Miscellany, October 2003
When we look back on 2003, one of the outstanding results will be the Bentley domination of Le Mans, the Speed Eights first and second against the Audis. It was surprising how little attention this received from the newspapers and TV, remembering how the leading papers acknowledged the Bentleys’ victories in the 1920s with banner headlines. It may be that, in those days, the winning cars looked like the cars that could be bought and used on the road. I see, however, that decent coverage of the magnificent Bentley win was given in the BRDC Bulletin, R-REC Bulletin and, naturally, in the Bentley DC Review.
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Owners and supporters of the Rover 75-engined Marauder sportscars remain as keen and faithful as ever. The usual Dorridge meeting, where these cars were made, was held in July, one member flying in from the USA, his car having done but 7000 miles from new. Bernard Wilmot’s rally car, MBP2, was present, now owned by George Hamill and on the road again after 30 years, and he is restoring a coupe. Ian Glass would like to hear of other Marauders. His own car, OUG 777, covered well over 5000 miles this year, and he now owns the ex-Frank Lockhart single-seater. His e-mail address is IGlass1949@aol.com.
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The Lea-Francis OC has been celebrating 50 years of these exclusive cars. Of the many awards at the Stanford Rally, the Directors Concours Challenge Trophy was secured by A Walliman’s 2.4-litre sports and the LT Delaney Challenge Trophy for best pre-war car went to John Gill. Seventy-four Lea-Francis cars were present. The secretary is Robin Sawers, French’s, Long Wittenham, Oxon, OX14 4QQ.
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Omission is less culpable than error. To the recent article about the Hon Brian Lewis I would like to add what space would not allow, that at the 1935 JCC Brooklands Day, Lewis formed a team of March-bodied Lancia Augusta tourers with the Earl of March, Lord de Clifford and Viscount Curzon, and made best performance of the day. Lewis was described by The Autocar as “our leading road racing driver, who gave a wonderful display of driving”. He had been second in the 1934 JCC International Trophy in a two-seater Maserati, behind Whitney Straight’s single-seater Maserati. In 1935, the versatile Lewis won his class in an open Alpine Trial SS in the RAC Rally, and used the Lancia in the Eastbourne Rally (below).
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A protest to save the threatened Montlhery Track (see p54) is being organised in France. Those in agreement are asked to write to La Mairie, Place E Pillon, 91310 LINAS, France, giving their full name, address and signature, and including the following text: “Je soutiens l’initiative de la vile de LINAS pour la sauvegarde de l’Autodrome de LINAS-MONTLHERY.” I hope there will be a huge response.
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Shenstone & District CC’s speed trials at Curborough marked the club’s 70th anniversary and the 40th of this course. From the programme one learns that Basil Davenport and his GN ‘Spider’ took part there in 1963, coming sixth in the Formula Libre racing class.
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A nicely produced book, Rebel Without Applause — The Reliant Company by Daniel Lockton (Bookmarque, ISBN 1-870519-64-7, £39.99) is packed with every sort of Reliant product, from Regal and Bond Bug three-wheelers to the seductive Sabres and Scimitars. This is Vol 1 of this study of Reliant’s “inception to zenith”. Motor Sport‘s and other journals’ road-test reports are included. Those who rave over Regals or Scimitars will maybe want both these volumes describing the company history and its production methods.
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The owner of a 1924 3-litre Bentley, chassis No 689, would like to trace its early history and wonders if the first owner, a Mr Norman F Bayliss, was the Mr Bayliss who drove works Sunbeams at Brooklands pre-WW1. Or was he perhaps the Bayliss of the makers of Bayliss-Thomas cars?
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Mr M Chapman seeks any information about the Special with Hudson engine built by John Bolster just pre-war. A Hudson engine, believed to be from this car with unusual special valve-gear and ultra-light pistons, has been obtained in prospect of rebuilding this car. Some other queries arise: for instance, was the radiator similar to that of an Alpine sports Brough-Superior and was it chromium plated?
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The Singer OC has recently enrolled new members, all but one Singer owners. The Club’s magazine Singer Owner covers all Singers, even tractors, bicycles and motorcycles, and the July issue continues the story of the TT races, and recovery after the disastrous 1935 race. The Secretary is Peter Hart, 27 Ravenshill, Watton-at-Stone, Herts, SG14 3SD.