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Aviation History
1936
1936 - 1949.PDF
68 FLIGHT. JULY 16, 1936. The Fifteenth NC'S CUP Victory for C. E. Gardn by Sir Connop Guthri New B.A. Double h FLYING a four-seater Percival Vega Gull (Gipsy Six engine) entered by Sir Connop Guthrie, C. E. Gard ner won the fifteenth air race for the King's Cup last Saturday at an average speed of 164.47 m.p.h., covering the 312 miles (twelve laps) of the Final course in ih. 51m. 16s. Accompanied by Mr. Charles Guthrie, son of the entrant, he flew a very consistent course both in the Final and in Friday's Eliminating Race, in which he averaged 160.75 m.p.h. for the 1,224 miles. Starting sixth in the Final, he worked his way into the lead by the eighth lap, and was not caught by any of the back-markers. Second was Fit. Lt. "Tommy" Rose, in a Miles Hawk (Gipsv Six) entered by Lady Wakefield. He averaged 184 m.p.h., covering the course of the Final in ih. 39m. 21s., and finishing 2m. 13s. behind Gardner. Starting last but one of the fourteen competitors, he reached second place by the start of the twelfth lap. Third was Fit. Lt. J. B. Wilson, in the new high-wing six-seater B. A. Double Eagle (two Gipsy Sixes), entered by Lord Willoughby de Broke. He averaged 181.13 m.p.h., finishing 36s. behind Rose, having worked his way up from twelfth place at the start. The first, second and third competitors received Lord Wakefield's cash prizes of ^500, /200 and /ioo respectively. Capt. E. W. Percival, flying the Percival Mew Gull entered by H.R.H. the Duke of Kent, finished fourth from a scratch start, averaging 206.12 m.p.h.—the highest speed of the race—and making the fastest lap at 210.83 m.p.h. Gardner, the winner, is an enthusiastic private owner who has competed in several races during the past year or two. He won the Siddeley 'Trophy in last year's race, and flew to India this year to compete in the Viceroy's Trophy Race. He had his ab initio training at Surrey Flying Services, and from there graduated to a course at Air Service Training, Ltd. General satisfaction : Lord Swinton hands the King's Cup to Mr. Charles Gardner in the presence of Mr. Lindsay Everard, M.P., Mr. Alan Goodfellow and Mr. Harold Perrin—and, incidentally, several hundred others. On the right Gardner's victorious Vega Gull taxies in after its grand race. FRIDAY'S ELIMINATING RACE FRIDAY'S officials and spectators may have been con vulsed with rage when, with customary suddenness, they discovered that their feet were really wet, but they should have been consoled by the thought that the com petitors were even more uncomfortable. The early morning weather report had been far from satisfactory, with 8/10 to 10/10 cloud descending to 800 ft. or so in rain, though there was a distinct promise of im provement. Sure enough, the rain ceased for the field sports at the end of Lap 1, but returned later, and the majority of competitors had little praise for the conditions during the second round. These were, generally speaking, much worse, with clouds on the hills here and there, and with very heavy rain from time to time. In a race of this sort, of course, the weather can play some peculiar tricks. One competitor may meet his rain and low cloud over safe ground, while another may meet them over all the mountainous areas, and be compelled either to make detours or even to throttle back for a minut'' or two. Luck can play a surprisingly large part in an event of this kind, which is neither a scratch nor a handicap race, and really consistent bad weather might have given some of the also-rans in each class a chance for the final. Thr
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