EUROPEAN RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20312, 20 July 1929, Page 14 (Supplement)

EUROPEAN RACING.

THE ULSTER T.T.

According to cablegram advice an AlfaBorneo won tho 300-mile Irish Grand Prix at Dublin last week-end. Bentleys were second, third, and fourth. Six nations were represented. Kayo Don, who won tho Ulster T.T. last year with a LeaFrancis at 64 ni.p.h., was captain of the Biley team but he appears to have secured jio leading place. Alfa-Bomeos and Bentleys appear to bo dominating European lacing this year. In May Itamponi won the-double twelvo hours race, at Brooklands with an AI fa-Borneo and a litre Bontloy was second. In Juno Bentleys secured the first four places in the Budge [Whitworth Cup Tho next great event is the. Ulster T.T. ■which will be run near Belfast on August 17. Six nations are represented in tho 66 entries and several teams aro out to improve on tho performance of Kayo Don iu tho event of last year. Franco has secured the services of ono of England's most dashing drivers in Earl Howe, formerly Viscount Curzon, who will once again drive a Bugalti. Last year ho was lapping at record speed when his petrol tank burst. Italy will be represented by her greatest driver, Signor Ramponi, who will lead a team selected from the crack road-racing drivers of his country. They will be mounted on AlfaBorneo cars. Germany will be represented by a colossal Mercedes. Two of the latest supercharged Stutz cars will represent tho United States; also two of her now Fords. Britain is happily fortunate both in her cars and drivers, Captain Malcolm Campbell and -Mr. Kayo Don, who has risen to tho very front rank of the world's greatest drivers should be a good match tor Signor Itamponi. In the younger school— Mr. Stanley Woods, aged 27, tho young Irishman who has won many motor-cycl-ing Tourist Trophy races in tho Islo of Man, is making his debut in a big international raco this year. 110 will drive a Lea Francis car of tho typo that won last year's race. .Three important British firms who have not officially entered for races in tho last few years are taking part in this year's Tourist Trophy. These aro tho Sunbeam Company, tho Arrol-Astcr, and tho Austin Motor companies. Sir Herbert Austin has entered throe Austin " Sevens." Two small Triumph cars have also been entered. Tho many owners of very small cars will watch with interest how the little fellows stand up in such a gruelling contest. The handicaps have been worked out so that tho smallest car, if it can stand up t<> tho test of the hazardous 400-mile road course, stands as good a chance as its bigger rivals. All cars taking part are standard products which can bo bought by the public. The freak car, built solely for racing, is barred. DRIVER FOR 300 M.P.H. CAR. It was announced by cablegram this week that Kayo Don has been chosen to driven the £25,000 car which Louis Coatalen of the Sunbeam Company has designed to compete against any American challengers to Sir Henry Segrave's record of 231 miles an hour. The new car is expected to be capable of nearly 300 miles an hour, and research work has already commenced at the Sunbeam works. It is already practically certain that there will be orio American challenger, a Packard design with an aero engine. Tommy Milton, the famous .Indianapolis driver, is o.vpected to take tho wheel.

Don lias been very'conspicuous in European racing during tho last two years, although lie has not had experience of Die class of car with which Segravo and Campbell aro familiar. Don has. however, had extensive experience with the. typo of racing machine capable of speeds up to 150 miles an hour, and his acceptance of an opportunity to try out a vehicle capable of nearly double this speed is characteristic of his daring. Only this -week news arrived by cablegram of another signal performance by Don. On Brooldands track las' Monday lie raised the record for the mile from a standing start to IGOJ m.p.li. The previous record of 933 rn.p.h. was created in 1926 by the lato'Parry Thomas, who was killed speeding on Pendine Sands. Last August Don won the Ulster T.T. 410-mile event t. at 64 rn.p.h. He drovo a supercharged Lea Francis 011 that occasion. Don will drive the same car in the Ulster T.T. next month. Ho has been using a Sunbeam lately for Brooklands work, and in March ho raised the lap record to 1312 in.p.h. in the samo car in which lie, has just made tlio new standing start mile record. This Sunbeam is a six cylinder 1933 c.c. model with two overhead camshafts and filled metal waterjackets. Dry sump lubrication is employed. and the supercharger is driven direct from tho crankshaft. The petrol tank holds 29 gallons and the wheelbaso is Gft. 63iri.

REPAIR HINTS. The breakage of a battery cable terminal can be temporarily remedied by crimping sheet lead around i.'io bared copper cable and cutting a bolt for the battery screw. Tf .1 wheel has to be removed on a hill and it is desired to release tho brakes to facilitate the work tho car can be kept from moving bv tying one of tho front wheels to tho bumper with a short length of rope. A small piece of rubber tube in the tool kit will mend nine out 01' ten petrol pipe breakages on tlio road. A leakv tank' is n problem, but common soap will often seal a small fissure. Plasticeno will also serve, and chewing gum is useful. Occasionally Iho jack will not depress milliciently to lit under the axle in the case of a puncture. A siniplo trick is to drive tho punctured wheel on to the spare tyro laid llat 011 the ground. The clearance will then be adequate to adjust tho jack.

MOTOR TRADE ITEMS. An arrangement has been reached by Gonornl Motors .'irfjuiio <lO por cent, of the shares of tho Fukker Aircraft Corporation, .Mr. A. Foki«.-r and the whole 'if tho personnel of tho company remaining, with additions from the General Corporation. The annual report of the Auntin -Motor . shows a gross trading profit of £»oOl,oUu ior t lio. 15 months cnfiwl Decaniher 31 last. This compares with £962,477 for 12 months, the accounts for the previous period being made up to Septumber 30, 1927. From tho gross trading profit is deducted charges as per profit and loss account. £399,625, leaving n balanco of £461,774. To this is added the amount brought forward, CI 15,630, leaving a credit balance of £577,41.4. ' From this amount is deducted interest on tnort' gages, debentures, sinking fund, incometax and preference dividends amounting in all to £517,750, leaving a balance of £59,664 carried forward.