Welsh weekend is wet, wet, wet

Rain pelted down for most of April 1/2, when the Light Car & Edwardian Section of the VSCC was holding its annual Welsh weekend. Most commendably the Section is concerned to encourage reasonably original cars of modest engine capacity, welcoming unusual makes and models, rather than specials and recently constructed vehicles.

Its ideals were well displayed in the Welsh scenic run and Sunday trial, total entry 70. Edwardians included a 1904 Stanley steam car, a brave effort even if we did not see much of it, the 1913 Singer Ten ofTun Pipkin, Marcia Jeddere-Fisher in the 1913 Lancia Theta coupe and the Mills’ very smart 1914 Darracq tourer. Of the later cars, A7 Chummies were everywhere, although when I wanted one in 1939 we had along trawl of scrap yards to find one. GNs almost outdid the A7s and were game to do an extra 65 miles to Dolgellau after the trial, to celebrate Arthur Gibson’s birthday, led by his fine Akela ‘racer’. The Gwyruie contingent brought two 8s and a Ten.

The weather made the hills tricky, especially the old Llwynbarried grass gradient, unless you were Pat Stocken or Chris Pierce in their Trojans. As Hamilton-Gould approached it in his A-type Citroen he said “Well, its a challenge”, but stopped as low down as most of the rest. This 1920 tourer reminded me that, when I was Confirmed, the Reverend Dean who was to conduct the service came in just such a car.

All praise to Pipkin who won the Llwynbarried Trophy for best performance over both days, in the screenless Singer, accompanied by Kate Moore, who had forsaken the better shelter of the 1925 Swift she drove on the Saturday. Tim Cork had his 1930 P-type Swift Ten tourer out and Branislav Sudjic’s modern-looking 1930 Aero was there, making typical two-stroke noises. The Section’s new competition secretaries are Nancy Dickie and Charlotte Peacop.