Club News, June 1990

That Gilbern sports cars have not been forgotten is evident from the GOC’s preparations for its 21st anniversary this year, with a National Day at the Museum of Wales, St. Fagan’s, Cardiff on September 23rd.

If you are not going to Le Mans and have an affinity with Singer cars, note that the Singer National Day is over the weekend of 16th/17th June, based at Hatfield House, Hertfordshire. The Singer OC has recently enrolled 35 more members with cars from Junior to Vogue and Gazelle. The man to contact about the rally is Tim Hely and the Secretary of this very keen Club is Peter Hart, 27 Rivershill, Wattonat-Stone, Hertford, Herts. SG14 3SD.

The Yorkshire Historic CC’s annual rally takes place at Calder Holmes Park, Hebdon Bridge, West Yorkshire on August 5th, and is open to vehicles made up to the end of 1955. Pre-rally, a 30 mile road run from Halifax is planned, which is not compulsory. Last year more than 350 vehicles took part, led by an 1897 De Dion tricycle. Entry forms from: Automobilia, Old Town, Hebden Bridge, W. Yorks. HX7 8RY.

At Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire on June 3rd, the Shuttleworth Trust has a fixture with a difference, ie a fly-in and display by aeroplanes powered by DH Gipsy engines. All such machines are welcome with advance notice (076 727 288) and they will not be charged landing fees but the main attraction will, it is hoped, be flying displays by a DH 88 Comet, winner of the 1934 England-Australia race, Jean Batten’s 1930s record-breaking Percival Gull Six, the Mew Gull that broke the Cape record in 1939 and the Miles Speed Hawk racer of 1935. While awaiting these historic aeroplanes, spectators will be able to see some 200 land vehicles made prior to 1956. Admission charges range from £10 for a car with driver and up to four passengers to £2 for OAPs and children under 16.

The National Motor Museum’s annual cavalcade on June 17th will have a novel theme this year. This parade that precedes the Classic and Restoration Show at Beaulieu will be for pre-1961 British cars which come into the “rarities and survivors” category, with John Willis commentating on them. To be eligible, cars must be of a make or model of which but a few were built or have survived. Jenolite are the sponsors and the contact is Mike Lucas, NMM, Beaulieu, Hampshire S042 7ZN. Another event which will be held at Beaulieu, also on June 17th, will be a Pride of Ownership competition for pre-1971 cars. Divided into classes, winners of each will win four new tyres, those who come second three tyres and so on, sponsorship being by Vintage Tyre Supplies. Entries to

the Museum’s Events Department, tel. 0590 612345, fax: 0590 612624.

Two significant rallies to be organised by the Historic Rally Car Register are the 19th Targa Rusticana and the Rally Britannia. The first is scheduled for October 13th/14th as a traditional Welsh night rally, the HRCR road rally in this country, and is under John Brown’s care. Fifty provisional entries had come in by April and many famous names and cars such as AH Sprites, Jowett Javelins, period MGs, Healey Silverstone, Alpine A110, even an Anglia, A40 and a Lancia Flaminia have been nominated. The fee is likely to be around £85 per car and places can be booked for an advance of £10. The other rally, dated for September 1st, starts from Bath as a 24 hour rally finishing at Harrogate and probably including hillclimb courses and circuits. Envisaged as a full category one event counting for the FIA Rally Championship, entries will be coordinated by the Classic Marathon office.

The Vauxhall OC’s National Rally will take place at Tatton Park, Nutsford on June 2nd/3rd. The Secretary is Ron Shier, 41 Oxleys Cottages, Haynes West End, Bedford, MK45 3QT.

May 27th will see around 1260 classic cars starting from seven points, to converge on Donington Park, in the 5th Norwich Union RAC Classic Car Run. Stupendous! We hear that the entries included 190 Austins of various kinds, 166 Jaguars, 126 Triumphs and 93 Rolls-Royces, all cars being pre-1971, embracing 26 Edwardians which have their own route, starting as well as finishing at Donington. There should just be time to make a note to watch, so here are the main starting places, at times from 7.30 to 8 am — Bath, Brocket Hall, Harewood, Norwich, Oxford, Stockport and Woburn Abbey.

The Citroen Traction Club of GB has a good programme planned for 1990, including Continental and Cotswold tours and the annual rally, at Glastonbury. Details from: Mike Wheals on 0256 896876.

On July 1st not quite all the surviving pre-war A7s in this country will converge on the NMM at Beaulieu for the National Rally. Which reminds us that 15 clubs and 11 associate clubs look after the interest of owners of these popular cars, in this country alone, under the umbrella of the A7 Clubs’ Association (Sec. R. Olive, Lorien, The Ridge, Cold Ash, Newbury, Berks. RG16 9HZ) which issues an irresistible magazine. The 750 MC started it all and has broad interests; it too issues a good magazine. It recently suffered the loss of Dave Bradley, its capable Secretary from 1969 to 1990; the temporary replacement is M Hogarth, Acaneada, Aston Tirrold, Didcot, Oxon. Apart from the long established STD

Register rally to Sunbeam’s birthplace in Wolverhampton (July 1st) the Star Register is assembling there this year with its own vehicles made in this Midlands town.

The Crossley Register holds its Crossley National Weekend on July 14/15th, at Combermere Abbey, home of the Crossley family, by kind permission of Lady Lindsay. Details from the Register, at 244 Odessa Road, Forest Gate, London E7.

The Alfa Romeo OC has its Northern Alfa Day at Nostell Prior, W. Yorkshire, on July 8th and invites all Alfa owners to join in, also members of the Lancia OC and owners of Fiat X19s. Gates open at 1 lam.

The Pembroke VCC will commence this year’s vintage car show at 10am on July 22nd, at Scolton Manor, near Haverfordwest, Dyfed. Entry forms from M Lewis, 2 Castle View, Simpson Cross, Haverfordwest SA62 6EN (Camrose 710688).

The Sunbeam MCC, to whose magazine I am indebted for information about motorcycle racing at the Crystal Palace circuit, was founded in 1924 and after a rally for Sunbeam machines in Richmond Park it became a general makes club. Major Hole, who was a leading rider at the Palace is now its President, Lt. Col. Ayers its Chairman,and it holds important events for pre-1915, pre-1931 and pre-1940 machines etc. The Secretary is D. Jordan, Bleak House, 72 Chart Lane, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7EA.

On Sunday, July 1st the Turner Sports Car Rally will take place at Gwernvale Manor Hotel, Crickhowell, Powys (just west of Crickhowell on the A40) with Jack Turner, the designer and builder of these cars, in attendance.

The 21st Lynwood Rally in aid of Ben — the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund will be held at Sunninghill, Ascot on Saturday, June 30th. There are the usual classes for preand post-war cars and Concours awards will be presented by BBC TV’s Top Gear presenter William Woollard. Entry forms and details from: Paul Finn, BEN, Lynwood, Sunninghill, Ascot, Berks. SL5 OAJ. Tel.: 0990 20191. VSCC Second Silverstone. After the VSCC Donington Park race meeting on May 26th/27th comes the second 1990 VSCC race meeting at Silverstone, the Hawthorn Memorial Trophy Meeting, on June 16th, with the usual supporting races, including the Boulogne and Bill Phillips Trophy races, a 10 lap scratch race for A7 Ulsters, etc. Racing starts at approx. 1300 hours. Points will be scored towards the VSCC valuable Drivers’ Challenge Trophy and the MOTOR SPORT Brooklands Memorial Trophy. WB