The Vipen

Sir,

I was interested to note J. S. Thompson’s letters in the February issue relating to the Vipen car. Enclosed is a photograph sent to me by the niece of the late Albert Lambourne (designer of the Lonsdale car, Hove 1901, and the Old Mill car, Brighton 1914/15). The inscription on the back is his own and is interesting because it indicates that the car was in Sussex (the “Vanguard” disaster is well remembered in this area as an early motor crash on Handcross Hill involving a bus from the “Vanguard” fleet—several people were killed), could it be that this is the same car which Mr. Thompson says was in the “South of England” before the war ? [The note on the reverse of this interesting photograph indicates that on the occasion of the disaster referred to, it took hospital staff to Handcross, obviously to render assistance. It concludes: “Broke record, I guess.”—Ed.)

The correspondence relating to Gustav Hamel prompts me to enquire whether his family were related to the Danish motor car builders of the same name? I remember an 1886 Hamel car being brought over from Scandinavia in the 1950s for the London-Brighton Run, which it successfully completed.

In a non-vintage age Motor Sport continues to project vintage values and to give vintage value for money whilst still contriving to be completely up to date. Thank God for it !

Hurstpierpoint. M. Worthington-Williams.