sunbeamtiger.co.uk

Saturday, February 16, 2013

"One hundred years ago at Brooklands, on Saturday 15th February 1913, Percy Lambert, driving a 25 hp “Invincible Talbot” became the first person on earth to travel over 100 miles in one hour. To mark the centenary of this extraordinary achievement, on Saturday 16th February this year a group of Talbot and other historic cars will attempt to cover an aggregate 103.76 miles (the exact distance covered by Lambert) at Brooklands."

http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/index.p ... centenary/

STOC has 10 parking/show places near the Clubhouse, with 5 taken as I write. Interested? Please call/email me.

Graham
STOC Editor

Some years ago i was working at a section of Brooklands that isn't open to the public, it's inside Tesco's Weybride distribution site. This part of the site apparently is where Percy crashed and met his end. Folklore says that Percy's ghost wonders the buildings that now exist where the track once ran and has been seen many times, i was on contract there on nights refurbing the chiller/ventilation units. I was working alone when a cold chill ran down my spine.....i turned around and could clearly see a white figure 50 yrds from me holding what looked like a leather helmet and goggles gazing at me with a vacant stare? The Tesco's night shift workers thought it highly amusing when i told them what i had just witnessed? Oh it's only Percy he won't hurt you..... they'd all seen him many times.

As a sceptic in all things of this nature i was advised to Google him, and sure enough the ghost of "Percy Lambert" is historically very well known at Brooklands.

Graham, will the Tigers get a chance for a photoshoot/run on the remaining banked circuit.


I'm scared of ghosts, dunno whether I should go now

Yep. RRT is right! Brooklands have been doing 'Ghost Tours' for few years - torch lit walks and stories round some of the exhibits and Test Hill and the Banking together with some scary stories to add to the atmosphere. Used to get a bowl of soup & roll thrown in (perhaps Up as well!) for £14 quid.
I don't know how often anyone saw Percy



Tony. I think we will be able to access the banking but I will check tom and PM you.

I'd be interested but it would depend on the weather ie not snowing or floods!

Weather forecast look promising, so I shall be there in my (scruffy) Tiger.

I was there last Sunday at the Breakfast meeting. It was such a miserable wet morning, but since quite a few turned out despite the weather I thought it was only fair that I gave them a bit of a show up the test hill - wheelspin all the way!

Any pics from this get together?

Couldn't make this meet, if anybody wants help to host the pictures then let me know.

This was a 'tongue in cheek' event but it still honored Percy Lambert nicely enough! A few dozen cars provided by the Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq Register recorded an aggregate distance of 103.76 miles in an hour at Brooklands.

Fair enough since no 100 year old motor car is going to do anything on the Mercedes Test track beyond a demo parade! But there was still some spirited driving to be seen.

Percy Lambert's feat in a 25hp 'Invincible' Talbot is a distant stretch to the Sunbeam Tiger. I am not sure about the 'DNA link' but it can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talbot. I guess the Tiger is a 3rd or 4th generation descendant!!

The Tiger did 'strut its stuff' similarly 52 years later on 8-9 February 1965 at Zandvoort when AHP 294B smashed the Dutch - 3, 6, 12 and 24 hour Land Speed records at an average speed of 120 kph. It did boil a few times though

A few pics from 16/02/2013:


9 of the 10 Tigers in attendance - Messrs, Chris Spain, Derek Cooper, Andrew Carter, Graham Vickery, Peter Pescud, Malcolm Sedman, Christian Marshall, Alex Walsh, John Day, Ken Chisholm plus Jayne & Paul Wignall in a Talbot

Paul & Jayne

This Darracq was my 'members choice'

1913 Talbot 25/50hp

Darracqs & Talbots waiting for the off.

The man - Percival Lambert

Ageless aero design!

Tigers viewed from the Members Bar / Verandah (Brooklands Bitter is excellent)

Countless photographs here http://www.photoparazzi.com/p585286982

Graham
STOC Editor