My First active acquaintance with the Schneider Trophy Contests came in 1927 when I was chief experimental engineer to Peter Hooker Ltd of Walthamstow, generally known as the British Gnôme and Le Rhône engine company—since they had taken the licence for Gnôme engines as early as 1913. I was asked by H. C. Tryon, that grand experimental engineer of Napier, if I would come over to Acton and give them some advice on the high compression racing Lion engines they were preparing for the first official, British Government, participation in the Schneider Contest at Venice that year.