“Flaming June” has certainly been living up to its name with high temperatures and a real shortage of rain, for those lucky enough to have gardens to enjoy the “lockdown” has possibly been easier to endure than if it had rained every day. With the gradual easing of the lockdown there has been much talk by Motorsports UK and the AMCA as to how things will proceed in order for us all to get back to doing things in a sort of “almost” normal fashion.
 
Make no mistake about it, it is going to be a real challenge, once you think of getting groups of people together it becomes a big headache for the organisers on top of the social distancing issues there are challenges like signing on, scrutineering, provision of toilets, maybe even self certifying that you are free of the virus, the list is endless, then of course who is going to take responsibility for this if something goes wrong?
 
A lot of the issues could be overcome by doing things electronically, whilst a lot of clubs now do on line entries this could be extended to certifying that your vehicle is compliant with all the requirements to enter your chosen event, this would certainly sort the scrutineering issue, things like diff testing could possibly be done, although if you declare your diff to be compliant that shouldn’t be a problem. Motorcyclists on solo machines would at least not have to worry about the distancing from ones passenger as in cars and outfits, perhaps we could all wear face masks, full face crash helmets with the visor fixed down ! It will be interesting to see how things go at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, no passenger to consider so that’s a start.
 
My apologies to Robin in last month’s offering when I wrongly named the Horstmann car as a Hurstmann. One letter can make quite a difference, I recently saw a car advertised that might be suitable for trialling, one comment was that it would need a bugger engine, I pondered on this for a few seconds and then realised it should have been a “bigger” engine, but it did make me chuckle.
 
So now it’s over to our Club President Robin Moore.
 
Historical notes – on hold. For the last eight months my contributions to the newsletter have been centred to the centenary of our club and its history, and many interesting facts have come to light. The research is on-going and the story incomplete. The present “lockdown” has presented problems of personal contact with some of those I have contacted for help in verifying facts. So for the moment I am having to put the final instalments on hold. John Turner has kindly agreed that for the time being my contributions will be of another subject.
 
Alvis, and the other lady in my life. This year is also the centenary of the Alvis Company and plans were well advanced for a major celebration to commemorate the marque and the company’s engineering achievements. Like us , this is now on hold, and these milestones will have to be celebrated at a later date.
 
The Alvis car and engineering history is well documented, and their reputation for quality in all spheres of testing, in advanced design and manufacture of everything from motor cars to aviation engines and armoured fighting vehicles for the M.O.D., is without question of the highest order. During World War 2 Alvis produced major components for the Rolls Royce Merlin aero engines, also being involved with overhaul and testing of these units.
 
Car production ranged from 1920 to 1967 with the last car completed on the 29th of September of that year. My Alvis story starts in the 1950’s when a young couple came to Trefrew, Camelford on holiday, driving their 12/50 Alvis. I expressed an interest in the car and it wasn’t long before I was offered a demonstration run: The performance and roadholding impressed me, and has remained with me ever since. At around the same time another holiday maker had ventured to Cornwall driving an older model, the 10/50 with its side valve engine. Unfortunately, a big end had given up the challenge when reaching Camelford and the car had been left with my local garage to get it fixed, whilst the owner made other on-going arrangements, planning to collect the car, duly sorted, and return home the following week. I had a good look at this early model Alvis whilst it was at the garage , and I could appreciate the quality of this vintage car and its general appeal.
 
It was not until 1966, some ten years later that I was to purchase my first Alvis, a post war 1954 3 litre. At the time it was considered , that when a motor car was 12 years old and a model of merit, its market value would be at its lowest, after which it would slowly rise in value, and this may have come into the equation at the time, but from memory it was more by co-incidence that I made the purchase of KDL 892 , an Isle of Wight registration. I had read the road test reports of this model, and the style of the coachwork appealed. To my eye it looks right from any angle, so when I spied this motor for sale locally I was tempted to take the plunge, and thus entered another phase of my motoring life.
RHTM to be continued.
 
Now it’s over to our chairman Pete Cooper

I hope you are all safe and well, the Lockdown has certainly decimated our beloved sport. I expect the lockdown is beginning to be a real bore as all those jobs around the garden have now been completed, the house painted three times and finally you can get the car in the garage. I’ve been busy working for Cornwall Council at Launceston and Saltash recycling centres, at least I am getting some of my council tax back!!
 
Motorsport UK along with the AMCA seem to have woken up. MSUK intends to start issuing permits soon. Unfortunately some of the paperwork they are proposing is way over the top, the club will need to employ a document manager to keep on top of it.
 
I hope to finish my work next week and then hopefully we will be able to have a virtual committee meeting via Zoom and discuss how we can proceed in the hope to get our sport back on track, so any committee members reading this can start thinking of any items they wish to discuss. The two main events needing discussion will be the David Ayers sporting trial in September and the Tamar Classic road trial in October. With regard to the David Ayers our first concern is that the land owner is happy for us to return, the land owner David Langley has without question been extremely supportive of our club but these are difficult times and nothing should be taken for granted, assuming he is happy we then need to contact the majority of competitors for their thoughts, we certainly won’t be able to provide food as in past years.
 
The Tamar Trial will have plenty of problems, as the regulations stand at the moment there are several issues to consider:- passengers can only be from the same family or household; will marshals over the age of 70 want to travel; can buildings be used for signing on and off and will we be able to control the spectating public on the sections ?? We may also may be restricted to a “clubman “ event.
 
Torbay MC are hoping to run a few events with a hill climb at Wiscombe but they will all be clubman events. In the foreseeable future I do not see any chance of meetings other than that by Zoom, this will be the way forward. As our governing bodies send us more details of the new regulations we will endeavour to get them out to all committee members.
Please all stay safe and enjoy any good weather.
Best regards to all.
Pete
 
If anyone wishes to contribute ideas and suggestions as to how the club can move forward with its future events under the Covid-19 restrictions we would be very pleased to hear from you.
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At the time of writing this I should technically have made a two wheel excursion to Belgium for the Euro Lambretta weekend along with several thousand like minded enthusiasts/ lunatics but hey ho maybe next year. I did manage to take the Dellow out for a short run last week, but alas the engine despite having had a more than modest amount of tlc is still not completely happy, so it was back under the dust sheets for the time being (car not me). Fortunately, the other engine should be back in a couple of weeks, I can then do the rebuild and engine swap, it’s a pity Google don’t do an app for it, it would save all that tiresome spannering, but then I wouldn’t be able to hide away in the garage for hours on end, I’d miss all that oil and grease under the finger nails too.
 
All for this month
J.T. Please, Please send contributions to billjan299@gmail.com

Life seems to be going by at quite a pace at the moment, first, we had Brexit which seemed to go on forever we then moved into the storm season, each consecutive one seems to have a more indecipherable name than the last one, then before you know it we have a virus sweeping the world, I’m finding it a bit difficult to keep up. So what’s all this got to do with motorsport? Well the Launceston trial and a few others became victim of the storms and unless the current virus is containable it too will possibly have an effect, it’s a case of keep your fingers crossed and be prepared to adapt, I’m supposedly going on a two wheeled foray to Belgium at the beginning of June but to be honest it’s not looking good, it may end up with a tour of the Southwest, not all bad, we have pasties the Belgian’s don’t.
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Friday the 28th of February saw the club and supporters converging on Trethorne Leisure Centre for our annual sit down buffet and presentation of awards, thanks go to Nigel in particular for the organising of the event which went very well and the meal seemed to be very good value for money. We seemed to have more than the usual amount of speeches this year but that’s probably because as we are celebrating our centenary we feel we have something to shout about.

Lots of awards were given out, in particular it was good to see a couple of junior awards being presented to Ashley and Zak Ruby, always good to encourage youngsters into the sport. After the formalities footage was shown of club events gone by in the fifties and sixties, it was interesting to see the dress code of that period, with the ladies wearing a good variety of head scarves, many of the men in flat caps and wearing a tie, one of my favourite bits of the film was seeing a Messerschmit “Bubble Car” attempting Sims hill, not something you are likely to see again.
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And now it’s time to hand over to our Club President Robin Moore
Historical notes part 6

I’m sure that in the fullness of time the complete history of Cornish Motor Clubs will be chronicled, for it’s a story that needs recording for posterity. The fact that our Lanson club is now involved with celebrating it’s centenary has rather galvanised the mind on these matters. Our Launceston Club has always been to the fore in promoting a variety of motorsport competition and has produced some outstanding drivers wearing the club colours, competing nationally as well as in local events. Before the second World War , mainly as a form of advertising car manufacturers were keen for their products to do well in competition, especially so as a team,- sometimes formally entered as a works team, whilst others had generous works support. There was great rivalry between teams such as Austin, MG and Singer. To a lesser extent this practice continued post war. Entering as a team adds a new dimension with the team captain requiring a certain discipline & tact at times to keep things together, but also the determination to do well. I personally found myself in a different “mindset” when team effort was required and a greater determination to succeed. It adds another dimension, for one doesn’t want to let team mates down.

The “Shades of Crackers” team that I was involved with for a number of years was always a mixed team of different makes of car, but one constant was Norman McKee’s ex Toulmin Cream Cracker car, the MGTA reg ABL 962, it was always part of the team. Norman was the “joker” in the team and could do a wonderful impersonation of Benny Hill. On the MCC Norman was always “ hell bent” on our team beating the Morgan works team on Times in the Special tests . I seem to recall we usually did come out on top!
From time to time some of our club members formed teams of one make cars. In the early 1930’s it was Phil Uglow and the Biscombe brothers of Callington who ran a team of Hillman Aero Minx, whilst post war the team of Dellows ,- George Edwards, Bob and Mary Parsons were very successful. The team who called themselves the “ Union Jacks” was the formidable Morgans of George Edwards, Alin Penhale and Ted Dennis. Painted Red, White and Blue respectively. Ted’s car – the Blue one, was a four seater, a plus 4 with the

Standard Vanguard 2 Litre engine and with his 16 stone ex Navy mechanic and navigator astern they would take some stopping. Happy days and a lot of fun with many wonderful memories.
(to be continued) RHTM

Club Regalia. At the awards evening, the committee members were all wearing the new club Regalia in colours to reflect our centenary.

Items available :

Beanie Hat  – £4.95 + vat
Tee Shirt  – £8.95 = vat
Polo Shirt  – £12.95 + vat
Sweatshirt – £13.95 + vat

These are all available from the suppliers, Protekt Safety Wear.

Telephone 07894 057498 Speak to Mark Doey

Email protect_safetywear@gmail.com

Once ordered you can either collect from their premises at Callington, or delivered by courier for £7.95 (this fee might possibly include more than one item) speak to Mark.

Forthcoming Events

Launceston Trial 15th of March As mentioned in last month’s edition, the team will be out there next week ensuring all is well for the event, if you haven’t entered you really need to get in quick.

The Northgate Sporting Trial is on the 29th of March at Ashleigh Lifton.

Both of these events need Marshals or they will not run so please contact Mike Wevill on 01566 784451 or email j.wevill@btconnect.com

On the 2nd of April, we have our club AGM which will be held at the Blue Lion, Lewdown at 8.00pm. Please make an effort to attend, you never know it might actually be interesting especially if our 3 months of centenary plans are divulged.
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I have often wondered what is the first thing that people see when they arrive at a motorsport event. Most probably it’s an interesting vehicle, or maybe they see someone they haven’t seen for a while and a chance to catch up. How many of you see the Motorsport is Dangerous sign, let alone give it a second thought, after all it isn’t for you is it! Very few people taking part in our chosen sport give it much thought, most thoughts are either achieving fastest time of the day, or being the only one to clear a particular hill.

Unfortunately, accidents do actually happen and it’s at that particular moment the mind is suddenly focused on the less attractive side of the sport. Over the years that I have been involved I have been close to or even witnessed an incident when someone has been injured (ok so you are now making a mental
note to avoid me), I know accidents happen in all sports but most likely few people consider it, if they did there would probably be less of us taking part.

This leads me on to wondering how many of you are blood donors, yes the dreaded needle, I can see some of you fainting now. Be honest lots of us need an extra drop of it at some time in our lives, yes the head is burying deeper in the sand. Some people not only donate blood, but platelets and plasma, you know the sort of thing that is sometimes required during transplants, or when blue babies are born. Dare I even mention carrying a donor card, yes morbid isn’t it, but real ! I would love to get some feedback but probably I won’t, but if you managed to read this to the end it might just set you thinking.

All for this month J.T. e mail billjan299@gmail.com
 

It’s a bit like history repeating itself, I started last month’s newsletter complaining about the weather and what a surprise it’s still raining, even my ducks look a little fed up with it now.

Our dear governing body MSUK or what ever they call themselves this week have managed to put a bit of a spanner in the works by decreeing that all competitors and passengers have to have a competition licence, this means that after January 1st 2020 no matter what event you wish to compete in, even closed to club, the driver and passenger/navigator will have to have a RS Clubman licence, this will mean you are fully insured if your vehicle is involved in an incident. Motorcycle competitors are not affected by this new ruling. The new ruling has caused lots of reaction on social media with its implications to drivers trying to find passengers at short notice, and then making sure that person has a licence. Irrespective of whether they ever take an active role in motorsport or even drive a vehicle after that particular event, ah well MSUK will be able to gather lots of new data from it.

The Ron Beer sporting trial held at Ashley Farm, Lifton in November had an entry of 12 cars which is a good entry considering it was brought forward at short notice from its original date at the end of December. Overall winner of the Ron Beer Trophy was John Cole, 2nd place was George Watson, and 3rd place with a First Class award was Andy Prosser. Andy’s placing was very commendable given that his is one of a small number of home built cars competing on the trials circuit, and actually built by Andy.

February the 9th is the date for the Launceston Trial as usual this will be held in Lee/Lew Woods by kind permission of Mr Peter Newman, it is a single venue event but with such a large area of woods to use it’s almost like entering a full road event, regulations for the event should be out soon.

And now its time for me to pass you over to our club President Robin Moore.

Historical Notes Part 3.

My own involvement with our club commenced in the 1950’s when having witnessed the MCC Lands End at the historic section of New Mills, Boscastle. I knew that I wanted to take part myself , but it had to be a pre-war sports car.

I initially sought the advice of a very dear friend, Ted Dennis, who gave loyal support to our club over many years, He started competing very soon after the 2nd World War and went on to serve as President in the period immediately before myself. His advice to me was to buy a “blown” MG PB, but this never happened, and it was fate that led me to purchasing the complete wreck of a 1932 Wolseley Hornet. I started to write the story of MV 2713 for the M.C.C. Triple magazine, but since writing the introduction I have not progressed the article.

However to continue with these historic notes, it was early 1958 before my Wolseley project was ready to take to the road once more. When I first became involved with North Cornwall Motor Club, as it was then called, the President was Mr Leslie Major of Polapit Tamar, a fine country house near Lady Cross. Mr & Mrs Major on occasions would extend hospitality to club members by inviting us to their lovely home for a social evening, precluded by an unofficial speed test on the drive in front of the house. This was always great fun, and one just used whatever you had driven to Polapit, no comp. numbers or anything like that. It was all good light hearted fun. I have a lasting memory of watching Llewellyn Sandercock with his very smart grey MGTC . Llewellyn was usually to be seen accompanied by his sister driving a Ford Pop in local trials. He was a regular competitor at the time and lived in Week St Mary.

After having fun with our motors we tramped indoors to the ballroom, where light refreshments were provided, the gramophone wound up, a record placed on the turntable and you could take your partner for a dance. Serendipity !

RHTM to be continued ……

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Britain’s ISDE Heroines!

British women surprised the world at the 2019 International Six Days Enduro. Club member Richard Simpson reports from Portugal

The nominations for BBC Sports Personality have closed, and it’s unlikely that the names Jane Daniels, Rosie Rowett or Nieve Holmes will feature among the front-runners.

Which is a shame. These three motorcycle racers made up the GB Women’s Trophy Team in the recent International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Portimao, Portugal. Not only was it the first time any of them had entered the event, which is known as the Olympics of Motorcycling, it was also the first time that there has been a British Women’s team in the ISDE, which dates back to 1913. Their entry was so late they were not even included in the event programme, and they were scratching around for funding until the last minute.

In spite of that, they finished third!

The ISDE fully deserves its reputation as one of the toughest sporting events in any discipline. Riders are expected to cover distances of up to 280 km a day, mostly cross-country, in periods of seven-and-a-half hours for five consecutive days. These marathon stints are conducted to a strict time schedule. Arrive at a checkpoint a minute early, and you are out of the competition. Arrive more than a minute late, and the penalties start. If the penalties total more than an hour over the event, you are out!

If that’s not tough enough, during the day you ride four special tests against the clock, with total times counting against you.

Jane Daniels cleared a part of the course that defeated all the other women and most of the men, only to see it struck from the results as being ‘too hard’!

And Nieve Holmes aggravated an early injury on day four, dislocating a shoulder… twice. Knowing that her retirement would put the British Women out of the competition, she battled on to finish.

Further down the field, riders from club teams from all over the world struggle with the terrain, fitness and mechanical defects. There was a standout British runner in this class, too. Bradley Mair of Witley MCC finished the event, riding a 1981 Maico 490.

Some rider, some bike!

Enjoy watching the Sports Personality of the Year, but bear in mind that those featured are not the only ones who excelled themselves in 2019.

At the end of each day you get just 15 minutes to change tyres and carry out any work required on the bike, with a further 10 minutes before you start the next day. No one else is allowed to touch your bike!

So, what happens on day six?

Well, you have a nice restful motocross race, bar-to-bar against 39 other racers!

How did the British riders do?

The much-fancied British Men’s Trophy team was cursed with bad luck and injury, but the British women rode beyond all expectations, coming from nowhere to hold second place in their class at one point against semi-professional opposition from Australia, Germany and the USA.

In the end, they were overtaken by the German team, while no one ever seriously challenged the American women. However, there were some standout performances from British bronze medallists.

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Joe Caudle our Membership Secretary says that no-one responded to the call of paying their subs as per last month’s reminder. Please send your £10.00 to PM Wevill, The Manor House, Lifton, Devon, PL16 0BJ. Please make any cheques out to Launceston and North Cornwall Motor Club Ltd. Pay now whilst prices are still held at last years low price, There is no special offers or Black Friday bargains to be had. Those of you wishing to renew online can do so at https://www.lncmc.co.uk/online-entry/membership-application-form/ and yes we can relieve you of your money this way, it doesn’t get much easier.

Camel Vale Motor Club are hosting a meeting on Tuesday the 3rd of December at the Victory Hall, Roche at 8.00pm. Topics for discussion include forestry, working parties and other topics to do with motor sport. I shall be travelling down with Andy Prosser, Andy has a six seater van so if anyone would like a lift get in touch with him on 01566 777122.

Things in the garage have been relatively quiet with my main objective being to get miles on the Dellow to run in the rebuilt engine in time for the Exeter Trial in January, it may seem a little way off but it will come around all too quick, especially as in my case I am what’s known as “date challenged” ( I don’t think it’s a true medical term) I just struggle to know what’s happening and when. Even my scooter jobs have been a little slow, mainly because I don’t get too excited at taking to two wheels when the weather has been throwing it down as it has been for the last month or more, must be getting soft in my old age.

All for now other than on behalf of the club to wish everyone a merry Christmas and Happy new year, enjoy.

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

Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the club, don’t shoot the committee, the editor is open to verbal written targets though.