V to C Miscellany, April 1989
We do not wish to start a sweepstake for new recruits between the various motoring organisations, but it is indicative of the healthy state of the club world that in recent publications the Alvis OC has listed 50 new members and six associates, the Daimler & Lanchester OC 31 (in December alone), the Mercdes-Benz Club 129 and the R.REC 248 with a total of 210 listed Rolls-Royces and Bentleys.
The history, and particularly the competition history, is sought of an S-type Invicta 41/2-litre. Chassis No S91, first registered (LJ 4313) in August 1931, has an original Carbodies sports body, not a conversion. Letters can be forwarded.
Singer Owners Club reports that a Singer Nine Le Mans, owned before the war by racing driver Sir John Hedge, is being restored. AYK 561 is one of three Singers which Hodge raced at Brooklands, Donington Park and at Greenford dirt track; another became a long-tailed single-seater Brooklands car.
The Humber Register reports on a 1927 19/20hp chassis which had been stored since 1966 and a 1913 Humberette which had not been used since 1968, both now restored; meanwhile two Humber 12/25hp tourers came together at a rally last year for the first time since they left the factory in 1926.
Members of the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain are currently restoring or having dated an 1884 De Dion steamer, a 1904 Franklin, a 1913 15hp Napier, a 1902 Georges Richard, a 1907 Holsman and a 1908 White Steamer.
A 1910 sleeve-valve BSA tourer is being restored at a Welsh garage, with an immaculate Hillman Minx keeping it company.
Which is the oldest one-make club? In 1923 a Jowett Cars advertisement paid tribute to Jowett LC&SC in Bradford and the Southern Jowett LCC in London, forerunner of today’s Jowett Car Club based in Bradford.
A reader confirms that the mansion at Ellesmere mentioned in the roads of the 1920s (Motor Sport, December 1988) still exists. It was requisitioned during the war by the Royal Air Force, and the land covered in concrete reinforced with three vintage chassis; the concrete was being broken up in 1969. The information comes from the restorer of a 1936 Humber Snipe, on which he learned to drive 20 years ago. WB