STANDARD CRA OWNERS CLUB

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STANDARD CAR OWNERS’ CLUB

The South-Eastern Section of the Standard Car Owners’ Club held their annual dinner-dance on November 22nd at the

• First Avenue Restaurant, Holborn, where revelry continued until 2 a.m. on November 23rd. An amusing treasure hunt, in which members became ” Flying Squad ” officers, started from the ” Ace of Spades ” on December 13th. Seven new members were recently enrolled, bringing the present total to rather over 220. Hon. Sec. : C. C. W. Burrage, Grand Buildings, Trafalgar Square, London, W.C.2.

ULSTER AUTOMOBILE CLUB

The Ulster Automobile Club continues to issue a very-well-appointed, printed Monthly Review. It would seem that the Club is having some difficulty in getting quite all the support it desires for its events, which is regrettable, as its position is secure and its officials extremely enthusiastic. As with some of our clubs, members appear to consider that nothing is expected of them bar an annual subscription. The dinner and dance and Trevor McCalla’s wedding have been recent ” events.” 20th June is the date reserved for this year’s County Down road race in the International Calendar, and the Bangor circuit is favoured. This is a race of considerable interest to English enthusiasts. The Craigantlet Hill Climb will be held on August 29th, and not a little illfeeling has been caused by the booking of the same date for the J.C.C. 200-mile Race at Donington, after the U.A.C. had allowed the J.C.C. to stage a Donington Meeting on ” Craigantlet day ” last year. The course used for the hill-climb is a very good one, and those whose cars are not running in the ” 200 ” should note

the date. Secretary’s address : 65, Chichester Street, Belfast.

BUGATTI OWNERS’ CLUB

The 6th Annual Night Trial was run over a new route on November 23rd-24th and the regulations were very stiff, competitors having to be within standard time in two stop and re-start tests and two timed ascents, as well as climbing nonstop on other hills, and being neither early nor more than fifteen minutes late at the checks. There were no non-starters, and Col. G. M. Giles (3.3 Bugatti), J. LemonBurton (Ford V8), J. Crowther (s/c AlfaRomeo), D. Monro (41-litre Invicta), E. Stapleton (s/c 11-litre Invicta), F. Walsham (Type 40 Bugatti), A. Dubar (iilitre G. P. Bugatti), L. Keevil (AstonMartin), G. Mayo-Smith (0.M.), T. Win drum (61-litre Bentley), M. Chambers (4litre Bentley), W. Boddy (Type 55 Frazer Nash-B.M.W.), J. Perks (Morris Minor saloon) and J. K. W. Baines (Humber Snipe saloon) started from the ” Beach Arms,” near Basingstoke. Only seven competitors finished the 200-mile route,

and Baines alone gaindd a ” Premier “the only award won. Crowther’s Alfa did very well, but lost the route. The Annual Dinner took place at Claridge’s on December 13th. The Club continues to produce ” Bugantics ” bimonthly. This is a very fine little magazine, not only on account of its highclass production but also the quality of the contents. It has a considerable circulation outside the Club, probably because it deals with one of the most exciting ” pur sang ” marques. Copies

are available to non-members, pried 8d. post free. Hon. Sec. : E. L. Giles, 2,

Queen Street, Mayfair, WA.

LIVERPOOL M.C.

. The Percy Butler Trial was run as a double event, expert drivers of sports cars having more observed sections than the others, though as the same route was used the organisation was simplified and the event a great succeSs. 14 entries were received in each category. Weather conditions were severe, but retirements were happily few, though the hills proved very sporting. Slippery Anne stopped over two-thirds of the entry, and Cefn Coch was nearly as useful to the Club, though only an M.G. and an AstonMartin came to rest on Ty Brith. Rhiwlas Isaf and Lletty Wynn were other hills and on the whole the proof-readers of the route-cards must have had a busy

time.

time. RESULTS E. B.

Burns Challenge Cup and President’s Cup: E. B. Wadsworth (Singer). Class A

First-class Award : C. R. Pond (M.G.).

Second-class Award : E. S. T. Johnson (Balton). Third-class Awards : H. Bolton (Singer); H. L. Bean (Austin); T. Walton (Vauxhall); G. Tyrer (Ford); E. Pratt (Singer); K. A. Scales (M.G.); J. T. Davidson (A1.0.) Class B First-class Award : Mrs. A. L. Jones (Morris). Second-class Awards : R. H. Gregory (M.G.) J. C. Rigby (Morris); 1′. G. Lamb (Chrysler). Third-class Awards : NV. A. Empsall (Singer),

E. Barrow-Sicree (Ford).

TORBAY AND TOTNES M.C.

The B.C.R. Trophy trial was stiffened up by flood and storm. Sammy’s Sister— trials hills gain beautiful names !—stopped all but Lambert’s Singer on the first circuit and another useful gradient was Lower Pocombe, where only Watts and Millet on M.G.’s got up clean. RESULTS

B.C.R. Challenge Bowl: J. F. Lambert (Singer Le Mans).

Club Tankard : P. A. Sinuns (Austin 7).

Club Awards : J. Watts (M.G.); D. Holiday (Singer).

FRAZER-NASH C.C.

The winners of the five Club trophies for 1935 have been announced as follows : Selsdon Bowl (best all-round performance): Alan Whiddington. Botterell Trophy (veteran cars) R. E. Wright with 1924 Powerplus F.-N. Twentyman Cup (speed), A. F. P. Fane. Aldington Cup (trials), A. Whiddington. MitchellThompson Salver (teams), K. M. Roberts, Whiddington and R. E. Wright. Miss Wilby and E. Griffiths-Hughes also have creditable records. Connections are being established with the newly-formed Frazer-Nash-B.M.W. Club, and the Annual Dinner was arranged at the May

Fair on December 21st.

ASTON-MARTIN OWNERS’ CLUB

A successful first meeting has been held; and a programme of events is in course of preparation. Charles Jarrott is President, S. C. H. Davis, himself an AstonMartin owner, Vice-President, and L. G. Bain is Hon. Treasurer. The Hon. Secretary and Founder is H. M. MorrisGoodall, who will be remembered not only as an owner of a late model, but also asan enthusiastic user of one of the early twin o.h. camshaft cars of this marque. An effective badge is available. Address : 2, Clabon Mews, Cadogan Square, London S.W.1.

E.R.A. SUPPORTERS’ CLUB

The suggestion that an E.R.A. Supporters’ Club should be formed has met with widespread enthusiasm.

Naturally E.R.A., Ltd., could have noconnection with such an organisation, which primarily aims to raise money to further the company’s efforts. While it would be very interesting to know of exactly how much assistance such a Club, could be, it will not be easy to arrange a suitable programme or to keep the,. movement on a sufficiently dignified level —it must not resemble a sort of enlarged. ” speedway-supports ” movement.

VINTAGE SPORTS CAR CLUB

This Surrey trial was run under restricted permit, and, competition tyres or non-skid attachments were banned. The start was from Chilworth, near Guildford, on Sunday, December 8th, and the total entry was 43, of which 25 came from the organising club—both highly satisfactory figures.

The organisers had a brand new hilt of which they were particularly proud. It was long, steep and grassy, but the successive rain, frost and thaw made it almost impossible, so that delays became, serious, and, by a wise and prompt decision, it was cut out after the first few attempts. However, a very neat ascent was made by Dyer on an Alvis.

Vintage Cars prospered in the acceleration test, their average time being 5 per cent, better than the rest of the entry. The following six were the best, in order :—Miss Wilby (Fraser-Nash), Hear (30-98 Vauxhall), Clutton (30-98 Vauxhall) tying with Whiddington (FrazerNash), Bowyer (V8 Ford) and Monro. (41-litre Invicta Saloon).

The following did well in the reversing test :—Slater (M.G.), Maybury (M.G.), Whiddington (Frazer-Nash) and Bacon (Austin 7). Most of the remaining hills were not very diffieult, but Goat Track accountecit for five failures and six cars failed tc>

produce the requisite motion relative to the ground in the stop and re-start.

There were only two retirements in the whole trial and owing to smooth organisation it finished well before dusk.

The awards were divided into two classes; one lot for Vintage Cars driven by members of the Vintage Sports Car Club, and the other open to the whole entry. The premier Vintage award was won by G. S. Brooks on his well-organised Spencer-Brooks Special, which has a foundation of bull-nosed 14-40 M.G. He drove with unfailing skill and well deserved his success. C. Clutton gained -a first-class award by good luck rather

than good management, as the smooth beaded-edge tyres of his 16-year-old 30-98 Vauxhall provided no pretence at wheel adhesion, and he apparently relied entirely on an incredibly rapid approach to carry him over the observed sections by sheer momentum. D. Kirkman gained the second-class Vintage award by his usual consistent driving on a 12-50 A lvis.

These results which were given out

shortly after the finish of the trial are, of course, subject to confirmation.

UNITED HOSPITALS AND UNIVERSITY OF ONDONMOTOR CLUB

Report of Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday, 4th December, 1935, at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School. The following officers were elected for the season 1935-6:— Patron, S. C. H. Davis; President,

Dr. J. D. Ben jafield ; Vice-President, The Earl Howe; Hon. Treasurer, Dr. E. J. H. Roth ; Hon. Secretary, A. D. Bateman; Committee, D. W. Harvey, R. M. Hewat, E. F. Gleadow, H. H. F. Barns, J. C. Watts. Also the following fixtures were approved as a basis for the season’s programme :— March 28 Reliability Trial May 23 Speed Trials October 24 Speed Trials It is hoped to have either a dinner,

dance, or film-show, or a combination of any or all of these, at the end of January, by which time it is expected that members will have had a reasonable chance of recuperating from the usual flood of Christmas festivities.

GENERAL NOTES

There is something very impressive about a really big entry for a classic trial. 124 entries were received for the ” Lon don-Gloucester,” a really wonderful number for a closed event. It is some guide tn. present ” fashions ” in motor-cars for trials work that 34 entrants -specified M.G. cars, 25 were down to handle Singers, and 14 pinned their faith to Fords —mostly V8 models. There were 9 Rileys, 6 each of the ” marques ” riumph and Frazer-Nash, and five Frazer-Nash-B.M.W.s. Thirteen of the drivers were women and but these statistics grow on one I must confess to having a very soft spot in my heart for the older or more unusual cars, a few of which still figure in the big trials. For instance, in the ” Gloucester ” we had Miss Marshall’s astonishing Anzani-G.N., Warburton ‘s lusty ” 30/98 ” Vauxhall and Chambers 4i-litre Bentley, Mrs. Garstin’s Bentley, Haward’s ever-young BaylissThomas, Penfold’s Bentley and Elgood’s Bentley. I admire these drivers, and I think they have some -good fun. It is un fair to enter for a big trial a Car which is likely to fail on every hill. But the cars just named have a very sporting chance of holding their own with modern rivals. Yet I notice that vintage motors do not very often figure in premier-award lists nowadays. IS it that they drop out with mechanical troubles, Or do short time-tests ” pip ” these high-geared

veterans? I should like to know !

We are likely to see the leather-clad figure of Marcus Chambers at the Wheel of Bentley cars in forthcoming trials. He is on the competition staff of Messrs. Windrum and Garstin, Ltd. Formerly, he gained several successes in the smaller trials driving an unusual, V-radiator fourcylinder Alfa-Romeo of the push-rod o.h.v. variety. In the Bugatti O.C. Night Trial he piloted a 4i-1itre Bentley. His personal cars are a 3-litre open Bentley and a most exciting 1907 50-h.p. Renault two-seater.

An interesting entry for the LondonExeter was R. B. Lakin’s L.M.B.-Ford saloon, which has a Marshall supercharger above the engine, drawing from a down-draught Zenith carburetter., L.M.B. independent front suspension, remote gear-control, and a special instrumentboard incorporating very large speedos meter and rev.-counters.

M. P. Tenbosch, well-known competition driver, now drives a BaIilla Fiat two-seater to which M. A. McEvoy’s have fitted a belt-drive Zoller compressor, and a neat, external exhaust system. The supercharger produces a pressure of 10 lbs. per sq. in. at peak-revs., the boost being uncontrolled as the car is intended for competition.

Michael McEvoy has been taking a Singer 11 saloon through trials of late. This car has an in-built Zoller supercharge installation..

-x. Those well-known competition drivsrs, F. S. and J. D. Barnes, recently decided to start ‘a Singer stable in Birmingham, composed of four of the actual Le Mans Singer 9’s and three 1–1itre Singers for trials work. The team will comprise A. Langley, Max Billingham and Donald Barnes, with Stanley Barnes as reserve driver and manager of the enterprise. Rallies and trials will be a speciality, and the R.A.C.. Scottish and Monte Carlo events will be ” covered,” as well as all the more important trials. In addition, the Singer O’s will run at l.e Mans again and in the L.C.C. Relay Race and Ulster T.T. this year. It is also planned that

the 9’s shall be available, .on terms, to would-be racers at Brouklands and Donington.

The idea of hiring-out racing cars sounds a risky one, but it has been done before—J. Eason Gibson, now a FrazerNash-B.M.W. agent, used a Brooklands Riley 9 in this way, and John Bolster had his first taste of Mountain Racing in consequence. .11

The Frazer-Nash-B.M.W. added to its trials reputation in the ” Gloucester.” Symmons’ 2-litre made best time in its class in the Guiting Wood timed test, all got up the dreaded Juniper, and these cars were again noticeably good on Nailsworth Ladder. H. G. Symmons, secretary of the Frazer-Nash-B.M.W. Club, won the Thomas Cup. The team was runner-up for the Team Prize, and three first class awards were gained.

The Evans family are retaining One Of their special N-type M.G. Magnettes for use in 1936 trials. It will have special Aerolite pistons and an in-built Zoller -supercharger installation similar to the standardised Midget sets, the chain-driven compressor providing a 10-lbs. boost. In its old form Denis drove it in the ” Gloucester.”

The 1935 Bugatti Night Trial was one of the stiffest of its kind. Personally, I gave it up at 5 a.m., after we had been circling the frozen putting-tee of a private golf course—rather hopelessly off the ceurse! Incidentally, a handicap class was included, the allowances ranging from 37 per cent. to 5 per cent: of actual times in the tests. Is the ” wiggle-woggle ” type of test a really fitting finale to a long-distance rally? At best, it is only a glorified driving test and the road section is surely sufficient proof that competitors can manage a motor-car. I should like to see a flying-start, timed speed test, a standing-start acceleration test, and a really good braking test the regular conclusion of all important rallies. It would take time, of course, hut would appeal to officials with real organising ability, and the results, when worked out, would be a useful guide to the capabilities of the ordinary class of car. One of these days seine wag will flan a G.N. through the affair and get a ” place ” that will annoy the majority of finishers. In the Monte Carlo, of course, it does not matter mud). The road section is a terrific test in itself. Indeed, the Monte

Carlo remains the supreme winter adventure, and it is surprising what confusion. the simple question ” Will you come, if we run in the rally? ” can arouse in the hairy-est of he-men ! ft is good news that the Midland Automobile Club—which came into being in 1901—is extending its activities. Leslie Wilson—formerly Hon. Secretary—is now permanently in charge and an interesting programme is being drawn-up. A talk by Raymond Mays was given last month at the Grand Hotel, Birmingham —where the Club opened rooms of its .own in 1934—and about 200 members attended, which augurs well for the

• coming season.