Fourth National Standard Register Rally

Sixty years of motor-car production is a proud achievement and to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the Standard Motor Company it was appropriate that the Register should gather at the factory in Coventry on June 22nd as a reminder of the longevity of the marque, proving that not only the name, but many of the cars themselves, can survive the years.

On the morning of the event the 1907 30-h.p. Standard, carefully polished by a brace of apprentices, took its appointed place at the head of the line of cars. One of the first arrivals was the 1928 8.9-h.p. Falmouth saloon, newly re-covered in red fabric, driven from Norfolk by Clifford Gott. Vintage Standards were soon arriving from all directions in rapid succession, including Sam Wilson from Derby, the latest Register recruit with the 1930 9.9-h.p. Teignmouth which he has owned for more than twenty years. Dwarfing the other cars was the 1913 20-h.p. Humboldt cabriolet which arrived from Kendal in the hands of Garnett Davies—a delightful surprise, as there had been some doubt about the arrival of the splendid vehicle. John Johnson from Scarborough made his usual punctual arrival in the Selby tourer, having covered 262 miles to reach the start, thus winning the Distance Award for the third year in succession.

A heavy shower sent members scuttling to the shelter of their cars but this did not delay the start of the driving tests, which were marshalled by enthusiastic members of the Headquarters Branch of the S.T.A.A. Frank Callis was neat with the 1919 SLS 2-seater, just failing to gain an award, whilst the two Davids, Newbury and Howard, settled for second and third places behind Edward Foulds in his 1930 9.9-h.p. Selby, who manoeuvred with complete assurance. Ian Hall, with the Avon Special, performed better this year and was happy to hand over the Wooden Spoon to David Harper, who was appearing for the first time with his 1921 SLO model 2-seater.

Members of the Pre-1940 Triumph Owners’ Club undertook the same series of Driving Tests and their section was won by Glyn Lancaster-Jones, a student from Manchester University, driving a 1930 Triumph Vitesse. Star attractions amongst the Triumphs were Jim Poole’s 1938 Vitesse and the stately 1928 Light Fifteen saloon, one of the first cars made with four-wheel hydraulic brakes, bought from St. Albans by Michael Cooke.

Addressing the members after lunch, the Registrar, Mr. J. R. Davy, revealed that, so far, 134 pre-1931 cars are on the Register, but chastised some local owners for failing to keep in regular contact, pointing out that very often more news of activities came from New Zealand than from, say, Nuneaton. In the post-luncheon Concours d’Elegance, judged by Cyril Scott, Curator Of the Herbert Museum, Coventry, the first prize went to John Butterworth with his 1913 9.5-h.p. Standard Rhyl 2-seater, which had been the subject of much admiration and not a little envy throughout the rally. At the informal prize-giving, after the Concours, the Registrar presented awards to winners in each event, and the award for the Best Overall Performance went to Edward Foulds for his win in the Driving Tests, second on Distance and third in the Concours d’Elegance.

Rejoined by the Pre-1940 Triumph Owners’ Club and the Triumph Roadster Club, who were also in attendance, all cars returned to the factory in a Grand Cavalcade comprising more than fifty vehicles. Upon arrival the S.T.A.A. Challenge Driving Tests for modern Standard Triumph cars were interrupted as each car was introduced to the spectators, and, later, Register members visited the Diamond Jubilee Exhibition.

Results:

Overall Winner: E. Foulds (1950 9.9-h.p. Selby).

Driving Tests: 1st: E. Foulds (1930 9.9-h.p. Selby); 2nd: D. A. Newbury (1929 9.9-h.p. tourist coupé); 3rd: D. C. H. Howard (1924 11.4-h.p. Kenilworth); Wooden Spoon: King & Harper Limited (Driver: D. N. Harper) (1921 11.6-h.p. SLO 2-seater).

Concours d’Elegance: 1st: J. A. Butterworth (1913 9.5-h.p. Rhyl); 2nd: D. C. H. Howard (1924 11.4-h.p. Kenilworth); 3rd: E. Foulds (1930 9.9-h.p. Selby).

Distance Awards: 1st: J.O. Johnson (262 miles) (1930 9.9-h.p. Selby); 2nd: E. Foulds (176 miles) (1930 9.9-h.p. Selby); 3rd: Loxhams Garages Limited (Driver: G. Davis) (172 miles) (1913 20-h.p. Humboldt cabriolet).

Pre-1940 Triumph Owners’ Club:

Driving Tests: 1st: Glyn Lancaster-Jones (1930 2-litre 15.95-h.p. Vitesse saloon; 2nd: A. C. Cook (1938 13.95-h.p. Triumph Dolomite 14/60); 3rd: Jim Poole (1936 13.95-h.p. Triumph Vitesse); Wooden Spoon: Mrs. Nora Othick (1934 9.53-h.p., 1,087-c.c. Triumph Gloria-Vitesse tourer).

Concours d’Elegance: Michael Cooke (1928 15-h.p., 2,169-c.c. Triumph Light 15).