WB Rumblings, August 2005

The Midland AC is holding a centenary tour on August 18 starting from Shelsley Walsh. It will take in the venues the club used for hillclimbs prior to moving to the present historic venue, namely Sunrising, Gorcut, Weatheroak and Middle Hill, before returning to Shelsley Walsh for a gymkhana and supper party. A splendid idea, which might be copied by the Veteran CC with their members using 1905 and earlier cars. Details of the MAC tour from Jan Moody (01905 345240), members only.

***

At Shelsley’s centenary meet on August 21 the 20 or so traditional Specials will probably be joined by a 2005 version. The modern very fast record attackers will be there, and it is thought that nine ERAs may compete.

***

The memory of the first Jaguar Mk1 and Mk2 saloons never quite subsides for those who drove them. To commemorate them Nigel Thornley has a book of this title about these “classic sporting saloons”, in all their aspects, including in competitions. This is a magnificent, very large format production by Haynes (E19.99, ISBN185960-9651). A wonderful enjoyment book for all Jaguar chaps.

***

Apart from its comprehensive range of books about sporting events, Motor Books have published The Six Men Who Built The Motor Industry by Richard Johnson. It tells of the creation of today’s global automotive industry, including Lee lacocca’s criticism of Bob Lutz and his Ford confrontation, Ferdinand Piech’s only post-retirement interview about the state of the VW Group, and Lutz’s inside story of the Chrysler comeback, etc. In the same outspoken manner the affairs of Henry Ford II, Eberhard von Kuenheim, the founder of modern BMW, and Soichiro Honda are dealt with. Should you want to take time off from reading about motor racing. I commend this book (£17.99, ISBN 760319588).

***

An error seems to have made me say that the Bentley race at Brooklands took place in 1926. But it was in 1936, and before the BDC sets its heavies on me I am well aware that the first 4-I/2-litre was not in production until 1928. The increase of 89cc for Pelmore’s car was achieved with a rebore of 1mm, that of 54 cc for his other Bentleys with a rebore of 0.5mm (standard size 100x140mm, 3498cc — slide-rules out!).