9 replies to this topic

[dgs]

Can any one fill in details on these (and maybe other) ERA /Match' and ERA Only' races

 

I have details on this:

'Imperial Trophy' race meeting at Crystal Palace 8th October 1938:

A 5 lap 'Bira' v Dobson match race, won by 'Bira (R2B), 10'48.5", 55.51mph. Arthur Dobson (R7B) had puncture after 2 laps

 

Brand Hatch meeting on 21st September 1957 (AMOC run) 'Match race between Bill Moss (R5B) and Barry Eastick (R11B)

Have no details of laps, distance or results.

 

ERA Only Races:

 

I only have (some) details on one race at Brooklands (BARC Autumn meeting) 16th October 1936

10 laps of the Mountain course.

Siam Challenge Trophy:

Entrants, No 2 Deins Cribbans (R9B), No 3 Arthur Dobson (R7B), No 4 Douglas Briault (R6B), No 5 Raymond Mays (R4B) No 6 Reggie Tongue (R11B.

 

The race was won by Raymond Mays, speed 77.98mph (time ?) with Arthur Dobson coming second.

 

I do not know if any other 'match' or ERA only races took place.  

[Vitesse2]

Siam Trophy 1936:

 

1  Raymond Mays        9'14.0"     
2  Arthur Dobson          9'17.2"     
3  Dennis Scribbans       
4  Douglas Briault         
5  Reggie Tongue

 

'B Bira' DNA

Peter Whitehead DNA

[dgs]

Siam Trophy 1936:

 

1  Raymond Mays        9'14.0"     
2  Arthur Dobson          9'17.2"     
3  Dennis Scribbans       
4  Douglas Briault         
5  Reggie Tongue

 

'B Bira' DNA

Peter Whitehead DNA

Forgot to add chassis numbers of non-starters

No 7 'B.Bira (R5B)

No 1 Peter Whitehead (R10B)

[Roger Clark]

Brands Hatch 21/9/57 was a most unusual day featuring three or four cars racing against each other over two laps. Cars were chosen for approximate equality of performance; class results were published even though the class contestants may have been in different races. The two ERAs raced against Bayliss’s 35B Bugatti which was in a different class. The ERAs’ class was racing cars, pre-1940 up to 2000cc

 

There were one-make classes for: Austin-Healeys and Healey, MGs, Triumph TRs, Aston Martins up to 1 ½ litres, Aston Martins 2-3 litres but not DB3 or DB3S, Volkswagens (!), Jaguars, Cooper sports and Lotus. 

 

Autosport said the format had been tried in 1956 was was deemed a great success

[Doug Nye]

There was an ERA-only celebration race at Silverstone surely, circa 1984 perhaps????  Almost inevitably it was won - as far as I recall - by Patrick Lindsay.  

 

That was the race which Dudley Gahagan started in his notoriously (mechanically) unkempt ex-Dobson ERA R7B but failed to complete even the opening lap.  I asked Patrick afterwards if he had seen what happened to Dudley and he replied to the effect that: "I saw his car parked backwards on the grass at Beckett's, I think... One assumes that it chimed in on all six cylinders, and took him by surprise".

 

DCN

[Roger Clark]

 

 

I have details on this:

'Imperial Trophy' race meeting at Crystal Palace 8th October 1938:

A 5 lap 'Bira' v Dobson match race, won by 'Bira (R2B), 10'48.5", 55.51mph. Arthur Dobson (R7B) had puncture after 2 laps

 

 

David Weguelin and the Autocar report say it was the other way round - Bira had the puncture, Dobson continued.

[cooper997]

Cover of November 1938 Speed shows the punctured Bira ERA.

 

Within the issue there's a photo of Bira leading Dobson.

 

 

 

Stephen

 

 

[dgs]

David Weguelin and the Autocar report say it was the other way round - Bira had the puncture, Dobson continued.

My mistake

 

I was originally looking at lap chart (lap 1) in 'A Record of Motor Racing at Crystal Palace' by Richard Page and should have looked at lap 5, where it shows winner Arthur Dobson,  

[dgs]

A couple of rounds of the ERA Anniversary Trophy race series were held with only ERA entries, round 1, Snetterton 24-04-1954, and round 6,Castle Combe 28-08-1954

Two other circuit rounds were held during 1954, but these were incorporated into Formule Libre races, Other rounds  were held at hill climbs and a sprint course, positions for this series was based on chassis number of the ERA, not on driver.

 

It is mainly 1930-s to end 1960, ERA only races that I am interested in

[68targa]

From the 24 April 1954 Snetterton programme.  ...

 

 

...and below is from 28 August 1954 Castle Combe programme.  This race must have been a later addition since it is not listed in the above schedule. The race was reduced to 5 laps when it was realised that only two cars would start. Graham Whitehead won by some 34 secs.