Issue 8 - August 1996

Geof Miller, ARC Press & Publicity
Brandlehow, Wolverton, Stratford-on-Avon CV37 0HF
Tel: (+44) 1789 73 1669

Looking Back - Gaydon 96

74 outfits camped for the weekend in glorious weather, and a total of 118 vehicles were displayed in the South Arena.

The 101 F.C. Control & Register put on a superb display of 47 101's, their largest assembly ever, and 46 vehicles ran in the two cavalcades around the museum on Sunday. In fact we had to extend the cavalcade route as on the first lap a severe case of "M25 syndrome" set in!

Over Sunday lunchtime, Ron Whitehead, Workshop and Restorations Manager at the Heritage Motor Centre, wandered around the display and chose his favourite 101, favourite (other) 4 x 4, and his favourite car, and the owners were presented with prizes at the closing ceremony at 3 pm.

All three received a copy of Eric Dymock's superb book "Rover - the first 90 years" and a commemorative MG calendar, and a Rover lapel badge.

These were:-

Most Desirable 101
Ian Hardy from Leicester, the 101 Club's Midland Area Rep.
Most Desirable Car
Philip Round from Hereford, RSR member with Rover P3 - 60 Sports Saloon.
Most Desirable 4 x 4
Yours truly - RRR & RSR with 1969/70 Velar.

An additional award, a £25 voucher towards a Gough stainless steel exhaust system was awarded to Jim Burns, 101 Club Scottish Area Rep from Lanark, for the longest distance travelled, incidentally with a truly 'historic' vehicle, the original Trans-Sahara vehicle and trailer outfit.

The prizes were presented by our specially invited guests, themselves two 101 "historic characters", Tom Sheppard, leader of the Trans-Sahara expedition, and Norman Busby, 101 Project Engineer, together with his wife Alma.

In addition to their vehicle display skills, the 101 Club provided superb red hot, environmentally friendly charcoal for the barbie on Saturday evening, and Bonny Savidge even provided everyone with cake (choice of three varieties) for sweet course.

Frank Myatt and the LR Series II Club laid on two kids bike trials, one on Saturday evening and one on Sunday morning, the winners being presented with their prizes by Kate Watson, Marketing and Events Executive for the Heritage Motor Centre.

Saturday
7 years and under - Russell Hearn
8 years to 12 - Eric Bookley
13 years to 16 - John Clink
Sunday
7 years and under - Tim Howland
8 years to 12 - Slade Hodgkinson
13 years to 16 - Ben Hanbury

Found at the Gaydon Rally

A 49 mm camera lens cap, a Matchbox model Ford Transit, and a Matchbox model Tractor Shovel, please contact me if you think they are yours.

Looking Back - ARC EGM June 15th 1996

At the June EGM, Ian Davis of RACMSA promised to answer two questions which could not be answered at the meeting. These were:-

Why are only National B and higher graded RACMSA Scrutineers empowered to affix RACMSA helmet stickers, when all Scrutineers are empowered to check helmets at Scrutineering?
It is only those grades of Scrutineer who are deemed to have the experience and training to 'sticker' helmets.

Can a driver (competitor) change vehicle in a competition when the entered vehicle has retired?

Not without provision in the events Supplementary Regulations. Having reviewed the General Rules and Regulations the only way that this can be facilitated is for the entrant (driver) to nominate at signing-on a reserve vehicle. This is different to double driving per se, as the use of the reserve vehicle would only be as necessary. It is not permissible to change vehicles ad hoc, after signing-on. Once a competitor has retired, that is it, if they continue to compete after technically retiring they are no longer covered by insurance. For the reason above, this ad hoc practice must stop. I noted that the delegates seemed divided on the desirability of the practice, I believe that if clubs wish to permit this practice, then that is their choice, but they must do so in accordance with the above procedure, and I suggest the nominated reserve vehicle be in the same class as the vehicle entered.

Looking Ahead 1997

ARC International Rally

To be held at Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen, North Wales, on May 23rd,24th,25th and 26th. Regulations and entry forms are now available and should be returned by 1st March 1997. If your entry is returned by 31st August 1996 you get a 10% discount.

The site will be open from midday Thursday 22nd May until midday Tuesday 27th May.

There are plans for a lead-up rally at a vintage rally on Anglesey, and for a follow-on rally near the coast in mid-Wales - more details later.

For more entry information contact Alan Brown on 01248 352645.

For Trade Stands or Sponsorship contact Mike & Pauline Morris on 01745 550237, or there is now a Rally Info line on 0891 227399 (calls cost 39p per minute cheap rate and 49 p per minute at all other times).

As usual, the ARC Council requests that member clubs do not organise other events over this week-end.

Looking ahead 1998

As any true enthusiast will realise, 1998 will herald 50 years of Land Rover's technical (if not numerical) domination of the 4 x 4 scene. During my early years at Lode Lane in the 1950's, one national daily newspaper told the world that the Land Rover was called a 4 x 4 because of its square (or even cubic) shape!

Obviously we all have cause to celebrate this birthday in style, none more so than the Series I Club, and the Series I Register, and I suspect that many Series I restorations are aimed at completion ready for the various events that will occur during 1998.

1998, therefore, will be a year during which it will be particularly important not to have clashes of events, so if you would let me know of any proposals I will start a 1998 calendar of events, starting with:-

June 27th/28th - The Land Rover Series I Club's 50th Anniversary Rally at Shugborough Hall near Stafford.

(up, back to issue 7, on to issue 9)

Disclaimer, October 1996

Last Updated:
30/12/2005