A 30

We refer rather frequently to this famous road in Motor Sport, perhaps because we drive over part of it several times a week—and, in spite of a contemporary’s recent opinion to the contrary, we think it one of the nicest imaginable exits from London. Our drive home from the office involves, first, some back-cuts through the bomb sites, to be taken briskly in case meeting another vehicle in the narrow way causes a hold-up. Then there are the rough cobbles of the Clerkenwell Road, after which we choose between congested Oxford Street or Piccadilly, the latter flanked by Green Park, surely one of London’s few worth-seeing thoroughfares. Either way one meets congestion before quitting the Metropolis, for Notting Hill Gate, where underground travellers “come up for air” in changing trains, is a notorious bottle-neck and Hammersmith Broadway is the junction of many busy ways. It is under such conditions that the almost unrivalled bottom-end acceleration, convenient gear-change and powerful Girling brakes of the Editorial Morgan Plus Four are much appreciated. Beyond the congestion eases, as the Suburbia of’ Chiswick and Brentford is reached.

An interesting reflection on traffic congestion in London was provided by timing our homeward journey in two parts. From City Road to the Chiswick Roundabout at rush-hour occupied 45 min. In the next 45 min, going along the arterial A 4 and forking left, bypassing the old Roman road through Hounslow, on to A30, and negotiating busy Staines in the dark, and without hurrying unduly, took the Morgan well beyond Frimley, our route diverting from A 30 on to the Portsmouth Road (A 325) at the “Jolly Farmer” fork beyond Bagshot. The former represents an average speed of approximately 13 mph, the latter approximately 40 mph. Verb sap, –or something !