VSCC Avon sprint

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When its Weston-super-Mare sprint had to be abandoned due to a lack of modem entries for the Burnham MC’s section of the event, the VSCC toiled prodigiously to transfer the meeting to Avon Park, near Stratford, Warwickshire.

Wonderful – there was fine weather, no spectators, plenty of room and the whole thing was run expeditiously in two hours, using a quarter-mile drag strip rather than the half-kilometre of the original seaside venue.

Reporting a sprint devoid of drama and mechanical mayhem is every bit as impossible as covering DTs. Suffice it to say that ERAs, Lord Raglan’s fast T51 and Dean’s 4.7-litre T59 Bugattis, the quick Bentleys, MacMaster’s accelerative 328 FN-BMW, the P3 Alfa Romeo and others were impressive to watch.

Yates was sampling Owen’s effective Morris-JAP, the vee-twin engine of which is taken to 4500 rpm and will stand 500 more. Dr Gray’s 1927 Aero-Family Morgan contrasted with Shotton’s racing version, and much interest was displayed in the needle-match between Moore’s 21-litre Metallurgique-Maybach with T-head engine and three-seater body, driven from Cambridge, and Roger Collings’ 1907/16 19-litre Mercedes-Maybach, not yet taxed, which thus arrived in state, trailed behind a Vauxhall Cavalier. The latter has an epicyclic gearbox installed ahead of its normal ‘box and a six-chain final drive. Collings clocked 18.33s, going through the speed trap at 80 mph (600 rpm), compared to Moore’s 17.95s/79 mph. On handicap, the winner was J Williamson’s 1908 12-litre Itala, with a rousing 18.85s.

Collings was taking his monster to use as a trials car in the VSCC’s Welsh event the following weekend, a full report of which will follow next month.

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FTD:B Spollon (ERA R8C), 12.61s (114 mph).

Class winners:SJ Roberts (Frazer Nash), 16.75s (81) – vintage, idem; DS Green (Invicta), 16.74s (82) – B Collings (Bentley), 17.11s (82); RH Drewitt (Riley), 16.15s (84) – NA Yates (MorrisJAP), 18.66s (71); RJ Burrell (Bentley-Royce), 13.97s (104) – E Goldsmith (Bentley), 16.68s (83); M Dowley (MG), 15.74s (89) – C Temple (Amilcar), 18.23s (76); T.Watson (Riley), 16.35s (80) – GC Shotton (Morgan), 18.11s (81); Spollon – T Llewellyn (Bentley), 13.85s; B Moore (Metallurgique-Maybach), I7.95s (79).

Edinburgh & Exeter Trials

The MCC ran its Edinburgh (not Exeter, as we suggested in last month’s fixture guide) Trial on October 2, with an entry of 270 competitors. The club is now all set for the 66th Exeter Trial and Touring Assembly, which takes place on January 7/8. Entries, which closed on October 17, were limited to 300 cars and motorcycles. Another excellent event is anticipated, for both spectators and competitors.

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