4th Annual Sloggin & Clatter (June 26th)
The Hants & Berks M.C.s “Sloggin & Clatter,” organised by Nancy Cawthorne, is not as ominous as its title – it merely implies that as many unusual and interesting vehicles as possible shall slog and clatter their way to Eversley Cross for other members to gaze on them, and perhaps admire them.
This year the clatter was provided by D.Fowler’s solid tyred Burrell 5-ton steam crane-tractor, a rare engine, the only one surviving of seven built at the Thetford works. It delighted everyone by towing a mini pick-up which filled the role of coal bunker and communications dinghy! Steam was also represented by Fisher’s well known and really entirely docile 1922 Foden steam wagon. At the other extreme, Gahagan brought his Type 37 Bugatti and Morgan J.A.P., George Cooper a 1927 Austin 12/4 and Earles a 1929 Alvis Silver Eagle coupé.
Baby Warrior came with her mother in a baby Austin of 1931 vintage; her father, a leg in plaster, needed something larger, which was provided by new member, D.Steynor, in the form of a P2 Rolls-Royce. This was driven by W-ll–m B—y, reputed to be in heavy disguise in view of the make of the car (actually I merely wore my second best suit – ED.). Rolls-Royces were also brought by J,Hawthorne (1933, 20/25) and G.Lockée Bayne (1937 25/30). Jenkinson dazzled us with the pure whiteness of his ex-team 328 B.M.W., Wood came in his 4 1/2-litre low-chassis Invicta, Michael Burn in his immaculate 1951 prop-shaft driven Frazer Nash, while the Morgan Plus Four was represented by Dr.Nelms’ car.
C.Conway spent the evening very enthusiastically demonstrating how his Citroën 2 c.v. takes to pieces and goes together again (it is the actual 375-c.c. car road tested by MOTOR SPORT ten years ago). Modern exotics included two Lotus Elans, a Lancia Aurelia GT, a Deep Sanderson 301 coupé and Dick Cawthorne’s Rochdale Olympic Mk.1. John Holford showed that the Turner Alexander he races is also a road car, Mike Eyre nonchalantly drove into the pub car park in an enormous Pontiac Parisienne and as if that wasn’t enough, had on behind a cage trailer containing the V8 B.R.M. that finished 9th at Syracuse, driven by Jackie Epstein.
Scragg had his H.W.M.-Jaguar, Bert Fountain his Jaguar E-type, Peter Walker an ex-works rally Mini-Cooper, Bill Tanner a Jensen 541R and Wennerdahl one if the only two Saab Sports in this country. Then there were a tuned Simca 1000, a Panhard PL17, Peugeot 403, Volvo Estate car and a Porsche. Nan certainly ropes ’em in. There were some nice looking girls there, too. They found it hard to compete with the cars!
DONT STAMP ON THE STOMPE
In reporting the Blackbushe Air Display last month we took liberties with the Stampe aerobatic biplane, spelling its name phonetically. But please don’t Stamp on the Stompe, or for that matter, don’t Stomp on the Stampe!
A DISCERNING READER
Simon Gough, who played the part of the son George in the I.T.V. channel Nine play “Valentina” was reading a copy of MOTOR SPORT in one of the scenes. We congratulate him on his discerning choice of mototing literature, hoping that it was his own property and not something he found in the studio!
SONOSYSTEM AT BEAULIEU
It is now possible to hire a Sonosystem tape-recorder which gives a running commentary on the exhibits at the Montagu Motor Museum as the visitor walks around. The hire charge is 2s. 6d., or 3s. 6d. if wired for two persons, and both general and technical recordings are available. The Sonosystem dispenses with a guide and adds greatly to the enjoyment of touring the Museum. Palace house is similarly served, the commentary in his case being by Lord Montague himself.