Other countries still can learn from good old Britain where the hobby was invented. Not! (the first old car club is the Schnauferl Club from Germany established in 1900!). But it must be said that - as far as we know - the largest number of old car die-hards is to be found on the 'British isles'. Or is there any other country in the northern hemisphere where old cars show up (most on own wheels!) in this huge number in January?
Report & photos by Mike Tebbett:
The New Years Day Gathering of the Vintage Sports Car Club was the 36th such event. As usual there was a wide variety of delectable pre-war motorcars on view in the car park. Your correspondent noted many gems from the over 150 cars present including twenty Morgan three wheelers (appropriate perhaps with the Morgans Works ‘just up the road’). However, one Morgan three-wheeler intrigued as it was actually a four-wheeler, presumably some form of ‘one off’? On the same theme of three into four there was a single example of a front wheel drive BSA, but not a three-wheeler, it was one of the very rare FW32 four-wheel cars. Elsewhere a plethora of desirable vintage and pre-war Rolls Royce were gathered together, and examples of vintage Bentley, Sunbeam and the like were to be seen. A gorgeous Lagonda Rapide deservedly won the light hearted concours, but for spectator appeal the winner for your scribe was the gent clad in white overalls riding a superb vintage Douglas motor cycle. He treated the audience to two fast ‘run-bys’ on the adjacent main road, and what a glorious sight and sound he made! The Chairman of the Amilcar Register arrived in his CS, and other light cars included bullnose and flatnose Morris, and all were treated to a fly-past by a near vintage aeroplane. A dry if cloudy morning turned rather wet and cold later resulting in a noticeable increase of visitors to the cab of the steam lorry as it remained warm and dry throughout. On the way back your correspondents 1921 GN ‘failed to make progress’ though at least within pushing distance of home…. He hopes this is not an omen for his year’s motoring!