V to C Miscellany, September 1988

750 Motor Club’s national A7 Rally at Beaulieu in July attracted an impressive entry of 208 of the little beggars, excluding late entries. These ranged from 1924 sports models to the racing specials, and from a 1924 Chummy to 1938 Ruby Saloons, with eight Ulsters or Ulster Replicas, four Nippys, two Swallow-bodied Sevens, six Opal two-seaters, and even a six-wheeled replica lorry and a Dixi. Special guests were Freddie Henry, Ron Norwood, Joe Edwards, George and Graham Caldecott, Mickey Driscoll and Daphne Slade.

The club is to spend a weekend in France on October 1-2.

‘The electrical timing apparatus devised by Colonel Loughborough and Professor Hayes for ratifying speed records, which is now in the Science Museum, was the subject of a lecture at the Annual General Meeting of the Electrical Horology Group last year, and a detailed description of the device has since appeared in the Society journal. The lecture was given by Mr George Hall, who in 1948 was asked by Hayes to assist with the timing at Shelsley Walsh.

Having quoted membership increases for other clubs, it is only fair to report that the Mercedes-Benz Club recently elected 108 new members, with cars ranging from 1932 to the present, and the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasm Club 48 new recruits, with models from 1927 to date — one new member alone owning seven Silver Shadows! The respective membership secretaries are Mrs T Bellamy, 75 Theydon Grove, Epping, Essex CM16 4PX, and Mrs Marjorie Smith, The Hunt House, Paulerspury, Northamptonshire NN12 7NA.

Bowes Museum recently launched a £4000 appeal to enable the only surviving Black Prince cyclecar, which was manufactured in Thorngate Mill, Barnard Castle, County Durham, to be exhibited near its birthplace.

Bill Waters of Newcastle-under-Lyme is hoping to trace the history of his 1937 two-litre Aston Martin (registration GMC 700), which he purchased through an advertisement in Motor Sport in 1966. He has used the car extensively and now totally restored it.

It is thought this Aston might have competed in the 1938 or 1939 Welsh Rally, driven by RAC timekeeper Philip Mayne. The first short-chassis 2-litre built, it was retained by Aston Martin and lent out for Press road-tests and rallies, but in January 1938 it was virtually written-off in a crash on the A1 (the AM employee responsible being dismissed).

Letters can be forwarded. WB