issue5

The Nottingham Classic Tour
Nottingham
Classic eNews
Volume 2 issue 5
this newsletter is only
available electronically
May 12th 2008
www.nottinghamclassic.co.uk
[email protected]
Nottingham Classic Tour Sunday 10th August
Still time to enter
·
120 Mile Scenic Route
·
Easy navigation
·
Tulip Road Book
Dates for your
Diary :
·
Two Stops at Heritage
venues, Heage Windmill & Newstead
Abbey
·
Breakfast included
·
Super finish at the
(Notts & Lincs) Air Museum
Newark
·
Late afternoon Hog Roast
·
Entertainment
Souvenir Awards
Our
usual
atmosphere
·
31st May 2008
Heritage School
Tour of the Peak
15th June 2008
The 10th
Nottingham
Classic Tour
·
Lancaster Flypast by the
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
·
Pre-War Austin 7
Club - Half Day
Run Wollaton
Park
great
·
Still only £45 per car (extra
passengers charged for catering
only)
10th August 2008
Sherwood 42
21st September
2008
Contact 01773
785927
Entry forms
available soon,
keep an eye on the
website
The season’s second half day tour
An entry form for the Pre War Austin Seven Club’s half day run during this years
Autokarna weekend 31st May/1st June is available , either with this issue as an
attachment or as a download from the website www.nottinghamclassic.co.uk it is
a free event and we will run out from Wollaton park over to Heage Windmill,
around 35 mile overall, you can grab a cuppa at the windmill and enjoy a
pleasant view. You can also buy freshly milled flour if you fancy a spot of baking.
The run will start at 12.30 pm and as the National Drive It Day, there will be no
formalities except from the entry form and signing on.
Fingers crossed , work on the CELER will be completed by then and it may take
part in a portion of the route. It will be on display on the Carlton & District Motor
Club Stand.
The Nottingham Classic
Tour is supported by
Millers Oils Ltd
Www.millersoils.co.uk
As seen on TV........
The other Tuesday, I was busy serving the tenants
of Daventry & District for their housing needs when
my mobile phone rang, it was Sue. The BBC had
called, can I get some classic cars together for a
news item on Friday at 6.00am? It took a while for
someone of my age to remember that each day has
two 6.00 o'clock and I can only just grasp 6.00pm
but, the BBC had done us a favour after the 2007
London to Brighton Run so I assumed it was they
that had called and I resigned myself to getting up
early on Friday.
in separate clips starting with a long shot of the line
up and then individual interviews beginning with me
in the Wolseley and Mick in the Lancia. Each of us
were interviewed in turn for separate live links so
fortunately none of the Carlton lads were interviewed
in close up with the PP owners—more snobbery but
judging by the incoming phone calls from wives and
club members, most of them are also classic car
snobs.
Whilst the would be Eddie Stobarts of this world (why
not drive a proper truck), were being filmed, Brian
took the contents of Richard Wescott’s wallet and
I rang them back to be told that the feature would
be on BBC Breakfast and filmed live from 6.00 am
until 9.00am and that the theme would be ‘does
your car suit you?’ to coincide with Chevrolet
opening a new concept showroom in London that
features a room of mirrors where you can sit in the
car you propose buying to see if it ‘suits you sir’.
Following a ring around and an appeal in the last
newsletter, I had promises of five cars to assemble
at Colliers Wood in Eastwood at 5.30am on the
Friday to meet reporter Richard Wescott and a film
crew.
Stuart Wagg with his Anglia (as seen before on TV in
the Sandicliffe ad), Kelvin Knowles with the GT6 ,
Brian Hodges with the ‘Wood yard’ TR4, Mick
Worrall with his Lancia Fulvia and me with
the
Carlton early birds, no plastic in site!!
drove up to the Greasy Spoon at Junction 27 to place
a shipping order for tea, coffee and bacon baps.
Whilst this was going on, daybreak arrived along with
a steady stream of indignant Dog Walkers. They
couldn’t understand why the entrance to their private
park was blocked by a satellite truck— ‘calm down
dear it’s only a commercial’- and why their car parking
spaces were all taken up by poseurs in Classic Cars
mingling with Plastic Pigs. (oops sorry, Reliants) They
didn’t raise any serious
objections, just a snooty
mutter as they walked by and a chunter of disgust at
the row of men apparently
watering the shrubbery
(well it was bl**dy cold at that time in the morning and
we had been there since half past five).
BBC Reporter Richard Wescott deciding that it
would be much easier to start the filming in
the Wolseley !
Wolseley, met at the appointed time only to find we
had been ‘double sixed’ by the BBC who had
sneaked in three Plastic Pigs—sorry I meant Reliant
3 Wheelers including one dressed up like an Eddie
Stobart truck. Not funny but keep smiling (a case of
classic car snobbery no doubt). We had no choice
but to go along with the Beeb and they agreed to
film us
www.rallybadge.co.uk
Suppliers of enamel badges to the Nottingham Classic Tour
Timed to perfection Brian and Kelvin swept back on to
the set (notice film jargon creeping in) with the
consignment of Bacon Baps , including sauces just as
we were expiring from the cold. Hurrah for a BBC
breakfast!
As always, Brian had the last say and was interviewed
in the TR driving into the Car park.
It was a bit of welcome fun, very tongue in cheek but,
to coin the phrase, no publicity is bad publicity and
we got a few minutes on the telly but viewers had to be
slight insomniacs or night shift workers coming home,
to see us.
Despite the comments I don’t mean to be disrespectful
to PP owners, each to his own but you will probably
notice that no PPs are in the photographs. No animals
were hurt in making this film !!!
JT
National Drive it day
First event of the new season of Classic Tours the
National Drive it Day and our contribution, a half
day run from Wollaton Park, courtesy of Vicky
Martin the General Manager, out to Denby Pottery
Visitor Centre on April 20th.
I know it was a free event with only a small
contribution to permit, printing and copying costs,
but the turnout was very pleasing. Given the
weather, April showers, we were lucky not to have
1932 ALVIS TOURER
more casualties to the rain. Quite understandable if
you have an open car unless you have masochistic
tendencies like Andy Goode in his LocoXflow.
Trying to get people ‘signed on’ in the rain was messy,
soggy paperwork and late entries with forms to fill in ,
then me in green wellies just added to the charm of a
wet English spring Sunday.
Ever present Noel Sabin and his trusty BSA were no
strangers to the rain and followed the Alvis on the
route out to Denby. No car 1 I’m afraid, the
engineering work on the CELER is still not complete
but the wait will be worth it. Such is the diversity of
our participants, we switched quickly from out and
Power line up, Lotus, Stratos, Stratos
out vintage stuff of the thirties to a string of exotica. A
very nicely tuned out Lotus Esprit leading away the
two Hawk Lancia Stratos replicas. I must apologise for
holding up the start line but I couldn’t let the Lotus go
without a Lotus gossip for a few minutes.
JT
Lotus enthusiasts, visit
WWW.KITLOTUS.COM
FANCY A BREAK WITH FANTASTIC VALUE AND
THE COMFORTS OF HOME?
JADELLAS THREE STAR GUEST
HOUSE
1956 HUMBER HAWK ESTATE
We were due to start from Pilkington's Paddock but
one of the Deer herds were settled down in our place
so we deferred to the overspill car park instead.
Thirty cars started and we were very pleased to
welcome a few newcomers including an exquisite
1932 Alvis Tourer and a 1956 Humber Hawk Estate
in a fine state of presentation. Stuart Wagg (as seen
on TV) led a brace of Fords backed up by a MK3
Cortina. Brian had finally entrusted wife Jackie and
Josie Smedley with ‘her’ ‘Woodyard TR4’ (as seen on
TV) whilst he and Andy were playing away on the
Milton Keynes event and Mick Worrall had his
Lancia Fulvia (as seen on TV) with Richard English
in his early Series 1 Fulvia (not seen on TV).
COLUMBUS RAVINE
SCARBOROUGH
IDEAL FOR YOUR TRIP TO DALBY OR OLIVERS
MOUNT
BED & BREAKFAST FROM
£25 PER PERSON
LICENCED BAR
WWW.JADELLASHOTELSCARBOROUGH.CO.UK
01723 378811
The best small guest house in Yorkshire with a
Derbyshire welcome from Jill & John
Drive it day continued ......................
We used one of our regular routes out of the city,
hitting open country by the Erewash Golf Club and
out behind Sandiacre where a certain pink and white
Skoda was seen catching one of the Stratos, before
heading out to Smalley, Horsley and Kilburn to the
Halfway at Denby Pottery.
Most people stayed for coffee the venue that really has
a nice relaxed atmosphere and offers quality retail
therapy in Pottery (obviously) Glassware and virtually
any kitchen or dining accessory. The Compulsory
garden centre albeit very small t about completes the
set.
APPEAL
Well, it’s more of a whinge and moan really. I need
your help. Late entries are a pain, not that I want to
discourage any participant but the main culprits
who know exactly how much work has to go in to
preparing the final admin , are usually car club
members. The last few days before an event are
manic and having to produce extra print at that late
stage can be frustrating.
Please would you keep an eye on the closing date for
entries and get them in in good time.
I thank you
JT
Because we had nothing arranged back at the finish ,
most people chose to cut part of the second half and
HUNTSMAN ENDURANCE ROAD RALLY
make their own way to pubs and restaurants for
Sunday lunch. Whilst all this was going on, the Over the weekend of 31st May and 1st June, Richard
Wolseley was quietly bringing up the rear in its first Ogan and his team will be running Carlton & District
ever Classic Tour outing. No heater and vacuum Motor Club’s first ever Endurance Road Rally.
It is a recent format pioneered by the Lombard Revival
Rally for road going cars of no more than 1400cc with
a road rally navigational section containing mainly
regularity sections and various Special Tests or
Selectifs which take place on private land and allow
the average speed to be raised on those sections to
40mph.
The events came about because of the downturn in
entries to Road Rallies due in part to ever increasing
use of Rice Rockets ( Japanese Supercars like
Mitsubishi EVOs and Subaru Imprezza) by
competitors to gain the advantages available through
the regulations. The use of these supercars meant that
most of the competitors in what is grass roots level of
the sport and therefore should be reasonably cheap to
enter, were only running for minor places. We saw
Disinterested onlookers?
levels of noise going up because these cars are quiet at
4500rpm (noise test level) but would then rev much
wipers are not perfect but who’s complaining?
higher and with flaming exhaust on the overrun, the
It still needs a little TLC to change it’s nasty habit of English lanes at night were beginning to sound like
cutting out at every junction but I suspect it is just a Keilder in November.
case of running too rich. The only drama was just The use of theses supercars drove a wedge between
after Denby when the air cleaner fell off! Quick fix and road rallies and the public and the regulations had to
back on the road. I’ll get the carb sorted this week.
be changed. Crews were using superchip to boost the
Thanks everyone, great atmosphere as usual, nice to BHP of the cars and even bending the rules by fitting
see people supporting the event from Sheffield and adjustable spring platforms and the like. OK if you
have a big wallet but if that is the case why not move
Lincoln just for a half day run. I appreciate it.
to a higher level of the sport and gets your thrills off
road? Both costs and conscience needed to change
and at last the supercars are no longer eligible. The
PROJECT CAR FOR SALE
1400cc formula has taken off and we are seeing more
and more of these events being organised.
1968 G PLATE FORD CORTINA 1600E
White with black interior , good body with a few
rusty bits. Some welding needed for MOT wing tops
(new ones with car) and chassis rails.
Steering box needs attention but this will make
someone a good project
£850 ono
Phone Brian on
0115 927 8828
Whilst the principal of road rallying is to maintain a
time schedule as a team, it certainly isn’t meant to be
a spectacle for the public.
Organisers like Richard deserve all the support they
can get . His team have been busy for well over a year
to create the HUNTSMAN ENDURANCE ROAD RALLY
and I would like to wish them all the best for a
successful event. If anyone would like to assist over
that weekend ( you may not see your bed until Sunday
evening) , give me a call and I will put you in touch.
In the footsteps of legends - part two
In the last issue, I recounted the special time I spent on
the 1994 RAC Euroclassic, working on and around the
race circuits of Europe unbeknown to anyone else enjoying the opportunity handed to me to that also allowed
me to discover the stamping ground of my boyhood
heroes. My inner self privately appreciated the
opportunity.
My continued association with Classic Cars presented
another golden opportunity in 1996 when that man
again– Jim Porter, invited me to join his team in running
the 1996 FIVA World Rally which was to be held in
Britain over 10 days in the late spring early summer of
1996. Same format as Euroclassic, a group of
experienced people leapfrogging each other to pick up
the next task. Opening Car one day, control the next, car
parking the next, closing car after that.
The route started in Edinburgh and finished at the
Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon with 200 cars from
1905 onwards mostly from outside the UK all
transported in courtesy of Rover. Each of us were crewed
in pairs, my crew? Who else but my wife Sue one of the
competent and reliable Rally Marshals I know. Our first
task was as 24 hour car doing a final route check for the
first leg ahead of the rally leaving Edinburgh for Floors
Castle via Duns. Home of Jim Clark, well, the joy of
driving on his home turf was immeasurable, all the time
knowing he would have known these lanes like the back
of his hand.
The Jim Clark Room—Duns Berwickshire, the
shrine to Clark ,Farmer of Duns and Bermuda,
World Champion R acing Driver and winner of
the Indianapolis 500 Motor Race
The explanation of the inscription on Clark’s grave is well
documented but just to stand there and read it for
myself was a privilege. Around the grave is a hard standing area such is the need due to the thousands of fans
who visit every year. After that it was back to Edinburgh
Over the Lammermuir Hills and past the Whiteadder
for the night and an early start the following day.
Reservoir, the scenery was stunning in late spring
sunshine and we drove into the village of Duns with its Over the next two days we ran the Passage and Time
wide main street and close cottages opening onto the Controls opposite the Jim Clark Room, we were blessed
with sunny weather and the staff at the room very kindly
pavement.
put up the chequered flag for us.
We were to run a Passage Control on the first day and a
Time Control on the second. Both times the control was Our activities drew attention from villagers and onlookers
bang opposite the Jim Clark Room, a building run by the alike and we even had some volunteers come and help.
local council containing Clark’s many trophies won The first volunteer was a slightly built man, older than
during his sparkling race career. The council staff were me, we got chatting and he asked if he could help, he
very accommodating giving Sue and me a private tour as introduced himself. It was Ian Scott Watson, the man
today the room was closed to the public. Though small, who mentored Jim Clark at the start of his phenomenal
the room is captivating to any Lotus and Clark admirer career, it was a pleasure to meet him and share some
and just having time to linger and look was priceless. time with him then he very kindly signed one of my road
After the visit, I was asked to sign the visitors book so I books before the end of the day.
signed on behalf of the 1996 FIVA World Rally and there, Another celebrity volunteer who popped down to assist on
four names above mine was the entry filled in by Ayrton the next day was the then first lady of British Motorsport
Senna. At the time I didn’t find this all that remarkable, Louise Aitken Walker with her husband. The same spot is
why shouldn’t a modern gladiator pay homage to the used for the start of the annual Jim Clark Memorial Rally
past? That Clark may have been one of Senna’s inspira- held every year and organised by the Berwick & District
tion was fitting. Years later in 2007 as I witnessed the Motor Club of which he was President. The
trophy
first Scot to win the Indy 500 for 42 years, I was glad to room also houses some of the rally’s awards.
hear that Franchitti’s hero was also Jim Clark.
The villagers and the staff from the Scottish Borders
As we had completed our first task as 24 hour car, I Council made us very welcome at Duns, it was fantastic
made another pilgrimage whilst I had the opportunity. for me and yet another coincidence where my rally career
Sue and me drove over to Churnside to visit Clark’s gave me the opportunity to tread the same footsteps as
Grave.
my boyhood heroes.
JT
In green and gold marble, Clark’s headstone is larger
than most in the graveyard, situated up the hill above
the small unassuming church at the top of the cemetery Download all of the previous editions of the
and accessed by a pathway at the rear of the church as
Nottingham Classic enews from
well as from the front gate. I just stood in quiet reflection
www.nottinghamclassic.co.uk
for a while and again, as at the Hockenheim stone cross,
I could not bring myself to photograph the scene. It has
been well covered in many publications so I didn’t really
need another.
Tales from the Tartan
Lanes
You won’t find many photographs from my years of
marshalling or officiating at rallies because of my
time as Chief Marshal for Carlton & District Motor
Club. I always insisted that if people were coming to
marshal an effectively get ’on the front row’ they
should not abuse this position by taking pictures
whilst on duty. The consequence of this is that you
will have to put with words rather than images of
some of the stories I recall.
This is one such story and follows on from the article
about the Jim Clark Room. On the same event , the
1996 FIVA World Rally and after Duns, Sue and I
were running one of the official Rover 800’s provided
for the organising team as the Sweeper Car on the
Eskdalemuir section in Scotland. Our job was to
confirm the route closed to control officials and
check where any stragglers were and what their
status was.
The Automobile
Association were
providing
breakdown support to all competitors which included
relaying terminally ill vehicles to the finish ready for
shipment back to their own countries. Readers must
imagine also the calibre and style of completion as
any vehicle built before 1976 was eligible, the oldest
being a Wolseley Tricycle of 1896.
On a particularly remote part we came across a
group of vehicles at the side of the road consisting of
a 1920 Stanley Steamer from Holland and a Packard
Twin Six from America. Again, and typically of this
event, the occupants were dressed in period clothes
and were all well over retirement age but
nevertheless, they had committed to come to the UK
with their vehicles and compete in a world standard
event. They were also of course very skilled mechanics having restored their own vehicles and kept them
running in superb fettle, until today that is.
continuing, if something could be done it had to be
done now.
There are some occasions when a rabbit can be pulled
out of a hat and alas this didn’t appear to be one of
those occasions. But, these people were guests in our
country and to give up on them would go against the
grain. What we needed was a welder and surely most
farmers out here would have welding kit. We stood in
silence scanning the distance for a farm building,
nothing except the sound of an approaching vehicle. It
was a Landrover, a farmer on his way home with his
two sheepdogs in the back , it was a truck cab version
with an open back. I flagged him down and after his
surprise at finding such a large group of humans and
vehicles from another time zone in his locality, I
explained the plight of our foreign guests and in his
soft borders accent he declared that he had in his
farm workshop not more than a few miles form here. A
welding machine and not only an ordinary welding
machine but a Mandrel Welder, the sort of news any
broken half shaft would get excited about.
Bless this man , he offered there and then to take
the crews in the back of the land rover with the
broken half shaft and the two sheep dogs, followed by
the AA hauling the broken vehicles down to his farm
and get them patched up. At worst if the repair could
be done, only that section of the rally would be missed
and both crews could rejoin at tomorrow mornings
restart. It was worth a shot and the farmers generosity
was duly accepted. Guess what, they did it and they
both
arrived at the finish in Stratford on Avon with
big beaming smiles. It was one of those times when
fate lends a hand and gives us a leg up, the famer in
the Landrover may just as well have been the 7th Cavalry or the Lone Ranger or even Sir Lancelot riding to
the rescue. It was just one of those moments that our
foreign friends would never forget and would be able
to recount to open mouthed friends and neighbours
on their return home. The morale of this tale is......
Never look a gift sheepdog in the mouth !
JT
The Packard had broken a drive shaft and the
Steamer had a split water pipe which had refused all
efforts to fix and was losing water. The AA lads were
also there having spent considerable time trying to
fix them both. Alas it looked impossible and everyone
was resigned to loading the cars onto a waiting relay
truck to take to Stirling and then on to the finish at
Strafford on Avon, still five days away. The
disappointment on the faces of the crews of both cars
was tangible, the AA lads were not too chuffed either
but the only fix would be workshop facilities and a
welder.
Sue and I arrived on the scene and asked what the
problems were and they confirmed the worst. Their
rally appeared to be over, even if we got them to
Stirling we couldn’t get a welder until the next day, It
was Sunday and when the cars were fixed the rally
would be long gone and there would be little point in
Not the actual Packard but one just like
it, I couldn’t find Stanley’s picture
The Nottingham Classic eNews and the Nottingham Classic Logo is copyright of and published by John Thornhill, 3 Meadow Close,
Eastwood, Nottingham .NG16 3DQ. Copying in any means other than for personal use is forbidden. Data Protection—the email details of
any of our subscribers are protected and will NOT be passed to any other organisation for ANY purpose.