Club affairs, July 1952

The Colter MC & CC, formed the students of the. College of Technology, Birmingham, has two meetings a month.one outdoor, one indoor. This month there will be a Film Show of Castrol films at. 6 pm on July 11th at the College and a Midnight Rally on July 5th, 6th, starting in the Birmingham area. Those interested should contact P Smith, 1 Stapylton Avenue. Harborne, Birmingham. 

MJ Andrew, Keen Valley Dye Works, Bulwell, is the new Hon General Secretary of the Nottingham SCC.

The existing veteran members register of the CUAC is very much out of date, and it is therefore proposed to reorganise it completely so that all veteran members may be kept fully informed of the club’s activities, and may be given details of invitations received etc. To this end, it would be much appreciated if all veteran members would send a card to the Secretary, TG Wood, St. John’s College, Cambridge, giving their address.

The Secretary would also be glad to hear from anybody who wishes to beeome a veteran member. Veteran membership is open to any person who has been in residence at Cambridge as a member of the University–subscription is 5s per year. 

The Renault OC Rally held at the Old Manor Hotel, Witley, Surrey, on May 27th. was attended by 60 members and friends. Competitions included driving, parking and regularity teats. Five prizes were awarded, premier award to Mr B Pulver of London (Renault 748) with Miss D Farr of Baldock (Renault 760) a close second. Interested owners please apply to Hon Sec : NH Atkinson, 7 Belle Vue, Hill Rise, Greenford, Middlesex

The Wright Patterson Air Force Base has an active “Auto Club,” with an enrolment of approximately 45 members. The cars include several Jaguar XK120s, Stutz DV32 short chassis Super Beareat,  Auburn Speedster, Model J Duesenberg, two Rileys, several specials, and a host of hot and cold MGs. Mr. Wunaberg Kamm of pre-war BMW and Mercedes-Benz fame is at this development centre. Dr Kamm was the head of the German Automotive Research Institute and members are fortunate in being able to draw on his vast knowledge for advice as well as for official club talks on technical subjects.

A meeting of the Northern Centre of the Allard Owners’ Club was held on June 4th at the Hare and Hounds Hotel, Bradford. A collection of scale-model racing and sports-cars were on show, loaned by JH Farrar, Secretary of the Northern Centre. 

The Tenby MC has advanced the date of its next Lydstep Speed Hill Climb from September 27th to August 2nd, the Saturday of the Bank Holiday weekend. The half-mile course is situated in delightful country and competitors are advised to book accommodation well in advance. To this end a circular of suitable hotels is available from J Swain, 24. Pax-yr-afon, Carmarthen. 

Unfortunately the Nottingham SCC has lost the use of the Gamston Circuit, consequently all 1952 fixtures thereat are cancelled. Jeff Holt has resigned as Secretary.

The Cheltenham MC is holding its National Economy Contest over an 850-mile route in England, Wales and Scotland on July 25th/26th. Starting and finishing at Cheltenham. Open to all holders of Competition Licenses,the event will be judged primarily on petrol consumption, but acceleration tests and a 29 mph average over the road section and passanger accomodation will also be taken into consideration. This sounds a thouroughly worthwhile event, with a topical interest now that there is tax on every gallon of petrol. Regulations from Priory Lawn, High Street. Cheltenham, Glos.

The Bristol MC and LCC announces that its Hastings Trophy has been awarded retrospectively to Bob Gerard for his win in their Formule Libre race at Castle Combe last year. Incidentally, this Trophy seems to have risen in the world, for it was once a token of success in model-car racing at the now-defunct Eaton Bray sportsdrome. Which reminds us, surely the present RAC Hill Climb Championship Trophy was, before the war, the Daily Telegraph Brooklands Mountain Lap Record Trophy ?

The VCC announced that its Biggleswade Speed Trial of July 6th has been abandoned, “owing to an outbreak of foot and mouth “— not, we presume, on the part of club officials or veteran cars but no doubt by cattle in this area. 

Opinion is divided over the 750 Clubs’ proposal to cater for builders of Ford Ten-engined “specials.” Many are in favour, but individual members and the entire Western Centre are against the change. A point about Ford Ten Specials, raised in the June issue of the 750 Bulletin by F Wilson McComb, is that sports-car regulations call for starters and this pre-supposes retention of the Ford ci flywheel— yet, if such flywheels are skimmed for lightness they may burst, with highly dangerous results. Not so the Austin Seven steel flywheel. On the Austin Seven side, Jack French is contributing a most entertaining and instructive article for impecunious enthusiasts on stage-by-stage construction of a 750 Formula sports/racing car in the Bulletin. The 750 Formula Race at Castle Combe was won by Tiedeman. at 53.4 mph, from West and Grimsley (11 starters), while in the race at the 8-Clubs’ meeting Davidson won, at 53.63 mph, from Stephens and West. This Club, with an annual subscription of only 10s, would seem to be a “must” for “hard-up” enthusiasts interested in quick cars. Secretary : K Welfare, 56 Harrow Road, Bedfont, Middlesex.

A four-cylinder “500”

An interesting 1/2-litre car, the MGMB, appeared at the Maidstone and Mid-Kent Silverstone Meeting last May. Unfortunately, it caught fire and did not run, so it has yet to show its paces. Built by G Monk, D Monk and A Bell, it uses a four-cylinder. water-cooled P-type MG engine, reduced to 496 cc by the use of a new short-throw crankshaft. and Singer Le Mans con-rods. The pistons are Martlett and carburation is by four 45 deg Amals, fed from an SU float-chamber at each end under about 21/2 lb/sq in air-pressure from a 10-gallon cylindrical tank in the tail. Ignition is by a Lucas vertical magneto and KE 965 exhaust valves are used.

The chassis-frame has drilled side-members, and double wishbone and ifs, carried on a welded steel box-section crossmember. The steering layout incorporates a transfer box and three-piece track-rod with Ford ball-ends. Transmission is via a normal MG gearbox, with the gate on the remote control tunnel turned on to its side to bring the lever out horizontally to the near side instead of vertically, and normal MG propellor-shaft and P-type back-axle. The rear 1/2-elliptic suspension is retained, damped by Girling shock absorbers, Newton dampers being used at the front. The MG brakes have been lightened. They are operated by Bowdenex cables and lined with Ferodo. Dunlop wire wheels with centre-leek hubs carry 15-in Dunlop tyres. The radiator is low set and the neat body is of light alloy panels over a tubular framework. Four separate exhaust-pipes run along the near side.

The MGMB is, unfortunately, heavy in relation to air-cooled Formula III cars, turning the scales at 840 lb or some 240 lb heavier than a Mk VI Cooper. But it may gain in reliability by the use of water-cooling and shaft-drive.

Correction

Sir.

In the last issue of Motor Sport I was said to have run a bearing on my Frazer-Nash during practice for Silverstone on May 10th. Admittedly it sounded like a bearing had gone, but it turned out to be nothing more than a broken push rod.

I think that in fairness to the Bristol Aeroplane Co Ltd, you should correct this in your next issue. Heaven forbid that one should run a bearing in a Bristol engine, to my knowledge no one has ever run a bearing in an engine of this make.

I am; Yours, etc.,

DA Clarke, Loughborough.