club news, December 1937

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M.C.C.

Regulations are not out for the 1038 ” Exeter,” first of the series of those excellent M.C.C. trials which combine long mileage (for those who wish) with sensible hills of the not-tooslimy variety. The now prevalent method of using three different starting points 111 be used, these being London, Stratford-on Avon, and Exeter. Competitors converge at

Exeter. Locked axles will be barred. Special efforts will be made to keep the schedule and to this end those who drive modern motors with fancy frontworks are required to provide special provision for tow-rope attachment—-to which nastyminded folk will retort that these are just the cars that will need. it. Entries must be in by December 13th and entrants must be members of the M.C.C., for which motor-cycle ownership is not nenessary. The date of the trial is January 7th-8th. This time the finish will be at the Grand Hotel, Bournemouth. These M.C.C. classic trials are very fine sport and adventure, they constitute an excellent holiday week-end, and those who drive good cars will get their fair mead of

publicity. Full details from ” Jackie” Masters, The Motor-er.ling Club, 22, Norland Square, London, WA 1.

CEMIAN M.C. Trial

The Cemian M.C. President’s Cup Trial was run over a long route in the West Country to fairly close time limits, and attracted twenty competitors who enjoyed fine, dry conditions. Shillingstone Hill caused eight failures, Knowle Lane proved very easy, and Meerhay only stopped four cars. There were two special tests, an acceleration test over the sensible distance of 100 yards of Ibberton’s stony grade, in which best time was made by F. Beare’s Aston-Martin, and a reversing test on muddy ground, in which D. P. Kirkman’s cut-down 12-50 Alv!s was outstanding. P. Beare’s AstonMartin took the President’s Cup, H. Rose (Ford V8 Special) the Committee Cup for visitors, and, four competitors collected first-class awards, including K. Hutchison (Ford V8 Special), and C. S. Dewey (Riley).

CHILTERN M.C. trial

A very interesting and ambitious trial is being arranged for January 29th-30th, 1938 It will start and finish at Amersham Bucks, and embrace a route of some 300 miles. Numerous controls will have to be passed through en route and during the road section there will be two Rallytype tests—of a sensible nature, we hope-with another test of this sort to be performed at the finish. There will be six classes ! 1-litre open cars, 1-litre closed cars, lf-litre open cars, if-litre closed cars, over 11litre open cars and over closed cars. This event should

attract a good entry and, if a closed should materially increase the membership.

SCOTTISH SPORTING C.C.

Sixty-five competitors took part in Anniversary Run held last month commemorate the founding of the An easy trials course was used, to courage newcomers, and ” knobblies were banned. Bardowie Hill only one failure, and the driving on Blairskaith was simple but tackled very sedately by many drivers. Good showing was made by Norman Gibson (Riley), J. Lambie (twin-gearbox Eight), John Archer (Riley Sprite), Keith Elliot (T-type M.G.). (M.G.) and W. K. Stewart (M.G.) formed outstandingly in the second ing test and in the test at Stoney Moolin fastest time of all was made by W. G. R. Watson (Ford V8), who had to serve up his stuff in darkness. Other excellent driving displays were made by Jack Playfair (Frazer-Nash-B.M.W.), J. P. Miller (Ford), R Mickel (Wolseley), H. Gibbon (Rover) and H.amish Weir (Ford). The Chairman’s Cup for best performance went to J. H. Blyth, who drove an Austin Seven. Murray Frame (Singer) won the under if-litre section and J. G. R. Watson (Ford V8) was victorious in the big car

class. The respective runners-up were J. M. Archer (Riley Sprite), H. J. Stewart (T-type M.G.) and R. M. S. Brown (Frazer-Nash), J. P. Miller (Ford V8). The Team Award went to the BlythGibson-Watson (Austin-Riley-Ford) team. The Club contemplates holding more standard-tyre trials in the future. Their annual dinner and dance will be held at the Central Hotel, Glasgow, on December 17th.

S.U.N.B.A.C.

The Sutton Coldfield and N. Birmingham A.C. became revolutionary last month and staged their classic Vesey Trial in new territory in the Black Mountains, and on a Sunday. Forty started and twenty finished with clean sheets. In the Brentwardine stop and go test six drivers lost marks. C. Goodacre (Austin Seven), W. J. Green (P.B. M.G.), J. 13. Carr (4+-litre Bentley), and 13. 13. Phillips (Austin Seven) were excellent performers. Pont-y-Weston failed thirteen competitors including F. D. Gilson whose imposing Allard-Special failed right at the end of the observed section. Cusop Dingle resulted in four failures, Lower Cefn in one, and everyone climbed Shaw’s Farm. Hill Lane was in great fettle, with its cobble stone surface covered in mud, and it failed nine cars. Hadley’s Austin Seven suffered from locking brakes and failed. He was similarly hampered in the subsequent drivingtest, in which C. D. Buckley (Austin

Seven) managed 161, secs., beaten by W. J Green’s P.B. M.G. in 15isecs.— both cars had blowers. J. F. A. Clough’s 11-litre Riley clocked 151secs. The outcome of all this was that Green’s P.B. M.G. won the Vesey Cup, Clough’s Riley the Carless Cup and Buckley’s Austin Seven the Watson-Gwynne Bowl. The Team Prize went to the N. V. Terry, A. G. Imhof, J. F. A. Clough (B.M.W.M.G.-Rilev) team.

THE MOTOR SPORTS CLUB

The Motor Sports Club—the sporting motorists’ town club i flourishing and prospective members should remember that the list is limited to 200. The annual subscription is 10/-, or 5/for persons residing fifty miles from Charing Cross.

Already several important meetings have been held at the premises, notably the discussion on Paul liardy’s suggested Greater London M.C. on November 30th and the M.G. C.C. Film Show given by George Tuck on December 1st. Particulars from : The Hon. Secretary, The Motor Sports Club, Grand Buildings, Trafalgar Square, W.C.2.

B.O.C.

The Bugatti Owners’ Club held a very successful social meeting, arranged by A. F. Walsham on September 12th, and repeated their annual Welsh Trial on October 24th, when twelve started, ten finished, and Walsham (2.3 Type 43 Bugatti) won the Premier Award and Giles Challenge Trophy. The Night Trial was held on November 20th 21st. The Club has acquired its own country estate at Prescott, near Cheltenham, where a country club may be established and where it is hoped to hold two Shelsley-like open speed hill-climbs and a closed club climb next season. Many people will undoubtedly hasten to join the Club to enjoy what promises to be quite unique facilities in this direction. New members elected recently number seven. The November issue of ” Bugantics,” beautifully produced, reflects the

prestige of the Club. It is a Special Prescott Number running to 36 pages and contains an article by ” J.D.A. ” on English Hill-Climbs (not entirely accurate, but extremely good reading), and a description of Prescott, as well as an absorbing article on ” Bugattis I Have Owned,” by Tim Rose-Richards (his first was a 1921 Brescia), an amusing account of the Bugatti instruction book by ” Elgy,” reports of Lewes and the Welsh Trial, and some notes on a French owner’s Type 48 by W. Boddy. C. I. Craig has purchased the Type 57S coupe shown at Earl’s Court and owns, in addition, a 4.9-litre and a Type 55.

Hon. Secretary : E. L. Giles, 2, Queen Street, Mayfair, W.1.