V-to-C Miscellany, February 1995, February 1995

T he Jowett CC will have its 30th National Rally at Woburn Abbey from May 26/29 the Club’s news is set out in its magazine Joweteer, edited by Alan Brierley. December’s issue contains an interesting Piece about how weight was saved in the construction of the earlier flat-twin lowetts, only to be thrown away when 4WB were thought necessary, when the revised rear axle weighed more than the engine. Club Secretary is Ian Aitken-Kemp. Greenview, High Street, Earlston, Berwickshire TD4 6HO.

The Morgan Three-Wheeler Club announces that its 1994 Racing Championship has been won by Bill and Maggie Tuer (JAP 8/80 Morgan) with 60 points, from Greg Bibby/Ian Bain in a similar Morgan with 52 points, and Phil Spencer/John Spencer in an MX2 1AP-powered Morgan with 29 points. The catalogue-engined division went to D Say/G Drew with an MX4, ahead by five points from J Rowlands’ MX4.

David Haywood is progressing nicely with his 1924 Leyland Thomas replica, using parts from chassis no 11 and an original engine. He needs an L8 steering wheel. This reminds me that I have found photographic evidence that although L8 designer J G Parry-Thomas, when Chief Engineer at Leyland’s, stated that he had nothing to do with the two-stroke Trojan utility car when it was made there, he did apparently use a van at his Brooklands premises in 1926. Later, of course, T&Ts had a Trojan van, perhaps the same one, as a hack there, used no doubt to tow-start recalcitrant racing cars.

The Council of the Bugatti OC has agreed to a suggestion made by Mrs Pat Preston, Editor of Bugantics, that early issues of this magazine should be reproduced as a complete set. A start is to be made with Vols 1-8, 1931-39, at a cost of £125, plus P&P, if ordered by the end of February. After this the price will rise to £165. If this seems expensive, it is pointed out that some dealers have been asking £50 each for single pre-war copies. Orders to the Bugatti OC, Prescott Hill, Gotherington, Cheltenham, Gloucs.

The smaller one-make organisations, such as the Trojan OC and the Gwynne 8 Register, publish interesting newsletters. Now comes Cluley News, about these rare Coventry cars. The first issue lists ten existing ones, including my 1924 chassis: and the Editor is restoring his and tells how he traced another that Motor Sport illustrated in 1957, which is also being reassembled. Cluley news to Roger Armstrong, 18 The Woodlands, Esher, Surrey KT10 8BD.

Parking can be a problem at the bigger motoring fixtures, so if you have decided, as a change from watching cars, to see the finish of the Sunbeam MCC’s Pioneer Run for pre-1915 motorcycles on March 19 (over 360 entries last year), you may be pleased to know that free parking for those arriving on motorcycles has been arranged on the Madeira Drive, from 10am to 4pm. Good on you, Brighton Corporation.

A development in the Connaught site situation (see letter): it is apparently to become an office and industrial premises, the existing buildings to be demolished this year, but it seems that the Connaught name may be used for the new complex.

Expect another addition to the league of “new” aero-engined cars, in the form of a DH Gipsy-engined Riley.

The big Leon-Bollee landaulette in the Black Collection in Yorkshire got an airing some time ago when actress fenny Seagrove sat in its lofty parlour for the filming of “Lost Empire”.

The 27-litre Thomas Special “Babs” has been travelling, having been on show in Mannheim, Germany, after which it moves to the Retromobile Show in Paris from Ferruary 10-19.