VSCC Eastern Rally

THIS year’s VSCC “Eastern” Rally followed the expected format of a Sunday afternoon’s motoring at a modest 20 m.p.h. average, starting and finishing at The Haycock, Wansford. Clive Bowyer’s route, covering nearly 100 miles of spacious countryside and enchanting stone villages, was defined mainly by not-in-order map references, a herring-bone and the observations of that notorious, sadistic and ambiguous aviator, Sqn.-Ldr. Viggles. Few emerged unscathed from his machinations, and those who did still had to contend with ex-Competitions Secretary Jim Whyman, who had been cunningly allocated a control on a malicious little road which refused to run in the direction ordered by the route instructions.

The healthy entry of 55 cars embraced an extraordinary spectrum of machinery, including quite a few not hitherto seen on events. They ranged from 1917 to 1938, covering 39 basic models from 22 manufacturers. Most of them got Iost or did something silly, but managed to extricate themselves, and by dusk the colourful array was trickling back, the crews who had set out at lunch-time with such bright and eager countenances now mostly scowling, arguing, cursing or just trying to put a brave face on things. Jack McEwen and Derrick Allan in their Riley Lynx won overall, while Clive Hamilton-Gould and Colin Eyre showed that, provided one did not make mistakes, a Minor tourer was perfectly adequate equipment.

First class awards were gained also by Peter Glover and Bob Roberts in the 12/50 Alvis and Steven Harvey and Richard Ives in a Riley Lynx.