Good for Birmingham!

Sir, After stating that “. . . the main street of Geraardsbergen was closed, to enable the vehicles to be parked for a thorough inspection by the local inhabitants”, Mr. R. A. Chasmar of the Morris Register, poses the question, “Which town in England would be willing to do that”? (August MOTOR SPORT, page 917).

The answer is, “Birmingham”. In July, for about the last ten years, the portion of Newhall Street, passing the Birmingham Museum of Science and Industry – one of the central streets – is closed for the VMCC Annual Tour of Birmingham. After the large entry of veteran and vintage motorcycles and tricars have completed a tour of the outskirts of the City – in fact the Outer Circle Bus Route – a Concours de Elegance is held in Newhall Street. The Museum is open all day, and the number of exhibits – ranging from veteran cars to John Cobb’s Napier Railton – plus steam engines and a wide variety of engineering items – provides ample interest for visitors.

The Museum Authorities of this very progressive city, also hold an annual Steam Engine Rally in Newhall Street, and, as far as I know, is probably the only Museum in the world to run its large static collection of steam engines on live steam.

Many will regret that the Television Authorities ignore the “school boy” in so many of us, by ignoring such activities as these.

Carmarthen.

Phil Smith