Club news, January 1988

Aston Martin Owners Club has moved to new premises at 1a High Street, Sutton, near Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 2RB (telephone 0353-777353). Club secretary Jim Whyman says he hopes to arrange an open day when the offices are fully operational.

In Stratford-on-Avon on December 12, the Historic Sports Car Club held its annual dinner/dance and prizegiving ceremony. John Foulston, the Chairman of Brands Hatch Leisure who was killed in a Silverstone testing accident in September, was posthumously awarded the Historic GT Championship which was sponsored by his own Atlantic Computers concern.

Following a four-race series in 1987 which demonstrated the enthusiasm of its members for such a venture, the BMW Car Club has formed a motorsport division to run a ten-event Championship in 1988. Sections for standard and modified road-going BMWs will each have three classes, with engine capacity divisions at 2 litres and 2.8 litres. Write to John McVicker, 24 Francis Road, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 7JX for the full rules.

Effingham Park, near Gatwick in Sussex, is the venue for the BARC’s 1988 “Big Night Out” on Saturday February 6. In addition to the five-course dinner and dance, the drivers, marshals, sponsors and enthusiasts invited to attend will witness the presentation of the Club’s championship and annual awards. Tickets cost £17.50 for members and their spouses, £19.50 for non-members, and a special bus service will operate between the venue and two local hotels. Applications for tickets should be addressed to BARC Ltd, Thruxton Circuit, Andover, Hampshire SP1I 8PN.

The Automobile Club of Brescia has announced that the next Mille Miglia retrospective event, again based on a regularity formula, will take place on May 5-7,1988. Closing date for entries is December 31, to the Veteran Car Club of Brescia, Via Somalia 8/A, 25100 Brescia. Sports and competition cars built between 1927 and 1957 are eligible.

Rivers Fletcher was in the chair for the annual dinner of the ERA Club at Straford-on-Avon, and nearly ninety members and friends attended. It has become a tradition that all ERA drivers present (there were ten) should say a few words, whilst Rodney Felton, Roger Sweet and Bruce Halford were among those who spoke for the opposition. Bob Gerard was unfortunately unable to be present, but has given his magnificent British Empire Trophy award to the Club. This was presented to Bill Morris for the best performance of the season with a 11/2-litre ERA (Hanuman), whilst Anthony Mayman took the Rivers Fletcher award for his success with R4D.