On Saturday and Sunday 4th and 5th August the SAHB took a stand at the VSCC Prescott Hillclimb for the very first time. Our thanks go to all those enthusiasts who visited us to share their enthusiasm, to chat about all sorts of cars and bikes, and in many cases to buy some of our publications.
There will be an official report in the Autumn edition of the SAHB Times, but here for everybody, SAHB member or non-member, is our news item on those two tremendous days of hillclimbing, in glorious summer weather. It’s a mix of racers, in paddock and on track, and spectators’ cars – which are always a delight to see in the “vintage” car park.
So here are some stories and pictures from the from the two days. Please do enjoy the show…
1926 C7 Avions Voisin – formerly the property of Prince Bira
This lovely Avions Voisin C7 looks ready for a jaunt in the countryside – until its racing number tells us that it is going up the hill. This car used to belong to Prince Bira – which is highly appropriate. ERA R12C, also a Bira car, was down below in the paddock.
Somebody has a sense of humour…
We knew the C7 was racing, because it had the obligatory timing bar on the front dumb iron. Not, of course, an ordinary one, but one in the shape of an Avions Voisin radiator mascot.
1930 Hotchkiss AM80
This is a very racy looking machine, built around a perfectly standard Hotchkiss AM80 chassis. We just wondered whether it could get round Pardon hairpin without bending in the middle.
1922 4-cylinder HE
This HE arrived late on the Saturday, ignominiously on a trailer, having broken a half-shaft en route. Nonetheless, its radiator is so stylish, and half-shafts can be fixed. This very car raced at Prescott in 1938.
1912 Morgan
We loved this car. It is reputed to be the oldest Morgan in existence, registered in 1921 but confirmed to be from 1912.
1934 Lagonda M45
An immaculate Lagonda, with its original pillarless 4-door saloon body designed by Walter Buckingham and built by Lagonda itself. Originally delivered to Colonel Horlick of malted drink fame, it is in its original two-tone colours.
ERA R4D – 1938
Here we see Nick Topliss preparing Brian Fidler’s R4D before Nick drove it up the hill. We can see the hot and cold plugs being changed, and methanol being drained from the carburettor. The blue tinge we can see in the plastic container comes from the additive that makes the flame from the methanol visible – otherwise , as Nick told us, the first time you know you’ve got an engine fire is when the paint on the bodywork starts bubbling!
1930 Austin 7 Blackburne
This eccentric and delightful machine is an Austin 7 chassis powered by a 1923 three-cylinder Blackburne Thrush aero engine of only 1,094 cc, from a Westland Widgeon light aircraft.
1930 Avions Voisin C14
This dramatic vehicle was in the best tradition of Gabriel Voisin’s unique view of how a motor car should look. It has a straight-six 2,326 cc engine – and the interior is in a classic Voisin Art-Deco-patterned cloth.
1926 Chrysler E80 Imperial
Driven all the way from Dublin, this elegant Imperial (easy to differentiate from its more plebeian Chrysler brother by its fluted bonnet) benefits from the early adoption by Chrysler of hydraulic brakes.
The contracting hydraulic front brake of the Chrysler Imperial
We can see here the exterior contracting hydraulic brakes. The piston is inside the drum. the owner tells us that they work well even in the wet.
1911 SCAT racer
VSCC Prescott is always made more interesting by the Edwardian racers. The first one we can see here is a 1911 SCAT with a 9,500 cc engine. We’re not sure whether the engine is original, but we do know that SCAT stands for Società Ceirano Automobili Torino. We can just see the 1913 Th. Schneider car behind it. That is equipped with a Hall-Scott aero engine, and sports a Bean radiator.
1963 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint
And finally, to show that beautiful cars from all eras are present at Prescott for this eclectic event. This is only one of very many post-war cars seen all over the car parks. there’s a TR3A in the background here, and a Sunbeam Tiger. Something to satisfy all interests.
Do join us again when we return to VSCC Prescott in August 2019. We’ll give you a very warm welcome to our stand.
That’s my TR3A in the background. Fame at last!