CLUB NOTES

Norris Miles of Hubbard Racing is keen to start a series based on the old Group 2, pre ’74 saloons, reviving a series from 16 years ago that used to see Camaros, BMWs, Capris, Mustangs, Escorts and Alfas mercilessly vie with one another. If the response is good enough, an RAC affiliated organisation will be approached and dates fixed up for some events which have the prospect of being sponsored.

All potential competitors are asked to contact Norris Miles at Hubbard Racing, 5 Bushey Mill Lane, Watford, Herts. WD2 4QT.

Conscious that in 1990 all vintage Rileys will be at least 65 years old, Adrian Vine is persuading their owners to take part in a two-day fun-run of 266 miles on September 29/30, starting from Coventry (naturally) and ending at Bridgnorth, spending the night in the Brecon area. Write to him at Tadpole Cottage, Eardisland, Leominster, Herefordshire.

Sunbeam MCC member Geoffrey Morris is trying to ascertain whether the 1914 1000cc Zenith Gradua motorcycle, which he has immaculately restored (LO 3560), may have been one of those ridden in trials and raced at Brooklands by Kaye Don. Don apparently stashed away some ancient bikes, including three Zeniths, at his Ambassador Motorcycle works, in the early 1950s, which may well have been his former competition machines. A Centaur was among them, and they were stored at the old Pontiac works at Ascot until sold to Commerford’s for their museum. Mr. Morris then bought his Zenith from Bob Winter, a Commerford director, in about 1978. Letters can be forwarded.

A reader has some spares for a circa 1927 27 hp Barcelona Hispano Suiza which he wants to go to a good home. Letters from those interested can be forwarded.

Chester Motor Club will be running a classic rally in North Wales over Easter weekend, April 14-16, 1990. The format will be the same to that of rallies run in the 1950s and 1960s on kinder tarmac stages, regularity and timed road sections and autotests.

Scrutineering will take place in Chester on Saturday, April 14 with the start taking place the next day from the city centre. Special stages, regularity runs and timed road sections will be staged in North Wales followed by a regularity run overnight before returning to Chester on Monday morning. During the afternoon there will be autotests and an optional Concours in Chester followed by prize giving in the evening.

All enquiries to the Secretary of the Meeting, W Harris, 6 Needham Drive, Hartford, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 1RW.

Neil Murray is taking over as VSCC Competitions Secretary from Ted Smith as from January 1.

Ecurie Ecosse Historic Motor Tour will start on Thursday, May 10 from the St. Andrews Old Course Hotel and travel to Oban via Kenmore and Inverary, on to Fort William, Glen Spean, Tomintoul, Pit!ochry and Dundee, finishing at the St. Andrews Old Course Hotel on Saturday, May 12.

Entries are strictly limited to around 40 cars and are accepted for sports and sports racing cars of any age so long as they are of great rarity or honoured by their own racing history. The event attracts cars that have won not only the 24-hour race at Le Mans but also cars that have raced in many of the world’s great endurance races.

For further details contact John Foster, Tour Organiser, Estates Office, Craigie Farm, Leuchars, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 ODT. Tel. 0334 83218. Fax. 0334 83503.

Run from June 16-23, the Rally Moravia 1990 is a Czechoslovakian event open to cars manufactured before 1960. Divided into 5 classes (pre 1905, pre 1919, pre 1931, pre 1941 and pre 1961 sportscars up to a maximum of 20) the number of entries is being limited to 120.

Starting at Znojmo and finishing at Straznice, the route will be about 700 km long with daily stages between 100-150 km. The event will be enlivened by visits to the Tatra Auto Museum, various castles and the opportunity to taste the produce of local wine cellars. Accommodation will be in good class hotels.

Further details and entry forms from Jiri Vankek, Rally Director, Veteran Car Club Ostrava, Postovni, Schranka 139, 728 39 Ostrava 1, Czechoslovakia.

Entries are open for this year’s Classic Marathon. Organiser Philip Young and Fred Gallagher have been to Italy to inspect a revised route which they hope will be even tougher than last year’s, although more closed road tests and slacker timing on the public roads can be expected. The run between London and Cortina will take place between June 17 to 23.

For those with the courage to give it a go, the Marathon office is located at 85-87 St. John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Tel. 0892 24746. Entries are by invitation only chosen from a “Priority List”, but information kits are sent out to all those who write in.

The VSCC has issued a press release about the use of unleaded petrol in pre-war cars. Further information can be obtained from the editor of the Vintage Bulletin on 0606 42279.

The Rover Car Club of Australia have invited all known Rover clubs to participate in its National Rally in Sydney, an action packed, four day event from Friday 13 April to Monday 16, 1990. For full details contact Tony Cope and Tom Currie, 24 Kerr Crescent, Pagewood, New South Wales, NSW 2045, Australia.

Martin Grant-Peterkin resigned his position as Secretary of the Historic Grand Prix Cars Association in October. He has been replaced by Jim Whyman who still retains his position as Secretary of the Aston Martin Owners Club. He can be contacted during the working day at the AMOC’s premises at Sutton, near Ely on 0353 777353, fax 0353 777648.

The Aston Martin Owners Club has appointed Alan Putt as Competition Secretary allowing Jim Whyman to concentrate on the normal club administration. While on the subject of the AMOC, a tour of Scotland organised by the club will take place between Friday, May 11 and Sunday, May 13. Various visits will be organised en route as well as mild daily contests for drivers and passengers.

The route starts in Glasgow and ends in Edinburgh but goes through some of the most magnificent scenery on the West Coast and in the Highlands. Aston Martins are compulsory.

Details from David Barnes, 9 Eastwood Mains Road, Giffnock, Glasgow. Tel.: 041 638 2045.

Following in the steps of ADO 16 Spares, now itself a trading division of The Really Free Group, a further trading division to be known as ADO 17 has been launched.

The aim of ADO 17 Spares is to assist owners of the BMC 1800/2200 range of vehicles manufactured between 1964 and 1975 in the parts provision for their car.

Further information, contact Michael Smith at 30 Main Street, Clifton-uponDunsmore, Warwickshire CV23 OBH. Tel.: 0788 815594 evenings.

Gordon Murray of McLaren International has become Honorary President of the Midas Owners Club.

R J Holmes has been appointed Spares Officer for the Jowett Car Club and is keen to learn of any spares or vehicles that may still be lurking about. He can be contacted at 156 The Beeches, Upton upon Severn, Worcester WR8 OQQ. Tel.: 06846 3940.