Club News, May 1991
Lotus Ltd, the largest Lotus club in the USA, has asked us to publicise its 11th Lotus OC gathering at Waterbury CT on August 23/25, which is to feature the Lotus Eleven. All manner of attractions, an early Lotus personality as Guest Speaker, models, swaps, a banquet, photography and other contests, a rally, autocross etc are to be laid on. Details are available from Foster Cooperstein, 16 Madoc Street, Newton Centre, MA or from Lotus Ltd, PO Box 1, College Park, MD 20740, USA.
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The Port Talbot Motor Club’s third “Edmunds Classic Tour” is a 150 mile rally for Classic and Historic cars. The event has been selected as the fifth round of the BBC Top Gear Heritage Historic Rally Championship and will be continuing the practice of supporting an excellent cause, the Cancer Relief Macmillan Fund.
Regulations for the event will be available in May and entries are expected to be in high demand given the proven success of the 1990 Tour and the new Top Gear Heritage Championship status. Prospective entrants should contact Veronica Gale at “Tyrrell”, 13 Wellfield Avenue, Neath, West Glamorgan SA11 1EZ. Tel: 0639 635860 to be included on the mailing list.
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The Riley RM Club flourishes, with 28 new members appointed last winter and many well-preserved examples of these later Rileys illustrated in the Club’s bi-monthly magazine. The Club Secretary is Simon Kinder, 6 St Matthews Close, Rowde, Devizes, Wiltshire SNIO 2PG.
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To avoid past confusion, the Sunbeam Talbot Alpine Register has asked us to clarify the fact that the Membership Secretary is Derek Cook who can be contacted at 84 High Brooms Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9BQ, tel: 0892 38128.
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The Scripps-Booth Register is an irregular and informal newsletter and information clearing house begun in 1981 by Ledyard Pfund of Alpine, NJ, USA. The ScrippsBooth was manufactured in the US between 1915 and 1922, but many were exported to the UK. Of the 31 known Scripps-Booths, 3 are located in Australia and there are rumours of one in Cuba. Somewhere in Britain there must be a couple of them. The Scripps-Booth Register can be found at c/o Scripps Downing, RR-4 Bacon’s Wood, Macomb, IL 61455 USA, tel: 0101-309 837 2593.
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Rachel Roberts is preparing to launch the Ford Orion Owners Club, but before releasing full details, she is looking to owners and drivers to give her their views and comments on what they would expect from the Club. The annual membership fee will be approximately £15.00. When writing for further information to Rachel Roberts at Alexander House, Fleming Way, Swindon, Wiltshire SN1 2NG, please supply model details, year it was first registered, your age and whether you have heard of the club through Motor Sport.
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On Monday, May 27 Goodwood circuit is playing host to a Supercar Testday at which Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Porsches are expected to attend. The day is organised to enable people to test their supercars around the circuit at speeds not permitted on a public highway. All the major exotic car clubs have been invited so the day should be of great interest. Refreshments will be available throughout the day and entry is free to anyone who wishes to spectate. Further details from Mike Pullen, Supercar Testday, 44 Sussex Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 4ED. Tel: 0444 455100.
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The Ferrari Owners Club Essex Challenge, their sprint/hillclimb competition, is once again sponsored by BF Goodrich.
More than 20 members are expected to contest the 15 round series in roadgoing Ferraris, not just in eight cylinder tipos, but 246s, 275 GTBs, Testarossas and Daytonas as well. Events all around Britain include hillclimbs at Prescott, Shelsley Walsh, Harewood, Loton Park, Doune and Rotherfield Park with sprints at Curborough, West Mailing and Debden.
For regulations and other information please contact series organiser Richard Allen, Thoby Lodge, Thoby Lane, Mountnessing, Essex CM15 0TB. Tel: 0708 732940 (day).
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Vintage SCC events open to paying non-members in May are the Wiscombe Park speed hillclimb at that delightful venue in Devon on the 12th, preceded by the testing Curborough speed-trial near Lichfield on the 5th, while the Donington Park race meeting with all the sounds, sights and flavours of pre-war and historic motor racing is scheduled for the 27th. Details from the VSCC office, 121 Russell Road, Newbury, Berks RG14 5JX. Tel: 0635 44411.
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The Pre-War Austin Seven Club is holding a meeting at Wollaton Park, near Nottingham, on Sunday, June 2. The event attracts some 500 entrants including vintage motor cars, motor cycles, traction engines, miniature steam exhibits and an autojumble with approximately 150 stalls and an attendance in excess of 15,000 people. Admission and car parking are both free. Further information from John Barlow, Pre-War Austin Seven Club, 7 Larch Crescent, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 4DL.
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The Devon region of the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club is organising the Great West Jaguar Day at Crealy Park, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, Devon on Sunday, June 2. It will be a day of Jaguar events, displays, skilled driving tests, parade of cars etc. The entry fee is £3.00 for adults and £2.00 for children. Further details from Jacki Wright, Social Secretary, Jaguar Enthusiasts Club (Devon region), 72 Queens Road, Exeter, Devon. Tel: 0392 53833.
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Also on June 2 is the Inter Marque Classic Sports Car day at Wimpole Hall, Royston, Cambs organised by the TR Register. The entrance will be £5.00 per vehicle with pre-booked exhibitors free. All benefits from admissions will be donated to two charities, the Sporting Bears and the National Trust. Included in the entrance fee are half price tickets to the National Trust facilities at Wimpole Hall.
The organisers are expecting 300 classic sports cars to attend and anticipate in excess of 5000 public admissions. If any additional clubs are interested they should contact Mike Norton, TR Register, 2 Canmore Close, Sawtry, Huntingdon, Cambs PE17 5PH. Tel: 0487 831964.
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Yet another event on June 2 is the 2nd Bath Festival Run organised by the Classic and Historic Motor Club. The event is in aid of the Cancer and Leukemia in Childhood Trust and will be centred on Bath, starting in the centre of the city and taking in some of the surrounding countryside. The event is limited to 100 vehicles, so early entries are advised. For more details please contact Mrs T Burridge, The Smithy, High Street, Ston Easton, Bath, BA3 4DQ. Tel: 076 121223.
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Those who follow vintage motorcycle happenings should note that the VMCC’s 43rd Banbury Run will start from Drayton School, Banbury on June 16 and finish at the same place, although spectators would be advised to watch from suitable, unobstructive places along the 60 mile route. Entries to D Eggby, 95 Mallory Road, Bishops Tachbrook, Leamington Spa (VMCC members). The Secretary of this 10,000 strong Club is Ann Davy, 138 Derby Road, Burton-on-Trent, Staffs DE14 2LF.
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The Michael Sedgwick Run for pre-1961 cars will be sponsored this year by the Ordnance Survey as part of their 200th anniversary celebrations. Now in its sixth year this event, organised by the Friends of the National Motor Museum, is run over roads in and around the New Forest. It is essentially a family affair with a road section of around 100 miles, which includes a quiz for children in competing cars. It starts and finishes at the National Motor Museum.
The event is open to anyone with a pre-1961 car and full details and entry forms are available from Michael Ware, Curator, National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hampshire. Tel: 0590 612345.
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With no full circuit yet available at Brooklands it is pleasing to know that the Montlhéry Track near Paris is still operative and that the ASAVA is holding races for pre-war cars and others there on June 28/30.
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This year’s Bentley DC race meeting at Silverstone is to be held on August 24 and other important fixtures include a Daks Simpson Concours d’Elegance at Hatfield House on June 29, the Third National Motoring weekend at Harrogate on August 8-12 and a meeting at the Long Crendon headquarters on October 23/24, although the BDC has something happening on most days of the year. There was even a golf match on April 25 and the West Wales Weekend of the Mid-West regional section happens on May 3/6. The Review is about to have a new Editor and the BDC Secretary is Mrs Barbara Fell, ACIS, WO Bentley Memorial Building, 16 Chearsley Road, Long Crendon, Aylesbury, Bucks HP18 9AW.
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Revised dates have been announced for the Manx Mountain challenge, a new motorsport event in July which will link two historic venues of the early Tourist Trophy races.
The event is to be run under RAC Historic Road Rally regulations and organised by the BMRMC. It is open to cars manufactured up to 1968, particularly the famous marques which contested the TT over the original road course in the Isle of Man and later at many other circuits. The organisers envisage that the Manx Mountain Challenge will be held annually, linking historic Tourist Trophy venues with the Isle of Man.
The rally covers seven days of motoring and begins on Friday, July 19 with a celebration “get acquainted” lunch at Morecambe. Competitors will board the afternoon ferry to the Isle of Man with a drivers’ briefing session during the voyage. On arrival, a drive along the coast road will lead to the Grand Island Hotel, the base for the Island section of the rally.
Saturday sees the Manx Mountain Challenge itself, a regularity run over the 37.7 mile TT Mountain Circuit. Sunday there is a round-the-Island treasure hunt and on Monday a series of hillclimbs and driving and navigation tests. Leaving the Isle of Man on Tuesday morning, cars head to Blackpool in time for lunch and further competition on the Promenade. On Wednesday the route leads south to Tatton Park and then to Weston Park. Thursday sees the cars arrive at Silverstone for the final stages, following which prizes will be presented by Derek Bell at a champagne reception hosted by the 96 Club.
The entry fee for the Manx Mountain Challenge is £250. The number of entries will be limited, so early application is advised. Competition licences are not required say the organisers. Advance application forms are now available by sending a stamped addressed A4 envelope together with a note giving details of the type of car to Graham Warwick, The Manx Mountain Challenge, PO Box 11, Douglas, Isle of Man. Tel: 0624 661199. Fax: 0624 622230.