Miscellany, April 1998
Brooklands trophies seldom reveal themselves these days at sales or elsewhere, so it is nice to know that the Jackson Cup won at a LCC meeting in 1930 by Jack Bartlett in his Salmson has been found in Jersey.
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The fuss about pollution and congestion could have been solved in the 1880s if the authorities had banned cars unless they could be kept off public roads and lanes while parked after all, horses and carriages were not normally so parked. Now we are engulfed with static vehicles free-parked on roads. It is surprising that the government has not introduced incentives for the use of smaller cars, which use less polluting fuel, if such pollution is true, and take up less space. Lower tax may not be the answer in this pecunious age, although this, coupled with the reduction in ever-rising fuel bills, should be?
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I was surprised some readers recalled my one-time plea for small cars which could return a genuine 60/60 – that is, of mph/mpg. In this connection, Brian Joscelyne reminds me that the VW Golf TDi does 57.6mpg and 126mph, with turbocharged diesel fuel injection. Wouldn’t it help to encourage such cars?
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Here are the dates for the 1998 Inter-Register contests: STD Driving Tests, Brooklands, April 4; Pre-war A7 Club navigational run, East Midlands, May 17; Humber Register navigational rally, August 16; Crossley Register treasure hunt, Yorkshire, August 30; Riley Register scatter rally, Forest of Dean, September 13; Alvis Register navigational rally, Warwicks, October 18; Austin IODC night rally, Hampshire, December 27. The new club secretary is Chris Nelder, who can be telephoned on 01398 323013.
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This year’s International Alvis Day is to be held in Coventry on June 14.In addition, on June 23, in conjunction with the Alvis Register, the Alvis OC is holding a meeting at Brooklands to commemorate the Henleys Alvis Day that was first held there and to remember the 1923 200 Mile Race victory by an Alvis some 75 years ago as well as the 50th Anniversary of the Alvis Register. For the former, contact Derek Tourle on 01798 875320, while for the latter call Brian Maile on 01737 245339. Appropriately, the Jowett CC will have its National rally in Bradford on May 24, based on the Cedar Court Hotel.
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The Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation (HERO) announces that its LEJOG will not be held this year and resumes on December 4-7, 1999.
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We are sad to have to record that, after a short illness, the 750MC’s fbrmer Chairman and serving Managing Director Mike Featherstonhaugh has died from cancer. He was an active member in 750 Formula racing, using a car of his own design which he had recently rebuilt for driving in the 750 Trophy series. We offer his widow Helen and his sons Tristan and Patrick our deepest sympathy.
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The Vintage Sports Car Club is now installed in its new offices at The Old Post Office, Chipping Norton (tel: 01608 644777). Its first race meeting of the year will be the Spring Start at Silverstone on April 18.
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This year’s Brooklands Society Reunion at Brooklands takes place on June 28, while Museum fixtures will include MG Day on April 19 and a rally for Rolls-Royce 20 and Ghost club members on April 26.