Lagonda Rapiers

3 minute(s) of a 484 minute read

Having returned unscathed from the "Alpine" I have to start the preparation for our next big trip. First thing to do was to remove all the wheels then the brake drums and brake shoes. This is so I can now have the brakes relined with Asbestos Free material. How well or otherwise it will perform at stopping the car is anyones guess. To help you appreciate the size of the brakes, the "lightening/cooling" holes are two inches across. The "shoes" are 1 1/4 inches wide. In 1934 The Lagonda Rapier was one of the first cars to be fitted with the then new Girling "roller expander" brakes.
These enabled the Rapier to be the FIRST British car to stop in less than 30 ft from 30 MPH.

11-8-2018

Not brake failure but a moments loss of concentration perhaps. No not even that but a total loss of adhesion due to a build up of lose gravel or perhaps talcum powder on the outside of the corner? These three photographs warrant some close inspection.
In the first photograph note the distance between the front mudguard and the quite solid tree.
Looking at the next you will note the tow strap attached to the chassis behind the front wheel. The other end is hooked onto the tow-bar behind a 4WD. This enabled the Rapier to be pulled sideways away from the tree. The final photograph shows me about to climb into the car to make certain that not damage had been done and that all was OK. Within minutes we had expressed our thanks to the members of the Kooweerup & Lang Lang Rotary Club 4WD Group and were on our way again.
If you go back a couple of "Posts"  to #543 and look at the top map you may find the place names Cabanandra and a little further alond the "road" Tubbut. It was on one of the numerous "bends" along this section of road that this occured. It was quickly apparent that a normal two wheel drive vintage car had no hope of pulling the car out undamaged. That the members of a FWD Group should be travelling along this remote road at that exact time is a remarkable co-incidence.