Club News, May 1955

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Swansea M.C.

There were 35 entries for the Enoch Car Rally on Sunday, March 27th, starting from Fairwood Aerodrome, including one very new car bought and run-in especially for the rally. Route cards were handed to competitors fifteen minutes before each set out.

The first section of the route, with competitors leaving at one minute intervals, went to the Abernant Lake Hotel via Pontrhydy-Fen, Pendeyn, Craig-y-Fro and Pen-y-Rhiw with one secret check and one special test en route. This was successfully completed by all but one competitor who had to drop out because of gearbox trouble, and one competitor arrived at and left the Abernant Hotel emitting a cloud of smoke !

On the homeward run via Llansadwry the competitors found one secret check near Llanwrdda and one point to be determined by competitors from numbers and letters placed at previous controls— the numbers arranged in alphabetical order gave the final map reference before Fairwood. At Fairwood Aerodrome there was a large and enthusiastic crowd of interested spectators who had come to welcome survivors, and to watch the special tests which were used as the deciding factor in the rally since there were at least four competitors who came through the road section and secret checks without losing a mark.

General classification
1st; Luis Bilbao (Riley 2 1/2) … … … … … . lost 2 marks
2nd; R.L. Hyman (Jaguar MkVII) … … … … lost 10 marks
3rd; G.F. Reason Jones (Triumph TR2) … . lost 14 marks

Class winners
I; G.G.L. Thomas (Austin A30) … … … . lost 70 marks
II; H. Arthur (Sunbeam Talbot) … … … .. lost 14 marks
III; M. Griffiths (Ford Consul) … … … … lost 30 marks
IV; R.L. Hyman (Jaguar MkVII) … … … lost 10 marks
V; G.F. Reason Jones (Triumph TR2) … lost 14 marks

Team prize
Ystabl Cymru “D” team (G.F.Reason Jones, H.A. Thomas and L.E.C. Price)

S.C.C. Of Norfolk

Thirty members of the Sporting Car Club of Norfolk competed in the Annual Spring Run on March 27th.

Starting in Norwich the route of nearly 100 miles covered the minor roads and lanes of South Norfolk. Competitors had to find a number of controls consisting of map references, signpost photographs and anagram problems, visiting these in the shortest mileage and at a set average speed. Distances between controls were generally short, requiring quick navigating, and at one control which had to be entered along a specified route, several cars stuck in deep mud, it was here the lighter cars had the advantage as they were more easily manhandled on their way.

Results
1st; D. Archer (Morris Minor)
2nd; D. Millbank (Ford 10 h.p.)
3rd; B. Bush (Austin A40)
4th; J. Risk (Ford Zephyr)

Renault O.C.

The Cotswold Night Navigation Trial was held on March 19/20th, and the results were announced after breakfast in front of more than 100 people, the winner being Mr. D.M. Pink with a Renault 750, against opposition of a record entry of 40 cars. Next function Spring Rally (Surrey and Sussex), May 2Ist.

B.A.R.C.

At the B.A.R.C. annual general meeting on March 10th, at the R.A.C. the Duke of Richmond and Gordon was unanimously re-elected president. Mr. S.M. Lawry, a director of Trinity Cars Ltd., who has already served on B.A.R.C. committees, was elected to the Council in place of Mr. C.K. Mortimer, who resigned owing to pressure of business. The other retiring members of the Council were re-elected en bloc for a further term.
Those serving are :
Professor A.M. Low, D.Sc., A.C.G.I., etc.; Major F. H. Bale. O.B.E., L. F. Dyer; Alfred Logette; George Abecassis; A. G. Benstead, M.I.Mech.E.: Lord Essendon; Capt. A. Frazer-Nash, M.I.Mech.E.; P.J. Calvert, A.M.I.Mech.E., A.M.I.E.E.: C.. Watkinson; E.C. Gordon England, F.R.Ae.S.; H.R. Godfrey. M.I.Mech.E.: David Hampshire; S. M. Lawry; J. Gordon Offord; Geo. Roberts; Lord Selsdon, D.S.C.; R.G. Sutherland; Major L.H. White.

Holding office in 1954 were Professor A.M. Low (Chairman), Mr. L.F. Dyer (Vice-Chairman), Major F.H. Bale (Hon. Treasurer), Mr. Alfred Logette (Hon. Legal Adviser). Secretary : H.J. Morgan, 55, Park Lane, London, W.1 (GRO 4471-2-3).

V.C.C.

Great interest has been aroused by the announcement of the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain of its Silver Jubilee Rally, to be held in co-sponsorship with the Regent Oil Company Limited from July 6th to 10th inclusive.

Already competitors from the Antique Automobile Club of America; the Horseless Carriage Club of America; the Veteran Motor Car Club of America; Les Teuf-Teuf, France. Royal Motor-Union, Belgium; Regionale Automobielsport Club, Holland; Densk Veteranbil Klub, Denmark; Norsk Veteranvognklubb, Norway; Bilhistoriska Klubbem, Sweden; Allgemeiner Schnauferl-club, Germany; Ustradni Automotoklub CSR, Czechoslovakia; the Leinster Motor Club, Ltd., Eire, have accepted invitations to attend the rally and a record number of overseas veteran cars is expected. The cars will be divided into four classes :—

The rally starting points are London, Cambridge, York, Chester and Bristol, where cars will start on July 6th for Part 1 of the rally and proceed on their various routes—each of which is approximately 145 miles—to Stratford-on-Avon, which is the rallying point. Part 2 of the tour is from Stratford-on-Avon to Cheltenham and then on to Longbridge. Part 3 takes place at the Longbridge Works of the Austin Motor Company on July 9th and consists of driving tests. Part 4 concludes the rally with a Concours d’Elegance at Royal Leamington Spa.
Details from : Miss J. E. Nagle, Veteran Car Club, 46, North Row, Oxford Street, London, W.I.

Nottingham S.C.C.

The N.S.C.C. is to hold a race meeting at Oulton Park on July 2nd. During the meeting a race of 50 miles duration will be held for racing cars with not less than three cylinders and a capacity not exceeding 1,500 c.c. unsupercharged. The race will be run concurrently with that for 2,000 c.c. unsupercharged racing cars and there will be separate awards for each class.

It is the intention of the organisers to foster interest in what is, in their opinion, a much needed national class for medium-sized single-seater racing cars utilising available 1 1/2-litre engines, six of which are in advanced stages of development.

For the purposes of this event, largely experimental at this stage, existing two-seater sports cars will be accepted and no restrictions will be placed on fuel, mudguards, silencing or the carrying of equipment other than that normally found on a racing car proper.

It is hoped this event will attract entries from M.G., Lotus, Buckler and H.R.G. makes of the present era and Rileys of earlier period.

M.G. C.C. (S.W. CENTRE)

Held on March 20th, the Navigational Rally attracted an entry of 21, who found the “multitude of map references” hard to find. Mileages on signposts had to be totalled, always difficult when in a hurry, pub-keepers’ names noted, times of collections at obscure post-boxes discovered and, additionally, five timed controls had to be visited.

For the second year in succession, Don Hall, in an Austin A30, proved himself the most successful in this type of event, beating the well-known opposition of John and Michael King, Gilbert Best and Charles Toomer. The open cars did not have a good day, for apart from John King (TR2) and Tony Woodward (M.G. TC) they all were in the last half of the results lists.

After a successful event, a gathering of over 50 enjoyed an evening of films presented at the Ship Hotel, Alveston.