Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
|
|
| Author |
Message |
Bitumen Boy
Joined: 26 Jan 2012
Posts: 1735
Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire
|
 Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:59 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| peter scott wrote: | | It looks like it has to be at about 105 mile radius of SW7 |
I wonder if a little confusion crept into the original ad? Depending on the route, Nailsworth Ladder is (at least according to Google maps) around 105 miles from SW7, so the mystery Mutton Hill could be anywhere! I did try searching Youtube, thinking that if there had been any form of motorsport there in the last few years there would almost certainly be some footage, with no success. Only thing I found was a film of some masochists running up a Coombe Hill outside Wendover, starting at a pub called the Shoulder of Mutton - but apparently it only gained that name in 2010. I don't think it's likely to be the one, although if anyone on here has an OS map of the area sitting around on a shelf it might be worth a quick shufti.
I know standards have changed over the years, what with better roads, motorways and synchromesh gearboxes, but it still makes me smile when I see these old ads giving vast distances covered by the car in question "without changing from top gear", or words to that effect. Maybe people saw it differently back in the day, but really all they were doing was drawing attention to how ridiculously undergeared the cars of the day were  |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7118
Location: Edinburgh
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 11:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
Mutton Hill seems to be near Chalford which is 103 miles from SW7.
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/january-1926/26/round-club-s
Peter
| Quote: | The run commenced at the Bear Inn, near Stroud, and before a mile was covered the first hill was encountered; this was Giddynop, a rough climb with an acute left bend.
Here excellent climbs were made by C. W. Peters (348 Baughan), R. Brown (Zenith) and G. Dance (Sunbeam), the latter appearing in very good form. An exciting incident occurred when A. Paley caught his glove in the throttle of his Enfield, thus opening full out and causing the machine to charge the bushes. Uninjured, but with a damaged machine, he continued.
Two more hills and then came the famous Mutton Hill near Chalford, which was responsible for the failure of all but six solo riders.
Again, two more hills before the piece' de resistance was reached ; this was Mount Vernon, and its quality can be judged from the fact that it was reserved for solo riders only. |
_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Keith D
Joined: 16 Oct 2008
Posts: 1129
Location: Upper Swan, Western Australia
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 1:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
B-B
I don't think that "all day in top gear" was to draw attention to how ridiculously undergeared the cars were, but rather to the fact that inexperienced drivers didn't have to constantly battle with double de-clutching and nasty, noisy gearchanges with their crash gearboxes!
My Chrysler slips into top at about 5 mph and because the long stroke, heavy flywheeled engine is infinitely more flexible than its modern high performance cousins, having a very wide power band, it will accelerate smoothly. (Rather slowly, but definitely smoothly and judder-free!)
Keith |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4755
Location: Swindon, Wilts.
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 2:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hi Peter
That could well be it.
A look on Google maps has shown this:
http://goo.gl/maps/HOieU
Interestingly the nameplate of that cul-de-sac says Hampton Lane.
This is under 4mls from the Nailsworth Ladder.
The actual Mutton Hill referred to could well be either side of the A419 as Chalford is in the bottom of a steep sided valley.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bitumen Boy
Joined: 26 Jan 2012
Posts: 1735
Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 2:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Peter, now you mention Chalford there's a faint bell ringing somewhere. If this Mutton Hill is still open as a regular highway (which could explain the lack of recent motorsport references) I may even have been up or down it myself, used to get around that area a lot once upon a day - mainly trying to avoid the traffic in Stroud when they were digging up the sewers again!
Keith, I agree with what you're saying, but to cover the sort of distances quoted in these ads in most parts of Britain, without needing anything lower than top gear, then it seems to me that the final drive ratio would have to be very low indeed no matter how flexible the engine. I understand why it was done, but it doesn't get way from the fact that the engines would be revving their nuts off for the cars to achieve modest top speeds. Maybe the drivers back then that couldn't get the hang of the gearboxes of the day should have stuck to horses and trains...
EDIT - another thought strikes me. It's entirely possible that these long runs in top gear were merely showing off, and could never have been replicated by most drivers under normal conditions - a bit like the incredible economy claimed by some makers nowadays  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7118
Location: Edinburgh
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 4:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Penman wrote: | Hi Peter
That could well be it.
A look on Google maps has shown this:
http://goo.gl/maps/HOieU
Interestingly the nameplate of that cul-de-sac says Hampton Lane.
This is under 4mls from the Nailsworth Ladder.
The actual Mutton Hill referred to could well be either side of the A419 as Chalford is in the bottom of a steep sided valley. |
I suspect that the locals got fed up with vehicles tearing up the hill and changed or lost the name. It had a hairpin bend in it but the only hairpin I can see is in Marle Hill and it has a sign at the foot saying it is unsuitable for motor vehicles so it might be one.
Peter
http://www.picturesofengland.com/England/Gloucestershire/Chalford/pictures
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1937/24/mere-male-wins
| Quote: | | The secretary, down at Cheltenham, where the start was to take place, was somewhat perturbed at receiving a telegram from the club's headquarters at Hamilton Place, 'W.1, which read " Police say Mutton Must Not be Used." The secretary had already discovered that " Ham was impossible." These untoward events, however, did not betoken a crisis in the club's kitchen, which is becoming famous, but that the hill, Mutton, near Chalford, was no longer allowed, while Ham Mill, another hill in the route, had been overwhelmed by the terrific storm which had burst on the previous day. In consequence, Stancombe and Quarhouse, two hills once famous on the "Gloucester," which were included in the route but which were merely to be taken in competitors' stride, were elevated to the status of observed sections, though, as expected, no one, as it turned out, failed on either. amongst these, perhaps, was H. W. Inderwick, with his Batten Special V8, which unfortunately developed severe clutch slip owing to oil finding its way through a porous engine casting. The best times were those of K. Hutchison's special two-seater Ford V8, with 4.82 secs. |
_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22439
Location: UK
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7118
Location: Edinburgh
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 12:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon
Last edited by peter scott on Thu Jul 06, 2017 10:45 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Peter_L
Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 12:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
| or buy a car in any country, all made with parts from China. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Peter_L
Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 1:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
| peter scott wrote: | | Penman wrote: | Hi Peter
That could well be it.
A look on Google maps has shown this:
http://goo.gl/maps/HOieU
Interestingly the nameplate of that cul-de-sac says Hampton Lane.
This is under 4mls from the Nailsworth Ladder.
The actual Mutton Hill referred to could well be either side of the A419 as Chalford is in the bottom of a steep sided valley. |
I suspect that the locals got fed up with vehicles tearing up the hill and changed or lost the name. It had a hairpin bend in it but the only hairpin I can see is in Marle Hill and it has a sign at the foot saying it is unsuitable for motor vehicles so it might be one.
Peter
http://www.picturesofengland.com/England/Gloucestershire/Chalford/pictures
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1937/24/mere-male-wins
| Quote: | | The secretary, down at Cheltenham, where the start was to take place, was somewhat perturbed at receiving a telegram from the club's headquarters at Hamilton Place, 'W.1, which read " Police say Mutton Must Not be Used." The secretary had already discovered that " Ham was impossible." These untoward events, however, did not betoken a crisis in the club's kitchen, which is becoming famous, but that the hill, Mutton, near Chalford, was no longer allowed, while Ham Mill, another hill in the route, had been overwhelmed by the terrific storm which had burst on the previous day. In consequence, Stancombe and Quarhouse, two hills once famous on the "Gloucester," which were included in the route but which were merely to be taken in competitors' stride, were elevated to the status of observed sections, though, as expected, no one, as it turned out, failed on either. amongst these, perhaps, was H. W. Inderwick, with his Batten Special V8, which unfortunately developed severe clutch slip owing to oil finding its way through a porous engine casting. The best times were those of K. Hutchison's special two-seater Ford V8, with 4.82 secs. |
|
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1937/24/mere-male-wins |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22439
Location: UK
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22439
Location: UK
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
lowdrag
Joined: 10 Apr 2009
Posts: 1585
Location: Le Mans
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 4:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rick
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22439
Location: UK
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
lowdrag
Joined: 10 Apr 2009
Posts: 1585
Location: Le Mans
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 5:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| But it would have been a wrench to leave it out, and I would have felt such a tool. Only cost two and a spanner each. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
php BB powered © php BB Grp.
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
