Jump to content


Photo

1938 Grosvenor Grand Prix, Cape Town


  • Please log in to reply
34 replies to this topic

#1 taylov

taylov
  • Member

  • 624 posts
  • Joined: February 05

Posted 03 January 2011 - 11:16

Here's the start of the 1938 Grand Prix at Cape Town

Posted Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Raymond Mays is in ERA #17. He complains in his 1951 book "Split Seconds" that several Italian drivers jumped the start in their Maserati 6M.

Do any of our South African members have the programme for this race ? I would like to have a list of the race numbers for each entrant. Unlike the 1939 race, these are not given on Leif's Golden Era site. Thanks.

Tony

Edited by taylov, 03 January 2011 - 11:26.


Advertisement

#2 bradbury west

bradbury west
  • Member

  • 6,096 posts
  • Joined: June 02

Posted 03 January 2011 - 14:55

Tony, I suspect TNFer Marius/Hieronymus is your man, or Ry6 as an alternative. ISTR the race was covered in MS some time back.
Roger Lund

#3 Hieronymus

Hieronymus
  • Member

  • 2,032 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 03 January 2011 - 15:28

Posted Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

#4 bradbury west

bradbury west
  • Member

  • 6,096 posts
  • Joined: June 02

Posted 03 January 2011 - 16:20

Marius, many thanks. Can you remind me of the issue of Motor sport in which the Grosvenor article appeared in case anyone wants it?
Roger

#5 Hieronymus

Hieronymus
  • Member

  • 2,032 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 03 January 2011 - 16:25

MOTOR SPORT (February 1938)...it has Lazlo Hartmann on the cover at the Grosvenor GP.

#6 taylov

taylov
  • Member

  • 624 posts
  • Joined: February 05

Posted 03 January 2011 - 18:18

Marius, many thanks for the programme page. Just what I needed.

Tony

#7 taylov

taylov
  • Member

  • 624 posts
  • Joined: February 05

Posted 04 January 2011 - 13:51

Posted Image


Taruffi (18) in the Scuderia Ambrosiana Maserati and Eugenio Siena (21) jump Raymond Mays in ERA #17. Further back are Everitt (15) in a Maserati entered by Earl Howe and Luigi Villoresi (20) in another Ambrosiana entry. The winner of the race. ERA number 16 driven by Earl Howe, can just be seen at the extreme right.

Eugenio Siena was to lose his life just 5 months later in his first Grand Prix driving for Alfa Corse at the 1938 Tripoli GP. "He lost control of his Alfa Romeo 312 while trying to avoid Cortese's voiturette. He went off track, hit a sand dune and then crashed into a wall of a house. Siena was thrown out of his car and died instantly". (details from The Golden Age website)

Tony

Edited by taylov, 04 January 2011 - 13:53.


#8 Hieronymus

Hieronymus
  • Member

  • 2,032 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 04 January 2011 - 15:44

The CAPE TIMES had the following to say:

"Lurani shot ahead in a terrific start with Taruffi and Siena hot on his tail. But a great burst of speed from May's ERA won him the lead before the cars roared into the successive bends of Mac's Wiggle with only a few feet between them".

#9 taylov

taylov
  • Member

  • 624 posts
  • Joined: February 05

Posted 04 January 2011 - 17:49

The CAPE TIMES had the following to say:

"Lurani shot ahead in a terrific start with Taruffi and Siena hot on his tail. But a great burst of speed from May's ERA won him the lead before the cars roared into the successive bends of Mac's Wiggle with only a few feet between them".


Raymond Mays wrote in 1951 - "In the Grosvenor GP.....certain European drivers -no names, no pack drill - flagrantly jumped the start and were allowed to get away with it. Athough thus unfairly penalized, my car soon caught and passed (them)...."

He uses the photo (above) in his book as evidence of their misdeeds. 13 years seems a long time to remain upset over a start.

Tony

#10 bradbury west

bradbury west
  • Member

  • 6,096 posts
  • Joined: June 02

Posted 05 January 2011 - 00:37

The May 1995 Motor Sport has an account of the 3 Grosvenor races at the Pollsmoor circuit in Cape Town. That was the one of which I was thinking.
Roger Lund

Edited by bradbury west, 05 January 2011 - 00:52.


#11 Hieronymus

Hieronymus
  • Member

  • 2,032 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 05 January 2011 - 18:57

Here is the actual entry list, which differs slightly from the printed programme:


1 J. Whitehead Riley Ulster
2 V.C. Berrange Riley Brooklands
3 J. Bain Riley
4 D.R. Woodhead MG Magnette
5 Hon. J. de Villiers Squire
6 R.D. Woolf Riley Sprite
7 W.B. Meyer Riley
8 J. McNicol Talbot Darracq
9 F. Chiappini Maserati 8C
10 A. Govoni * Bugatti Type 35B
11 W.H. Roderick Alfa Romeo
12 M.E. Bothner Maserati 8CM
14 N.C. Wilson ERA R4A
15 W.G. Everitt Maserati 6CM
16 Earl Howe ERA R8B
17 R. Mays ERA R4B
18 P. Taruffi Maserati 6CM
19 Count J. Lurani Maserati 6CM
20 L. Villoresi Maserati 6CM
21 E. Siena Maserati 6CM
22 L. Hartmann Maserati 6CM
23 A.S. du Toit # Maserati 4CM
24 "Mario" (M. Massacurati) Maserati 6C-34

* replaced by Bothner
# replaced by Hartmann


#12 Hieronymus

Hieronymus
  • Member

  • 2,032 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 05 January 2011 - 19:00

Result

1 Earl Howe ERA R8B 2 h 43 min 9,2 sec 74,72 mph
2 Piero Taruffi Maserati 6CM
3 Luigi Villoresi Maserati 6CM
4 Bill Everitt Maserati 6CM
5 Eugenio Siena Maserati 6CM
6 Vernon Berrange Riley Brooklands
7 Buller Meyer Riley
8 "Mario" Maserati 6C-34
9 Jack Whitehead Riley Ulster
10 Bobby Bothner Bugatti Type 35B

dnf Norman Wilson ERA R4A broken piston lap 2
dnf Jack McNicol Talbot Darracq broken tank strap lap 3
dnf Dennis Woodhead MG Magnette plugs lap 12
dnf Raymond Mays ERA R4B scavenge pump lap 21
dnf Laszlo Hartmann Maserati 4CM driver ill lap 22
dnf John Bain Riley broken big end lap 27
dnf Count Lurani Maserati 6CM car taken over by Villoresi

dns John de Villiers Squire engine in practice
dns R.D. Woolf Riley Sprite
dns Steve Chiappini Maserati 8C cracked cylinder head
dns Bill Roderick Alfa Romeo

Fastest lap: "Mario" (Maserati 6C) 78,25 mph



#13 taylov

taylov
  • Member

  • 624 posts
  • Joined: February 05

Posted 06 January 2011 - 10:19

I added an South African autograph album to my collection a couple of days ago.

The autograph album contains the signatures of most of the field from the 1938 race including the trio of ERA drivers Raymond Mays, Earl Howe and Norman Wilson; the four Scuderia Ambrosiana Maserati drivers - Taruffi, Lurani, Villorersi and Eugenio Siena and local drivers John Bain (Riley); Dennis Woodhead (MG); “Steve” Chiapinni (Maserati) and Vernon Berrange (Riley). The album is also signed by Dougie van Riet who had won the 1937 Rand Grand Prix in his Austin Brooklands and by Neville Clayton (MG). Clayton and Van Riet had raced against Rosemeyer and von Delius at the 1937 Grosvenor GP.

Posted Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Posted Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Posted Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us


Not many racing drivers go on to make an impact on world history but Vernon Berrange was one such. In 1963, Berrange was a leading member of the legal team defending Nelson Mendela and other ANC members in the “Rivonia trial” in which Mandela faced the death penalty for sabotage.

Posted Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

In 2010 the South African Government made a posthumous award to Berrange honouring his work in fighting apartheid.

Tony

Edited by taylov, 28 January 2011 - 21:44.


#14 Hieronymus

Hieronymus
  • Member

  • 2,032 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 06 January 2011 - 12:34

Tony, you must hold on to those fantastic items. This is true Africana.

Berrange is indeed an interesting character. I tried to do some research on him, but it is not easy to find information. He was a communist, or at least a communist sympathizer. His full name was Vernon Cilliers Berrange. At one stage he lived in exile in Swaziland, following the Rivonia Trail, and was given hell by the SA secret service, which played all sorts of "mind games" on him. Not sure where and when he died.

Other interesting names at the race (South Africans) are Steve Chiappini who was instrumental in establishing racing in the Cape. The family use to run a motor garage in Cape Town. There is still a Chiappini Street in Cape Town.

Dennis Woodhead was SA's uncrowned champion prior to WW2. He was killed in 1940 in a race. Van Riet was another Cape legend and nearly made 100 years. Jack McNicol was the father of 1960/70s racer, John McNicol. Maurice "Bobby" Bother was from a rich Swiss family. His father ran music/piano shops. Bobby was educated at Harvard University.




#15 taylov

taylov
  • Member

  • 624 posts
  • Joined: February 05

Posted 06 January 2011 - 14:00

Here's another SA driver -

Posted Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

(Frederick) Neville Clayton, "Winner of the Cape Argus Light Car Derby" in this MG ? I have failed to find anything more about him.


Regarding Vernon Celliers Berrange, here's what I have found -

Born in Pretoria 25/11/1900. Admitted to the South African Bar in 1924 and worked as a lawyer in Johannesburg. Became a leading left wing lawyer in South Africa.

The Apartheid government subjected Berrange to Banning Orders on charges of his involvement with the ANC and his former membership of the banned South African Communist Party. He was forced to leave South Africa and live in Swaziland until he was given a “tourist” visa in 1958.

In 1963 Vernon Berrange was a leading member of the legal team defending Nelson Mendela and other ANC members in the “Rivonia trial” in which Mandela faced the death penalty for sabotage.

He remained a target for the SA Security Forces even during his later years .

In 2010 the South African Government made a posthumous award to Berrange honouring his work in fighting apartheid..

The Order of the Companions of OR Tambo in silver was bestowed on Vernon Berrange : “For his excellent contribution to the struggle against racial oppression in South Africa”. Oddly, despite being born in Pretoria, Berrange was given a medal reserved for "foreigners".

Hope this helps,

Tony



#16 Hieronymus

Hieronymus
  • Member

  • 2,032 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 06 January 2011 - 15:07

The picture of Clayton is from the 1937 Grosvenor GP programme. He was a usually competing in Cape Town events, but also competed at the 1st SAGP in 1934.

#17 Hieronymus

Hieronymus
  • Member

  • 2,032 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 06 January 2011 - 18:36

Vernon Berrange triggered my interest at one stage, since I feel there is quite a story to be told, not only as a racing driver, but as a human being in general. I guess he was somewhat of a tragic figure or one of those chaps that were in constant conflict with society. Some more notes I have on him:

His grandfather, Johannes Krogh, was Special Commissioner for the old ZAR (Boer Republic).

Berrange's was commissioned in the RAF according to The Times of 3 May 1919. As he's described as an overseas cadet in May 1919.

The Times also mentions a divorce suit. Berrange is named as co-respondent in the case of Brewer v Brewer and Berrange, heard before Mr Justice Bateson on July 23rd 1929. The suit was undefended: "Major Herbert Reginald Brewer, Royal Marines, at present with HMS Calcutta on the South Africa Station, sought the dissolution of his marriage with Mrs Yolande Viviane Brewer, née de Pierres, on the ground of her adultery with Vernon Celliers Berrange, a solicitor in South Africa .... it was alleged that the respondent and co-respondent had been living together at Johannesburg since January 1927."

Shortly after the SAGP in 1934 there was conflict between him an Brud Bishop, organizer of the race about his handicap time. This spilled over in newspaper reports the so-called Berrange vs Bishop clash.



#18 quintin cloud

quintin cloud
  • Member

  • 4,649 posts
  • Joined: June 00

Posted 07 January 2011 - 07:58

Interesting how Brud Bishop's name comes up, back in the day Brud Bishop wrote a book on the South Africa grand prixs back in the day.
There is a photo of himself in the front of the book and now seeing that there was issues that involved Brud and Berrange.
If I think about it when I looked at the photo of Brud one can only get the feeling that he was one of those people that would or could cause issues in the motorsport world with ones ego issues.



#19 Killarney

Killarney
  • New Member

  • 25 posts
  • Joined: October 06

Posted 07 January 2011 - 10:18

Interesting how Brud Bishop's name comes up, back in the day Brud Bishop wrote a book on the South Africa grand prixs back in the day.
There is a photo of himself in the front of the book and now seeing that there was issues that involved Brud and Berrange.
If I think about it when I looked at the photo of Brud one can only get the feeling that he was one of those people that would or could cause issues in the motorsport world with ones ego issues.



I have that book. I think Bishop was a rather pompous man who more or less got whatever he wanted.

Advertisement

#20 taylov

taylov
  • Member

  • 624 posts
  • Joined: February 05

Posted 13 January 2011 - 23:29

Another photo from Raymond Mays' trip to South Africa in 1938. (I acquired a large file of original photos of Ray's racing career some 30 years ago). This was taken in Cape Town.

Tony

Posted Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us




#21 Vitesse2

Vitesse2
  • Administrator

  • 41,776 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 14 January 2011 - 00:06

Great picture, Tony. Fascinating how the two genuine aristos (Lurani and Howe) are "studiedly scruffy" while remaining well-dressed while Mays looks like the "stage-door Johnny" he undoubtedly was! I ought to know who the chap in the flashy sports jacket and cravat is too ... the hairstyle looks like Villoresi, but not the face?

#22 taylov

taylov
  • Member

  • 624 posts
  • Joined: February 05

Posted 14 January 2011 - 09:21

Great picture, Tony. Fascinating how the two genuine aristos (Lurani and Howe) are "studiedly scruffy" while remaining well-dressed while Mays looks like the "stage-door Johnny" he undoubtedly was! I ought to know who the chap in the flashy sports jacket and cravat is too ... the hairstyle looks like Villoresi, but not the face?


I thought the fourth man might be a young Taruffi who was driving a Maserati on the 1938 South Africa tour.

Here's Mays in more formal attire (also in Cape Town from the same collection of photos).

Posted Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Tony

Edited by taylov, 14 January 2011 - 10:04.


#23 "Shangry-La"

"Shangry-La"
  • Member

  • 30 posts
  • Joined: May 09

Posted 14 January 2011 - 14:21

I thought the fourth man might be a young Taruffi who was driving a Maserati on the 1938 South Africa tour.

You are right, Tony. It is Taruffi.


#24 Hieronymus

Hieronymus
  • Member

  • 2,032 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 14 January 2011 - 14:34

For the chap on the right try, Mario Massacurati.

#25 taylov

taylov
  • Member

  • 624 posts
  • Joined: February 05

Posted 28 January 2011 - 18:11

For the chap on the right try, Mario Massacurati.



Here's "Mario" - a signed page from a 1939 Autograph book which mentions his 3rd place in the SAGP of that year - with period 3 newspaper photos.

Tony

Posted Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

#26 Hieronymus

Hieronymus
  • Member

  • 2,032 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 28 January 2011 - 18:19

There is no question about it...the chap in the group photo is "Mario". Seen several photos of him before...

#27 JockinSA

JockinSA
  • Member

  • 127 posts
  • Joined: December 10

Posted 28 January 2011 - 19:24

Really brilliant. now I've learnt just a little bit more about the history and position of South Africa in world motorsport. I sometimes wish that more people here took some pride in what has happened here and the things that have come out of this country that are as good as anywhere in the world.

#28 Killarney

Killarney
  • New Member

  • 25 posts
  • Joined: October 06

Posted 29 January 2011 - 08:58

There is no question about it...the chap in the group photo is "Mario". Seen several photos of him before...



Agree. There is a huge heritage in South African motor sport and we tend to sell ourselves short.

#29 Hieronymus

Hieronymus
  • Member

  • 2,032 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 29 January 2011 - 09:13

The Cape has a very rich motorsport history in particular, so it was also interesting to see the newspapers this week reporting on yet another potential F1 circuit. OK, this is almost an annual "wish" by some optimistic promoters, so you chances are remote. I just wonder if the chap that "designed" the latest circuit, realise that the "circuit" runs past the site where South Africa's very first recorded motor race meeting took place in 1904. I think the answer is a big, NO.

#30 JockinSA

JockinSA
  • Member

  • 127 posts
  • Joined: December 10

Posted 29 January 2011 - 19:21

The Cape has a very rich motorsport history in particular, so it was also interesting to see the newspapers this week reporting on yet another potential F1 circuit. OK, this is almost an annual "wish" by some optimistic promoters, so you chances are remote. I just wonder if the chap that "designed" the latest circuit, realise that the "circuit" runs past the site where South Africa's very first recorded motor race meeting took place in 1904. I think the answer is a big, NO.


After today's racing at Zwartkops, I can only hope that you people in the cCape have as good as it was today for the Piper Historics. It was superb and the turn out was fantastic both with cars and spectators. Good luck to you down there and please encourage anyone you know to go along to make it a great day at Killarney.


#31 RichardBurton

RichardBurton
  • New Member

  • 1 posts
  • Joined: February 11

Posted 04 March 2011 - 10:27

Another photo from Raymond Mays' trip to South Africa in 1938. (I acquired a large file of original photos of Ray's racing career some 30 years ago). This was taken in Cape Town.

Tony

Posted Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us


When Lord Howe visited SA in 38/39 for the Grosvenor GP he had his V12 Lagonda shipped out from the UK for personal transport. This Lagonda, Reg GPK780, was owned by my family in the UK from the late 50's to the mid 70's. I myself now live in Australia but during the 90's I worked in Botswana and travelled extensively in the RSA. It was only recently that I discovered that the old family car had been there before me! Does anyone have information/photos of the car in SA in 38/39?

#32 taylov

taylov
  • Member

  • 624 posts
  • Joined: February 05

Posted 04 March 2011 - 14:04

When Lord Howe visited SA in 38/39 for the Grosvenor GP he had his V12 Lagonda shipped out from the UK for personal transport. This Lagonda, Reg GPK780, was owned by my family in the UK from the late 50's to the mid 70's. I myself now live in Australia but during the 90's I worked in Botswana and travelled extensively in the RSA. It was only recently that I discovered that the old family car had been there before me! Does anyone have information/photos of the car in SA in 38/39?



Howe wasn't the only driver to have elegant transport for the 1938 race. Here Raymond Mays' runabout at Capetown. Sorry, the Mays file doesn't have a shot of GPK.

Tony

Posted Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Edited by taylov, 04 March 2011 - 14:05.


#33 Vitesse2

Vitesse2
  • Administrator

  • 41,776 posts
  • Joined: April 01

Posted 04 March 2011 - 14:14

Presumably that's his normal daily driver shipped from the UK? As I recall he had some sort of deal with Bentley.

#34 barrykm

barrykm
  • Member

  • 807 posts
  • Joined: February 02

Posted 04 March 2011 - 14:51

I thought the fourth man might be a young Taruffi who was driving a Maserati on the 1938 South Africa tour.

Here's Mays in more formal attire (also in Cape Town from the same collection of photos).

Posted Image

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Tony


Hmmm...May's partner is not unattractive...


#35 newbookscout

newbookscout
  • New Member

  • 2 posts
  • Joined: May 13

Posted 06 January 2014 - 22:14

Dear colleagues,

 

looking at these woderful photos I would like to ask wheter anybody of you has got any photos and/or documents on the two 1937 races in East London and Cape town. I'm in the process of researching as many details of these races as available. Any help will be gighly appreciated.