GREAT MOTOR RACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21201, 6 June 1932, Page 9

GREAT MOTOR RACE.

WOMEN DRIVERS' WIN. HIGH SPEED AT BROOKLANDS. FATALITY MARS EVENT. SOME NARROW ESCAPES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received Jurio 5. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Juno 4. Miss Joan Richmond, of Australia, and Mrs. E. Wisdom, driving a Riley, won tho British 1000 miles motor-car raco at Brooklands. Their average speed was 84.41 miles an hour.

A. 0. Saunders and IT. F. Wolfe, driving a Talbot, wero second, and Norman Black and R. Gibson, in an M. G. Midget, wero third.

A master butcher named 11. Leeson was killed during tho race when his car skidded and overturned.

Sir Malcolm Campbell had a norrow escape when his car skidded and a tyre ignited. Then Miss Richmond's car, at the same spot whero Leeson was killed, skidded when it was travelling at 80 miles an hour. Tho car swung x-ound threo times and ran up tho embankment, but Miss Richmond brilliantly recovered control and continued unperturbed. She celebrated her escape with a dazzling burst of speed, regaining second position behind tho leading Riley after 141 laps. Miss Richmond and Mrs. Wisdom ended the first half of .tho race in fourth place. This is the first tirno women had driven in such a race.

Earl Howe and Sir Henry Birkin drovo at a rate of 102 miles an hour.

The British 1000 miles race, one of the principal events in the European racing season, is organised by tho Junior Car Club, which has sponsored many highspeed events in past years. Tho race, which was run at the Brooklands track, attracted a largo entry, including many prominent drivers with really fast cars. Apart from enthusiastic private owners, several English factories took sufficient interest in tho race to prepare ar.d enter special racing cars, while Continental manufacturers were also represented. A total of 38 entries bad been received on April 11, but it was expected that there would be several more, as entries at doublo fees were received up to May 9. When tho single-fee ntries closed tho 750 c.c. class was confined to M. G. Midgets, but there was a possibility of their being opposed by an official team of Austins. In the 1100' c.c. class there were three of the new Crossleys, a number of Rileys and a supercharged Amilcai - . Tho Riley concern also entered three of its new six-cylinder racers in the 1500 c.c. class, in which they were opposed by four Astair-Martins and an Alvis. In tho three-litre category Earl Howe, on a straight-eight Alfa-Romeo, was opposed by six Talbots, while two Bentleys and an Invicta were in the over 3000 c.c. and up to 5000 c.c. class. In addition L. C. .Rawlenco had entered an O.M. and tho Hon. Mrs. Chetwynd also had one of her cars ready. The winners, Mrs. E. Wisdom and Miss Joan Richmond, had one of the smaller KiJey cars, known as the " Brooklands " series. Both are well-known drivers, Mrs. Wisdom being a frequent competitor in English motoring events. Miss Richmond is one of tho party of threo Australians who drove to tho Monto Carlo Rally early this year, when she was again at the wheel of a Riley. ; Mr. IT- Leeson, who was fatally injured, had entered an M.G. Midget car.