Vintage S.C.C. Meeting at Bisley

The Vintage S.C.C., whose next event. is at Prescott on August 31st, had a pleasant get-together at Bisley on July 21st. As usual, Many most interesting cars were there for inspection and discussion. Bunny Tubbs arrived with Kent Karslake in his 1904 Gobron-Brille, and later took John Bolster and others for a ride. John himself came in the 1911 Rolls-Royce, without which no gathering of old cars would seem complete. Breen had exchanged his 3-litre Bentley for a 4 1/2-litre; Walsh, Jackson and Colbourne-Baber came in old-school Bentleys, Walsh’s said to be the last car Bentley Motors made; and Heal and Wadsworth used 3-litre Sunbeams. The “12/50” Alvis was represented by a yellow 2-seater and a more sporting example, Alan Southon brought his H.E., Truscott was there with his very nice f.w.d. Tracta coupé, and a 37.2 Hispano saloon and Rolls-Royce brake were present.

Hill, Bridcutt and Boddy lined their three “Alphonso” Hispano-Suizas up for Guy Griffiths’s camera, a very nice, shortened 2-seater Lancia “Lambda” arrived, Boothby brought a 4 1/2-litre Lagonda, Patrick Green a very effective S.V. Amilcar, and Wilkinson an early blown Mercédès tourer. Clive Windsor Richards, a busy “riding-observer” in the slow-running test, came in a Continental Cars Type 50 5-litre Bugatti coupé, Bowler demonstrated the tests very effectively with his 3-litre Lagonda. Piner came in a somewhat-rebuilt Anzani-Frazer-Nash, Hay in a similar car, and the Nichols-rebuilt “30/98” Vauxhall, a s.v. Aston-Martin, Crozier’s new 328 B.M.W., Leith’s veteran Begot et Mazurie, two 2-litre Lagondas, Dr. Ewen in his Delage, and Pat and May Whittet in their Delahaye, were all present and correct. The very interesting slow-fast test was won by Yeates’s ex-Biggs Austin Seven, from Webb’s 2-litre Lagonda and Wilkinson’s Mercédès, the last-named most impressive on the slow section. Two driving frolics followed, the first won by Dickson’s “Ulster” Austin Seven from the more special Austin Sevens of Yeates and Birkett, and the second by Gamble’s ex-Evans M.G. Magnette from Birkett and Yeates. Final placings were: 1st, Yeates; 2nd, Birkett; 3rd, Dickson; 4th, Gamble; 5th, Webb; 6th, Wilkinson.

A consolation prize awarded by the Editor of Motor Sport was handed to Wilkinson amid great applause — it was a loaf of pre-rationed bread, one day old! Webb’s beautiful 2-litre Lagonda took the prize for the best-kept car up to 2 litres, and Rodney CIarke’s 1913 Bugatti “Black Bess” the equivalent big-car award. A good day’s fun.