Topic: Solved - MJW #577 - Ridley Special 1931

[woodinsight]

Stepping back in time, what is this distinctive racing machine, who designed/drove it and in what year did it appear?

[woodinsight]

Experts?

[roger]

Anything to do with Parry Thomas

[woodinsight]

Anything to do with Parry Thomas

Unfortunately not.

[woodinsight]

Pros?

[Oguerrerob]

Ridley Special at Brooklands in 1931
Built as a private venture by Lord Ridley specifically to attack the Class H record for cars up to 750cc engine capacity. It featured a 746cc engine with bore and stroke of 66 X 54.4 mm which was originally mounted horizontally with a Powerplus supercharger. The power output was 54bhp at 6,500rpm. It reverted to vertical mounting for the record attempt at which it successfully took the Class H record in August 1931 at 104.42 mph for the mile and 105.42 mph for the kilometre. This beat the efforts of both Austin and MG. Unfortunately the car was crashed 3 months later at Brooklands during an attempt to raise the record and the driver was badly injured.

[woodinsight]

Ridley Special at Brooklands in 1931
Built as a private venture by Lord Ridley specifically to attack the Class H record for cars up to 750cc engine capacity. It featured a 746cc engine with bore and stroke of 66 X 54.4 mm which was originally mounted horizontally with a Powerplus supercharger. The power output was 54bhp at 6,500rpm. It reverted to vertical mounting for the record attempt at which it successfully took the Class H record in August 1931 at 104.42 mph for the mile and 105.42 mph for the kilometre. This beat the efforts of both Austin and MG. Unfortunately the car was crashed 3 months later at Brooklands during an attempt to raise the record and the driver was badly injured.

Excellent reply, that's the car.