STANILAND, Chris.

The UK driver, in the twenties and thirties who made a type 37A (37290) go faster than anyone else before or since. His Brooklands career started in 1926* and in 1928 he attempted the 1500cc one hour Class F record held by George Eyston. The attempt failed but he did take the 100 mile record at 115.82 mph (186.23kmh). He was a test pilot with Fairey Aviation and part of his success as a tuner is attributed to his access to high quality fuel. In 1929 he lapped Brooklands at 122.07 mph in the type 37A. He drove the ex-works 1933 team type 51 (51148) in 1934 and in 1935 he achieved a lap of 133.16 in a type 51 before retiring with a thrown tread. These are believed to be the fastest officially timed speeds for these types at Brooklands. He used the 51 in the Grand Prix at Dieppe on 22nd July, 1934 and put up a creditable performance to finish third in his heat in a now obsolete car. This performance alone proves his skill as a driver and his ability to maximise the potential of his car. A major article about him appeared in Motor Sport in February 1997 and in the April 1997 a follow up article by William Boddy included a photograph of him sat in a type 37(?) with UK reg. no. FU 4969 (?). The article describes his early interest in motor-cycles and his competition debut at a hill-climb in Abergele, North Wales followed by membership of the BMCRC and a competiton career at Brooklands. Further information is provided regarding his death in 1942 whilst carrying out a test flight when he was based at the Fairey experimental division at Hayes in Middlesex. It is said to have been caused by the loss of cockpit cover of the second Fairey Firefly built which rendered him unconscious and damaged the aircraft’s tail section. Due to the war, no official report of the accident was ever issued.