V to C Miscellany, July 1988

At the VSCC Curborough Speed-Trials on May 8, FTD was made by Guy Smith’s Frazer Nash-Alvis in 37.02 seconds; other outright class-winners were Selwyn-Smith (Frazer Nash), D Taylor (Aston Martin), H Hine (Bentley), H Conway (Bugatti), M Walker (ON), G Spollon (Alfa Romeo), F Giles (Morgan-ON), B Gray (Hardy Special), D Caroline (Morgan) and J Ghosh (Vauxhall-Villiers), with T Walker’s Alfonso Hispano Suiza the best Edwardian.

The 750 MC’s National Beaulieu Rally, that great A7 trek, takes place on July 2-3. All the regulations relating to the club’s competition formulae and championships appear in its Year Book; contact secretary Dave Bradley, 16 Woodstock Road, Witney, Oxford OX8 6DT (or Ken Cooke, 26 Whomberley Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire on pre-war Al matters).

After its Shelsley Walsh speed hill-climb on July 2, the VSCC runs its two-day Richard Seaman Memorial Trophies race meeting at Oulton Park on July 16-17. As well as all the usual attractions of vintage, pre-war and Historic racing, concours d’elegance, bicycle contests and autojumbles, the third round of the 1988 Motor Sport Brooklands Memorial Trophy will be decided there.

Hagley & District Light Car Club has its Loton Park speed hill-climb on July 24, open to vintage and classic cars to VSCC rules. Details are obtainable from M Hardiman, 4 Swiss Heights, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire DY13 OLJ.

Entry forms for Pembroke Vintage Car Club’s Scolton Manor Show in Dyfed on July 24 can be obtained from Mrs Pugh, Hayston Hall, Johnston, Haverfordwest SA62 3HJ.

With the recent election of 80 new members the Austin Ten DC seems to have set something of a record. On July 16-17 it holds a National Event at “The Beeches” in Bristol, details of which are available from David Kear on 0457-728621. Membership secretary is D Webb, Ferringham House, 58 Ferringham Lane, South Freeing, West Sussex BN12 5LW.

In its current magazine the Bullnose Morris Club came up with a fascinating story, namely that in 1925 the well-known agent Stewart & Arden listed a special Morris-Cowley equipped for picnicking, which was painted yellow to attract insects away from the feast itself! The same Robillac paint was used for insect-traps in India and Africa. Only four of these cars were supplied new, but the quite remarkable thing is that three of them have survived. WB