News in brief, June 2003

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Vauxhall will play a major part in the VSCC meeting at Shelsley Walsh on July 6. Up to 100 30/98s will be there as part of its centenary celebrations. The event will include appearances from Vauxhall sporting icons, including race and rally cars, and drivers. It is hoped that the the ‘Baby Bertha’ special saloon car will be in action.

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Thirty-six years on from entering in the first London-Sydney Marathon, John Tallis is aiming to compete in the fourth running of the event in June 2004 in the same Volvo Amazon. In 1968 Tallis was a Volvo dealer in Bath and took part in the 12,000-mile event. He kept the car, which still has just 14,500 miles on the clock, and he plans to refurbish it for the 2004 marathon.

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Swedish commuters Nils Bergquist and Karl-Erik Magnusson have pledged to return to more rounds of the British Historic Rally Championship this season. Attempting the Astra Stages in North Wales for the fifth time, their Volvo PV finally recorded a finish, taking fourth in the Historic category.

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Paintings by artist Debra Wenlock depicting the Ards Tourist Trophy races from 1928 to ’36 will be on display in the Old Town Hall, Newtownards on June 16-24. Timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary celebrations of the event and titled `Campari and Soda Bread’, the exhibition will celebrate all aspects of the great road race.

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The Motor Racing Archive has now been relocated to a purpose-built facility in Watton, near Thetford, in Norfolk. Its new telephone number is 01953 882699.