V-to-C Miscellany, October 1995, October 1995

It is difficult, if one is interested in the older cars, not to check on what turns out for even a modest local event. For example, I discovered that this year’s Llandrindod Wells Victorian Festival, which had scenic runs arranged by Riley exponent Michael Baker, attracted three A7 specials, a Morris Commercial van, a very well-turned-out Essex Motors’ saloon, or coach in Essex parlance, and an equally pristine Riley 9 March Tourer. Other entries were a 1911 White petrol car with open coachwork, the 1910 Rochet-Schneider that won a prize in 1994, a 1933 Alvis Firefly tourer, two open 12/50 Alvis tourers, a “Chain-Gang” Frazer Nash, Keith Hill’s Helix, a Clyno, a twoseater Riley 9. an STD Sunbeam saloon, a Riley Lynx tourer, and a Leyland Lioness coach that had spent the previous week taking visitors to see the town’s impressive lake.

The current issue of The Vintage Austin Magazine, the quarterly of the Vintage Austin Register, has a feature about a collection of taxi cabs, from 1912 to 1988, but the owner says that should “continuous licensing” come into force, they will have to go. Another article is about five Austins owned by one family, from a 1919 Twenty to a 1939 Ruby, two still in existence, after original ownership of a 1914 Model-T Ford tourer. One of these Austins was a 1926 Chummy, complete with rear-view mirror, spot-lamp and radiator-muff.

Brooklands Books has issued a catalogue listing the motoring history titles they publish, numbering more than 700, including over 300 technical books.

The VSCC’s Welsh trial, a road run and scatter rally, will occupy the weekend of October 7/8, ending on the Sunday with the hills at Pilleth, near Knighton, where spectators are generously provided with a large field in which to park their cars. This follows the VSCC’s last race meeting of the year at Donington Park on October 1, at which the Richard Seaman Memorial races for pre-war and vintage racing cars and the Ron Flockhart race for post-war racing cars, as well as the 1ohn Goddard Trophy race, the Brooklands Society Handicap and supporting shorter races, will be contested. Admission £10 per adult (or £5 if you produce last month’s Motor Sport voucher), paddock transfer £3, trackside parking £3.50, otherwise free, and accompanied children under 15 get free admission. It should be an enthralling day’s racing for vintage-minded enthusiasts.

The 750 MC has its Eight Clubs race meeting at Silverstone on October 14, at which many different makes will compete.