Club news, November 1988

A new association formed by enthusiasts to replace Steve Sydenham’s Racing For Britain, which folded in August, has been named Motor Racing GB (to avoid any confusion with the commercial organisation Racing for Britain Ltd, which still exists). Its declared aims are to promote greater involvement in motor racing on the part of both spectators and small-scale sponsors, and thus to raise funds to help this country’s aspiring young drivers. Anyone wishing to join should contact Mark Bridges, 19 Sharpington Close, Galleywood, Chelmsford, Essex.

In the August 1988 issue of the club ‘magazine Veteran Car, VCC Chairman Peter Phillips has appealed for this year’s Brighton Run drivers to observe the regulations forbidding the use of support vehicles on the route. “So that we may preserve the Run, in its existing format, it is imperative that entrants respect the rules,” he wrote.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, the 1988 Rally Show is again to coincide with the run-up to the RAC Rally. Cars of various vintage will be displayed alongside trade stands at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate on Friday, (evening only) and Saturday, November 18-19. The organiser is Focus Events, Greencoat House, Francis Street, London SW1P 1DG.

Bill Gardner is forming a Register of MG VAs, of which some 200-300 are thought to have survived from a production-run of 2407. Gardner, who owns a VA saloon and a replica Salmons drophead built in Abingdon in 1948-50 for the Foden family, would be grateful for any information from owners or enthusiasts. His address is Aird’s Cottage, 4 The Heugh Steading, North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland.

Wembley Conference and Exhibition Centre houses the 1988 Classic Car Show on December 3-4. More than 20,000 spectators are expected to be attracted by club stands displaying 350 pristine vehicles.

A variety of specialist sports-car clubs have been invited by the Motorsport Enthusiasts’ Club (incorporating the Motorsport Video Archive) to a film evening at the Packhorse and Talbot in Chiswick High Road, London W4 on November 3, when guest Michael Macdowell will help to relive the 1955 Dundrod TT. Contact Ashley Price on 01-675 7234 (evenings) for information.

Morgan Sports Car Club member and film-maker Richard Atherton has produced a video entitled Handmade, which looks behind the scenes at the Morgan factory. It is available for £25 plus £1.50 postage from Pickersleigh Productions, PO Box 32, Malvern, Worcestershire WR14.