A mighty Edwardian racing car team in their pomp. It is September 1913 and the Talbots line up in Pateley Bridge at the foot of the Greenhow Hillclimb. At the time they were the most successful racing cars in the land, having recorded a string of victories on the hills and beaches around Britain. Clement Talbot sent no less than five works cars to contest the open class of the Yorkshire Automobile Club Hillclimb that year. Their chief opposition was the factory supported 30hp Vauxhall of Mr J. Higginson. On the far left of the picture is the 15hp driven by George Day. Unusually it did not place in this event, but enjoyed many successes in the season. Next is IC105 the factory's regular 25hp two seater hillclimber driven by Leslie Hands. This car had an extremely successful season and on this day recorded third fastest time and beat the previous hill record. IC109 is the 12hp model driven by Mr H.A. Ransom. It secured first place on formula in the open event. Next to this is IC104, the mighty Brooklands record car, sporting its slimmer "sprint" nose. Percy Lambert was unfortunately indisposed on race
day, but Leslie Hands hurtled the car up the hill to set fastest time of the day and an outright record for the hill that stands to this day. Next along is George Day's regular 12hp mount, a consistent winner in the formula competitions that year. In this event it placed second on formula driven by Mr E. Stokes. Completing the line up is the older 12-16hp model driven by George Kenshole, a privateer who regularly supported the Talbot team in 1913. He helped the Yorkshire B team secure second place in the closed competition. The result at Pateley Bridge was the high point of an incredibly successful season for the Invincible Talbots. As the Motor wrote: "Five Talbots were entered in the open class (two of 12hp, one of 15hp and two of 25hp) and they succeeded in scoring first and second places on formula, made the fastest ascent of the day and secured first and third place on times."
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