VSCC Eastern Rally

There would have been 72 competitors in October 23rd’s VSCC Eastern Rally organised by Peter Hart had not Sudjic’s Bugatti, a Lagonda Rapier and a 4½-litre Bentley failed to start. A fine field nevertheless, in which the dreaded No 13 was allotted to a Lea-Francis but No 41 omitted. The 95-mile route started and finished at Haughley Park near Stowmarket, so there was good country to rally in and about. It took its toll of Huggett’s 1930 Humber with a recalcitrant fuel pump, while, more seriously, Foster’s A7 Special broke its crankshaft and Holland’s Lagonda Rapier had enlarged a big-end, while Collins’ Speed-20 Alvis broke a half-shaft.

The Eastern Trophy was won by T Clark’s 1925 3-litre Bentley, navigated by K Pendlebury. The best novice entry was the Bank’s 1935 Lagonda Rapier, best newcomer A Tongue (1929 Morris Minor). First-Class Awards: P Watson/P Agar (A7), J Baxter/A Jones – the latter taking the Navigator’s Award – (A7), A Jones/M Kipping (30/98), A Luptona Chalkwright (Lea-Francis), R &B Thomas (s/c MG Midget), I Whyte/ P Collins (Lagonda Rapier).

Second-Class Awards: R Fayter/B Geodwin (Riley 9), D & S Rouse (Alvis Speed-20), P Cattell/T Cork (1.6 Riley), A Ducker/A Littler (Riley 9), R & S Hart (Humber). Third-Class Awards: P & M Milne-Taylor (12/50 Alvis), P Longden/C Bowyer (3-litre Bentley), D Blake/D Barker (Rolls-Royce), P Glover/ D Roberts (30/98), P Gallifant/H Doyle (Alvis), R & D Odell (1½-litre Riley), B Wildsmith/R Parsons (Morgan), C Ping/I Harris (4½-litre Lagonda), J & K Edge (1934 3½-litre Bentley). W B