VSCC Light car Welsh Week-end

VSCC Light Car Welsh Week-end

(April 5th-6th)

THE Light Car Section of the VSCC received a record entry for this year’s Welsh week-end. Saturday was devoted to driving unobserved over the Southern route of the 1924 RAC Small Car Trials; starting correctly from Llandrindoel Wells, lunching traditionally at the Castle Hotel, 13recon, and ascending Senni, l’anne and Erwood

Whereas there was one Austin 7 in the 1924 event, this time there were eight, including a Muflitter saloon. The only other make to do both runs was Wokeley, but of different types. The victorious 1924 Gwynne Eight was not represented but a sporting flavour was lent by Whyman in the very swift Hurstman, Riddle’s GN Vitesse navigated by Simon Coates who had done most of the route-plotting, and Maxwell’s Grand Sport Salmson, until its magneto gave out and its crew had to be rescued by a non-competing 14/40 Humber. The snow ceased just in time and Senni caused little trouble, except to an Austin 7 two-seater with choked jets. Panne was far more severe and both. Humber 9/20s boiled furiously, as did a 1920 Hillman two-seater, the BRDC badge on its dickey denoting that it was driven by Colin Crabbe, Thoinas’ 11/22 Wolseley, and some of the Austins. The Horstman flew up and an M-type MG overtook an Austin 7 and Peacop’s o.h.c. Morris tourer, thereby upholding its sporting appearance. Rosemary Burke was using

her two-seater Morris of this type. She was followed by Rouse in her Morris Minor saloon, and Brett’s bull-nose Morris-Cowley saloon upheld this make’s reputation. The 1921 Star Scorpio was in trouble with mixed-up gear selectors before the lunch-stop but was now going well. It was driven by J. R. Austin, as its owner Jeremy C011ins, was officiating in his 1931 Star Comet-18 saloon which, it is said, left the Wolverhampton factory at dead of night after the Official Receiver had moved in. Which has not deprived it of its correct mascot. Triumph Super Severs and 11.4 Citroen did well and a Standard Canley joined in after lunch.

Less fortunate on Panne were Walker’s Austin Chummy, which required a plug change to re-start it, and Blake’s Chummy which stopped low down with a temporary seizure, after having pulled a wheel off its studs earlier on. Diffley had substituted a 9/20 after his 8/18 Humber had sheared a hub 30 miles from his home and then run its big-ends, Barker’s 668-c.c. Peugeot had decided against a snowy journey, and Newton’s Q-type Swift had been abandoned in Newbury with nasty nOises in its engine. Erwood, alrhough the tight hairpin and ruts of 1924 have gone, stopped a Humber, and the saloon Austin’s passenger had to walk up.

After this nostalgic re-enactment, dinner was taken at the “Glen Usk”, with Ron Barker as Guest Speaker. Sunday morning was devoted to trials-hill-climbing at the Elan Valley and in my muddy fields, where ascents were only possible after the GN had pioneered a very circuitous path. The Hillman made gallant attempts in reverse but was hampered by a fierce cone-clutch and the Salmson’s magneto again gave out. The Llwyn-barried Trophy was won by D. H. Spencer’s 1928 Austin 7.—W.B.