Newsletter No 29 - VMCC - Isle of Man

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The S6B was powered by a supercharged Rolls-Royce 1900 hp engine, and represents one of the major technical achievements in British aviation between the two world wars. Not only did the plane win the Schneider Trophy, but also became the fastest vehicle on earth, setting an absolute speed record of 407.5 mph. to prove a better posting than Lawrence could have imagined. His C.O. was Wing Commander Sidney Smith, with whom he soon became close friends, he was also welcomed by Smith’s wife Claire, who would later write a book about this period in their lives. Lawrence liked Cattewater from the start. He described it to Mrs Shaw in March 1929 “… A tiny station, on a rocky peninsula projecting into [Plymouth] Sound. The whole peninsula with its quays and breakwaters is RAF. There are about 100 of us … the airmen all praise the camp and its conditions … the food is excellent: the place is comfortable: restrictions very slight, and those sensible …”. Cattewater was then, as later, a seaplane base. Lawrence’s work there revolved around motorboats, about which he was as much of an enthusiast as he was about motorcycles. He was a very able mechanic, and well acquainted with the latest ideas in hull and engine design, having owned speedboats himself. In his second year back in England he was one of the Support Team for the RAF entry in the 1929 Schneider Cup races, which were held at Cowes. The Air Force contender was again one of Page 32
R.J.Mitchell’s brilliant Supermarine seaplane designs, the S.6 – from these streamlined racers would eventually evolve the Spitfire. During the races Lawrence was sent to Calshott, a station he disliked. However he and Sidney Smith had found comfortable quarters aboard the ‘Karen’, a luxury motor yacht owned by a friendly millionaire. One of the Karen’s tenders was an American Biscayne Baby speedboat, which had consistently suffered from engine problems. These Lawrence was able to solve, and he soon had the ‘Biscuit’, as he and Smith had named her, running superbly. The millionaire was so delighted that when he left Cowes he presented Lawrence and Smith with the speedboat as a memento. They took it back to Cattewater where it was used as a runabout, Lawrence taking his friend Lady Astor, who like himself enjoyed ‘the Lust of Speed’, and sometimes rode pillion on Boanerges, out in the ‘Biscuit’ on a number of occasions. To be continued ... WANTED This small book of 79 pages by Ralph Crellin Printed in 1995. 6 x 8 inches in size If you have one for sale please ring John on 01624 - 619463 Allan Jermieson Page 33
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Page 3 and 4: Page 2 Page 3 Page 5 Page 9 Page 12
Page 5 and 6: Secretary’s Notes Hi Everyone, Ti
Page 7 and 8: Yellow Belly Notes The Eagle Has La
Page 9 and 10: to create this fabulous looking bik
Page 11 and 12: Bert Houlding: TT Pioneer No doubt
Page 13 and 14: Fred Middleton on his circa 1909/10
Page 15 and 16: The Museum moved to Christian Stree
Page 17 and 18: Mike Hailwood won with a speed of 9
Page 19 and 20: straight off the drawing board to w
Page 23 and 24: The May trial is now established as
Page 25 and 26: VMCC TRIALS RESULTS 2011 Vintage A
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Page 29 and 30: Through the intervening years I wou
Page 31 and 32: Sons of Thunder Pt 3 - The Superior
Page 33: It had been intended to disembark L
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Page 39 and 40: ut was losing power. I bought mysel
Page 41 and 42: Competition time Answers Q.1 Ray Kn

Newsletter No 29 - VMCC - Isle of Man

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