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1912
Brooklands Test Hill Record – 6 th June
Map Key 4
Woods on the test hill at a deserted Brooklands in 1912
photo Courtesy of Kit Woods
Only the best is expected from any mechanical production that bears the great name of
Crossley, and the reputation that has been achieved the world over by the famous
Manchester firm in the matter of their gas-engines is by no means shamed whenever their
motor cars take the field.
On Thursday, June 6, Mr. G. Hubert Woods was testing a 20-h.p. Crossley up the Test Hill at
Brooklands, and as the car appeared to Major Lloyd, the managing director of the track, to
make a very fast ascent, he suggested that Mr. Woods should make an attempt on the
record for the hill, which has for a long period stood to the credit of a 65 h.p. six-cylinder
Napier.
Nothing lost, Mr. Woods at once agreed, and, making the attempt, climbed the steep slope
from a standing start, at the astonishing speed of 23.5 miles per hour in 10.2 seconds at the
first attempt. This speaks volumes for the wonderful acceleration powers of this car, of
which I am sure we shall hear more before the Brooklands racing season is brought to a
close this year.
The Sketch Wednesday 19 th June
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