Club News, April 1956

London M.C. “Little Rally”

The “Little Rally” will start from Farnborough at 7 a.m. on April 21st and will consist of approximately 200 miles of interesting motoring with no difficult navigation. Eight special tests will be incorporated and an informal dinner-dance will terminate the event. Details from Mrs. Nina Imhof, Robin Hill, Coombe Hill Road, Kingston-on-Thames.

Bentley Drivers’ Club

On April 7th the “Merry-Go-Round” Rally will take place. From a driving test centre there will be eight starting points situated radially about 40 miles from this centre; the road section will not exceed 400 miles. The centre is an airfield near Stratford-on-Avon where competitors will meet for the tests. Details from Lt.-Col. C. H. D. Berthon, “Madges,” Long Crendon, Aylesbury, Bucks.

The Mid-Thames C.C.

This club held their second annual dinner and dance at the Wimbledon Hill Hotel on Thursday, March 1st, at which over 130 people vere present.

The principal event was the presentation of awards for the preceding year’s sport and 60 awards were presented by Mrs. C. H. Turner, wife of the club’s president.

Bristol M.C. and L.C.C.

Owing to the new safety measures required by the R.A.C. and the unfortunate financial loss sustained at the October meeting last year, the proposed meeting at Castle Combe this month has had to be cancelled owing to lack of funds. The club hopes to be able to run another October event if outside assistance can be found.

Inter-Varsity Speed Trial, Great Dunmow

The Cambridge University A.C, again opened the English Speed Season on March 11th, at Great Dunrnow Airfield, with a Speed Trial. A 21-litre Metallurgique, making its first public appearance since 1914, opened the course.

Saloon Cars under 1,100 c.c.

This was contested by three Morrises, three Standards, a Renault and a D.K.W. The fastest in this class being the D.K.W. driven by Archie Scott-Brown (60.34 sec.).

Under 1,100-c.c. Sports Cars

Here we hail a variety of M.G.s, an Austin, Fiat and a Lotus-Climax. The Lotus was an easy winner, being driven by K. Taskent (53.60 Sec.).

Sports Cars, 1,100-1,500 c.c.

W. J. Allday drove his Frazer-Nash extremely well. P. G. Fletcher was driving the completely redesigned new model H.R.G. First here was T. Lucas (Lotus-M.G., 55.23 sec.).

Saloon Cars 1,101/1,500 and 1,501-2,600 c.c.

A very fine effort was put up here by A. V. Alexander in his 1929 Lea-Francis, which was only a fraction of a second slower than the three TR2s. E. G. Kemp came first (53.20 sec.).

Over 2,000-c.c. Saloon Cars

In this class A. J. Burton (Jaguar, 56,30 sec.) was first.

Over 2,600-c.c. Sports Cars

Both drivers of the 300SL Mercedes had little idea of how to control this expensive piece of machinery, neither of their times being particularly good. C. Wick in an Allard (54.44 sec.) was first in this class.

Racing Cars (Unlimited)

It was interesting to note that Ann Heal, driving a Cooper-J.A.P., returned a faster time than that of the owner. In fact, she made the second fastest time of the day. H. Taylor, who did make f.t.d., drove a Cooper-Norton (48.94 sec.) which was making its first appearance.

M.P.