Miscellany, October 1999

The ‘Chain Gang’ raid to the Tyrol went off well, a large number of GNs and Frazer Nashes taking part, some replicating the great successes of these cars in 1933 Alpine Trial, with fast climbs of the 9000ft Stelvio. Best time of the Mountain Day, 6hr 24min by Richard Parsons and James Baxter. A reminder of how drivers like Aldington, Gripper and Butler-Henderson etc did in vintage times, when Frazer Nashes were the only English car in 1932, ’33 and ’34 to do the Alpine without loss of a single mark.

The 32nd Brooklands Society Reunion in August went off very well, recalling the very last BARC meeting at the track in 1939. A fine souvenir programme enhanced it, with a large picture of the V12 Lagonda in which Charles 13rackenbury’s son Ian was also present. Eighteen ex-Brooklands cars and three such motorcycles were listed. The programme, a collectors item, had also a reproduction of the August ’39 BARC race card.

Our recent reference to Wankel-engined NSUs has brought a letter from a Canadian reader who has a rare 1976 Mazda Cosmo with Wankel engine. Engine-seal problems have been eradicated, though fuel consumption is only about 24mpg. Our correspondent regrets that GM and Ford etc do not list rotary-engined cars, but suggests that the industry wouldn’t like them, with no orders for replacement valves, pistons, camshafts, etc!