1929 Ulster TT Race Programme

THE HANDICAP.
With a race embracing every type of car from the Austin Seven to
big supercharged Bentleys and Mercedes, the handicap on which it
is based is obviously of first importance . On looking through the entries
it will be seen that a considerable proportion of the engines are super-
charged, that the number of cylinders employed varies from four to eight,
and that practically every modern improvement known in motor design
to-day is incorporated in one or other of the competing cars . Similar
conditions prevailed last year . A handicap was evolved for that event
involving no extra penalty for such fittings as superchargers, etc ., but
based purely on engine capacity . After the race was run the R .A .C.
published a complete summary showing the individual lap times of every
car until such time as it finished or retired . A careful comparison of
those lap times with those set out in the handicap table showed that
but for stops, almost every driver in the race had a very good chance of
figuring in the first three . Accordingly the handicap for this year's
race remains unaltered.
A reference to the regulations will show that all cars in Classes B
and C start at scratch, and will carry 264 lbs . of ballast. Cars in Class
D will carry the same ballast, but will receive one lap start . Cars in
Classes E and F will receive two lays start, but Class E cars will carry
264 lbs . of ballast, and Class F cars only 132 lbs . Cars in Class G will
receive three laps start, and cars in Class H five laps start, and in neither
case will ballast be carried . Every car will carry a driver and mechanic
throughout . A lap is 13 2/3 miles, and the total distance of the race
is thirty laps . Only the scratch cars will cover the complete distance,
the others being credited with the number of laps start they are allotted
under the handicap . Thus the cars will all start together, and the first
past the post will be the winner, although they will cover varying
distances . As soon as the race starts every car in receipt of a handicap
will have the number of laps start it receives marked on the score board,
and spectators will be able to follow the progress of the race thence
onwards without any further reference to the handicap whatsoever.
The following table is
a copy of the handicap,
and shows the time that
the cars in each class
are expected to take for
the intermediate ' dis-
tances in the race, and
also the av'erage speed
at which they are ex-
pected to complete the
course . By a comparison
of the times given on
the main score board
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