Motorsport at its most eccentric: that’s the S.F. Edge Trophy at the 74th Members’ Meeting. Edwardian weapons wielding all manner of aircraft engines, manual fuel pumps, lanterns akimbo (and sometimes not), amid, atop, somewhere on the bow. These pre-war boats make for some spectacular motor racing. No regulations here: design is dictated by little more than the imaginations and technological reach of their designers, which is completely laughable by modern standards.
That’s not to say these things can’t get a good lick on though. The 1905 Darracq has 200bhp! Not to mention the ridiculous capacity of some of these cars engines producing some hilarious torque figures. They may look boat-like, but their pace is not to be sniffed at. It’s the essence of competitive driving and the origins of competitive automotive engineering, distilled. There’s something utterly delightful about seeing these wagons on the edge, pilots hanging on for dear life and pace. The rather handy and beautiful video above should give you some indication of the brilliance of this race and the quality of competitive driving exhibited.
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