THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Rain makes the going tricky on Craigantlet Hill Climb

From the News Letter, August 27, 1934
Pictured in July 2014 is Scott Moran blasting his way up Craigantlet to a hill recordPictured in July 2014 is Scott Moran blasting his way up Craigantlet to a hill record
Pictured in July 2014 is Scott Moran blasting his way up Craigantlet to a hill record

Any chances of any competitors breaking the record held over the course of the Craigantlet Hill Climb were dealt a blow during the weekend past because of heavy rain, reported the News Letter on this day in 1934.

In the end the fastest time recorded in actual competition was 1 min 27 2.5 seconds which was held by E R Hall in a supercharged 1,086 CC MG which was 4.5 seconds outside the record which had set up in 1933.

J M Toulmin drove his MG “very well” to win the first two events, taking 1 min 45 seconds for the first climb and improving on that by four seconds at the second attempt.

W Sullivan (MG) and L R Briggs (MG) also took second and third place in the first two classes. The third class was won by Miss Fay Taylor, the well-known woman driver, who had recently won the Skerries race.

Taylor recorded a time of 1 min 48 seconds. The most spectacular climb was made by G L Glegg in Dorcas II.

The News Letter’s correspondent at the hill climb wrote: “This extraordinary looking machine proceeded up the hill forwards, sideways and, at times, almost backwards, and seemed to be scarcely under control.”

In spite of this it Glegg put up the second fastest time in class 5, making the ascent in 1 min 46 3.5 seconds.

The stewards, however, considered that under the conditions of the day the car was too dangerous and did not permit Glegg to drive it again in the next race.