John Cobb
|
John Cobb began his motor-racing career in the 1920's, as a riding mechanic for various drivers at Brooklands, including Ernest Eldridge & his Fiat "Mephistopheles". His first race as a driver was in 1925. In 1926, he went to Pendine Sands, as part of the support team for Parry Thomas. He claimed his first victory at Brooklands in 1929, driving a 10.5 litre V12 Delage that had belonged to French star Rene Thomas, and later set a 1 Hour Class A record on the Outer Circuit. Driving the Delage, John Cobb won the British Empire Trophy race, held at Brooklands on 30th April 1932, with George Eyston finishing second. The 24-cylinder Napier Railton, designed by Reid Railton, using a 502HP Napier 'Lion' engine, broke the records for 1km from a standing start, and 1km from a flying start at Brooklands on 4th November 1933. Long distance records were set at Montlhery in 1933, over distances of 200 miles, 3 hours, 500 km, 500 miles, 6 hours, & 1000 km; with co-drivers Cyril Paul, Hon. Brian Lewis, & Tim Rose-Richards. In 1934, records were set at Montlhery, over distances of 6 hours, 1000 km, 12 hours, 3000 km, & 2000 miles; with co-drivers Cyril Paul, Charles Brackenbury, & Freddie Dixon. The Napier Railton, broke the Outer Circuit lap record at the Brooklands circuit in the U.K., on 4 occasions, with October 1935's speed being 143.44 miles per hour - the fastest ever recorded. This car also set records, at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah USA, for the distance covered in 1, 12, & 24 Hours, and from 500-5000 km, in 1935 & for 100 & 200 km, 1000 & 2000 miles in 1936. In July 1935, its average speed over 24 Hours was 137.40 miles per hour, and in 1936 its average speed was 150.16 miles per hour. John Cobb's co-drivers were Tim Rose-Richards and Charlie Dodson in 1935, and Tim Rose-Richards, Charles Brackenbury, & Hindmarsh in 1936.
In 1938 John Cobb first drove the sleek lightweight aerodynamic Railton, at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah USA, achieving 345.49 miles per hour on 29th August, then setting a World Land Speed Record of 350.20 miles per hour over 1 Mile on 15th September, only for George Eyston to exceed this the following day. Returning in 1939, on 23rd August, he increased this to 369.74 miles per hour, & also broke the records for 5km & 10km. As WWII began, the Railton Special was sent to Canada. Following the Second World War, the car - rebranded Railton Mobil Special - was taken back to Bonneville in 1947, where on 16th September, he set a new record of 394.196 miles per hour over 1 mile, and 393.8 mph over 1 kilometre. His speed on the return run exceeded 400 mph. The record was to be unbeaten for almost 25 years. The Railton Special, designed by Reid Railton, and built at Thomson & Taylor's at Brooklands, had a lightweight aluminium teardrop-shaped body, & was powered by twin twelve-cylinder Napier Lion aero engines, developing 2,500 b.h.p.
John Cobb
Web Links Video of Napier Railton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrLq83aFUZY Video of Railton Special http://www.birminghamstories.co.uk/story_page.php?id=4&type=fo&page=1&now=97 http://www.bluebird-electric.net/john_cobb.htm http://www.lesliefield.com/personalities/john_cobb_a_reluctant_hero.htm http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/world_land_speed_record_33.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cobb_%28motorist%29 http://www.brooklandsarchives.com/ look in Gallery C6 http://www.youricons.macrojuice.com/content/view/29/ http://www.thrustssc.com/thrustssc/History/Railton.html http://www.speedace.info/john_cobb.htm http://www.highlandclassic.org.uk/john_cobb.htm http://www.sportsframe.co.uk/category.asp?itemid=729&002=1
|
