Miscellany, June 1992

The hillclimb course at the Doune Motor Museum in Perthshire has been resurfaced in readiness for the 1992 season and has been officially opened by the Rt Hon The Earl of Moray.

William Court points out that confusion between Georges Boillot and his brother Andre may have crept into the article on the former Grand Prix driver in April’s Motor Sport, Georges having, in fact, been shot down on May 20 1916. Andre survived the war, as stated, after being awarded very high honours in the French Air Service. The memorial to Georges at Verdun was instituted by his team-mate at Peugeot, Jules Goux. Their brother had been killed in the trenches and Andre was killed at a hillclimb in 1932. What a tragic trio.

The Historic SCC will hold this year’s rounds of the FIA Historic Championships at Donington Park on July 18/19. Details from Steve Lydon, Swindon Road, Kingston Langley, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 SLY (0249-758175).

The Morgan Three-Wheeler Club’s Bulletin for April contained, among other interesting items, pictures of the more exciting Morgans, including the Darmont Specials. Apart from seeing Morgans racing in VSCC events, they will appear in other speed events during the season. The competition secretary is Chas Reynolds, Ridgehill, Judy Lane, Sutton, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 OLT (0260-52780).

The VSCC’s next speed events are the Silverstone Race Meeting on June 13 (admission: £8 each, paddock transfer £7.50) and the new Loton Park hilIclimb, near Shrewsbury, on June 20/21 (admission: Saturday £2 each, Sunday £6 each, paddock transfer free. No dogs!).

BBC Radio 4 is due to present a programme on early motoring on June 26, from 10.02 to 10.30 pm, with possible repeats.

Those who like pre-war Austin 7s are reminded that this famous baby-car celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. The 750 MC and other A7 organisations are holding many special events, including the national rally at the NMM at Beaulieu on July 4/5 and a rally at Longbridge, birthplace of the famous Seven, on August 30/31.

The Shuttleworth Trust at Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade, Beds, SG18 9ER is as active as ever. The Diamond Jubilee of the veteran Arrol-Johnston and Dick Shuttleworth’s DH 60 Moth biplane, G-EBWD, has been marked by the restoration of both and a full aviation fixture list will be maintained during 1992. You can keep in touch through Prop-Swing, the thrice-yearly magazine of the Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society, address as above. The VSCC meets at Old Warden on August 16, when vintage cars and aeroplanes mingle. And do not forget the vintage aeroplane fly-in at Finmere, Bucks, on June 6. Thinking in terms of aeroplanes, weather permitting there is to be a vintage Piper fly-in on August 29. Back to cars, the Railton OC has its National Day at Old Warden on June 28. Dick Shuttleworth drove one of these cars, which is now back there.

Hardly had the mud of the Light Car Section’s Welsh event settled than the main VSCC took its trialists to Derbyshire for another trial, with a dozen sections to attempt. The remarkable entry of 103 elected to have a go and it is significant that only two retired, AF Costgan’s Vernon-Derby and Rodney Felton’s Brescia Bugatti. Premier Award, the Dick Batho Trophy, was won by Barry Clarke’s Austin-GN. In the opposite class SL Baxter’s 1928 Chrysler took the Patrick Marsh Trophy. First Class Awards were gained by J Diffey (A7), J Evans (HRG), W Gordon (A7), Bruce Spollon (30/98), Mrs Threlfall (Ford) and J Ghosh (30/98). Second Class Awards went to P Longhurst (Riley), S Roach (A7), R Thwaites (A7), P Diffey (A7), R Low (A7), S Welsh (A7), P Longden (Ford), J.Shaw (Morris Minor) and T Riley (Ford). Third Class Awards to R Winder (A7), P Stringer (A7), K Hill (A7), C Gray (A7), D Uglow (HRG), D Hescroff (AC), M Baxter (Ford), J.Millham (Mrs Marsh’s 30/98) and G Toms (Fiat).