DRAMATIC MOTOR RACE

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1931, Page 7

DRAMATIC MOTOR RACE

THUNDERSTORM IN DUBLIN ITALIAN THRILLS THE CROWD DRIVING WITH ONE HAND HALF-BLINDED BY GLASS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 10 p.m. London, June 7. A thunderstorm provided a dramatic interlude at the Irish International Grand Prix at Phoenix Park, the whine of the supercharged cars rising above the thunder and the lightning dazzlingly playing on the racing giants as the drivers kept up their breakneck speed. Nine competitors covered 300 miles in 70 laps. Sir Henry Birkin, in an AlfaRomeo, averaging S'S.S miles an hour, ..won, and the Italian Compari was second. three minutes later, after an astonishing effort. Campari was trying to pass Birkin and was half-blinded by a piece of glass from a broken goggle. He suddenly swerved madly, but immediately gained control and thrilled the spectators by carrying on for two and a-half miles at full speed, with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the injured eye. He drove like a man possessed; once he actually passed Birkin, but’he skidded 100 yards. He locked the wheels amazingly and avoided a disaster. Earl -Howe, driving a Mercedes-Benz, broke the lap record with a speed of 91.8 miles an hour. Sir Henry Birkin won the Eireann Cup and only just failed to win the Irish International Grand Prix as well with an average speed of 68.8 miles an hour. The Maserati driven by Campari was second and a Talbot driven ■by Lewis was third. The Grand Prix was won by Norman Black driving an M.G. Midget. He won the first day’s race on Friday for cars up to 1500 c.c., his average speed being 64.76 miles an hour. M.G. cars also took second' and third places. To beat Black’s performance the winner yesterday would have had to average over 90 miles an hour.