V to C miscellany, April 1993
Another Ludlow Festival Vintage Vehicle Display, and short town-run between 14.00-15.00, takes place on May 9, for the Watsons Motor Works Cup and other prizes. The event is confined to pre-1959 cars. Details from: P Reckless, Rochdale, 6 Station Road, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 2LR.
That rare car, the straight-eight Hampton, is now fully restored and we hear that a replica Leyland 8, to be built around an original engine, is contemplated by an enthusiast in Kent.
For its annual rally at Beaulieu, the 750MC is introducing an additional class, for Ulster Replicas, for the President’s Trophy.
The ‘Hyde Park Race’ to introduce the Bugatti EB110 (two of them) to London was well supported by the Bugatti OC, with a fine display of pre-war Bugattis. The event continued later within Grovesnor House. The Metropolitan Police were less enthusiastic about the parade around Hyde Park and down Park Lane than their Parisian or Milanese counterparts might have been, but it all ended happily enough, with no arrests as we understand, though there was a complaint about a camera-car being overloaded. With ever-rising crime rates, we wonder how they find the manpower to supervise events of this ilk with such attention to detail (see also Boddy Language, page 355). Incidentally, unless our eyes have deceived us the EB110 does not seem to have worn any number plates during its London jaunt. Money is said to speak loudly, so maybe if you can afford a £292,000 supercar you are exempt from taxing it. Or is it that after spending so much, there is nothing left to buy the car a licence disc? It was possible to commemorate the occasion by buying a Bugatti scarf (£1200) or Bugatti fountain-pen (£1000) . . .
The VSCC’s Silverstone meeting on April 3 will include the usual races for pre-war and historic racing cars, one for 1950s sports/ racing cars, another for pre-war sports cars and an event for front-engined, post-war racing cars. The ltala and Lanchester Trophies contest will adjust the balance, in a programme of 10 races and the traditional high-speed trial. There’s not long between our publication date and the event, so try not to miss it. First race is at 13.00; adult admission is £8.50, paddock transfer £3.
The new £8M Heritage Motor Centre, situated a three minutes run from Junction 12 of the M40, on the B4100, is due to open on May 1, with a collection of over 300 historic British cars on display. Admission will cost £5 for each adult, £3 each for OAPs and children aged 5-16.
The Jowett CC is hoping to attract even more entries than have so far been received for its 70th Anniversary Rally at the Ramside Hull Hotel, Durham, over the weekend of May 28/30. Apply to Mike Smailes, 2 Talgarth Road, Norton, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland TS20 1LF.
The Yorkshire Vintage Motorcyclists organisation was formed to cater for pre 1931 machines, rather than “any old motorcycle”. It prefers informal runs to frantic competition. Anyone interested is invited to write to Keith Bastow, 395 Soothill Lane, Batley, W Yorkshire WF17 6ES.
The latest issue of the Surrey County Magazine carries a large reproduction of 1932’s Brooklands 1000 Miles race poster on its cover. Within, there is a long article on the old track by Peter Boston, who rightly praises the Brooklands Museum but has apparently never heard of the good work done by the Brooklands Society in its efforts to save the surviving parts of the circuit. He claims that it became known as the ‘Bumby Bowl’, which is news to me, and he attributes the ladies’ lap record to Doreen Evans, rather than the actual holder Gwenda Stewart.
In last month’s report of the VSCC Brooklands meeting the following results were omitted. In class three, First Class Awards went to P Bullett (A7) and D Downes (MG). Second Class Awards to D Robinson (Riley) and T Gosling (A7) and Third Class Awards to B Harding (Frazer Nash) and T Foster (A7).
An exceedingly rare 1914 Model-25 Herreshoff tourer has surfaced in Carmarthen. It is thought to be the very last one made, assembled from parts remaining at the Detroit factory just before the manufacturer went bankrupt after having built these cars since 1909.
W B