Veteran-Edwardian-Vintage, January 1958

First-Class Awards: B. M. Clarke (1925 Austin Seven) and M. J. Harris (1929 Austin Seven).
Second-Class Awards: C. J. Marrable (1931 12/50 Alvia) and M. L. Beecroft (1929 Fraser-Nash).
Third-Class Award: C. Winder (1924/8 Humber).

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V.S.C.C. Heston Driving Tests (December 15th)

The annual frolics and demonstrations of driving prowess this year had an entry of 58. Of these, however, only 39 were vintage cars, the balance being made up of p.v.t. entries. And of the vintage entries, less than half were in the sports-car classes and only five true vintage sports cars were present. Verb sap !

Starkest car present on this cold day was Galutgan’s 1926 G.P. Bugatti. Clutton drove his 1934 Corsica two-seater Type 44 Bugatti and Bill Cook had his beautiful ex-Giles 1938 Type 57SC Corsica two-seater in the car park. The cold had diminished the spectators and few other unusual cars were present, apart from a 2-speed Morgan, a tatty 10/23 Talbot with queer hood and a circa 1927 Wolseley saloon that really was a Wolseley (o.h.c. and all that). If there had been a prize for the most delightful vintage sports-car present it should have been awarded without hesitation to Tracey’s very original 1928 “Brooklands” Riley Nine. Four “Chummy” Austin Sevens of different hues ran efficiently, Binns appeared to have ceased painting his O.M. halfway down the body in his haste to get to Heston, and Cartwright’s two-seater Riley Nine seemed to have suspiciously big brakes for a vintage version. Bendall used his 1910 tourer “Silver Ghost” Rolls-Royce, and in the “wiggle-and-stop-astride-the-Marshall” frolic Jack Barclay’s 1910 Rolls Royce landaulette (Reg. No. JB3), driven by H. F. Wood, went almost indecently fast. It was interesting to observe the three growing sizes of brake drums, respectively on Homer’s 1927/31 Meadows Frazer-Nash (with Bugatti body?). Major’s 1932 Frazer-Nash and Heath’s 1938 Frazer-Nash. Green’s 1926 Rover Nine two-seater had an authentic Viking mascot and Campion’s 1921 Calthorpe four-seater a vast undertray to catch any machinery that might fall out and an immodestly naked belt-drive for its speedometer. — W. B.

Results:
Vintage Touring Cars:—1st Class Awards: M. Westnacott (1929 Riley Nine), B. M. Clarke (1925 Austin Seven). 2nd Class Awards: V. Rawlings (1930 14/45 Talbot), T. M. Mackean (1928 Austin Seven). 3rd Class Awards: D. F. H. Wood (1923 Riley Eleven), L. E. Parks (1927 Singer Junior).
Vintage Standard Sports-Cars:—1st Class Award: P. J. E. Binns (1927 O.M.). 2nd Class Award: A. Pugh (1928 Frazer-Nash). 3rd Class Award: M. Leo (1930 2-litre Lagonda).
Vintage Sports-Cars:—1st Class Award: M. J. Harris (1929 Austin Seven Special).
P.V.T. Touring Cars:—1st Class Award: P. F. E. Baker (1933 Riley Nine). 2nd Class Award: C. B. L. Harding (1937 Lands Aprilia).
P.V.T. Sports-Cars:—1st Class Awards: A. J. Gibson (1932 Frazer-Nash), P. Major (1932 Frazer-Nash). 2nd Class Awards: J. Bugler (1933 Lagonda Ranier), W. Heath (1938 Frazer-Nash). 3rd Class Award: M. Wilby (1934 Lagonda Rapier).

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A reader has a belt-driven Watford speedometer which was apparently used on a 1906 35-h.p. Mercedes but has been stored since 1916. If anyone has a use for it we can forward a letter to the owner.

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Last autumn, at a rally of the Malayan V.C.C. the entry consisted of nine vintage and nine modern cars. The wiggle-woggle test was won by a 1927 Austin Seven, which beat an Austin-Healey 100-Six, was 3 sec. faster than a Hillman Minx and beat, by 16 sec., a modern Chevrolet, which tied with a 1927 4½-litre Bentley.

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The cover of the last B.D.C. Gazette carries a picture of Stirling Moss riding as passenger in Stanley Sedgwick’s 1930 five-carburetter Speed Six Bentley during a “lap of honour” which Stirling enjoyed during the last Goodwood meeting of 1957.

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We hear of a 1924 11.4 Humber saloon in original but dirty condition, with spare engine, awaiting an appreciative owner. Letters can be forwarded.

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Challenge! E. Dames-Longworth, Hon. Midland Representative of the Humber Register, offers a guinea to anyone who can put him in touch with a 1927-8 Humber 20/55 touring car.

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We are informed by Michael Sedgwick, Hon. Registrar of the Fiat Register, that the S.P.A. which we saw in the Turin Museum last year 18 a 1922 2¾-litre Tipo 235 which was purchased by Fiat (England) Ltd. in this country and shipped home to Turin. It was illustrated in Motor Sport some years ago when it had a drophead coupé body. Mr. Sedgwick reminds us that the S.P.A. Company was absorbed by Fiat in 1929.

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A few tickets are still available for the combined Alvis/Fiat/ Humber/S.T.D. Registers’ dinner, in London on January 11th. Apply to S.T.D. Hon. Registrar, “Carmel,” Wood Lane, Fleet, Hampshire.

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Near Devizes a farmer has a vintage Buick tourer fitted with an enormous radiator from an early Dennis lorry. If anyone has a radiator looking for a vintage Buick or a Vintage Dennis commercial vehicle in need of a radiator, this might be worth investigating. And, on the subject of vintage commercial vehicles, a very long-wheelbase Leyland lorry, on pneumatics but with a gilled-tube radiator, was seen collecting discarded tyres from a garage in a small Hampshire country town recently.

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Apart from some traction engines, a 1921 Dennis fire engine came up for auction in Totnes recently.

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Last month’s account of the Brighton Run gave the impression that the 1903 Mercedes driven by Lord Montagu is his property. We are informed by Mr. Alfred Harmsworth that it is, in fact, merely on loan to the Montagu Museum. It is one of three which have been in his family since new, one of which was the first Mercedes to come to England. The Sixty referred to last month was brought over from Thanet in 1930/31 and took part successfully in three Brighton Runs in 1933/34 and 1935. The same Mercedes won a Dublin hillclimb in 1903, driven by Campbell-Muir.

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The Delage Register may be interested to know that a nice complement is paid to this make in “Three Acres and a Mill,” by Robert Gathorne-Hardy (J. M. Dent, 1939). The same book contains a reference to-visiting the French Riviera in 1913 in an old Vauxhall “which used to carry us grandly along, sometimes at the tremendous velocity of 42 m.p.h.”

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Good news! The M.C.C. has invited the V.S.C.C. and V.M.C.C. to compete in a vintage section of its Land’s End Trial on April 4th/5th, to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of this classic event. It is anticipated that one of the old routes will be followed by the vintage cars and motor-cycles, taking in Porlock, Lynmouth, Beggars Roost, etc., and terminating at Land’s End.

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Bravo, bravo! The Light Car Section of the V.S.C.C. has decreed that only under exceptional circumstances may vintage light cars be brought to their events on trailers. The Secretary points out that he has averaged over 26 m.p.h. on a 12-hour journey in his 9/20 Humber tourer, as proof that trailers are unnecessary.

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The Veteran Car Club has moved its office and library. Its new address is 14, Fitzhardinge Street, Portman Square, London, W.1 (Welbeck 1661).

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Yet again! Another old car has been discovered and is on the way to restoration, according to The Birmingham Mail. It is a 1914 Arden which had been rotting in the back garden of a Bromsgrove house for over 20 years. Used by a lady for a daily journey between Bromsgrove and Birmingham University until 1926, this locally-built car, with wire wheels and radiator reminiscent of a B.S.A. of the period, is being restored by M. Edwards and D. Benbow.

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The Frazer-Nash Section of the V.S.C.C. is anxious to borrow one of the original “Chain-Gang” ties with a view to having some of this neckware made available to its members. If anyone can help, will they please contact the Hon. Sec., P. Douglas-Osborn, Colt House, Church Avenue, Clent, Worcs?

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An Edwardian Mercedes is said to lie exposed to the elements, masquerading as a veteran, in or near Glasgow. It is described as a 1910/14 tourer with wooden wheels having detachable rims, complete but rough, believed once the property of Sir Thomas Lipton. It is suggested by our correspondent that ignorance of vintage-car ethics is to blame and that the owner might dispose of the Mercedes if tactfully approached. Will enthusiasts North of the Border please get cracking after this one!

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An American correspondent reports that a circa 1920 Detroit Electric coupé is still in use there for church and shopping expeditions in the hands of two elderly ladies.

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A Tanganyikan correspondent, who hopes to drive a Goggomobil in this year’s Coronation Safari, tells us that Messrs. Hughes Ltd., of Nairobi, have the model-T Ford which the late Field Marshal (then General) Smuts used as a staff car during the 1914/18 war. It is in original state and good running order, camouflaged in the correct army paint.

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Another discovery. A circa 1920 Enfield-Allday. minus body, has been found by a reader. It had been in the possession of a farmer since 1926 and apparently had an open aluminium body with two doors on one side and a single door on the opposite side. Photographs are requested to assist in restoration and can be forwarded.