V to C Miscellany, April 1992

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Those keen folk who intend to take a look at this year’s MCC Land’s End Trial over Easter may care to know that among the hills which the car and motorcycle entry (limited to 350) will be asked to tackle are Sug Lane, Beggars Roost, Sutcombe, Darracott, Crackington, New Mill and Bluehills Mine, between the hours of 22.00 on April 17th and 12.00 hours on April 18th, there being 19 observed-sections in all.

All that anyone should need to know about A7s and the racing formulae run by the 750 MC is contained in its 1992 Yearbook, available to members for £1 post-free. Apply to Robin Knight, 9 Market Place, Harleston, Norfolk, IP20 9AG. A long season of economy racing is planned, culminating in the Birkett Six Hour Relay Race. Sec; Mike Peck, Courthouse, St Winifreds Road, Biggin Hill, Kent TN 16 3HR. The Brooklands Museum is to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the opening of Brooklands Motor Course on June 17th. Membership

of the new Brooklands Club costs £500 plus VAT, Life-Membership £5000 plus VAT. The Museum says it needs a minimum of £300,000 a year if it is to survive, plus sponsorship totalling £74,000 to develop other aspects of the 30-acre site, a further £2,000,000 for a hangar to house its aviation exhibits and an average of £5,250 sponsorship to complete seven more-minor projects. This in addition to an estimated £1.5-million which Gallaher contributed to the Museum project between 1984 and 1991. A Record-Breakers Display is announced, featuring the 1922 single-seater AC, but this is more a sand-racer than a Brooklands car in its current form.

TIhe Veteran Car Club of GB has a main event in N Wales on May 22nd/25th, a Scottish main event on June 21st/27th, together with four regional main events. Also a Norfolk event for single and two-cylinder cars on September 25th/ 27th, and a charity run from August 31st-September 5th, which it is hoped will raise more than £30,000 for a children’s hospice, 18 veterans having already been sponsored at £500 per car. Secretary; Mrs M Goding, Jassamine House, High Street, Ashwell, Herts.

It seems as if one of the team of three MG L-type Magnas entered by W E C Watkinson in the 1933 Alpine Trial, in which they won the Team Prize, and by Alan Hass in that year’s LCC Relay Race at Brooklands, which they won at 88.62mph, lapping at 93mph, codrivers Charlie Martin and GWJH Wright, and one of which, driven by Martin and Welsh, finished second in the 1933 BRDC 500-Mile Race, may be extant in Virginia, USA. It is JB 2265, which Watkinson apparently sold back to MG’s in 1934; they sold it in 1935 to the Colliers in New York. The present owner found it in a basement 30 years ago and would like to know whether it is one of these team L2s and if Mr Watkinson is still alive.

A new club has been formed to cater for Rootes Vehicle Owners, such as those who run Hillman and Humber cars, Commer commercials, Rootes Sunbeams, Karrier trucks, Singer Gazelles, etc. Its title is the Hillman Commer Karrier Club, and its first rally is at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, Oxon, on August 2nd, notable for having £1 million insurance cover and no entry fee. Details from; A Freakes, Kingfisher Court, E Moseley, Surrey.W B