1911 - An Indian Summer at Brooklands
The following passage is an excerpt from Chapter 5 entitled �1911 � An Indian Summer� in the book �Bikes at Brooklands in the Pioneer Years� by Peter Hartley (Goose and Son, Ltd.). It describes the race meetings in which the famous De Rosier � Collier match races occurred.
Towards the end of 1910 news began to filter through of some exceptional speed records set up in the United States. When early in February 1911 the motorcycling press announced that a certain Jake de Rosier had covered 84 miles 135 yd in the hour on his 994 cc Indian � the response was rank disbelief. Most of the Brooklands coterie considered that this was yet another example of �fast� American stop-watch work. They were in for a shock later in the season, however, when the great Jake first rode at Brooklands prior to competing in the Isle of Man TT Races, on the new �Mountain� circuit.
Triumph and tragedy
Jake de Rosier had not just come over to England for the Isle of Man IT Races, but also for a series of match races at Brooklands against Charlie Collier. Matters had been agreed upon and the two riders were to compete for �130 in prize money. The races were scheduled for the next BMCRC race meeting at Brooklands, shortly after their return from the Isle of Man.
The last weeks of June saw most of the Brooklands' "regulars" practising over in the Island. There were exceptions, however, and on Wednesday June 21st following the June BARC meeting, Stanley (499 Singer) was out on the track attempting the Class C (500 cc) 50-mile record held by Surridge. This he successfully demolished with a time of 48 min 37 see (an average speed of 61.7 mph).
The evening did not exactly favour record breaking, as a strong wind was blowing down the Railway Straight, and it was not until the eighth lap that Stanley got inside the average needed for the record. Sparking-plug trouble, however, took him outside it on the next. Gradually improving he was inside record again at the thirteenth lap and continued, to beat the 50-mile time.
June ended on rather a sad note for Brooklands' habitues, with the news of the death in practice in the Isle of Man, of the 500-cc hour record holder - Victor Surridge.
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