excellence of headlights. Nowhere was traffic stopped. Thu drivers were even allowed to race through Rome, dodging pedestrians and tramcars at incredible speed. The race was a gruelling test of courage, endurance and road sense. Birkin, driving a Magnetto, was forced early to retire with engine trouble. Three accidents were' reported. A Maserati overturned, but the occupants were not injured. An Italian baby car was ditched on the dangerous Radiofani Pass, and the occupants were taken to hospital. An unidentified car, driven at a terrific speed, charged a crowd of spectator's at Rovigo, injuring several. The first arrival in the jieavy car

class was an Alfa-Romeo, driven by an Italian, Nuvolari. It averaged 67.46 miles an hour. Last year’s winner, Borzacchini, retired with engine trouble after averaging 71.27 miles an hour from Brescia to Rome, thereby winning Signor .Mussolini’s trophy, awarded to the first to arrive in Rome. Great crowds cheered the British victory, which was deservedly popular. Lord Howe emphasises that the Magnettes entered merely to stay the course and not to win. They triumphantly vindicated the supremacy of British light cars.