Club affairs, June 1951

Although the Wolseley Hornet Special Register only came into being last October, it acknowledges through a letter in Motor Sport, it now has over 50 members and issues a useful book-form news letter. The annual registration fee is 5s., payable to J. L. McArthur, 3, The Bungalows, Hook Road, Ampfield, near Romsey, Hants. A badge or pennant is contemplated.

Last April the Leicestershire C.C. held is Great Tramp Rally, “only realistic tramps. being admitted-this, surely, to motoring types, meant that, they went in their ordinary clothes!

A Lloyd’s Motor Club is being formed for members of Lloyd’s and persons engaged in the business of insurance at Lloyd’s. Those interested should write to : J. I. Bremner, 5, Whittington Avenue, London, E.C.3, or to Brie Thompson at Lloyd’s. London, E.C.3. We wish this new Club success and hope its members will not find that motoring is prohibitive on account of excessively costly insurance premiums!

A semi-sporting rally is being held by the Walsall M. and  M. C. in Walsall on June 3rd.  The organising committee of 12 local motorists have designed the event, first thought of by the Chief Constable. Mr. T. Mark Watson, to suit the ordinary day-to-day motorist with no previous competition experience. The road section will be 32 miles in length, with 21 observed sections en route, in a figure eight in and around the  borough of Walsall. On arrival at the town’s public park, competitors will take part in three driving tests on a private road.

The R.A.C. and the A.C.U. have granted dispensations so that permits and competition licences are unnecessary. Competitors will be divided into the following classes : open cars, closed cars, solo motor-cycles, motor-cycle combinations and any machine of less than 100 c.c. In addition there are optional classes, one for veteran cars, 21 years old or more, and a Concours d’ Elegance. A large number of challenge cups and trophies is being put up and the committee hopes the rally will become an annual event. The police are filming the rally and will later show it, with an apt commentary.  June 3rd comes in the second local National Road Courtesy Week and this has been home in mind during the organising.

The following clubs have been invited to take part. in the N. London E.C.C. Redcap Rally on June 16th-17th : North West London, Chiltern, West Essex, Hants & Berks, West Rants & Dorset, Cemian, and Maidstone & Mid-Kent. The route is over approximately 350 miles, practically all of which is metalled road, and nothing has been included which could not be expected of an ordinary car. The road section will carry prizes for winner, runner-up, and first-class awards, and there will also be class prizes for the Detling tests. The start will be at about 5 p.m. on the Saturday in North London, and the finish, the breakfast on Sunday morning on the South Coast.

The W. Hants and Dorset. C.C. has abandoned its international Race Meeting at Thruxton on August 4th. but is re-placing it by a closed invitation race meeting at lbsley on the same date.

A driving and acceleration test at the end of a 25-mile course in the Singer Owners’ Club rally,  held recently, revealed the essential differelwes betwen the  Le Mans” two- and four-seater models.

Main point was the variation in the steering locks, and though there were notable exceptions the two-seaters managed a sharp right-angle turn easier and faster.

The rally course took members round narrow country lanes in Oxfordshire and Berkshire ending at the “Fox,” Cane End, near Reading.

Final placings, however, showed the different types to be fairly well balanced. First, H. Brown (1 3/4-litre) : second, W. F. Downton (“Le Mans” Speed model) : and third, J. Medlycott (“Le Mans” four-seater).

After the rally a club meeting was held at which a full committee was appointed and the draft rules accepted.

Future programme : May 23rd. 8 p.m., “Natter and Noggin,” Headstone Hotel, Station Road, North Harrow, Middlesex. June 10th, Club driving tests.

Enquiries to : 1, Halesworth Road, Lewisham , S.E.13. 

Morgan owners interested in the formation of a “4/4” club with a view to participating in sports events, rallies, etc., are inviteted to contact D. Whetton, Rykneld Way, Littleover, Derby.