1911 - An Indian Summer at Brooklands - Page 5
Again, coming under the Members' Bridge, Charlie was several lengths in front, but the American again drew level after half the length of the Railway Straight had been covered. He was introducing a new art to Brooklands' habitu�s - that of slipstreaming. After passing the Byfleet aeroplane sheds, the two machines seemed to spectators at the Fork to merge into one. But hopes for an English win were dashed when people saw that Charlie's white jersey was acting as a background to the crouching leather-clad Jake. They flashed over the line, with de Rosier winning by about a length, after one of the most exciting races ever witnessed at Brooklands.

Result :

FIRST COLLIER-DE ROSIER MATCH RACE (5.43 miles). Rolling start at the Fork and a Fork finish.

1.       J. de Rosier (994 Indian)                                       80.59 mph

2.       C. R. Collier (998 Matchless-JAP)                         80.53 mph


A fifth-of-a-second separated the two men at the finish. Jake's laps were covered at 78.80 mph and 82.49 mph respectively.

The second race on the programme was a ten-lap open scratch event for up to 500 cc machines. This brought out six starters.

W. O. Oldman (493 Zenith-Gradua-JAP) was quickest away and, thanks to his variable gear, led the field easily until the Railway Straight, when G. E. Stanley (499 Singer), who was travelling well, got in front. He was followed by Frank McNab and A. Baker White (493 Trump-JAPs). At the end of the first lap Stanley led McNab by fifty yards, with Baker White third by a similar distance.

The positions were the same at the end of lap three, except for the third place which had been re-taken by Oldman, Baker White having lengthened an exhaust valve. This was the order at the end of the race, by which time the lead held by Stanley had increased to some one-hundred and twenty yards.

TEN-LAP SCRATCH RACE (up to 500 cc) over 27 miles. Fork start and finish.

1.       G. E. Stanley (499 Singer)                                60.31 mph

2.       F. A. McNab (493 Trump-JAP)                          60.05 mph

3.       W. O. Oldman (493 Zenith-Gradua-JAP)           56.38 mph

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