Parry Thomas Run
Jun 02 2021
Thirty members of DDBUK gathered at Barnard’s farm in Essex, the home of Bernard and Sylvia Holmes, on Sunday, 23rd of May. Rain had been forecast all week, but we set off in the dry to tackle Langdon Hill, a couple of miles away from our start. The hill is only 1:8 but it is relentless, and the last half mile has a distinct incline, designed to finish off anyone who gets a gear change wrong. Twenty two cars set off and all but one made it to the top unaided (although a few passengers were shed to maintain momentum). The times were respectable, but a little short of the records achieved by J.G. Parry Thomas (World Land speed Record holder in 1926), who visited this location on several occasions.
We had cars of all persuasions: a 3.5hp De Dion Bouton-engined Bertrand, a fine selection of single, twin and four cylindered De Dion Bouton’s, a splendid four cylinder Renault, a Delage, a Hotchkiss, a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, an Edwardian Newton Bennett, and to demonstrate just how quickly the hill can be ascended, a Frazer Nash.
