Club News, August 1983

Brighton Speed Trials

This famous event is the only motorsporting meeting to be held on closed public roads on the British mainland, albeit a mere half-mile of Brighton’s sea-front. Changes for this year include the introduction of a class for Vintage and Historic racing cars, which Brighton and Hove Motor Club hope will tempt back some of the cars which made an impact here in past years, and for the first time a car may be driven by more than one driver. The Trials will take place on Saturday September 10th, and closing date for entries is August 27th.

Yeovil Festival of Transport

While the bulk of the “transport” on show at Barwick Park, Yeovil, will be cars, the 900-plus entries also cover military, agricultural, emergency and two-wheeled vehicles. These will be competing in concours classes, and there is also a range of entertainments such as a helicopter display, hot air balloon races, and acrobatic displays from the Marlboro team and Richard Goode. Autojumbles and trade exhibition round out a busy weekend, August 14th/15th, and daily entry is £2 for adults, £1 for OAPs, and 50p for children.

R-R EC

The Rolls-Royce EC held its annual Rally and Beauty Show at Yarnton under garden-party conditions, during the heat wave of July 3rd, in the big field at Paternoster Farm, which must be about the only one large enough to accommodate some 800 Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars with the accompanying sideshows, band, luncheon marquees, etc. The sight of all these best-cars was quite overwhelming, and shows the continued esteem in which Royce products are held. There must have been some £40,000,000-worth of motor cars there, at a conservative estimate! They ranged from 1904 onwards but space does not permit a list of all the class-winners who paraded in the Judges’ ring, apart from which we were not provided with a programme. But it was a very impressive and enjoyable occasion, to which, not having a Rolls-Royce, we went in the excellent Ford Sierra XR4i, slinking away unnoticed before the enormous supply of fine silverware was presented. — WB.

Zandvoort Anniversary

The 7th of this month marks the 35th anniversary of the first race at the Dutch circuit, which was organised by the BRDC in 1948. To celebrate, four of the drivers in that first event, Prince Bira, Tony Rolt, Roy Salvadori and John Bolster, were invited to a press conference and dinner at the end of last month in Zandvoort, which was followed the next day by various races and historic car demonstrations on the circuit.

Lotus Seven Club

Lotus owners seem to be spoilt for choice as to which club they join. Recently relaunched after a moribund eight years is a group specifically for Seven owners which aims to provide the information, spares, and social service which enthusiasts want. Further details are available from the Secretary, David Mirylees, 5 Bamber House, Plantation Drive, Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran, Gwent, NP44 2AR.