AMONG US MOTORISTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 219, 15 September 1928, Page 21 (Supplement)

AMONG US MOTORISTS

BRITISH MOTORS SUPREME

RESULTS OF RECENT RACES Duel Between Stutz and Bentley Reports from England and the Continent indicate that American and Continental cars are not having theirown way on the race track. Especially interesting is the race for stockmodel cars—more interesting in view of the fact that owners of three large firms—a British, a Continental and an American—wagcred that stock models of their respective cars could beat all-comers.

The 24 hours’ international endurance race for standard type sports cars at Lc Alans, France, has consistently developed until *of recent years it has attained the enviable position of the world’s foremost speed and endurance road trial. The Grand Prix d’Endurance—held at Le Alans—deserves attention and study by every motorist, for there is nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world. It is a race to destruction for touring type cars, and merely to survive such an ordeal is in itself a distinctly creditable performance. In this year’s trial at Le Mans, there were 23 starters and actually 19 finished. The real interest of the race centred in a duel fought from the outset between the 44-litrc Bentley and the Stutz. Here were two of the very latest British and American designs differing essentially in almost every detail. The Bentley is unusual for a modern production, in that it has a four-cylin-der engine of 100 x 140 m.m. (4.398 c.c.), while the Stutz has a straighteight cylinder engine at 82.5 x 114.5 (4,888 c.c.). Battle of Cylinders. Very few expected a veritable battle of the cylinders—for such the race proved —and fewer still would have foretold a loading place for the Stutz after 500 miles, for it must be remembered that the big American car was fighting a lone hand against an extremely fleet British trio, though it was well backed up by the three sixclinder Chryslers which wore only seconds a lap inferior in speed.

Of course, many a duel was fought among the smaller vehicles, and often the little supercharged ‘‘B.N.C.” promised to be high up among the leaders. The English Alvis and French “Tractas,” too, among the 1,500 c.c. vehicles, were making history by demonstrating to the world at large that front wheel drive is entirely and completely dependable. Never previously has a British frontdriven car survived a long-distance race, and now, at the first time of asking, two of the new front-drive Alvis cars score a 100 per cent, success by finishing sixth and ninth respectively in a 24-hour road race of real severity.

The final rounds of the whole race wore intensely dramatic and the enthusiasm tremendous when the big Bentley crossed the line, and for the third time a British car had won the Grand Prix d’Endurance. Moreover, the veteran Bentley had won a race at the record speed of 69.11 miles an hour. The Stutz was second, averaging 66.42 miles an hour, and the Chrysler third with an average of 64.97 miles an hour. Best Performance. The Budge-Whitworth Cup—for best performance based on cylinder capacity was won by a Salmson for the second time in succession. Driven by Casse and Rousseau it ran strictly to schedule for the full twenty-four hours, covering 1,372,.32 miles at an average speed of 57.18 miles an hour. The Salmson wag a 10 h.p. 1,000 c.c. fourcylinder job, not supercharged, fully equipped with guards, screen, lamps,, etc., all ready for the road. No mechanical adjustments were made during which a pre-arranged schedule was strictly maintained. The Le Mans circuit is not a race track, but a 10i-mile course, with curves, bridges, hairpin bends, and villages to negotiate.

The low Stutz was faster than the Bentley on the corners, but slower on the straights. The neck and nock struggle went on. Thousands of spectators remained in the grandstands all night as the competitors remaining in the test reeled off the laps with clocklike precision.