Hi Gang
I've just been looking through some notes about my late Godfather Raymond Mays
and his first ERA's in 1934. After finishing second to a 3 litre Maserati at
Brooklands in the mountain championship race he decided to have a go at the
standing start world record over 1 kilometer. He took it at an average speed
of 89.73 MPH. To give an idea of the acceleration of his 2 litre blown ERA he
said. -
"First, imagine the ERA to be standing still on the start line with its engine
running. Then suppose that, travelling at exactly 89.73 MPH, another car comes
up from behind. The moment that car B comes abreast of the stationary ERA, the
ERA makes its getaway. Now, with car B maintaining precisely 89.73 MPH, the
two cars will cross the finishing strip - only five eighths of a mile away -
exactly neck and neck." - He regularly gave examples like this at talks.
'Mr Ray' had a way with words. One day, in 1.5 litre V8 BRM days he had some
friends come to his house in Bourne (opposite the racing shop). They wanted to
hear one of the F1 engines running. He took them over to the shop and,
pointing to a solitary V8 GP car he said to a mechanic. 'Would you start this
car up please.' The mechanic said 'I'm sorry Mr. Ray we've got no camshafts
in the engine'. Ray retorted, " Never mind the bloody camshafts just get the
engine started".
Best wishes
Paul
|