So we are gradually travelling back to normality in the world of motorsport, Easter Saturday saw had several members of our club out marshalling for the MCC ”Pop Up Trial” . As mentioned in last month’s newsletter this was somewhat of an experimental event with signing on and route etc. all done remotely, there was even an app for recording the score on the hills on your mobile phone although old fashioned score cards were still being used as well. Each section had its hand sanitising point and marshals were reminded to socially distance.

The entry for the event was lower than expected but it proved the system could work, given that this was the first event to run in this format I think the MCC should be applauded for taking the initiative. Obviously there was little of the social enjoyment side of things, cars did not have passengers which must have seemed somewhat strange for the driver to do his/her own navigating and the real downside was no one to blame but yourself if you took a wrong turning. We were treated to Geoff Westcott putting on a nice display on our section as he grappled with the outfit snaking around the trees in the woods, very entertaining.

I’m not sure technology will completely take over for long distance trials but as a taster it was thought provoking, personally I think both the old established method can run along side the new, I think they call it progress .

Talking of progress we had another zoom committee meeting earlier this month, this zoom thingy is now feeling almost normal, in olden days you had to go out on cold nights and physically meet people, often at a thing called a “Pub”, now you do it from the comfort of your own home, it’s not all bad but the pub did have a wider selection of ales. All the usual topics were discussed, finances, membership, events, AGM etc , will cover the events later.
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So it’s over to our Club President Robin Moore

The Ramblings of R.H.T.

Well, that’s a new title to start with. Thirty years ago my monthly piece for our newsletter was headed, “Did You Know”, and recently I have been sorting through many of my old copies and it made me realise that much of what I have previously written may not have been seen by our present day readers. Either, because they are of a younger generation, or, that circulation of the newsletter was less at the time. With the advent of email there appears to be a far wider readership, so perhaps it would not be out of place to reprint some of my previous offerings.

Apart from the years of the two World Wars , I cannot recall the MCC Lands End being cancelled for two consecutive years, and disappointment is very much of an understatement for all concerned. As I have previously written , it is very much a red letter day, something not to be missed. To put it mildly, I think we are all somewhat depressed with the restrictions imposed by Covid, and the question remains of what the new normal will be. Will it ever be like we were used to, or will that become part of history? Therefore I thought it might be appropriate to re print a piece I submitted for the newsletter almost 30 years ago, and which first appeared in the magazine of the Wolseley Hornet Special Club 60 years ago, written by member Tony Reed I hope it lifts the gloom a little for you.

RHTM.

Editor’s Note

It is good to see an old LNCMC newsletter first which I first cobbled together nearly thirty years ago in 1992 and courtesy of the Reluctant Publishing Company Ltd.

Reproduced here in authentic form warts and all, time constraints do not allow for digitally reworking !
JT

Tony Read’s Hornet when we first met in 1960.

This Sallow Bodied Hornet Special has its original Devon registration number but the Pico
headlights are incorrect and never original equipment. The car now resides in Italy and Tony
Read is deceased.

Thanks to Warin Kelly for the contribution below which must surely warrant a Caption Competition.
Send in your ideas for an amusing caption and receive an amazing prize in return………

Future Events

Saturday the 8th of May , Northgate Sporting Trial to be held at Ashley Farm, Lifton, with thanks to Paul Webber for use of his land. The reg’s and entry form are up on the club website, don’t forget we will be needing marshals please, as always Mike Wevill would love to hear from you 01566 784451.
Sunday the 30th of May is the date for the Launceston Trial to be held at Eastcott and Lew Woods, although a fixed venue it will be run on classic trial regulations, entry forms and reg’s will be up on the club website shortly.
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I ventured out in the Dellow last Saturday in order to marshal for the “pop up trial” it was a tentative if somewhat sedate journey after the last outing when things went somewhat pear shaped, pleased to say the journey there and back was uneventful, long may it continue, although I feel I know something of how the driver in the photo above felt .

All for this month J.T. contributions to billjan299@gmail.com

Here we are again, that time of the month and the waiting is over the newsletter has finally arrived in your “inbox”. Motorsport seems to be a bit like buses, wait for ages while nothing happens, then all of a sudden it’s all go. MSUK have given a green light as to motorsport restarting albeit in a slightly tentative manner, the ACU have given the ok for motorcycle combinations/outfits to recommence as of the 29th of March.

The MCC are running their Easter trial on the 3rd of April, it’s a somewhat different event as to what we are used to at Easter but a start it is. The event being restricted to 80 vehicles starts at Minehead , with a 150 mile route it will end at Lewdown, car drivers will not be permitted a passenger, everything such as entries and scoring will be done electronically. It will be interesting to see how car drivers get on without a navigator, which I’m sure will be fine otherwise it might be dubbed as the “lost souls trial”. Our club has been asked to help with marshals in the Eastcott area, as it’s the last of the hills of the day we are looking at late morning to lunchtime, if you are able to help please contact Mike Wevill 01566 784451.

A week later on the 11th of April Torbay Motor Club will be running their trial with the start and finish venue being in Ashcombe Woods. Once again everything will be done electronically and cars will be driver only, for more information go to the Torbay MC website.

We are planning to start running our own events as of the 8th of May with the Northgate Sporting Trial, obviously we are still unsure what restrictions will be in place but all things being well it will run. On the 30th of May we expect to be running the Lanson Trial at Eastcott / Lew Woods as per normal classic trial reg’s . More on both these events in our next newsletter.

There was a committee meeting by zoom on the 25th of Feb, very well attended , as always we chewed the fat on various issues and future plans, although at that point in time not much could be decided upon other that of the previous paragraph. Once Covid restrictions are lifted we need to have a much overdue AGM, it’s one of those meetings which are better face to face.

The Centenary (+1) sub committee had a meeting on Wednesdsy 3rd of March, yet another zoom meeting. This was very productive, we are currently looking at getting large display boards printed which will be on show at the Lawrence House Museum in Launceston showing various photos of the club’s past, we have also got the town square booked for a display of vehicles, 2,3 & 4 wheeled along with the drivers at hand to be able to engage with the public. Joe Caudle has made very good progress with the book on the club but in all honesty this is a mammoth task and unlikely to be in print in time for the celebrations especially as Joe is still wanting more material to add in order to fill some of the gaps, so feel free to send in your anecdotes etc.

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I will now pass you over to our club President Robin Moore

Alvis and the other lady in my life Part 10

It is very much of a coincident that I started this potted history of my involvement with Alvis at the same time as the start of the Covid pandemic and the measures taken by HM Government to contain the spread of the virus and conclude the series ten months later, when the tide has turned and for our restrictions gradually eased for out return to something like normal.

I was previously writing about the history of the LNCMC, but was hampered to a degree with my research, by lockdown, and had to change course for a while. Oddly enough, I have recently unearthed much older material that I had written before, also noted that I had made at the time. Those of you with longer memories will recall that I have been contributing articles for this newsletter for many years, and 30 years ago these were titled “Did You Know” ; The editor then , and still is, John Turner, who also continues to print it, although in the past it was printed in A5 size and published by “The Reluctant Publishing Co”.

I sometimes wonder whether or not my musings are of interest to those who receive it, but I do know that Pat Toulmin picks it up and it is forwarded to the Historic Archive Centre based in Norfolk, where they are preserved for future generations, when researching bygone years. Recently I was talking to an old Alvis friend of mine, Robert Moor who lives at St Clements, Truro, and during our conversation he mentioned that he found my Alvis story very interesting. I said how come you have seen it? His reply was that he receives our newsletter electronically each month, because on occasions he has marshalled on one of our club events, and is thereby on the mailing list. Furthermore my articles have found their way to the Alvis Owners Club magazine. Well it’s a small world !

My Alvis Grey Lady TC 21/100 registered KDL 892, an Isle of Wight registration was purchased new by a John Charles Gould of Newport I. O. W but came to Cornwall in January 1959 when purchased by William Arthur Whetter of May, Whetter & Grose, the St Austell Auctioneers. After three more owners it ended up with me, and that was in 1966 when my Alvis story began.

I will conclude by saying “Did You Know” ?

The Alvis slogan was “Master of the Kings Highway”. The company produced the first British front – wheel drive car, the first British production model with independent front suspension, and the first British all – syncromesh four speed gearbox, – and that Major C M Harvey the company’s leading works racing driver for 10 years, is buried in St Keverne churchyard on the Lizard ?

R.H.T.M
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For Sale.

Ford 109E (Anglia 1200?) engine and gearbox. Both items are in need of a full strip down and rebuild, alternatively useful for parts. The engine has its rocker cover missing and a few other bits, but does include the clutch and flywheel, the gearbox is mostly complete except for gearstick. £75.00 for the lot, buyer to collect from J.T. 07971 249783.

Ford Escort “sport” rear axle case with differential, but no half shafts or brake drums . £125.00 Contact John Hadwick 01803 528761.
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We have had a request from Paul Stephenson to possibly trace an MG Midget:-

I’m still on the hunt for more history on my 1962 Almond Green Midget.

868 EUW which can be seen on Instagram 62Mk1AlmondGreen

I just want to know more about the origin of the number plate and perhaps clues as to the first owner / dealer etc. There were 13 made. Mine was part of a run of 12 and I now know that NOO 284 was the other car made out of sequence. So 1 of 1.

This car, or what was left of it, was up for sale in 2013 and listed as being from Sturminster Newton. The owner had it as Old English White but was informed that it was originally Almond Green and advised to get a heritage certificate. I understand that he did so it’s curious that the museum didn’t have any knowledge when I asked but that’s another story.

If it exists still then I’d love to get in touch with the present owner and learn more. The registration is still on a white mg so it’s probably listed in club records somewhere as OE White.

Can you help please contact 07740 355555
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One of our recent dog walks was to a trials section near us called Fruit Lane, we used this section on a Launceston Trial back around 1998 (ish). The section is accessed past a farm and some houses on the outskirts of Egloskerry, after passing the last house you drop down to the river and follow the track of about 400 yards to the tarmac road, it’s a lovely old track with hedges both sides of it affording lovely views of Badharlick and Egloskerry. At the time of using it the lane was in quite good condition and was used as the opening section as it was not regarded as a “stopper”. Fast forward 20+ years and the difference is quite staggering, the ravages of time and tempest have taken their toll of this lovely lane, it is well rutted just getting to the stream, the other side is even worse with large gouges of some 30 inches deep, as a trialler you try to work out how you would attempt this hill in its current form, unfortunately nobody told the bad weather gods to “rut” in a straight line so they meander left and right, even solo motorcycles would have their work cut out, outfits would just be lost in the abyss with no hope of straddling them. Another one lost I’m afraid, but lovely to walk still.

All for this month. J.T.

Please send your contributions to billjan299@gmail.com

 So here we go again. Late again, but I’ve worked out why, I’m retired so one day is the same as another added to which the “lockdown effect” does the same, so a double whammy I don’t stand a chance! It’s been a month of not much happening in the competitive form anyway. The committee had a zoom meeting on the 28th of January which was well attended, most of the conversation centred around the membership. A £10.00 fee will cover the member and spouse/partner with 2 cards issued, an annual membership fee for passengers will be £1.00, under 17’s free of charge. It’s a bargain so head on to the club website (LNCMC.co.uk) on the home page look for event entry/membership, click on membership and you’re away, fill in your details, pay by Paypal (you do not need to have a Paypal account) and it’s all done in a couple of minutes. Joe Caudle will then send your new cards, couldn’t be simpler.

Whilst on the subject of Capitano Caudle he is still waiting for you people to send him anything that could be of interest for inclusion in the proposed club book. It can be a slightly unusual motorcycle or car that you do or have trialled, a story of why you didn’t make it to the finish or like me not even to the start (on more than one occasion). This could be your chance of 15 minutes of fame. joe.caudle@btinternet.com
In addition to the list of things that are either postponed or cancelled, the club AGM will happen sometime, but we’re not quite sure when, but once we know so will you. This time of year our Nigel would normally be busy arranging for trophies to be engraved, and frantically polishing those that are ready, not this year though, another non event I’m afraid, there were just too few events last year to celebrate.

A few of us took part in the MSUK Webinar on the evening of the 9th of this month. The talk was basically about promoting motor clubs on social media to gain extra membership and to broaden the scope of those people who might find motorsport of interest even if only from a spectator perspective. Full credit to MSUK, social media is a tool that is being used more and more and as that rather large supermarket says, “every little helps”.

For those of you who may not be aware our club has its own Facebook page, even this newsletter will end up on there, give it a visit, even tick the “like” icon or leave a comment and become a member of the group.

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I will now hand you over to our club President Robin Moore

Alvis and the other lady in my life Part 9

My ownership of KDL 892, was a very special period of my lifetime involvement with motorcars, enriched by the friendship of so many other Alvis enthusiasts whom we met along the way. This series of articles covering my involvement with the marque is only part of the story. There is no longer an Alvis in my stable, and although it is 55 years since the last Alvis made rolled off the production line, enthusiasm lives on, and owners are well catered for in regard to maintaining the breed.

When the Alvis Co, ceased car production it was not the end of the story, more like a new beginning. The company perceived there would be a market for spares, maintenance and restoration facilities, and that the demand would be significant. Alvis wisely made the move to form a new company in order to accommodate and provide a reliable and continuing service for their products, and this was done without delay. This venture, to be named Red Triangle Services was set up in Kenilworth just south of Coventry. Management and the workforce from the car division transferred to this new facility, with David Michie being in overall charge. Therefore there was no vacuum created and no overall change, – to all intents and purposes it was business as usual regarding spares, which the parent company continued to manufacture and supply. Servicing, restoration and sales were things that naturally evolved over time as this new enterprise developed. In recent times this has led to an expansion of the premised, with a large showroom added to display a good selection of Alvis cars for sale.

 I have of course not seen these later developments, but I once did visit Kenilworth in the 1970’s when I was using my 3 litre for general use, and I remember receiving a very cordial reception and meeting a number of the very experienced workforce. The spares despatch department I recollect, was extremely busy – a mine of industry, and it opened my eyes to see and learn how this side of things are done, , to ensure customer satisfaction. It is a comforting thought for the Alvis enthusiast to know that this excellent service continues in the present age, when so often it is found to be lacking. I will conclude this potted history of my involvement with “the other lady in my life” in the next newsletter.

RHTM to be continued

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The Conundrum.

When I started this what is sometimes looked at as a strange kind of sport things were very simple compared to today. Once you found your chosen vehicle to get splattered in mud, in my case a car, you did whatever modifications and tweaks as you thought necessary, joined your local club and entered an event. The fact that you didn’t have a passenger/navigator was a minor issue, you collared anyone who fancied a bit of motorsport fun and that was it, off you went.

No more, it just ain’t that simple now. First you have to work out what class your chosen fun jalopy can run in, next there’s the tyres jungle, then make sure it complies with all the regs, including appearance etc. Now that you’ve done that it’s join a club time and get yourself a competition licence, in many cases the competition licence is free but you still have to have it. Once you have done this you think you are ready for that big event, all you need now is a passenger. Next hurdle: Does your passenger hold a competition licence and relevant club membership? If not they will have to do so, no longer can you opt to change your lucky accompanying victim at the last moment it all has to be planned well ahead of the event.

These days my own competing activities tend to be with the MCC and the long distance events, so I have been a long standing MCC member, box 1 ticked; I have a comp licence box 2 ticked; but we now come to the rather tricky passenger situation. I have up to four different possible passengers to call on so you would think what’s the problem. Well one of them has a competition licence but not a MCC member, one of them is a MCC member but no competition licence as he doesn’t normally do four wheel trialling. The other two passengers have neither licence nor membership, so in order to what is basically do me a favour they have to get the said documents, one of these two people has no interest in motorsport whatsoever, purely doing me a favour. Ok I am not unique in this situation there must be quite a few people out there in the same boat (or even car). There is also as I said earlier no last minute changes, if your passenger’s wife decides to have her baby two weeks early , or their work shift pattern has been changed, tough, you will not be going on your chosen jolly no matter how well the vehicle is prepared, or how many flasks you have filled.

Yes all the organising committees and official organisations have very good reasons as to why it’s like it is (honest) but for the grass roots competitor it can take some of the fun out of entering, and spontaneity has gone right out of the window. Be organised !
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On a lighter note, a little while ago I decided to sell one of my scooters, a chap from Ilminster arranged to come down and view the dream machine, arriving at my place around 10.30 am. Within an hour he was happy with what he saw and the deal was done, scoot loaded into his van and off he trundled. I went indoors, made a cup of coffee and went on line to the DVLA and filled in the necessary change of ownership form, that’s it I am no longer the registered keeper. Around 3.45pm of the same afternoon I get a text message from the new owner, on arriving home he had also gone online and registered himself as the new keeper, insured the bike, taxed it and had been out for a ride and commented on that he was pleased with the performance (performance in regard of this particular machine is not a term I would have used), all done in the space of about 5 hours.

In my younger days I lived in Plymouth and when it was time to either tax your vehicle or perhaps register yourself as the new owner my heart would sink. This meant I had to make the journey to the Tax office at Duke St, Devonport. The office was actually upstairs of quite a large , slightly antiquated building , if you timed your visit badly (on a Saturday morning at the beginning of the month) the queue for this theoretically simple experience could start outside of the building. Somehow when watching a black and white film, set during the Cold War my mind drifts back to this building! Slowly you would make your way up the grubby, cigarette smoke filled stairs, often freezing cold and eventually into what in some ways looked like a great hall. Here you were greeted with a full width counter at which the staff would sit behind with an imposing set of railings running down the middle just to keep public and tax office employees separate. To be fair the staff were usually quite helpful, they just wanted to get you out of the way and to see the end of the queue.

The modern equivalent of this is definitely preferable, although I expect some people might argue.

All for this month.
J.T. please send contributions to billjan299@gmail.com

At the start of a New Year one expects to be optimistic of the year ahead, this year it’s a bit different to previous years the Covid word is evermore in our midst and it is also tinged with sadness at losing one of the club’s long term supporters.

Sadly on the December, the 27th Clive Sandercock passed away. To most of us that knew him he was an absolute inspiration in being positive about life and doing as much as possible despite the barriers that it had thrown at him. In 2014 we attended a big party at Dingles Heritage Fairground to celebrate Clive’s landmark 25 years of having had his Heart and Lung transplant, the event also raised a significant amount of money for charity. Then a year ago he underwent more invasive surgery to receive a kidney. When Vivien and I went to the hospital to visit we didn’t know what to expect, we were somewhat shocked to find him on a walkabout of the hospital looking incredibly fit and cheerfully chatting to all the other patients.

Clive turned out for many events over the years, he was the late Mike Gomm’s intrepid passenger in sporting trials and also performed marshalling and scrutineering duties for the club for many years. But his interests were much wider than just motor sport. Cornish history and walking were just two and the accompanying photo was taken of him impersonating a pixie on Bodmin moor when he and his father Gordon took us on a guided tour of the moor. Clive’s funeral will be on Friday the 15th of January at Altarnun Church 2.00PM. Whilst we will not be able to actually attend the Church funeral many of us intend to be outside to say our final farewell. Our thoughts are with his wife Julie, Mum Pam and all the family.

I will now hand you over to our club President Robin Moore

Alvis and the other lady in my life, Part 8

Annual reunions took place in early November for a number of years following this Golden Jubilee celebration. For the first of these two day weekend events we returned to the Green Dragon in Hereford, with everyone arriving on the Friday evening for an informal get together.

The Saturday usually incorporated a visit to a place of interest, before returning in good time in order to be ready for the formal dinner in the evening. This first reunion was quite a unique occasion as among our number were some talented musicians including a professional dance band pianist, as well as others who played regularly. One such person was a man called Dick Gilbert of Leamington Spa, who played for a Midlands jazz band when he was not racing his Alvis 12/70 Special at Silverstone. I seem to remember that we had quite a quintet on the night and it was a great success. Obviously this had all been planned well in advance.

The following morning happened to be remembrance Sunday and a run out to the Rhydspence Inn near Hay-on-Wye had been arranged for those not departing for home until the afternoon. It is as well to remind ourselves how much less traffic there was on the roads 50 years ago for at the appointed time we all lined up in the near side lane of the fine road bridge that crosses the Wye in Hereford, and we set off in convoy. En route a large lay by had been sorted in advance, and as the hour approached eleven o’clock we drew up together and parked. Car radios were tuned in for the two minute silence and all drivers stood beside their cars. It was quite a moving and unforgettable moment.

The annual reunions that followed were held at Matlock Bath in Derbyshire, which we all looked forward to with enthusiasm each year, although there were a number of other events held during the year when we also got together, such as National Alvis Day. In 2020 it would have been the Centenary of Alvis cars, but like our own club this hasn’t happened and everything is on hold. I can’t help feeling that when we do mark the occasion it will not be quite the same – a bit like missing the last bus home after a good night out.

RHTM to be continued

Polite reminder : Those of you who have not paid your club subs it would be nice if you could do so, last month’s reminder didn’t quite have the effect we were hoping for, you’ve saved loads of money by not going to the January sales (you remember them) so a mere tenner won’t hurt.

Joe Caudle is currently drafting a history of the club, hopefully to be published later this year.

Any reminiscences, anecdotes etc. would be welcome as would scans or photos of any paperwork, awards, photos etc. particularly if they accompany reminiscences. There is a particular gap in the club’s history through the 1930s, and 1940s.

Anything will be gratefully received particularly as Joe says he has plenty of time at present to devote to this! Please send to joecaudlework56@gmail.com

So we find ourselves virtually back to where we started as we enter our third Lockdown. At our zoom meeting next week we had expected to be discussing how plans were going for the Lanson Trial but I fear this event could well become just another statistic. Unfortunately a large proportion of the committee along with those helpers who normally come out to support the club no matter what, are in the senior age bracket and justifiably won’t commit themselves until the vaccine has been completed and feel confident mixing in wider circles as it were. The MCC have already cancelled the Lands End Trial so I suppose we just have to make the best of it, but I am only one person and it’s up to the committee to decide. Plans for the 101 years Club Birthday are hopefully safe so there is at least something to look forward to and we will be discussing that, and other events planned for the year.

When I got up this morning I looked at our weather gauge and saw it was -2.5c outside which is not too conducive to spannering in the garage, alas the Dellow is sat with its bum in the air awaiting parts for the rear axle, although I do have a new 2 wheeler project acquired last month to play with. On going in to the office to start the newsletter I turned on the monitor to see if there was anything happening in the bird nestbox and to my surprise a Sparrow was in there having a good tidy up, after a couple of return visits it disappeared but was soon replaced by a Wren doing similar, it makes you wonder, do they know something we don’t ?

All for this month J.T.

Don’t forget contributions gratefully accepted billjan299@gmail.com