VSCC Prescott

[Blaketon]

Went along yesterday. It was a good day but oddly enough, this time, I actually enjoyed the Severn Valley Railway classic car day more and when I heard the whistle of a nearby Gloucester Warwickshire Railway loco, I thought it would have been nice to have been there. I suppose if you are actually taking part, rather than simply watching......when I was competing, I used to live for hillclimbing .

At one point, I went out to the car park and some kind of new Maserati was pulling in, followed by a very nice Traveller. I was more interested in the Traveller!!

Here are some photos, with perhaps some connection to us on this forum. There is Sir Alec's old racing car, a Morris Cowley on the hill itself and I was rather taken with the woody Riley. There was also a nice Oxford in the members' car park. The red Austin 7 Nippy is the car I should like to have taken home with me and returned in next time, to take part. There were faster cars there but the Nippy would be manageable; no good having an ERA if it's beyond you, either in terms of driving it or the cost of running it.[frame][/frame][frame][frame][/frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[philthehill]

You mention competing in hill climbing - when you were competing what vehicle(s) did you race with?
As a change from the Morris - here I am leaving the start line at Prescott in my Rover 220GSI.
2 ltr of 16V fuel injected Honda engine with all round independent suspension but nowhere as quick as my Morris up Prescott.
[frame][/frame]
And as it was a VSCC meeting - for that vintage feeling 1930s Lea Francis doctors coupe with me in the driving seat - again Prescott.[frame][/frame]

[Blaketon]

I first competed at Prescott on a bicycle, before I was old enough to drive. After practice, for the September meeting, they used to hold a cycle hillclimb. I think it was the idea of the late Roy Lane, who had been a very good cyclist in his younger days. I won the bike event two years in a row and set a new record on the second occasion (That was the only hope I ever had of beating the great Roy Lane at Prescott).

When it came to four wheels, I drove the Midget (That I still have and which is actually the second car I ever owned) and I also drove a Jedi single seater. I have also driven the MGB GT V8 once at Loton Park (A late change) and once at Shelsley, when the Jedi diff broke during tyre warming (Before I had started my first run), I was able to enter the tow car, which was a Mk 1 VW Scirocco Storm, that was fitted with a balanced and flowed 1.8 GTI engine. That car surprised quite a few people and I know I climbed faster than someone in an early Porsche 911. I was told that I was on three wheels in the Esses.

Your VSCC picture looks like a 1970s scene, judging by the car park. My first VSCC meeting was 1974.[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

For a real period photo, here is my father, c. 1960, in his Cooper Mk V111 Jap 1100.[frame][/frame]

[philthehill]

Thank you for the reply and the photos.
I used to live not too far from Prescott and as a school boy I would cycle out to Prescott and view the goings on there.
It set a seed in my mind that I would get involved in Prescott when I got old enough and in 1972 I had my first run at Prescott in my Minor which I have since steadily developed over the years and which was my first car.
I had previously competed in various sprints and speed hill climbs prior to 1972 starting out in 1969 or thereabouts. Firstly in a tuned A35 van (inside wheels were mostly off the ground when cornering) and then the Minor.
The Lea Francis photo was taken in June 1974 at the Cordon Rouge /Raymond Rays event for classic cars of the same vintage as Cordon Rouge (Bugatti Brescia).
http://www.art.com/products/p3501222781 ... -1970s.htm
Raymond Mays attended and the above photo I am sure is of him at that particular event. Every competitor was given a small bottle of Cordon Rouge champagne. I still have the poster (champagne long gone ) of the event signed by Raymond Mays.
Thank you for the photo of your father competing - I may well have seen him competing or even later competed at the same events.
I have been a long time member of the BOC but unfortunately these days I do not get up to Prescott as much as I would like too.
Regards
Phil

[Blaketon]

1974, my first VSCC. I have saved your picture, as I was there!! I remember borrowing my mother's camera, to take a photo of a C Type Midget, which I still have somewhere (Must scan it) and that the fastest time was set by a Connaught. I know we had a fine day for it and somewhere, in the members car park, my father's (Newly purchased) MGB GT V8 was parked. http://www.gwsr.com/ now run past Prescott and it's not a bad part of the world at all.....with a Morris Minor specialist in Winchcombe.

[philthehill]

The 1954, 2500cc Connaught B, entry No: 141 was driven by Rodney Clarke / Paul Weldon.
If I come across the results sheet with the FTD I will let you know.

Phil[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[Blaketon]

Here's the C Type, which as my father had an MG at the time, held some extra interest for me. It was to be ten years before I had an MG of my own......though at the time I was hoping to have a Morgan!![frame][/frame]

[philthehill]

Thanks for the photo.
I had a very pleasant drive of a modern MG C this morning - the motor was feathering/hesitating at certain conditions and after a fiddle with the timing ran much better with the feathering/hesitation gone. Result one happy owner.
I tried sending you a PM but unable to send as your PM facility may be disconnected.
Phil

[Blaketon]

I think my PMs are working OK. Perhaps I should send you a test one?

[philthehill]

There is no PM icon next to your name and the PM address box does recognise your name.
May be a good idea to send me a PM to get the system started
Phil