Club news, January 1953
We hear…
The Foy steel light car, referred to last month, has been broken up, but a new crop of “discoveries” comes from Norfolk. These include a Rugby tourer, a 12-h.p. Belsize four-seater, a Belsize Bradshaw light car, a 1903 Wolseley Regal, a large 1910 24-h.p. Hotchkiss, and a early steam car. Goodey of Twyford, whose fascinating scrap-yard must be known to many, recently sold a lot of veteran vehicles by auction. He said he was obliged to give up part of his large collection on doctor’s orders, but has also been concentrating recently on beautifully restored horse-drawn gypsy caravans. Minimodels, Ltd., Tennyson Works, Mill Hill, N.W.7, after consultation with Motor Sport have added a DB2 to their range of clockwork, 1/33-scale cars which also includes the. open XK120. These miniatures cost 4s. 11d. each. They should be in the possession of all those who have a weakness—as we have—for collecting replicas of actual makes. From the practical viewpoint these Minimodels gain by being self-winding—readers with children will appreciate this point ! T. Walker, Top Row, Market Hall, Leeds, 2, owns a 1929 2-litre Adler and would like to contact other owners of these cars. Juan Manuel Fangio has bought a Type C Jaguar. Donald Monro points out that although his Invicta ” Rod Gauntlet ” is in America, he retains his 1935 4-1/2-litre Invicta “Hereward” for English competitions. Another 10/30 Z10 Talbot, with a single-seater body, has come to light in Australia and a well-preserved 1926 14/45 Talbot tourer in Leicestershire. Having reached the age of 17 David Meredeth and two friends have commenced motoring in a 1929 12.8-h.p. Hillman saloon. It is giving excellent service, cruising at 50 m.p.h., but so far they can find no means of draining the oil from the sump.
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John Cobb Memorial Trophy
The B.R.D.C. has accepted a generous offer of the Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd., to present to the Club a perpetual trophy to be known as The John Cobb Memorial Trophy.
The Club has appointed a sub-committee consisting of Lord Howe, Lt.-Col. Goldie Gardner, Mr. George Abecassis and Mr. Peter Whitehead to draw up the conditions of award. In this task, they will bear in mind that throughout his sporting career not only did John Cobb by his successes contribute greatly to British prestige throughout the world, he also demonstrated that kindliness and efficiency can go hand-in-hand.
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R.A.C. Tyre Regulations
These Regulations will in 1953 apply compulsorily only to the R.A.C. Trials Championship and its qualifying events. Promoters of other events may, at their option, adopt these Regulations or the R.A.C. Tyre Regulations, as published in July 1949, and now current.
Tyre Sections will be restricted in the ease of “Special” cars to:
— Up to and including 2500 cc engine capacity — 5.00 section
— Over 2500 cc engine capacity — 7.00 section
It should be noted that the chassis, excluding the body, determines whether or not the car is regarded as a “Special” or a “Standard” vehicle. In the case of” Standard ” cars of which at least 50 chassis have been produced or for which manufacturing provision has been made to the satisfaction of the R.A.C., no restriction on size will be made within the range of tyres recommended by the tyre manufacturers for the standard wheel and rim, as sold with the car.
All tyres, whether fitted to “Special” or ” Standard” cars, must be on the approved list and modification of the manufacturer’s tyre tread pattern will not be permitted.
To date the following tyres have been approved:
New Tyres:
Henly — Car tread, 14-19 in.
Michelin — “Zig-Zag” and “Stop” only.
British Tyre and Rubber Co. — “Gilt-edged”.
Dominion — “De Luxe”
Avon — “HM”.
John Bull — “Heavy”
Davies — “Passenger”.
Firestone — “De Luxe”, “Safety Lock”, “Super Balloon”.
Goodyear — “De Luxe All Weather”, “De Luxe Rib”, “Eagle All Weather”, “Super Cushion Rib”, “Super Cushion All Weather”
Dunlop — B5, “Cushion”, “Fort” B5, “Fort” C Type.
North British — “Airglide”
Retreads and Remoulds:
Any retread or remould by the original tyre manufacturer to the tread patterns listed above. In addition :
W, T. Matthews, Brentford — “Standard”, “Pyramid”
Reflex Tyre & Rubber Co., Maidenhead — “Standard”
Manufacturers are being urged to submit samples as soon as possible and it is hoped to issue an additional list in the near future.
The R.A.C. have considered the over-sizes recommended for the wheels as fitted to Dellow cars and have ruled that the maximum section permitted is 5.50.
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The Southern Jowett C.C.
Some 58 members and guests were present at “The Talbot”, London Wall, E.C., to hear Secretary Roy Knight announce that M. Marcel Becquart, had accepted the invitation to become the club’s first President.
“The Director-Generalé” — as Roy Clarkson would have it — appears to be the Scarlet Pimpernel of Continental events. As Roy so explicitly explained, Marcel is here… there and everywhere, and although one “drives like stink,” M. Becquart is there, waiting for you at the controls.
In his reply, the President-elect said he was indeed honoured to he associated with a club of such long standing as the Southern Jowett, and hoped, that in spite of living in France, he would he able to assist the club and its members if they desired to call on his experienee.
Other notable guests were Mde. Sigrand (whose driving was very vividly described by the inimitable Roy), Gordon Wilkins, Johnny Baldwin. The latter extended the hospitality of his Albemarle Street premises to those in trouble (mechanical, we presume !).
The A.G.M. was hustled through at record-breaking pace, aided by the re-election or the committee, practically en-bloc. The presentation of awards followed and M. Becquart rose to the occasion when Mrs. Patsy Kelly came forward for her share of the silver (plate !). In addition, Marcel rewarded her with a typical French gesture, a kiss on each cheek.
Those utter cads, Messrs. Hirst and Palmer, rounded off an excellent evening with entertainment at the piano — á la Ken and George, to the obvious amusement of all.
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W. Hants and Dorset C.C.
The A.G.M. was held at the Grand Hotel, Bournemouth, on December 9th. Between forty and fifty members were present, a not unreasonable total in view of the fact that there were no “carrots” in the form of film-shows or other attractions. The Chairman, T. W. J. Bryant, gave a report on the activities of the past year. These included the Risley race meeting, another speed event, a rally, four trials, and quite a number of social events. He concluded his remarks with a plea that the Government should permit a limited number of racing events on suitable closed public roads, as is done in every other country in Europe. ” Motor racing,” he said, ” is now almost a national sport. Let the public see the real thing.”
Hon. Treasurer E. P. Huxham gave his financial report. This showed that although, on paper, we had done no more than break even, the Club’s position was stronger than a year ago because a much greater proportion of its assets consisted of cash at bank. Always a useful thing to have. The membership has remained steady throughout the year at a little under four hundred.
The announcement was made of the Club’s decision to refund, in full, entry fees to starters at this year’s lbsley race meeting. It was made clear that this was not to be taken as a precedent, as obviously the position must depend on the financial outcome of each season’s events at lbsley. However, this year there was a small surplus, and the Committee felt that it would be an appreciated gesture if this was to be handed back to the competitors. One of the reasons why it has been possible to do this this year was the unusually high proportion of non-starters, who, of course, do not get their money back. Had there not been so many non-starters, the surplus would not have been large enough to cover a general return of fees. The Club would have liked to make this announcement much earlier, but the financial risk at lbsley is shared with a motor-cycle club which also held a meeting there, and until their accounts had been finalised, it was not known what the overall picture was for the year. The new Executive and Committee was then elected as follows :
President: Major-General A. H. Loughborough, C.B., O.B.E.
Vice Presidents: L. J. O. Bartlett, C. F. B. Bassil, R. Emerson-Tavener, G.R. Hartwell, C. B. K. Milnes, and C. Oldham.
Chairman: T. W. J. Bryant.
Hon. General Secretary: Mrs. P. Jesty, Doddings. Wareham, Dorset, Tel. Bere Regis 250.
Club Captain: P. G. Cooper.
Hon. Trials Secretary: D. S. Ship.
Hon. Competition Secretary and Magazine Editor: R.R. Mountford
Hon. Social Secretary: A. E. Morrish.
Hon. Press Secretary: A. Hollister.
Committee Members: J. B. Jesty. E. W. Crabbe, L. S. Fitch, A. I. Bartlett, A. G. Cooper. F. W. Scott, and H. H. White. (Although D. S. Ship is shown as being Trials Secretary, his activities cover a much wider field and will include the Ibsley race meeting scheduled for April 18th next.)
Under ” any other business ” a really lively discussion ensued on various topics as the members were encouraged to get up and say what they really felt about the conduct of the Club, and to make suggestions for the guidance of the Committee. The main outcome of this was the very encouraging confidence in the Committee that was shown by the members present. This had also been demonstrated earlier by the re-election of the entire Committee, except for two members who had had to withdraw for business reasons. Thus encouraged, the Committee has set out with the intention of making 1953 an especially good year in the history of the Club, especially as it will reach its twenty-first birthday next September.
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Lea-Francis O.C.
P. G. Thompson, 29, Meadow Hill, .New Malden, Surrey, seeks to form a club for Lea-Francis owners and asks those interested to get in touch with him.
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Aston-Martin O.C.
The Aston-Martin O.C. announces the following awards for the 1952 season :
Charnwood Trophy: D. Edwards
Peter Bell Trophy: L. Marr
St. John Horsfall Trophy: E. Stapleton
President’s Trophy: F. Thompson
Wyatt Trophy: R.C. Willis
Members’ Trophy: P.C. T. Clark and M. J. Keen
Stallebrass Trophy: M.H. Morris-Goodall and H. Wallace.
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Allard O.C.
The Annual Dinner and Dance of the Allard Owners’ Club will be held at 7.30 p.m. (for 8.0 o’clock), on Wednesday, January 14th, at Frascati’s Restaurant, Oxford Street, London, W.1, and is in lieu of the usual monthly meeting held normally on the second Tuesday of each month.
Tickets are 35/- each and it is anticipated that a goodly crowd of Club members and their friends will be in attendance.