"Give them a big hand"

The Bean C.C., no matter how small its own membership, has a happy knack of enticing an excellent entry to its meetings. Its Second Summer Rally at Bracknell Sports Stadium on July 21st had something like 90 entries of veteran to p.v.t. cars if historic commercials and vintage motorcycles are included. The event had some unusual items—the excellent grass arena was not open to the public until late in the afternoon, so that competitors could move their vehicles easily. One contest consisted of doing something original during a minute’s use of the ring—a wheel was changed on a Chummy Austin Seven without using a jack, Williams’ beautiful 1935 Daimler 15 appeared with its driver walking beside it, to demonstrate slow running, as did Longworth’s 1923 Morris-Oxford, while Leiper drove his 1925 Sunbeam 14, a car rather overpainted like some human old ladies, sitting on the bonnet. Chalcraft nearly overturned his very sprightly 1923 Morgan 3-wheeler, and showed that reversing means pushing it backwards.

The Bean C.C. was represented by Hickling’s 1924 11.9 2-seater, Seer’s 1926 14, Bowling’s 1924 11.9, the Yapp/Ridley 1925 14, Mormam’s 1924 11.9 and the 1925 Bean Commercial platform lorry. Interesting entries included a rare 1921 o.h.c. Wolseley Ten 4-seater which one previous owner to Sanderson had driven 45,000 miles; it was in very nice condition. The two straight-eight Wolseleys were present. Railtons were represented by a baby coupé and a straight-eight special 4-seater.

The 1935 Essex Terraplane, now with non-standard wings, with which Sir Guy Domville once beat a 4 1/2-litre Bentley and a Railton over the s.s. 1/2-mile at Brooklands stood close to a very clean “Brooklands” Riley Nine which ran in the 1932 J.C.C. 3,000-Mile Race but now has a replica, not-quite-right body. Gray brought a 30/98 Vauxhall, Gahagan his Bugatti, Webb a rare 1923 s.v. Wolseley 14 tourer with radiator carefully stayed to the water outlet pipe and its oil filler recommending Extra Heavy Wolseley Filtrate. West had a model-R 20/60 Vauxhall G.M. tourer. Caudle’s 1912 Buick seemed to possess three audible warnings, in the form of Klaxon, bulb horn and continual exhaust whistle. Windsor’s 1921 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost had intriguing taps extending from the near-side running-board valance for remote control of sump draining and the fuel-feed systems.

Moody’s 1927 Singer Senior had 1/4-elliptic back springs rivalling those of a Roesch Talbot, there was a neat Fiat 509 2-seater, and the vintage motorcycles, which included a distinctly accelerative 2-speed Scott, a single-speed clutchless Norton capable of working up to 70 m.p.h., Mrs. Blake’s very fine ride on her direct-drive 1911 B.S.A., Mayes’ sedate and compact 1927 976-c.c. Royal Enfield combination, Green’s Raleigh and Briggs’ 1928 o.h.c. Humber, were all very nicely turned out, a credit to the V.M.C.C.

Very American was R. Gray’s 1929 solo 986-c.c. Harley-Davidson. Very smart and possessing beautiful lines, Jackson’s 52/40 Star “Pegasus” 2-seater appealed strongly, while Tim Nicholson, dressed as a chauffeur, stole the “dress” show, as he released Mr. and Mrs. Sawers, attired as country toffs, from behind the screen of his 1928 Lanchester 21 tourer. Like brand-new was Bamfield’s 1932 6.7-litre Leyland omnibus, late of the St. Helier service. Lord Montagu donated the Grand Prix d’Honneur and Michael Sedgwick presented the prizes.

Lord Montagu Challenge Cup: Mr. Williams (1935 Daimler).

Distance Award: Mr. Hickling (1924 Bean 12).

Concours d’Elegance:
Veterans: Mr. Lee (1912 Unic).
Vintage: Mr. Albon (1927 Austin Seven).
P.V.T.: Mr. Williams (1935 Daimler).
Historic Commercials: Mr. Bamfield (1932 Leyland ‘bus).
Motorcycles: Mr. Briggs (1928 Humber).