the vscc welsh event

The VSCC Welsh Event

THE VSCC ran another enjoyable event in Wales over the weekend of October 13th / 14th, driving tests on the Saturday and the Welsh trial contested over both days. The former, at Knighton, were less popular than formerly, with 14 entries and Howell’s H6C Hispano Stan a non-appearer. But the trial had an entry of 74, although Seymour Price non-started, his A7 having chewed up its crown-and-pinion as other babies chew rattles. I maintain that you cannot properly report driving tests, so suffice it to say that in the six interesting tests Mrs Ure’s long Lancia Lambda demonstrated the benefit of a generous steering lock, which Fantom’s 14/40 Humber lacked, and which also momentarily engaged two gears at once, but that MacMillan’s Rolls-Royce 20, with a wheelbase five inches longer than that of the Lambda, took the only First-Class Award. Anson’s 9/20 Humber gained a Second-Class Award, Green’s 1928 two-litre Lagonda SM tourer a Third-Class Award, it also winning the Concours d’Eleganre, by half-a-mark from Stimson’s 1929 Riley 9 tourer. But the Talyllyn Railway Centenary Trophy for best overall performance went to Samson. Johnnie Thomas courageously drove his 1904 Darracq, its radiator, but not its Lucas Autolite headlamps, protected by a frontal-mounted 810 x 90 Dunlop, and he got a plaque for his trouble. The “Huge Limousine” Trophy was not awarded but the owner of the immaculate and dignified Daimler that could have won it was seen spectating on the Sunday. Dry weather had made most of the Sunday trials sections easy, so the final placings were decided mainly on the Saturday and early Sunday hills, Lloyds stopping many at the galley, and the upper reaches of Railway hill proving unduly slippery. The Paths on the Sunday were more like speed hill-climbs than trials sections, but no doubt much enjoyed by drivers and onlookers in consequence! The A7s were a notable match for larger cars and it was young Winder’s which was leading, until its petrol-pipe came adrift near the top of PiIlith 1, letting Barry Clarke’s replica-Hughes A7 into that position. Moffatt in the Type 13 Bugatti was third, the marks respectively 381, 373 and 368. In the big-car and specials category best performance was made by Grey’s 30/98 Vauxhall, with 334 marks, from Holt’s Silver Eagle Alvis (325 marks), with a tie for third place between Ghosh’s 30/98 and Heath’s 12/50 Alvin (324 marks each). Interest was lent to the proceedings by the entry of the 1917 Dodge, the Baughan cyclecar, the Crouch-Helix and Walker’s Gwynne 8, and Di Threlfall in the Ford and Jolley’s Austin 16/6 saloon seemed to be doing well. Rides suffered very bad luck when the fuel-tank drain-plug of his 41/2-litre Invicta was knocked off while climbing Pant and the stream of petrol

somehow set on fire, the back of the car being badly damaged, although it was got

home by rigging up a gravity tank. Our last impression of this “Indian Summer” day was seeing the high-ratio sprockets being refitted to Roger Collings’ indomitable 1903 Mercedes Sixty ready for

the run home. — W.B.