V-to-C Miscellany, June 1995, June 1995
North Country readers may like to note the date of September 17, this being the day when Jim Bolton will organise another rally for all kinds of vehicles made in the Black Country. Last year some 70 appropriate cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles took part. Apart from a run round Dudley’s trolleybus route to enable those interested to see the vehicles, this is a static rally, but with free entry to the Black Country Museum (which is of a general nature, so should pass the time for wives and children) and a plaque for those taking part, so it should go down well. Details: J Bolton, 11a Ounsdale Road, Wombourne, Wolverhampton WV5 91E.
The flourishing Morgan 3-wheeler Club celebrates its 50 years of action with a celebration Dinner and other activities at the Abbey Hotel, Malvern, over the weekend of June 2/4. The Club’s Bulletin is published monthly and many fixtures organised. Last year’s night trial was another punishing event, with driving tests and other frolics, including hill-climbs incorporated in the night navigational drive. But on one of the wettest of nights only two Morgans retired, and ten finished the course. The winners were Bob Angel/Dave Say, and with Bob Barlow/Marcus Beasant they took the Trevor Trying Trophy, proffered in memory of this former competitor. The membership secretary is: Morris Blease, Arden Cottage, Rockey Lane, Benllech, Anglesey, Cornwall LL74 8TN (01248 852 325).
The Shuttleworth Trust will be in full swing again this year, with displays in the air and static of its historic aeroplanes, and a VSCC rally to mix vintage cars and aircraft. The magazine Prop-Swing is published three times a year to provide news of developments at Biggleswade, both of cars and aeroplanes. The Spring issue included an account of how a Hawker Hind was recovered and brought home from Afghanistan in a Ford van. The magazine costs £1.00 and sales go to fund the Biggleswade projects. Apply to Shuttleworth Vintage Aeroplane Society, Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire SG18 9ER.
Arising out of the “Forgotten Makes” article on the Hurtu, a reader reminds us that one of these cars ran at the 1912 Shelsley Walsh Open Event, driven by E Herington. It was a 10 hp model with a four-cylinder 70 x 100mm engine and weighed 20091b. Not surprisingly it was the slowest but one in its class, climbing in 2 min 31.8 sec, but on formula it beat J Higginson’s 80 hp 170 x 150mm de la Buire, which had climbed in 68.8 sec, winning both Open and Closed events.
The Bugatti OC had its Spring Rally at Prescott Hill on May 5/7, and its fixtures for the season include the Summer Rally on July 22/23, the enjoyable garden party, at Prescott of course, on that Sunday, and the International Bugatti Rally will be supported, in the USA this year. Then there will be Hill Climb Championships at Prescott on June 24/25 (Midland AC) and on September 2/3 (Midland AC and British). The Northern Bugatti event takes place in Lancashire on June 17/18. So those who find Bugattis the most delectable of cars are in for a good year, and Brescia fanciers should note that a Cotswold Rally for these cheeky sports-cars is to happen on June 2/4. Details can be had from Geoffrey Ward at the Club offices at Prescott (01242 673 136).
The 50th Anniversary of the Morgan 3 Wheeler Club got off to a remarkably good start when the astonishing total of 98 cars assembled for its opening rally at the Brooklands Museum.
The Journal of the Morris Register, Spring issue, contained an article on the coachbuilders T H Gill of Paddington, with particular reference to their Morris bodies.