Rumblings, November 2004

The July issue of the Wolseley Hornet Club’s magazine contained interesting information about the team of EW Hornets which won the 1932 LCC Relay race at Brooklands, averaging 77.51phm. The team leader, F S Hutchens, drove a Hornet Special, B H Wickens another of these cars, ‘Special’ being part of the type name, and the slowest of the three was EJ Erith’s1931sports model.

There is sadness about this recall, because Erith has died, aged 96; at 93, he celebrated his birthday with a balloon flight over Burgundy. Born in 1907, his first car was a bullnose Morris. In the 1930s he competed in MCC trials with an MG Midget, followed by a Eustice Watkins Wolseley Hornet. During the war he served in the Royal Artillery.

One also had to admire the Club’s Mr A Norak (!) who, by his research into the many Hornet variations, was able to recognise a rare example as a Pendine Special.

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The FBHVC warns that the DVLA may be considering taxing SORN (laid-up) vehicles £4.50 each, which would earn over £1,155,000 revenue, to be authorised by the DVLA without Government scrutiny. It also suggests that this imposition could be increased to perhaps £20 a year.

There is also a fear that the nil-rate tax on pre-1973 vehicles may soon incur a fee for obtaining such licences. The FBHVC has successfully fought similar moves and will have a petition against such fresh moves available on stand 20700 at the International Classic Motor Show at the NEC, from October 22-24.

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Last month’s picture of the WWI four-wheel-drive van has aroused queries: it was a Wisconsin-built FWD.

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A Singapore reader belonging to the Alvis OC seeks information about Mr Cave-Brown-Cave, who took part in the 1938 RAC Rally (No198) with SCH Davis of The Autocar in a 4.5-litre short-chassis Alvis saloon. This is illustrated in Kenneth Lay’s book Alvis-The Story of the Red Triangle; all I can remember of the gentleman was his rather appealing surname and his letters to The Autocar on non-sporting subjects in the early 1920s. He lent the Alvis (ELY 2) to The Motor for a road test, when it did 100.56mph on Brooklands, an easy 90 on the road. and went from 0-60mph in under 20sec. Can anyone else help?