Club News

Club News c-uut-)

WE HEAR

1301) Spikins, George Hartwell, R. F. Peacock and Cooper-exponent Clarke have ordered ” Le Mans Replica ” FrazerNashes for next year’s sports-car races. Dr. Waugh will drive a ” Mile Might ” Frazer-Nash in Scottish competitions and Hans Osterman, Swedish FrazerNash distributor, got the Earls Court ” Le Mans Replica,” lucky Man, carted it off for display at the Stockholm Show and it will be used in competitions there. We make no comment on an advertisement appearing in the Essex Gazette which read as follows : “Morris Major 14 h.p. ; phenomenal performance ; B.R.M. outclassed. Form queue . . .” P. A. Atkinson ran a special in the High Peak Trial, the Austin Seven engine of which had been bored out to give a capacity of 824 c.c.—shades of Wales’

Austin Seven racer of 1925 I John Norman and a friend are overhauling a 1922 push-rod SaIntson with long-tailed G.P. body. A Clulcy two-seater of 1924 vintage in somewhat poor order has turned up at 4 garage near Cambridge. Another Of these rare light ears was broken up in Iluekiagliamshire during the war. The present one came to our not ice through a reader who has been getting good service from a 1928 touring Clyno Nine; he remarks that lie knows of at. least half-a-dozen other cars of this make still on the road. Another early small car, a 1024 Bayliss-Tliomas sports two-seater with 10-h.p. Meadows engine, has, been hibernating since 1930 in Devon and is reported in fair order except for lyres. B. F. R. Stack, M.B.E., is rebuilding a 1001 Locomobile steamer and Ronald Barker has exchanged his 1909 Napier with Capt. Harry Browell for a 1928 ” 40/50 ” Napier cabriolet—he asks if anyone knows of any more of this particular sort of Napier. A sensible article on the Veteran Car Club, by Richard Shakespeare, appeared recently in Men Only. A ” Ilrescia ” Bugatti is ending its days, of all places, in the ettildren’s section of the fatuous Tivoli playground in Copenhagen. A VS Talbot-Darr:Leg tourer, complete save tar ignition coil, is for disposal in Scotland. II. Edwards is contemplating an American

supercharger on a ” ” M.G. Midget and G. Aldridge is building a 125-c.c, car, although the main idea here is to race more cheaply t IMO is possible with a ” 500,” if a 125-e.e. ‘lass could be launched. Out in Malaya D. R. Lindley has a FIAT 1,500 with IA-litre Itiley engine, which he is contemplating supercharging, while a South Australian reader emitemplates rebuilding a 1930 silliereliarged twat. Alvis for racing.

Cooper Cars of Surbitou have produced another sports Cooper. this time with forward-placed V-twin air-cooled .I.A.I’. engine driving through a four-speed Javelin gearbox, which sounds very interesting. The Straker-Squire Six which Granville thenfell made into a lacing cur before the war, using Lancia i.f.s., later had a Siddeley Special engine installed by Monkton, but has since been dismantled. Cuff, who has raced a Vs Special ” Hells Hammers 1V ” at Bristol race meetings, intends to install the engine in is Riley chassis for next season. Ills J.A.P.-engined ” 500 “

now luta an interesting form of swing’ axle i.r.s., using a high-set transverse leaf spring and radius arms. He also has a Ford Ten trials special in hand, using an Austin Seven frame and a Ford Ten van axle but with two short axle tubes in place of the usual long and short tubes of this off-set. axle. Col Mueller of Milwaukee has taken delivery of A 700-c.c. rear-engined Renault •• on the strength of the persistence of NloTou SPORT’S well-justified praise of this excellent little motor-car.” Mueller also owns the ” works ” ” Speed Six ” Bentley that finished second in the 1930 he Mans race, a 1929 4i-litre Bentley Vanden Plas four-seater, a long chassis ” Speed Six “Bentley saloon, a 1914 Latwia. a 1921 Locomobile, a 1900 twocylinder Buick and a 1932 Packard, while his wife possesses a 1923 PierceArrow landaulette and A 1912 model-T FOrd roadster. Ile makes us blush by referring to MOTOR SPORT as “

sistentiv the best motoring journal in the world,”. offering us his sincere thanks for having educated and elevated hirmi to a state of appreciation that has brought about the gradual acquisition of the old cars, especially the Le Mans Bentley, which has given him the happiest days of his life. Before we cease blushing, we would like, in our turn, to thank the many reader’s who took the trouble to write in appreciation of our Barcelona eace report, and to remark that although we make every effort to reply to all our correspondents, if any letters have gone unanswered tur delight at receiving news from all quarters is tie vertitelessas keen as ever it. was.

T. G. Moore, late proprietor of Mirrmi St-owl’, fats been getting good service Irian a drophead 2i-litre Riley. The Lorraine-Dietrich which won the 1920 he Mans race has been purchased by a French enthusiast and is in good order.

As proof of how interest in all aspects of motor sport is spreading, the Treasurer of the Welsh Counties C.C. sends us a cutting from the Western Mail which asks who is the owner of an old Humber ‘waxing a Cardiff registration anti see!” early in October parked On the Promenade des Anglais at Nice. Our correspondent remarks that her schoolboy son is busy rebuilding a 1928 Clyno Nine saloon into mitt open two-seater. I neidentally, this Club now has over 100 mettibers. I. G. Worsnop seeks data on a 1932 Marendaz-Speeial he has acquired, which is at present endowed with a Ford V8 engine. III California, Joseph Esheriek is about to drastically hot-up a 1938 •• 328 ” T.T. 11.MAV., and also seeks data and a handbook. A 1931 i.f.s. Cot tin et Desgouttes Butt apparently hus run a very low mileage is for sale in Rotherham, and in Cheltenham a 1011 V-twin Garrard three-wheeler is ithout to be restored by G. Hartley-Smith, who seeks photographs of the original. Ile reports a 1917 Renault chassis for sate at a loyal garage-alas, the body was consmued in the Workshop stove during the 1948 fuel shortage! lagonda,

have acquired a veteran Lagonda tri-car.

IN ACCORD “

” The 11.R.M, in particular, like the British motor industry in general, is paying is high price for the betrayal of Brooklands. ‘–The Motor, November 8th.

SLIPPING?

One of our leading eontemPoraries, announcing the change of date of the London-Brighton Veteran Car Run from November 12th to 19th to avoid Remembninee Sunday. lie:idol its announce ment ” • Crock. Date Settled ” In

another section it remarks that although there is no likelihood of a reintroduction of petrol rationing, the Chancellor might increase the petrol tax at the next Budget in the hope of making motorists pay in part. for rearmament. No motor journal should for a moment entertain such thoughts. The motorist is already taxed more heavily, both in business and pleasure, than most other members of the conmutnit y, and any increase will

be met with a severe loss of east for whichever party might, so much as contemplate it.

THE 1951 CALENDAR

The issue of the Internittional Calendar is an event which annually takes away the breath of any motoring scribe. So we will content. ourselves with saying that the 1951 list has duly been issued, that it contains 130 International dates, of wI dell Britain lets been allocated its full share of 15–Goodwotid three, Silverstone two, Shelsley two, the It.A.C. Prescott, Bo’uess, Rest. and Be Thankful, Thrtixton, Brighton and, of course, Jersey and I.O.M., all one each—and that next season’s G.P. de l’Europe will be a 360-Mile Formula I race at. Rheims on July 1st. May a B.R.M. win it ! The Monaco G.1′. is, alas, out, but

It will be it 24-hour race over the Nurburg Ring by way of compensation. There is, indeed, a total of 22 Formula 1, 20 Formula 11 and 40 Formula III races, the 500s liaving dates at Brands Ilittelt (3), Thruxton (1) and Goodwood (1), so far as this country is concerned. There are 20 fixtures for sports audjor touring ears, 17 other races, 10 speed hill-climbs and 34 rallies. So we can all look forward to another busy year. When does it all start ? Well, there is the Pau G.P. on Easter Monday ;old this time the B.B.D.C. Silverstone Meeting will be in May, the British G.P. of the R.A.C. at the saint! venue in July.

A FILM

It has been commonly known that Clark Gable was involved in some ” shooting ” at Indianapolis during the period of the 500-Mile Race last May. The film in which he features is M.G.-M.’s —co Please a Lady.” This film has now been released in the States and, according to New (eek, the director, Clarence Brown, has fitted in plenty of midget racing and some extremely good shots of the 1950 Indianapolis 500 along with the fictional stuff about which Gable and Barbara Stanwyck are tioneerned. Wateh for it !

SOUTHERN JOWETT C.C.

There were eigh.teen entrants for the Mystery Bun on October 29th. The Cut rants included three members of the A.C. owners Club, who had been invited to take part. The run, which started fr0111 Hampton Court, was divided into Iwo parts, the first, in the morning, took part icipimts who followed tile elites given at the commencement of the run ti rough the Walton-on-Thames, Ilershaini (Wiliam districts to the luncheon rendezvous on Bookham Common. The afternoon run was through the countryside around Stare to Peaslake. The awards were decided on a points and time basis, the maximum number possible being 86. Winners were : 1st, P Foy (S.J.C.C.), 86 points ; 2nd. G. R. Grigs (A.C.O.C.), 83 points; 3rd, R. Midler (S..1 .C.C. ), 88 points; 4th, L. Drew (A.(‘.( ).C. 81 points. At the conclusion of tlw run :III excellent meal was provided at the Hurtwood Inn, Peaslake. The foregoing fixture was the last if the 1950 seastin, Ind enquiries from Jowett owners concerning membership for 1951 are welcomed by the lion. Secretary, R. Knight, 890, Iloe Street, NValthamstow. E.17.

ANOTHER SHELL FILM

Shell Nlex and 11.1′. threw a big party at Sh.ell Mex Howie on the evening of October 26111 for the pre-view of some new films by the Shell Film Unit. In their vast bar motor racing personalities were enconntered too numerous to mention individually. The films comprised ” Log Book,” featuring this year’s V.C.C. Oxford Bally. Bost and Be Thankful Hill-Climb, and B.R.D.C. Silverstone Meeting, and a very exciting and skilfully-shot study of this year’s motor-cycle

T.T. in the Isle of Man. A copy of the latter tilm was presented to Geoff. Duke. who so ably won the race Mr Norton.

These Shell films are available for public release and club secretaries should lose no time in taking their place in the queue.

A FINE PERFORMANCE

During the evening of October 25th Leslie Johnson’s well-known white NIE 120 Jaguar completed a 24-hour run at Montlhery during which it averaged 107.46 m.p.h. Stirling Moss acted as co-driver. 112.4 miles were covered in the 24th hour and several laps were put it) at 126 111.1). Ii. During the run it was dark for thirteen hours, but no track lighting was employed, Johnson and Moss relying on the standard Lucas lighting on the car. This is a very fine demonstration of Jaguar reliability-eurnspeed, and it seems very unselfish of a private owner to have submitted his car to it. This., and the T.T. victory. have re-established the warmest admiration for the N.K 120 amongst even the most cynical, but if any similar achievement is contemplated, let it be an attack on those Belgian sprint records which Jaguar propose to NVi II back from I,yeett’s 8-litre Bentley and Tyrer’s 2-litre 11.M.W.

PARTY AT GOODWOOD

For the third year in succession the Guild of Motoring Writers entertained representatives of tile foreign and Dominion Press at Goodwood dimming the Motor Show, so that they could test the latest productions of the British motor italustry.

It was, as usual, a unique show, giving representatives of COntinental and other overseas journals the opportunity of giving the new cars an arduous test to prove their stamina. roadholding and oil am qualities. Cars demonstrated includeil the J2 Allard competition two-seater and saloon ; Aston-Martin 1)11 1I saloon ; Cooper sports ; three Daimlers, in eluding t he 24 -litre sport s ; I lumber I lawk ; the Jaguar XK 120 which won the Tourist Trophy race ; three .Javelin Jointers, ineluding the car which won the 1,500-c.c. class at I,e Mans this year ; Lagonda 2-litre saloon ; Lanchester Fourteen saloon ; “‘(‘I) ” M.G. Midget ; Singer

Nine sports Sonbcam-l’i-dbot. ” 90 ‘ Triumph Maythiwer saloon.

The foreign guests. numbering nearly 30, were represetitative or America, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, India, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa and Switzerland.

It says malt for the workmanship and reliability of the modern car t hat there was no mechanical or tyre failure. Some 00 members of the Otild were present, Mid II wir gi IeSt S 41(11111(41 t he Duke and Dachess of Riehmond 1).11(1 Con1011, Earl z1.11(1 C01111tesS Howe. Lord Selstion. Mr. W. Lyons, chairman and nutnaging director of Jaguar Cars. Ltd., and President, of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders; Mr. and

Mrs. John Cobb ; ” Goldie ” Gardner. Col. E. S. Barnes. competition manager of t Ite Royal Automobile Club. :oat NI r. IL .1. Morgan, Secretary of the 11.A.R.C.

During. the day the Guild entertained some goo guests to luncheon and tea. and also showed colour films of the European Grand Prix at Silverstone and the International Alpine Rally.

FIRST OFF !

The enterprising B.: .R.C. will Open the English racing next year with its International Easter Monday Meeting at Goodwood. Other International Goodwood meetings are scheduled for WhitMonday and September 29th.

GOOD PERFORMANCES BY BRITISH CARS

Driving a Vauxhall ” Vclox ” saloon, Neil Vincent and Donald Vincent, of Nairobi, have broken the Cape Town-toNairobi record by 03i hours. The previous record, set. up earlier this year, was 165 hours 55 mina

an average speed of 2L6 m.p.h. The Vineents Hine for llvt 3,580 mile jottrney was 92 hours 11 minutes, Odell represents art average mato! of 38 8 nt.p.h.

Leaving Cape Town early in the morning of Thursday, September 28th, the Vincents. driv;ng in slats. reached Nairobi at. 2.11 ant, on Mc Imlay, October 211d. Road surfaces varied from very good to very primitive indeed. Mechanically. the car was a standard

” Velox ” macs Id. Ilefitre it left this country an extra 10-gallon file! tank was fitted in the boot, with it eattrol cock inside the car, and two spare wheels were carried. A hand throttle was fitted on the steering eolumn. Th, normal bench seat. was replaced by two bucket seats, the left-hand Orke letting down to form a full-length bed, equipped with a Dunlopillo mattress.

The car, delivered to Mr. Neil Vincent under the Vauxhall thaw I /clivcry plan when he was in this count ry remit ly, had covered some 8,0o0 miles in his hands before it. was shipped to Soul h Africa on September 1st.

A stantlant Bristol ” 401 ” rectally eomplpted the 3,136 miles trip across Canada. from Vaw!ouver to Montreal in a total running time of 73 hours 15 minutes. The car was driven by Jack Lawson, who took delivery in the first half of 1950. News of his journey reached the Car Division of the !Irish)! Aeroplane Company, Ltd.. in it cable which said ” Congratulations on very tine product. MY 401 has to-day eamdcled seldom

attempted trans-Canada Valletta ‘er-Nlont real trip of 3,136 miles in 73 hours 15 minutes running time. arid 124 hours 40 minutes total time without slightest mechanical, electrical or tyre trouble. It. is unbeatable for sustained performance and quicker cruising over any road surface.”

ny covering the 3,136 miles in 731 hours, Lawson recalled all average !awed of just under 43 rn.p.h.—a very Ii mu’ pelli i l’111: tilde in view of the distance and the varying conditions encountered I’)) route.

Y et another country has rettently wit 11CSNed the success ofthe Allard ” .12.”

Following important competition successes in Great. Britain, t. !.S.A., France and Portugal, the ” ” broke new ground when Robert Nellematm, Allard diStrilat Li in in Denmark, won outright the {Mash championship on the FartgelOdense 310torbanc.

750 CLUB

A Western Centre of the 750 Club has been formed. Austin Seven owners. particularly those building cars to the 750 Club Formula, are invited to contact I). V. Cross, 4, Selbourne Road, Westonsuper-Mare, or to attend tlw next monthly meeting at the Queen’s Arms, Blewlon, 8 p.m.

The Healey ” Silverstone ” is discontinued, giving place to new saloon and drophead eta mpe MA )(lets, the hat er sportsored by Brooklands of Bond Street, Nash or Riley engines are used.