Fifty years on in Kent...

The first competitive event run by the 750MC was its Committee Cup Trial in Kent in 1939, with an entry of 27, 21 of them A7s, including WB’s four-speed Chummy. A re-run this year produced 26 runners, including 17 A7s. Among those who turned out were ex-Secretary Philip Hunter (Saab 900GLS), Arthur Mallock (Citroen BX), T Gillard (VW Golf) and N Newbatt (Toyota Carina). Colin and Winnie Peck joined in at lunch-time, as did Leslie Ballamy in his Model-A LMB-Ford — proof that after all this time old members are not so “far and asunder as to be parted today”.

Moreover, except for Coldharbour (now below the A20/M20) and Beechy Lees (closed to vehicles), all the 1939 sections were used, and everyone survived, although a misfire meant a 1933 A7 saloon needed help on one or two of the hills and Inge’s just-restored A7 Ruby had his mother and sister passengers walking up some of them. In a “fun” parking-test, errors varied from 3in to 27in, the latter an inch better than WB managed back in 1939! Apologies for absence came from FJ Brymer, EG Smith, John Moon, Bill Ruder, Claude Yates and WB: the flourishing 750 MC remembers its past.

. . . and Reading

Not to be missed is 750 Motor Club 1939-1989, a 113-page booklet full of nostalgia, including a very amusing account by DSJ of the origins of the club.

Founder members such as Bill Butler and John Moon follow this theme, Colin Peck and Grahame Fullalove also look back, jack French recalls how 750 racing began, Dave Bradley and Bryan Clayton write about more recent times, and throughout there is a fine “Austin 7” flavour, together with a tabulated club history and reports of its different formulae and activities.

The book costs £4 plus postage. Apply to Dave Bradley at 16 Woodstock Road, Witney, Oxfordshire.