Ards Circuit

Industrialist and pioneer of the modern agricultural tractor, Harry Ferguson was instrumental in setting up the race.

[1] As Northern Ireland's premier sporting event, it regularly attracted crowds in excess of a quarter of a million people.

[2] The triangular circuit 21.7 km (13.5 mi) long ran between the towns of Dundonald, Newtownards (known as Ards) and Comber in County Down, Northern Ireland.

In 1936 with the race run in shocking weather and with contestants spinning off the road in all directions a local driver Jack Chambers skidded on the Newtownards railway bridge while approaching the Strangford Arms in Newtownards, demolishing a lamp post and mowing down a crowd standing against the wall.

[6] Eddie Hall and his wife (who was his pit manager) were both worried about the car’s quietness and lack of drama or final adjustments before the race.

[7] So Hall ran again in 1935, losing on handicap by 1 minute and 13 seconds to a Riley, and again the fastest time of the race with an average speed of 80.34 mph.

[5] After 1936 the circuit was abandoned, to Rowbotham’s relief as he thought three entries with a lone car was tempting fate to the limit ... a 100-1 chance.

Their Continental testing required 25,000 road miles (while provided free holiday transport e.g. to winter skiing at Davos!).

Typical problems were clutch troubles, plugs misfiring or overheating from running the engine while standing in a traffic jam.