A Fatal Addiction

Max M Power

Description

Speed is a drug. Like many other passions and desires, it can ruin lives.

A Fatal Addiction tells the story of two families' with widely different backgrounds.

Frank Cartland was born as the motoring age began. His family had been village blacksmiths' for many generations. From a humble and often harsh childhood, he manages to retain an optimistic outlook on life.

Privileged George Marshall was born into an old, wealthy family and grew to share Frank’s passion for racing machines. The horrors of the first world war have shaped the lives of both young men, it's consequences never leave them. But soon the ambitions of both men are driven by the drug of speed.

Frank began by repairing bicycles but motorcycles and motorcars quickly became his addiction. This addiction comes at a high price - both mentally and physically. 

Throughout the 1920’s and 30’s this joint obsession with fast machines put the two men on the same path despite their contrasting lives.  There is constant drama on and off the dangerous racetracks of Brooklands, the Isle of Man and Le Mans as they strive to fulfill their racing dreams.

The influence of the beautiful and powerful women in their lives bring unexpected and eventually tragic results. Stakes are high, success and racing glory are all that matter. Loosing either can only bring misery, pain or even death.

For Frank Cartland and George Marshall passion on and off the racetracks is fueled by their addiction to speed.

Sujets

• Sport
• Autres sports
• Sports mécaniques
• Sport mécanique
• Recreation
• Sports
• Motor Sports

Informations

• Publié par: Art Antiques & Autos Ltd
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781916491052
• Langue: English

Extrait

A Fatal Addiction
@ Steven J Bradley 2018
Steven J Bradley has asserted his right under the Copyright
Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work
www.racingbooks.org
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, Electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher
ISBN. 978-1-9164910-2-1 ISBN. 978-1-9164910-5-2 (e-book)
A Fatal Addiction
Part 1
THE SEDUCTION OF SPEED
By
Max. M. Power
Brooklands Members Banking … where the Ghosts walk.
Introduction:
The Birth and Early Development of Motor Sport
Until 1895, every motorist had to follow a walking man who would wave a red flag to warn the population that a mechanical monster was approaching.
The repeal of the Red Flag Act in 1896 paved the way for speed to become the 20th century addiction. The sound, smell and the sensation of it would drive and define the lives of a certain type of man and woman regardless of their perceived class or with determination, even wealth.
In 1895 the first organised motor race was held in France over public roads between Paris and Bordeaux, it was won by Emile Levassor with his Panhard-Levassor driven at a top speed of 18.5mph. These early French races were all run on public roads and by the turn of the century top speeds of more than 50mph had been reached. Thousands of people would gather to watch these roaring, smoking machines thunder past, usually in clouds of smoke and eye stinging dust.
By 1903 speeds had increased and were now reaching almost 100mph. The cars had become too fast for the open public roads. Very poor road surface conditions, animals and people wandering onto the narrow roads and lack of visibility in the dust storms which followed each cars progress made it “Russian roulette at 90mph" as one contemporary driver described it. The almost inevitable disaster happened in the Paris to Madrid race before the cars had even reached half way.
Two drivers, a mechanic and five spectators were killed in crashes. The race was stopped and racing on open public roads came to an immediate end. In England, no "racing," would be allowed by law for another two years, but to celebrate the repeal of the red flag act, the Motor Car Club organized a run between London and Brighton. This event still carries on to this day.
The first car race on British soil, the Tourist Trophy in 1905 was held on The Isle of Man. This race attracted 42 starters and was won by J Napier driving an Arrol-Johnson averaging 33.9mph. The Isle of Man had been chosen as everywhere else in Great Britain a twenty mile an hour speed limit was imposed, and roads could not be closed, whereas the Manx Government could close roads whenever they wanted. With the building of the 3.75-mile Brooklands track by Hugh Locke-King in 1907, which became known as "The Birth Place of British Motor Racing", Britain had its first permanent motor racing circuit. It gave drivers and public their first opportunity to watch cars driven at speed without having to travel overseas for the experience
With typical English eccentricity, Brooklands was organized using many rules and ideas from the horse racing world. In fact, the first meeting held on 6th July 1907 was heralded as "a motor Ascot".
Until 1914 the drivers wore colored jackets rather than having numbers on their cars, bookmakers were allowed at Brooklands and cars handicapped as in horse racing. Entry prices for the public enclosures were set high to ensure the Brooklands motto of "the right crowd and no crowding" would prevail throughout the track’s existence.
The development of motorcycles gave the less affluent a chance to experience the thrill of speed. Many young men began their speed addiction in this way, and through their start in motorcycle racing, the best became very successful and famous racing drivers.
In 1907as the great concrete bowl of Brooklands was being created from marsh and woodland in Surrey, the Isle of Man was chosen to host the first major motorcycle race in a Great Britain. For the first four years a "short" course was used as early motorcycles were mainly single gear, belt-drive models which could not climb the mountain section of the course. Since 1911 the narrow 37-mile course has remained largely unchanged to his day. The TT races are still considered to be the most challenging and dangerous motor cycle races in the world.
In Europe racing developed much quicker than in England, using closed public roads, and it gave Italy and France the opportunity to become the leading manufacturers of racing cars. In 1906 France organised the first Grand Prix which was held at Le Mans. Not on the circuit to be made famous in the 1920s, but using a 64-mile lap on the lanes and dusty roads around the city. The race was won by Hungarian driver Ferenc Szisz driving a cherry red 12.9 litre Renault averaging 62.9mph. Renault had fitted the new development of Michelin detachable rims, which gave them considerable advantage. The poor condition of the roads caused many punctures, the scourge of these early races.
Szisz is a good example of the opportunities the birth of motor sport offered young men at the turn of the century. An engineer in Hungary he moved to Paris and joined Renault in 1900. He became riding mechanic for Marcel Renault, but when Marcel was killed in the 1903 Paris-Madrid race Louis Renault promoted Szisz to driver. With his win in the 1906 race he became a Hungarian hero.
Also, in 1906, held for the first time in Italy, was the famous road race the Targa Florio around the bandit-ridden Sicilian roads. The initial race was run over three laps of the islands coastal, a 92.47-mile circuit. It was won by Alessandro Cagno driving an Itala.
Cagno, like Szisz, came from a working-class background. He became an apprentice engineer and his passion for mechanics saw him become the third employee of FIAT. He also started as a riding mechanic, taking part in the ill-fated Paris-Madrid race. His driving ability saw Cagno promoted to racing driver and in 1906 he joined another famous Turin manufacturer Itala for whom he won many races including at first Targa Florio.
The skill and daring of these flamboyant characters produced the first super stars of motor racing one of the best being Felice Nazzaro the son of a Turin coal merchant. Nazzaro was said to "handle a car like a violin". One of his greatest young fans was Enzo Ferrari.
The Peugeot Grand Prix cars of 1912 were to revolutionize engine development with their overhead valves and twin overhead camshafts. They won the 1912 French Grand Prix and set the general layout for all future racing engines.
The year1914 would bring the end of motor sport for several years, but even before the war had started Mercedes had already invaded France. They sent five of their 4.5litre four-cylinder cars, producing 110bhp, to the French Grand Prix. The race brought heartbreak for French hero Georges Boillot who while leading in his 4.4 litre Peugeot retired on the last lap. This heartbreaking retirement allowed Mercedes to take the first three places. It was to be an uncomfortable omen of thing to come.
After the war advances in mechanical development were rapid. The war had brought significant improvements in designs and metallurgy. By 1920 many new exciting cars were appearing from manufacturers like Ballot, Peugeot, Sunbeam, and from America, Duesenberg and Miller. Duesenberg entered four of their sleek white and blue cars for the 1921 French Grand Prix held at Le Mans. Much to the shock of the European manufactures, after a tremendous dual with a Ballot driven by another American de Palma, they won the race with Jimmy Murphy driving.
These Duesenberg cars were the first to use hydraulic brakes, a system designed by Scots born Malcolm Loughead, who later spelt his name Lockheed. This name is now synonymous with vehicle braking systems.
Racing at Brooklands re-started in 1920. It was still the main outlet for motor sport in England and the most important for vehicle and engine development. The racing was diverse. A handicapping system allowed cars of all sizes and power to compete from little Austin 7's to Aero engine monsters.
Record breaking attempts were constant and increasing numbers of specialist magnificent aero machines were built to raise the speeds ever higher.
The all-time outright circuit lap record was set by John Cobb driving the magnificent 24 litre Napier-Railton at 143.43mph.
Racing at Brooklands finally ended with the outbreak of the Second World War. Too much damage had been done in the war to make repairs viable when hostilities ended.
In 1923 a race was first held which would arguably become the most famous race in the world, The Le Mans 24 Hours. Winning this race soon became an obsession for motor manufactures and drivers from France, Italy, Germany, England, and America. The British have always had a love affair with Le Mans and in 1924 the Bentley 3litre of Duff and Clement won the race.
Bentley has won the race four more times, so far. Each year many thousands of British fans make the pilgrimage to Le Mans. The race has helped to make names like Ferrari, Jaguar, Porsche and more recently Audi world famous.
The Isle of Man TT races have always been regarded as the prestigious and oldest motorcycle race. It has proved to be the most dangerous motorcycle road-race in the world.
The obsession for motorcycle manufactures and riders was, from the very early years, and still is today, winning a Hermes Statue Silver Trophy in a TT race on the Isle of Man. For more than a week each June the island is invaded by bikers from all over the world wanting to experience this unique event.
Two other race circuits feature in the story that follows. Both have also played a major part in the development of motor sport d