Club News, March 1991

As mentioned last month, the 70th MCC Land’s End Trial will take place on March 29th/30th. For those who wish to spectate, the starting places are Basingstoke, Okehampton and Bristol and the first motorcycle riders should get to Darracott at 7.20am, Crackington at 8.20am, Warleggan at 10.30am, Bluehills Mine at 12 noon approximately, on the Saturday, after a 7.30pm start on the Friday, finishing at Hendra Park, Newquay. Entries close on February 27th.

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The Teeside Yesteryear Motor Club is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and are having a reunion for all past and present members on Monday, April 8th at Norton Cricket Club. They are hopeful of a memorable and pleasant occasion.

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The Lea-Francis OC’s magazine LeaFlet had an interesting photograph recently, showing eleven Ruston Hornsby cars outside the Ruston factory in Lincoln, the link being that three later Lea-Francis executives, LT Delaney, CB Wardman and HE Tatlow, had held important positions producing Ruston Hornsby cars.

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The Chairman of the Wolseley Register is Geoff Craggs and the contact to whom enquiries should be addressed is G Watson, 6 Ezard Street, Newtown, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, TS19 OBZ.

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It is encouraging when clubs catering for cars of which not a great number have survived nevertheless lead an active, enthusiastic existence. Such is the Trojan OC, of which the new Secretary is M Luscott-Evans, Thomas Blount Cottage, Hurcott Village, Kidderminster, DY10 3P.

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The Historic Rally Car Register continues to see an enormous influx of members into its ranks, which obviously mirrors the increasing interest in historic rallying. From April 1st, membership fees will rise to £20.00 for the annual fee with a £5.00 once off joining fee. Joint membership can be had for a reasonable £25.00.

At present, club membership stands at 1260, but with an average of 7 new members joining a week, that figure will already be out of date.

Details from Alison Woolley, Tibberton court, Tibberton, Gloucester, GL19 3AF. Tel.: 0452 79648.

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To celebrate its 90th birthday, the Motor Cycling Club has come up with the ambitious idea of holding a three day, 860 mile trial from May 30th/June 1st, starting from Silverstone on the Thursday afternoon and finishing at Brooklands, with special tests on the Saturday afternoon. The route will take competitors to the Midlands and Derbyshire, with observed sections Haydale and Priestcliffe, then will turn SW to Bristol, Devon and Cornwall, where three more observed sections redolent of the Land’s End trials will have to be tackled, namely, Hustyn, Old Blurhills and Ruses Mill, while there will be a special test at Exeter, reached after the lunch-pause at Land’s End on the Friday, where there will be a special test. Restarting on the Friday, after tackling Windout and Stafford in Devon, the finish at Brooklands will embrace three more tests, including two or more ascents of the Test Hill.

Those who do not wish to do the Celebration trial can opt for the Banking Trial on the Saturday, involving the special tests. The average speed of the full trial will be 30 mph, but mainly on Class A roads. This may determine the age of the older vehicles taking part. It sounds a most enjoyable affair. Those interested can obtain details by sending an sae to G. Margetts, Haven Bank, Madresfield Road, Malvern, Worcs.

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The Brighton & Hove Motor Club have announced that the 1991 Brighton Speed Trials will be sponsored by Frost’s, the Lotus Carlton dealer for Sussex.

The event will take place on Saturday 14th September on the famous Madeira Drive and the entry list is expected to open towards the end of May when the Supplementary Regulations are published. — WB

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The Lancashire Automobile Club will soon be distributing entry forms for its Manchester-Blackpool Veteran Vintage Car Run on Sunday, June 2nd.

The event has three distinct routes for Veteran, Edwardian and Vintage cars of 50, 58 and 65 miles respectively across Greater Manchester and Lancashire. This is not as Sunday jaunt, they say, as it includes pre-set average speeds and full rally timing. The route is issued at the start and varies a little each year to keep the competitors on their toes. The route card, however, is easily followed. Along the route are secret controls where the cars are timed to the nearest minute. Both the Edwardian and Vintage cars call at Lancashire Police Headquarters and take part in a driving test where they are timed to the nearest 100th of a second for a special award.

As well as the road section there is also a Concours d’Elegance where condition and originality are assessed.

The entry fee is £17.00 which includes membership of the Lancashire Automobile Club and two free meals at the Blackpool finish. Entry forms are available from Alwyn Davies, 320 Preston Old Road, Blackburn, BB2 2TX.

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The Morgan Sports Car Club is staging a double celebration in a series of events scheduled for June and July. The cause is two-fold: the 40th anniversary of the introduction of the Morgan Plus 4 and also 40 years since the formation of the Morgan 4/4 Club, forerunner of the MSCC.

Details of the summertime events can be obtained from the events co-ordinator Malcolm Lamb, 7 Rodman Close, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3PE. Tel.: 021-454 7677.

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The Jaguar Car Club’s Donington Park Race Meeting on June 8th/9th is being used as the occasion to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the E-type Jaguar. Apart from a full race programme (which includes a joint clubs “1000 E-type rally”, there will also be an E-type race.

While there are several interesting and historic E-types promised, the Jaguar Car Club is keen to hear from anyone who owns or knows of a racing E-type that might be encouraged to attend, as well as from drivers who competed in them in the Sixties and Seventies.

TH Rowe, the Competitions Secretary would like to hear from you at 11 Fairview Road, Timperley, Cheshire WA15 7AR. Tel.: 061-980 3413.

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After the success of the Bentley Drivers Club race at Montlhéry last June, the organising committee, the Association Sportive Automobiles des Vehicules d’Epoque, have decided to widen the scope a little.

Along with the Bentley Boys, invitations have been extended to Invictas, Delahayes, Maseratis, Alfa Romeos and, naturally, Bugattis. The event will take place on the weekend of June 29th/30th and will be run at a classic car meeting for which the organisers are hoping to attract up to 2000 vehicles.

Further information can be obtained from Philippe Lorthoir, 132 Rue de le Louviere, 59000 Lille, France.

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The Triumph Spitfire Club have announced the 9th International Spitfire weekend at its usual venue at Klein Vink in Arcen in Holland on August 31st/ September 1st. Further information can be obtained from Mieke Luijten, Kastanjelaan 131, 4902 RL Oosterhout, Holland.

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A new insurance scheme has just been launched, aimed exclusively at the Triumph owner. Backed by Lancaster Insurance Services, the insurance brokers behind the MG Owners’ Club policy that now cares for nearly half their 52,000 members, the company has now branched out to include Triumphs.

The scheme will run in tandem with the MG’s in which the policy can be tailor-made for the individual’s requirement and also at the same time offer it at a competitive price. The company also claims to have a good track record for dealing with claims efficiently and quickly.

To tempt all Triumph owners to apply for a quote, Lancaster are offering a free key fob to every Triumph owner who telephones. Call 0480 300023 and a leather-backed key fob will be sent by return of post.