VSCC Measham Rally

The night rally, which is a test especially of navigators, moved this year from Herefordshire to Yorkshire. Apart from an entry of 76 pre-war cars it constituted the unexpected innovation of three post-war Singer-engined HRGs among the competitors. Not, one hopes, the commencement of a move to admit more post-1940 cars into what might then become just an Old Car Club? The invited post-war car crews drove two 1947 HRGs, an 1100cc and a 1500cc and a 1951 1500cc HRG, and although not permitted the named trophies, did very well, winning Class Four by one mark from Garfitt’s 1937 FN-BMW and taking a second-class award.

The Measham Trophy was won by Baxter/Anabel Jones (1926 Frazer Nash), the Jeddere-Fisher by Dawson/Brenda Kenyon (1924 Rolls-Royce), who were judged the best novice crew, the Dames-Longworth by Garfitt/Pearce. The ‘Here Today, Gone Tomorrow’ team (no, not the HRGs – two 1927 Alvises and a 1931 Alvis) took the team award, and the chaps in a 1930/31 Morgan were commended as in the most uncomfortable, insufferable vehicle outside the awards list. Retirements numbered an A7 Special (clutch), two more A7s one with steering problems, a Riley 9 with a duff gearbox, and a Lancia Aprilia, and the driver of a 4 1/2-litre Bentley fell on an icy road.