Club news, January 1985

For the second year in succession, the Triumph Sports Six Club is operating its very practical “Self Help Scheme”. This is in essence a comprehensive list of members who have declared themselves willing to help any other member who breaks down in their area. A small booklet to be kept in the car gives the addresses of several hundred volunteers, together with details of equipment and help available. It is a good idea — worthy of attention from other clubs?

With such a lot of discussion going on about “originality”, it is interesting to see, in the Bulletin of the Australian Bugatti Register, a plaintive comment from its Editor that he would rather see a restored “Special”, no matter how cross-bred, than a mouldering heap in a barn somewhere, and pointing out that there is as much or more interest in seeing a Special restored to its mixed state as to pure factory form.

Back in Britain, the Midland Rolls-Royce Club will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 1985. This Birmingham-based organisation welcomes all Rolls-Royce or Rolls-Royce-built Bentley owners, and the highlight of the anniversary year is to be the Silver Jubilee Dinner Dance on March 29th at Penn’s Hall, Sutton Coldfield. Further details from the Hon Secretary, Mrs Carole Knight, 138 Tanworth Lane, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4DD.

Only recently formed, the Renault Frères organisation appears to be well established. This is the official club for owners of pre-1940 Renaults, and has as its President the Managing Director of Renault UK Ltd, who at the moment is M Guy Bergeaud, a self-declared “fanatic” for older Renaults. It is good to see that at the recent Renault Fun Day at Hagley Hall, the Frères organised and competed in some driving tests — it is surprising how many clubs don’t seem to get around to actually driving their cars, even in this mildest form of competition. With some successful events behind them, the Freres are now busy organising their French Rally for May 16th-19th, 1985, and this four-day tour to places of Renault relevance will be followed by a gathering at the lngliston circuit near Edinburgh to coincide with a round of the “Superfive” series on July 28th. More information is available from Clive Young, Fredley Barn, Micklcham, Surrey.

The London Car Club’s Video Archive continues to expand, and now contains 450 tapes of automotive and racing matters ancient and modern. From January of next year, filmshows will be held on the first Thursday of every month at the Packhorse and Talbot, 145 Chiswick High Road, London W4. The Archivist, Paul Mcale, will supply details of programmes. His address is 6 Atwood Road, London W6 OHX.

Despite its name, Chester Vintage Vehicle Club is prepared to stretch their membership to owners of pre-1940 vehicles, and amongst a long list of future events which runs right up to September 1985 are a New Year’s Day Run and a Lakeland visit. Organised jointly with the Lakeland Historic Car Club, this will include a Transport Rally and a visit to a private motor museum at Coniston, and will take place on the weekend of April 27th-28th The summer programme also includes a Concours in conjunction with Llangollen Railway Society — that is going to make judging difficult, isn’t it? Editor of the monthly Newsletter is Mike Daly, 123 Poulton Royd Drive, Bebington.

The annual Dinner and Dance of the BMW Car Club is to be held on January 19th at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, and tickets are available from Tony Rippon, 7 The Crescent, Pattishall, nr Towcester, Northants.