miscellany, May 1997

The things they say

“…Mercedes introduced a new element into racing the absolute control of cars from the pits. This robbed the drivers of some of their individuality and, in the opinion of many, took from motor racing its claim to be a sport…” The late Anthony Bird writing in 1966 of the victorious team of 1914 GP Mercedes cars. As a fresh F1 season begins, 83 years later, racing has become less of a sport, more of a science, or should I say is not sport anymore.

Hispano mascto sought

The owner of an H6 6 1/2-litre HispanoSuiza is in urgent need of a stork radiator mascot, this having been stolen from his car during a break-in to his garage. Letters can be forwarded.

Date for the diary

The annual dinner celebrating the Amilcar and Salmson happens on July 27 (Amilcar Registrar: Len Battyll, Cleve Cottage, Cobham Way, East Horsley, Surrey KT24 5BH).

The Bert Hadley memorial

Championship of the Pre-War A7 Club is being held again this year, with 12 events, the next at Oliver’s Mount on May 5, with an additional six non-championship events and others such as the A7 Grasshopper Challenge and A7 sporting trials. Details: G Roe, 10 Marshall Road, Cropwell Bishop, Notts NG12 3DP.

Information wanted

Trevor Picken, whose company has close links with the old office premises of the Hampton Motor Co at Stroud, needs pictures and information for a book he is writing about this make, and Ian Bailey would appreciate anything relating to the racing of Douglas motorcycles and cars from 1910 to 1924 by S L ‘Lee Bailey, before he returned to Australia, for a book about his father. Letters can be forwarded.

That indispensable record

of 750MC champions, regulations, 1997 fixture list, and much more is now available from the 750MC. Tel: 01959 540094