GREATEST MOTOR RACE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1929, Page 9

GREATEST MOTOR RACE

THE B.A.C. TOURIST TROPHY 500,000 PEOPLE WATCH EPIC WINNER ASTOUNDS WORLD By Telegraph—Frees Assn. —Copyright. Australian Press Association. Received Aug. 18, 11.5 p.m. London, Aug. 17. Th© Royal Automobile Club’s international Tourist Trophy race at Belfast resulted in a win for Carriciola, driving a Mercedes Benz, w’ith Campari in an Alfa Romeo second and Nash in an Austin third. At least 599,000 people witnessed the race, in which there were 65 competitors representing six nations.. It is the greatest road race in history, th© distance being 410 miles. A downpour of rain yesterday threatened to spoil the prospects, but the roads were in such a perfect state that but a few hours drying restored the surface. Many spectators camped all night at vantage points on the circuit of 13| miles.

Competitors had to make thirty laps. The course is one of the most dfficult in the world as there are hairpin corners in abundance, but also long straights on ’which large ears could stretch their legs. The race is described as a motor epic. A giant was Carriciola, a laughing daredevil in a monstrous Mercedes racer who staggered the motoring world. A great joke was the Baby Austins, who were given such handsome starts that the racing experts of six nations had to risk their necks and reputations to catch them.

The course was treacherous. Heavy rain had turned the deadly curves and hairpin bends into death traps. Carriciola dashed ahead from the start like a thunderbolt, driving like a madman. Taking risks that made the crowd sick with fear he got ahead by laps in a few minutes.

Crouching amid the dirt and oil of the pits Frau Carriciola cheered her husband and timed him as accurately as the experts. Near the end of the race one car ran into a break-down gang of men, one of whom died in hospital and five were seriously injured. There were many driving accidents but it is amazing nobody was seriously hurt. Kidston, in a Bently, crashed but he and his mechanic were unhurt. Higgin (Britain) dashed into the town ball at Newton Hards at a pace of 70 miles an hour and escaped injury. A groan went up when Kaye Don had to retire owing to engine trouble. Rubin, another English competitor, overturned and the ear had to be raised to extricate him, when he shouted: “1 am not hurt,” and helped to clear the debris. Another car caught fire. Before long twenty starters had retired, put out by disastrous skids, but the German dashed on as though he bore a charmed life. Campani pays tribute to Carriciola’s amazing skill and the manner in which the winning car stood up to the gruelling of the 400mile course.

The leading average speeds are: Carriciola, 72.8 miles per hour; -Campari, 67.5 miles per hour; Nash, 59.6 miles per hour. Holbrook, who was fourth, also driving an Austin Seven, made 59.5 miles per hour. Alfa Romeos filled fifth and sixth places.

Raced on a 13-miles course last year the R.A.C. Tourist Trophy race was the first road race held in Britain since 1922. It attracted a larger entry list of cars and a greater number of spectators than any event in the history of motor racing. It was estimated that 400,'000 people lined the course and 45 cars of seven nations lined up for the start. A British Lea Francis, driven by Kaye Don, won the event, with another British entry, an Alvis, driven by Leon Cushman, second.