STD at Sedgebrook

The Sunbeam-Talbot-Darracq Register held its AGM on February 20/21, It took over the Sedgebrook Hall Conference Centre at Church Brampton, just outside Northampton, where Bassett Lowke once made wonderful scale models. Close by, we saw Sywall aerodrome, once part of the Brooklands Aviation set-up. After everyone had enjoyed the Hall’s many leisure activities, the annual dinner took place. It is to the credit of the STD Register that more than 100 members attended.

Outside, 13 of their cars mingled with more modern tin-wear, although others had already departed. Among those I admired were John Kearley’s 1927 Sunbeam Sixteen, which has been known to the Register for some 13 years, and three cars each with trunks (rather like elephants in reverse), one of which was Colin Weare’s Sunbeam Six teen tourer and another Stuart Upperman’s 1929 Sunbeam Twenty Weymann saloon. During the weekend, interesting material from the Register’s archives was on display in the conference room, including many photographs of Sunbeam racing cars and production models, the photograph albums belonging to Mr Wilding, aero-engine data and a large model of the famous 1927 200mph twin-engined Sunbeam, backed up by a little model of the Silver Bullet and other tiny Sunbeams. Pride of place was taken by Harold Smith’s 1916 Indianapolis Sunbeam, with scrutineers’ labels from recent VSCC events in which it has done so well since its restoration. It was a good start to the active season ahead. The Register secretary is J Kearley, Higher Binneford Farm, Yeoford, Crediton, Devon, EX 1 7 5EZ.

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