enthusiasm

Enthusiasm!

THE OCTOBER issue of the official journal of the Vintage MCC contained an article by Ken Hallworth about his repeat of the historic Round the Coast ride of 1924, when Miss Marjorie Cottle riding a 21/4 by Raleigh and the late Hugh Gibson on a 7 hp Raleigh sidecar outfit rode round the coast roads of Britain in opposite directions. A competition was organised as to the place where they would meet, which turned out to be at Skirlaugh, between Hull and Bridlington, the winner getting his estimates to within 19 miles. This year, in following the same route

on his 1929 31/4 hp Raleigh solo, Hallworth covered 3,400 miles, riding the entire distance himself, at 80 to 85 mpg, the only troubles having been two worn-out primary chains, breakage of a clutch lug, and having to grind-in the exhaust valve. Miss Cottle flagged him off and was at the finish in Liverpool, as was “Titch” Allen, founder of the VMCC (which today has more than 5,200 members) who in 1954 had done the journey on an Ariel Huntmaster combo. Hallworth, who was not out to establish any records, says he just did it in the spirit of what vintage vehicle ownership “is supposed to be about”. How’s that for enthusiasm?

W.B.