miscellany, December 1999

miscellany

SILVERSTONE ISSUED A VERY nice £1 programme for the Eight Clubs race meeting, a collectors’ item if any remain. It had nostalgic pictures of earlier such races and extracts from

Motor Sport reports I had forgotten I had written. * * * THE NAPIER POWER

Heritage Trust is planning several events next year to commemorate Napier’s Centenary. The most important will be the Napier motor-carriage rally at Brooklands Museum on June 18. The venue is entirely apt„ as not only did Brooklands Track open with the 1907 S F Edge 24-hour record run on a Napier, but his Napiers won many times there before WWI. No doubt the Museum’s Napier-Railton will be out to mingle with the visitors. * * * THE VSCC KENTISH TRIAL

produced First Class Awards in three classes for Robbie Jardine (1930 Riley), John Gill (1930 Lea-Francis) and Allan Lupron (1938 Lea-Francis). * * * THE SUNBEAM MCCS 63RD Pioneer Run, for pre-1915 motorcycles, tricars and quads, will be held on March 19th 2000. It dates back to 1930 and is the largest event for veteran machines in the world. It will start from Tattenharn Corner, Epsom, at 8am and go to Brighton via the A217, A23, diverting to Handcross, Cowfold, and Henfield, to then rejoin the A23, should you wish to spectate. Entry information from Bill File on 01825 872336

IF YOU WANT A CHANGE, the National Motorboat Museum in Basildon, opened in 1986, has a fine collection, including Segrave’s ‘Miss England’ of 1929, the Carstairs trophy collection, ‘Apache’, that won the 1972 LondonMonte Carlo race, the 1909 Defender 11, and much else. Admission is apparently free and from the museum a miniature railway runs down to the Wat Tyler Country Park. There is also the Museum Library with records from the 1890s. Details: 01268 550088. * * *

INvcrAs ARE ST1t1 ACTIVE. At the Club’s summer picnic and excellent turnout included the oldest, a 3-litre with Surbiton tourer body, and two genuine 4 Z-litre low-chassis drophead coupes, and another with new light sports body and a 3.4 axle, and the S66, in the same family since 1943. Secretary: Marion Rendall, Stanley Hall, Selsey, Stroud, Gloucester GLS SLJ. • • * LOVERS OF MOTOR RACING

and dogs may wish to join a campaign to remove to Donington a canine drinking bowl which Prince Chula, instigator of Prince Bira’s racing, designed and had made in memory of his favourite dog while he was at Cambridge. It is in a poor state of repair and filthy, but Cambridge City Council refuses to repair or release it. If you are moved, David Swami, 79 Langdon House, Scotland Road, Cambridge, would appreciate your support.