Wells Festival

For the Victorian Festival at Llandrindod Wells, 25 pre-war cars entered for the two scenic runs organised by Mike Baker, Met by the Mayor on the front at Aberstwyth who judged the cars, the prize for the best vintage entry went to C Martin’s 1920 Model-T Ford landaulette, that for the best post-vintage car to Chris Gordon’s smart 1938 Fiat Topolino, and M Haynes’ TD MG took the post-war award. The only casualty was a 1929 Morris Cowley saloon who broke a half-shaft on the 1-in-4 Devil’s Staircase with its two steep hairpin bends, but the cheerful 1927 Leyland Lioness coach was delayed with ignition trouble on the return along the easier Devil’s bridge mountain route — Wales is a devilish place. . . Notable were M Henson’s 1911 Rochet-Schneider with a body he had styled and built himself, awarded the Mayorial prize, a Clyno 2-seater, an early Meadowsengined Lea-Francis tourer, and an Essex Super Six coach, of 1930 vintage. WB’s 1930 “Grotty Gould” Ulster A7 romped up the “Staircase”, revving hard in bottom gear. A Morris one-ton truck, a fine Alvis Silver Eagle tourer, the organiser’s Riley 9 tourer and a stateley Sunbeam 20 saloon also took part.