SPEED TRIALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26708, 1 March 1948, Page 8

SPEED TRIALS

QUARTER MILE CONTEST HELD IN CITY STREETS AN UNUSUAL SPECTACLE The roar of highly-tuned sports cars and the acrid smell of burning petrol vapour made Crawford street reminiscent of a speedway rather than its customary brisk commercial-avenue self on Saturday afternoop. The occasion was the running of the South Island Standing Quarter-mile Championship, held under the auspices of the Otago Sports Car Club for the first time in this province. It was an unusual spectacle indeed to be seen in the heart of the city, and thousands of spectators found it an entertaining and thrilling way to pass the time before the evening’s pyrotechnic display. About 50 cars took part in the various classes, and they varied from tuned-up stock models of common makes to specially-built sports cars and a handful of rakish vehicles of local build. Many of the vehicles were stripped of mudguards, running boards, hoods and similar unnecessary appurtenances, and from the noise which they created, silencers were also regarded with contempt by the true enthusiasts. The “pits” at the Anderson’s Bay road end of Crawford street were thronged throughout the afternoon, for many spectators found more interest in inspecting unusual types, such as a sleek Mercedes-Benz, a Brough-Superior, and a Railton, than in watching the trials. The meeting went off without mishap and without delay, and by five o’clock the barricades were cleared away, sand was being swept up, and only the blackened rubber skid marks which suggested fierce braking remained on the roadway to show that, for a brief period, a conservative business area had become a miniature Brooklands,

Two electrically-timed runs over the course were given to each car. and speeds up to 80 miles an hour were reached. It was a test more suited to light, fast cars and the heavier vehicles, such as the Mercedes-Benz convertible, which would have had no difficulty in overcoming competition over longer distances, found that the maximum speed was only being reached as they passed over the finishing line. Although ample distance had been provided to allow for the rapid drop in speed, strong braking was necessary with many cars to bring them up before they reached the Water street barricade. The results were:—

Class I (up to 850 c.c.). —Sports section: E. J. G. Bovd (M.G.), 24sec, 1; G. J. Farker (M.G.), 24 3-ssec, 2; W. H. Doig (M.G.), 26sec, 3 Super sports section; R. Hutcheon (M.G.). 22 l-ssec, 1. Class II (851-1100 c.c.). —Sports section: P. R. Byrne (M.G.), 20sec, 1; C. H. Brady (Morris), 26 l-ssec, 2. Super sports section: M. F. Stanton (8.5. A.), 13sec, 1; P. M. Hoare (Singer), 20 l-ssec, 2; H. Logan (Singer), 21sec, 3. Class 111 (1101-1500 c.c.). —Sports section: M. Proctor (Riley), 20 2-ssec, 1; D. E. Purse (M.G.), 21 l-ssec, 2; G. Wheeler (M.G.), 23see, 3. Super sports section: Mrs S. Lupp (M.G.), 19 2-ssec, 1; O. Hawkins (Frazer-Nash), 24sec, 2. Class IV (1501-2000 c.c.).—Sports section: D. Ransley (Riley), 21 4-ssec, 1; H. Bandy (Citroenf, 22sec, 2; D. H. Rutherford (Citroen), 22sec, 3. Super sports section: H. Green (Wolsley Special), 17 2-ssce, 1. Class V (2001-3000 c.c.). —Sports section: S. J. Macdonald (Jaguar), 21 l-ssec, 1; G. S. Moodie (M.G.). 23 l-ssec, 2. Class VI (3001-5000 c.c.).—Sports section: F. Sharman (Railton), 19esc, 1; V. Neate (Brough-Superior), 19 l-ssec, 2; E. Reid, 19 3-sese, 3. Super sports section: P. L. Lupp (Ford V 8), 18 3-ssec, 1; F. Sharman (Railton), 18 4-ssec, 2; V. Neate (Brough-Superior), 19 2-ssec, 3. Class VII (over 5000 c.c..—M. G. Wills (Mercedes-Benz), 22sec, 1. Class Vlll.—Sports section: F. Sharman (Railton), 18 4-ssec, 1; V. Neate (BroughSuperior), 19 l-ssec, 2; R. H. Bowman (Humber) and A. E. Gardner (Humber), 20sec, 3 (equal). Super sports section: H. Green (Wolsley), 17 2-ssec, 1; P. L. Lupp (Ford V 8), 18 4-ssec, 2; F. Sharman (Railton), 18 4-ssec, 3.

The fastest time of the day was recorded by H. Green's Wolsley Special, which roared over the coures in 17 2-sesc. The largest car competing was the Mercedes-Benz, which was one of the many Christchurch entries.