V-to-C Miscellany, February 1993, February 1993

Two more fixtures: The Lea-Francis OC will be holding its annual rally at Stanford Hall again this year, on June 6, while the Riley Register has changed its annual rally venue to Town Thorns, Easenhall, Near Coventry (June 26/27) and has its Scottish National Rally at Troon, Ayrshire on May 21/23. The respective secretaries are: D R B Sayers, French’s, Long Wittenham, Oxon OX 14 4QQ, and J F B Tew, Holly Bank, Jacques Lane, Clophill, Bedford MK45 4BS.

The anniversary of the first Ards TT race will be the subject of a four-day programme by the Ulster VCC, from June 2-5, Appropriate cars will obviously be welcomed. Details from: Mike Wilson, Summerseat, 5 Marine Road, Holywood, Co Down, BT18 0AH.

Last September the Rolls-Royce EC’s headquarters at Paulerspury, Northants, was completed when John Donner performed the opening of the C S Rolls Wing, in the shadow of the famous “Silver Ghost” AX 201. This remarkable club has elected another 189 new members in two months and it has a very full 1993 fixture-list. Important dates are the AGM (April 28), the Charterhouse Rally (May 9), the Annual Rally at Althrop Park (June 12/13), and the Stowe School Rally (September 9). The Club has 14 home sections, all with their own events, and on July 19-August 5 the re-run of the Alpine Trial will take place. Secretary: Eric Barrass. 6 Montacute Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5QP.

The Vintage Motor Cycle Club has announced its 1993 events, too numerous to list individually. The more important fixtures include races at Mallory Park (April 11), the President’s Run (May 9), the Ladies’ Run (May 9), the Banbury Run (June 13), the Flat Tank Weekend (June 25/27), the Levis Cup Trial (August 1), and a great many more. Secretary: Ann Davy, VMCC Office, Allen House, Wetmore Road, Burton-on-Trent, Staffs DE14 1SN. The Club membership now exceeds 11,500.

The owner of what he believes to be the sole remaining 10hp Super Sports Calthorpe, built in 1920, seeks information about these cars in general and the sports and racing models in particular, and any spares sources. Letters can be forwarded.

We have received for indentification purposes photographs of two veteran cars associated with Arthur Martin-Leake, the first person to be awarded two VCs, the first under Baden-Powell in the Boer War, the second at the Battle of the Somme. One of the cars is a circa 1899/1900 De Dion Bouton Quad, the model with the backward-facing seats for two of its passengers, the other a little 1900/1901 Locomobile steamer, as used by among others Rudyard Kipling and the subject of his famous Steam Tactics story. The car in question has the Clarkson frontal condenser fitted to English Locomobile steamers. Apparently Mr Martin-Leake retained a lifelong interest in cars, motorcycles and trains, and in his fifties took up flying. He died in the house in Hertfordshire in which his family had lived for 250 years, and a book about his life is being researched.