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Home , Crossley Motors, Diana Barnato Walker, Gabrielle Patterson, Pauline Gower

www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com SUMMER2016 FORGOTTEN BRITAIN FLYERS ONAN OFF-THE-WALL TRACK PEEK AT UK THE REMARKABLE STORY OF MOTORSPORT – PAST & PRESENT THE

WIRES WITHHOW MOTORIN WHEEL SERVICE WHEELS KEEPS OUR CLASSICS TURNING Dealer Spotlight 3 Britain On Track 4-7 Missing Moniker 8 Classic Character 9 Forgotten Flyers 10-12 Chocks Away 13 – In Maidenhead! Wires Within Wheels 14-16 New News From BMH 17 Classic Motorsport 18-19

Above: The calm before the storm – the 1914 Porthcawl speed trials were held just 37 days before the outbreak of WWI. See more about Britain On Track on pages

Motoring Classics reproduction 4-7 (Photo: MPL, National Motor Museum) in whole or any part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission of the publisher BULL MOTIF SPARES is strictly prohibited. The publish- er makes every effort to ensure the magazine’s contents are correct 2 but can accept no responsibility No matter how pretty a flower garden Britain’s motorsport heritage is second The origins of this interesting multi- ern 11,000 sq ft warehouse at Winch- private individuals etc. Its biggest

for any effects from errors may be, it looks nothing when teamed to none and our crowded island is awash faceted company date back to the combe, near Tewkesbury. It houses 10 markets beyond the UK are Europe, 3 or omissions. with a scruffy lawn. Likewise, even the with just about every form of such com- early 1980s, when Pat and Deanne employees and a growing database in Australasia and the Americas. Order- most handsome motorcars appear sec- petition most weeks of the year. But did Fitton formed Bull Motif Restora- excess of 11,000 parts, most of which ing is via the internet 24/7 or any of NB Motoring Classics is the printed ond-rate if forced to ride on unattractive you realise that the number of venues tions to specialise in the renovation are available from stock; including the four dedicated phone lines during the and online publication of British Motor wheels. Many British classics were, of employed for racing, sprinting and hill- of Morris’ ubiquitous Minor. How- full range of panels manufactured working day. The firm appreciates Heritage and its retail trading arm. course, born on the wire-spoked variety climbing alone has topped 800 since ever, a growing market for related by . Bull Motif that finding the right compromise be- - stunning when in good fettle but shoddy we firststarted pitting machine against Publisher: parts sparked a change of focus Spares is now one of the largest manu- tween price, quality and originality is and potentially dangerous when allowed machine and/or the clock? Check out British Motor Heritage Limited, and the company’s description was facturers and suppliers of Morris Minor a frequent challenge for customers to deteriorate. All of which is good news our feature on pages 4-7 and see what Range Road, Cotswold Business accordingly updated from Restora- parts in the world, as well as arguably and are always happy to help resolve for our featured supplier, the renowned may have taken place in your neck of the Park, Witney OX29 OYB, UK tions to Spares. The Bull Motif part the biggest maker and supplier of A30/ that dilemma. Whatever, Bull Motif’s wire wheel specialist Motor Wheel Ser- woods. Tel: +44 (0)1993 707200 of the name is a nod to Morris Mo- A35 ones - it is also an ever-growing long-standing philosophy of offering vice International of Slough, that’s been Email: [email protected] tors’ own badge, and indeed the provisioner of items for classic . quality products at competitive prices, repairing old ones and creating new Last but by no means least, if your clas- emblem of Oxford itself. Historians combined with a proven level of ser- ones for the veteran, vintage and classic sic has a BMC A Series engine under the Editorial: would argue the Fitton’s company The company exports to all corners vice, means it can surely look forward fraternity for almost 90 years. bonnet, there’s a fair chance you’ll know Gordon Bruce Associates should therefore have been dubbed of the world for the benefit of spe- to the next 25 years with optimism. of BMH approved specialist Bull Motif Email: [email protected] Ox Motif, but one has to admit it cialist suppliers, garages, car clubs, More details at www.bullmotif.com. The skill and courage of our WWII pilots Spares. If not you probably should, as Web: www.gordonbruce.com doesn’t have quite the same ring. is well chronicled, but the extraordinary they stock no less than 11,000 replace-

story of how their aeroplanes and related ment parts for Morris Minors, Austin Design and production: On joining the business in late 1991 supplies were transported from the fac- A30/35s and classic Minis – see our Flipside Group their son Mark realised its rural tories to the airfields is less well known. Dealer Spotlight page for details. www.flipsidegroup.com Cotswold location would benefit greatly Read all about the equally brave men and from the ‘Viking Direct’ strategy of free women of the Air Transport Auxiliary on Enjoy! delivery, and Bull Motif was the first pages 10-13, plus what it’s like to ‘take supplier of classic car parts to offer to the skies’ in a Spitfire simulator! Ever such a facility (nowadays this applies Follow us on: wondered why the DB Series of Aston to all UK orders over £60 plus VAT). Ex- @MotoringClassic Martins was so named? This issue’s pansion continued and in the late ‘90s Classic Character features Sir David the purchase of an Austin A30/A35 Motoring Classics Brown, the fascinating entrepreneur Gordon Bruce parts company was followed by that behind those famous initials, while our Editor of a Morris Minor specialist. Ten years equally regular Missing Moniker column later a small Mini parts concern was concerns the bizarrely aerodynamic Bur- similarly integrated. In 2010 the firm ney Streamline produced in Maidenhead moved to its current home – a mod- between 1930 and 1936. www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com England In a previous issue of Motoring Classics Dashwood Hill hillclimb, Bucks – this ated with Robert Bamford were christened (Autumn, 2014) we reflected on Bexhill’s ran for four years and took place on the Aston Martins. claim to be ‘The Birthplace of British Mo- old -Oxford road (now the A40) Britain tor Racing’. It’s a great story, but there are between the Dashwood Arms pub and A number of the aforementioned 800-plus many ways of cutting a cake and, while it Studley Green. The first meeting in Octo- venues were used only once, often as the could be regarded as the first purpose-built ber 1899 was won by John Montagu of result of an accident. Take the Stanmer Park race course (as opposed to circuit), it’s a Beaulieu (father of the recently deceased Hillclimb near Brighton that was organised fact that at least 11 other English venues Edward Montagu) at the wheel of a Daimler by the Brighton & Hove Motor Club in June, pipped its first event of 1902 to the post; 1948. A youngster called Stirling Moss an- some of which were in use as far back as Aston Hill hillclimb, Oxfordshire – this nexed the 500cc class in his Cooper-JAP, 1899, including: steep and hazardous section of what is but the more powerful cars were finding ON TRACK now the A40 between Stokenchurch and insufficient space to stop at the finish, and An off-the-wall peek at UK motorsport - past and present Petersham Hill hillclimb, London – first Tetsworth was first used (up and down) in the event is best remembered for Bob held in June 1899, this was possibly the October 1899 as part of the Automobile Gerard’s second run in his ERA, that skid- Several countries inevitably claim to be the home of motorsport, earliest speed event to be sanctioned on Club of Great Britain and Ireland’s (ACGBI) ded under braking from a 50.87 second Britain’s public roads, for which 40 entries 100 mile trial. The venue is not to be con- climb, scattered pedestrians every which 4 of which France, the US and the UK are arguably the strongest were received. The winner was the soon to fused with the Aston Clinton Hill hillclimb way and hit a pair of parked cars before contenders. A few of the many ticks in our box include: be famous Charles Rolls (as in Rolls-Royce) in Bucks that so took the fancy of special coming to rest against a tree. The planned 3 5 aboard a Panhard builder Lionel Martin that the cars he cre- follow-up never occurred! • The world’s first ecordedr race of and Brighton Speed Trials is generally • The has produced by ‘two self-propelled road vehicles over regarded as the oldest running motor far the most F1 champions – 10. Next a prescribed route’ took place between race – they were both founded in 1905 are Brazil and Finland with 3 each Ashton-under-Lyne and Old Trafford in • was the world’s first • The number of race and speed venues 1867, in flagrant breach of the edr flag purpose-built motor racing circuit, employed in the British Isles since act in force at the time! created in 1907 1899 is in excess of 800! • Shelsley Walsh hillclimb is the oldest • Of the 11 current F1 teams, motorsport event to be staged 7 are UK-based continuously on its original course,

Above left: 500cc F3 racers, Crystal Palace, 1955. Above right: Parry Thomas raised the World Land Speed record to 170mph on Pendine Sands in April 1926. Main picture: Archie Frazer-Nash attacks Kop Hill in GN ‘Kim II’, 1922 (Photo: MPL, National Motor Museum)

Continued overleaf>

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Above: Raymond Mays loses a wheel from his Bugatti ‘Cordon Bleu’, Above: Jim Clark pressing on in the Border Reivers D-Type Above: The International Tourist Trophy race was held on the fearsome Above: Gone but certainly not forgotten – Rest And Be Thankful Caerphilly Mountain hillclimb, 1924 (Photo: MPL, National Motor Museum) Jaguar, Charterhall, 1958 Ards circuit from 1928 to 1936 (Photo: MPL, National Motor Museum) hillclimb, Glen Croe 6 The repercussions of an accident at the country’s first purpose-built post-war cir- people. Sadly, the cars eventually became 3 7 Essex Motor Club’s March 28, 1925 cuit on re-opening its gates to motorcycle too quick for the circuit and it closed in Scotland Wales Ireland meeting at Kop Hill, Bucks were more far and then car racing in April 1950. Initially 1972, but an annual sprint on part of the The first official speed event on Scottish The first recognised motorsport in Wales was Motorsport seems to have officially kicked- reaching. Crowd control was not what it is it was operated anti-clockwise, with the old track keeps the flame flickering. soil appears to have been Birkhill hillclimb. the Butrill’s Hill hillclimb of July 1905, which off in Ireland in 1903 – at Ballybannon hill- today and one particular spectator, who’d slower but safer option of clockwise rota- Sited north-east of Moffat, it was utilised attracted 45 entries and was won by G S climb in the North and Phoenix Park, Dublin ignored repeated requests to retreat from tion being adopted from 1954. Formerly a USAAF bomber base, the as part of the ACGBI’s 1,000 mile trial in Seccombe aboard a Wolseley. The inaugural in the South, and by now the Republic has uti- the roadside, had his leg broken when circuit at Boreham near Chelmsford only 1900. The fastest time fell to that man Rolls open hillclimb was run on the scary-looking lised some 100 venues for speed and race Francis Giveen lost control of the famous By 1953 much of England had ready survived a few years (1949-1952) as a again, who averaged a heady 16mph in his Caerphilly Mountain – a venue used on and events and Northern Ireland a further 46. The ex-Raymond Mays Bugatti ‘Cordon Bleu’. access to race tracks. Not so the North- race circuit, but nevertheless attracted Panhard, four up. The wonderfully-named off from 1907 to 1924. Wales’s total of c.44 Tourist Trophy races on the fearsome Ards Concerns about the likelihood of such ac- West, however, which prompted the crea- crowds of over 20,000 to witness the Rest And Be Thankful hillclimb dates back to speed and race venues naturally includes and Dundrod circuits are the stuff of legend cidents had been growing for some time, tion of Oulton Park by the Mid-Cheshire likes of Moss, Gonzalez, Villoresi, Haw- 1906, but the first post-war event on this old Pendine Sands, the scene of those unforget- and, of course, Eddie Irvine came within a and within days permits for speed events Car Club on land then owned by the Grey- thorn and Collins doing battle in the Grand military road occurred in 1949 and was won table land speed record attempts by the likes gnat’s of winning the 1999 World Champion- on the highways of England, Wales and Egerton family. These days Oulton Park, Prix cars of the day. Of course the venue by Raymond Mays in an ERA. A bridge, nu- of Campbell, Eyston and Parry Thomas that ship when driving for Scuderia Ferrari. Never- Scotland had been withdrawn; a situation Brands Hatch, Snetterton and Cadwell later found fame as the base of Ford’s all- merous severe bumps, a hairpin bend and ultimately cost Thomas his life. However, theless, it is rallying rather than racing that’s that, with certain exceptions, was only re- Park in Lincolnshire all belong to Jonathan conquering rally team, but is now home errant sheep were all part of the challenge of these venues are only part of the story, as by far the most popular form of motorsport, versed as recently as last July. The good Palmer’s Motorsport Vision concern. to a gravel quarry and the Essex police this rugged course that can still be seen from Wales has also produced a forest of good north and south of the border. The likes of news is that local enthusiasts had already helicopter unit. the A83 today. Those lucky enough to have rally men, not least Prodrive Chairman David Kris Meeke have made their mark, but to this managed to get Kop Hill Climb reinstated Two former circuits worthy of mention attended the Winfield, Crimond or Charterh- Richards who co-drove Ari Vatanen to victory day Paddy Hopkirk remains the most famous as a non-competitive event from 1999, are Crystal Palace and Boreham. Sited a It is interesting to note which parts of the all airfields in the late ‘50s would, of course, in the 1981 World Rally Championship. of the breed – the man from Belfast who so and it now ranks as one of the most mere nine miles from London’s West End, UK have boasted the greatest percentage have witnessed the emergence of one of the famously won the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally popular old car gatherings in the South the Palace officially opened to motorcy- of those 800-plus race and speed venues, greatest talents the sport has ever known – in a Mini, as well as countless other interna- of England. cles in 1927. Cars followed, attracting the and top with c.36 is ‘God’s Own County’, Jim Clark. Scotland has created some 65 tional events. major stars of the day – eg the Siamese Yorkshire, second with c.30 is neighbour- race and speed venues in its time, not to The end of WWII left the country with Prince Bira won both the London Grand ing Lancashire and third, the so-called mention two multiple World Champion driv- dozens of potential race circuits in the Prix and the International Imperial Trophy ‘Garden of England’, Kent, with c.26. ers – Clark (2) and Jackie Stewart (3). form of disused airfields. Among the best of 1937 aboard his ERA ‘Romulus’; the lat- known aerodromes that were successfully ter event was the first motor race meeting converted and remain in use today are: ever to be broadcast live on TV. The glory Silverstone, Goodwood, Thruxton, Castle years for this miniature Nürburgring were Combe and Snetterton. Donington is a 1953 to the early 1970s, when it regularly purpose-built track that came into being played host to such international stars as Right: Villoresi, Ferrari 375, 1952 in 1931, while the fields of Brands Hatch Moss, Brabham, Hill, Clark, Stewart and International Trophy race, Boreham were used for cycle and then dirt track Surtees. The crowds were invariably huge (Photo: MPL, National Motor Museum) racing from as early as 1926. Following – eg the opening of the revised circuit in much upgrading, the area became the 1953 reportedly attracted c.100,000

www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com MISSING MONIKER Burney Streamline Sir David Brown (1904-1993) Back in 1927 car design and aero- innovations was the housing of spare reportedly knocked down an unfortunate dynamics were still relatively unac- wheels within the rear doors, the weight girl cyclist with it), while the Lycoming- quainted with each other – unless that of which unsurprisingly imposed a major engined car was displayed at the Detroit is the vehicle in question was penned strain on the hinges and surrounding met- Motorshow, though failed to elicit Ameri- by somebody with aeronautical knowl- alwork. can custom. edge. That is certainly the back story to the extraordinary Burney Stream- Suspension was independent all-round, In 1934 Crossley Motors acquired a li- line, which was the brainchild of Sir while double track-rod steering endowed cence to modify and sell the model. The Charles Dennistoun Burney, who’d the vehicle with a 50 degree lock and 39ft resulting 25 cars were better looking and previously been the driving force be- taxi-challenging turning circle. Volume powered by Crossley’s own 2-litre engine hind the R100 airship. manufacture was never seriously con- driving through a Wilson pre-selector gear- templated and the Streamline was initially box. However, the handling resulting from In an effort to minimise drag and optimise more a showcase for Burney’s aforemen- such excessive rear overhang remained

8 performance and fuel consumption, the tioned innovations. As a result only 13 an issue and Streamline Cars finally Streamline lived up to its name by featur- examples were made – one prototype closed its doors in 1936. 3 9 ing a rear-mounted engine that permitted based on an Alvis chassis, and 12 produc- a short rounded nose leading to a nota- tion cars. The first of these were powered bly curved body even longer than that of by straight-eight Beverley-Barnes engines, a Rolls-Royce Phantom II. Aerodynamic while the last of the line were equipped efficiency was additionally enhanced by with Armstrong-Siddeley ones and then faired-in headlamps, cycle wings that a Lycoming unit. Whereas the prototype turned with the front wheels and a fully was commenced in the R100 airship Every James Bond aficionado can Amherst Villiers, to create and race a near- owner and breeder. Though has encased underbody. The sizeable interior hanger at Howden, subsequent examples recognise an Aston Martin DB5, as identical car, with which he won his class subsequently changed hands several times could seat seven people in comfort and were manufactured on the Cordwallis Es- driven by the famous fictional spy several times at Shelsley Walsh and at least and Brown himself died in 1993, his legacy boasted sufficient headroom for ‘a man to tate, Maidenhead, from where the GWK in the films Gold Finger, Thunder- 13 races on Southport Sands in the early lives on in today’s highly-desirable DB11. enter without removing his top hat’, or ‘a and Marendaz marques also emanated. ball and Skyfall. But how many know ‘30s. Acquiring a farm in 1936 encouraged debutante to board without crushing her The brand did achieve one notable buyer, what those evocative letters DB stand him to add another string to the Brown fam- ostrich feathers’! One of the car’s many namely HRH The Prince of Wales (who for? The answer is David Brown, the ily bow - Ferguson-Brown tractors. thrice-married knight of the realm, who not only rose to manage the en- It was in 1947 that ‘to have a bit of fun’ gineering company established by his Brown purchased the then ailing sports car grand-father, but acquired for it the manufacturer Aston Martin for the princely high-speed boat manufacturer Vosper sum of £20,500. The first product of the and prestige car makers Aston Martin new union was the 2 Litre Sports model (ret- and . rospectively dubbed the DB1), a stripped- down version of which won the 1948 Spa Born in 1904 to Huddersfield’s first lady 24 Hour race in the hands of St John Hors- driver, he had the need for speed and per- fall and Leslie Johnson. Acquiring Lagonda formed sufficiently well in local competi- shortly after Aston allowed Brown to marry tions on the Reading Standard motorcycle the Claude Hill chassis of the DB1 with the his father bought him to commute on, that W.O. -penned twin-cam engine of the Douglas invited him to be a reserve rider for 2.6 Litre Lagonda to create the DB2, and their TT team – an opportunity that was un- then DB2/4 – the world’s first hatchback. ceremoniously quashed as soon as Brown And it was during the Brown era that Aston senior learnt of it! Undeterred, while still Martin annexed the World Sportscar Cham- apprenticed to the family firm, ‘DB’ built his pionship with the DBR1. own car from scratch, the ‘Davbro’, which he employed to court his first wife, Daisy A man of many talents, Sir David Brown was Firth. And, while making supercharger gears not only a successful industrialist who raced Top: The Horsfall/Johnson 2 Litre Sports en route to victory at Spa (Photo: MPL, National Above: The prototype Burney for the Vauxhall racer of Raymond Mays, he motorcycles and cars but was a qualified pi- Motor Museum). Above: Sir David Brown Streamline posing in London, did a deal with the supercharger’s designer, lot, yachtsman, polo player, and racehorse at whose wealthy it was primarily (Photo: Aston Martin Heritage Trust) aimed (Photo: MPL, National Motor Museum) www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com FORGOTTEN The remarkable story of the Air FLYERS Transport Auxiliary Watching emotive films like ‘Battle Of Britain’ and ‘The Dambusters’ brings home the outstanding bravery and skill of our RAF pilots, and the national genius behind the Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancasters etc they flew to victory. But have you ever stopped to think how those aircraft and related supplies constantly came to be in the right place at the right time? That was the task of 10 the relatively unsung Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), that over the 6 years of WWII delivered some 11 309,000 aircraft of 147 different types, without the assistance of radio, instrument instruction or protection of weapons, and in the face of such constant potentially lethal distractions as the enemy, ‘friendly fire’, barrage balloons and the notoriously fickle British weather.

Back in 1938, a then Director of British rife in such fields and female pilots were Airways, Gerard d’Erlanger, had the fore- not only a rare breed but frowned upon by sight to realise far more pilots than even many. The exception that proved the rule the fighting force of the RAF would be was , a commercial pilot of needed to successfully protect Britain from over 2,000 hours experience who had al- invasion – those he had in mind included ready overseen the training and licencing flyers ineligible for the by of numerous civilian pilots, and it was she being too old, colour-blind or even partially who was appointed to command the ATA’s disabled. Luke warm interest was super- first batch of eight female flyers. Based at seded by rapid action once war became Hatfield near the De Havilland factory, they inevitable, and on August 29, 1939, 1,000 were initially only entrusted with the ferry- Above: Gerard d’Erlanger male airmen were circulated with the offer ing of open biplanes and, to make matters of serving their country by ferrying aero- worse, many of the early deliveries were planes between factories, aircraft storage to the North of England or Scotland in mid- and maintenance units, training and opera- winter – the fact was, nobody else wanted tional airfields, scrapyards etc, on behalf of the task and light trainers were the cheap- the hastily formed Air Transport Auxiliary. est aircraft to replace, should the women One hundred applied, from which 30 be- break them. Gower’s cryptic but apt com- came the first members of the ATA or, as ment on this bigoted attitude was appar- d’Erlanger himself nicknamed his recruits, ently: “(It’s assumed) the hand that rocked ‘Ancient and Tattered Airmen’. the cradle wrecked the kite.” Continued overleaf> WOMEN TO THE RESCUE

More remarkable is that within a few fur- Right, main image: The amazing ther weeks the Under Secretary of State being dwarfed by a Short Stirling four-engined bomber she’d just delivered Right, inset: Lady for Air proposed the ATA should open its ATA pilots taking tea at Hatfield, 1940, including Above: Pauline Gower ranks to women. Male chauvinism was the first eight to be assigned to the organisation

www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF MAIDENHEAD HERITAGE CENTRE www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com 12 make sure you’re downbythen.”Shedid! “You willrunout offuelafter35minutes,so lis’ flightbriefingamountedtono more than: first Meteorjet,theaforementioned MaryEl- well too,forexample,ondelivering thevery and womenwouldencounter. And justas every makeandtypeofaircraft theair-men 4 inchringboundbookscontaineddetailsof Pilots Notes’. These potentially life-saving 6 x fore lefttothepilotandtheircopyof‘Ferry ing thevagariesofeachmodelwasthere- thebasicsofeachcategory.impart Learn- to takeaccountof,itwasonlypossible stages but,withsome147typesofaircraft A 210 different airfields. ered intheregion of1,000aeroplanes to plane for‘him’.Shereckons shealonedeliv- the pilotandinsistedonsearching the aero- crew whoinitiallyrefused tobelieveshewas of delivering a Wellington bomber to ground (now 99yearsyoung)stillrecounts thestory Moggridge, whilethediminutiveMaryEllis Barnato Walker and‘Spitfire Girl’byJackie ographies as ‘Spreading by Diana My Wings’ cockpit canbe found in such grippingautobi- An insightintotheATA women’s timeinthe Oxford from Prestwick toKidlington. died inbadweatherwhileferryinganAirspeed ing thepioneeringaviatrixAmyJohnson,who teen femaleslosttheirlivestotheATA, includ- employers.Fif- the firstEqualOpportunities awarded equal pay, makingtheATA one of butduring 1943 werecounterparts, finally girls earned20percent lessthantheirmale tus with afour-engined bomber. Initially the achievedsimilarsta- Autumn LetticeCurtis ricane fighter(July1941),whilethefollowing became thefirsttobecheckedoutonaHur- the very largest Winnie Crossley flying boats. RAF andFleetAirArm,withtheexceptionof permitted toflyeverytypeoperatedbythe non-combat aircraft theywere ultimately even Argentina andChile.Progressing from America,Australasia,SouthAfricaand North They hailedfrom Britain,mainlandEurope, no lessthan168were employedbytheATA. to the task andoverthesix years of conflict However, theladieswere more thanequal of all trades and ready to fly ‘A craft, whereas anATA onehadtobeajack typeofair- inhis/herparticular be anexpert and anATA onewasthattheformerhadto The majordistinctionbetweenanRAFpilot TRADES ALL OF JACK nywhere’. Training progressed through six nything ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF MAIDENHEAD HERITAGE CENTRE T o

the ATA –seewww.atamuseum.org. tion ‘Grandma Flew Spitfires’ is dedicated to Centre, where theexcellentpermanent exhibi- from thelatterisMaidenheadHeritage Waltham. Oneminute’s flying timebySpitfire Ringwayandtheone-timeHQ,White Ratcliffe, ous airfieldsincludingHamble,Whitchurch, an’s Badge,whileATA memorialsexist atvari- were finally recognised withaspecial Veter- In 2008allsurvivingmembersoftheATA Airlift andpioneered low-costairtravel. went on toplay an activerole in the Berlin 11,800 hoursinherlogbook.Freddie Laker bird 6’,andeventuallyretired in1985with ing Machines’,‘TheBlueMax’and‘Thunder- films as‘ThoseMagnificentMeninTheirFly- of militaryaircraft. Post-warshe flewinsuch only womanqualifiedtoinstructonalltypes Great Britainandprogressed tobeingthe 17 hadbeentheyoungestfemaleflyerin Exceptions includedJoanHugheswho,at had no option but to retire from the skies. far toofewcivilianjobs.MostATA veterans was asurplusofpilotsalltypeschasing Of coursetheminutewarendedthere both anarmandeyeinWWI. throughout itsexistencedespitehavinglost the ATA Keith-Jopp,whoflew wasStewart cessful employmentofadisabledpilotby train. Arguably thebestexampleofsuc- same wayor, iftheywere lesslucky, ona Fairchild Argus. Thingswouldendmuchthe of a grouppart aboard an Anson or by beingferriedtotheirfirstaeroplane as out thewarwas141)andfrequently began (their averagecombineddailytotalthrough- expect todeliverseveralaircraft eachday cessfully from mixedpools. Pilots could the men,ultimatelytheyoperatedverysuc- initially thewomenworkedseparatelyfrom and LossiemouthnearInverness.And,while asHamblenearSouthampton as farapart Ferry Control atAndoverand14FerryPools White Waltham nearMaidenhead, Central were spread at betweentheHeadquarters etc. They ers, nurses, doctors, admin. staff rescue driv- teams,met.officers,transport ground school instructors, engineers, crash crew, theremainder comprisedflyingand tries. Around 18percent ofthesewere air- over 7,000menandwomenfrom 25coun- By theendofwarATA hademployed

Gower pose with an Airspeed an with pose Gower

Sale-Barker, and Pauline Pauline and Patterson Gabrielle Sale-Barker,

Above: Above:

at White Waltham White at

Above: Above: Lettice Curtis, Jenny Broad, Audrey Audrey Broad, Jenny Curtis, Lettice

Above: Hatfield female pilots in full flying gear

Above: Diana Barnato-Walker boards a Spitfire. She later became the first woman

in the world to break the

ATA staff pose with an Avro Anson Anson Avro an with pose staff ATA

The Editor‘takes tothe skies’inaSpitfire simulator CHOCKS AWAY AWAY CHOCKS - IN MAIDENHEAD! IN - ALL IMAGES COURTESYOFMAIDENHEAD HERITAGE CENTRE and you won’t be in complete charge for is itwillcostyou£2,750for30 minutes Goodwood andBigginHill.Thedownside to the skiesina full-size Spit from both change inCAAregulations, youcantake It’s true to say that, since the recent MHC isbreathing downyour neck! especially when the Chairman of the WWII pilot)issimplynotanoption; with thewheelsup(asdidmanya the prop duringtaxiing,orlanding the respect – burying itdeserves you treat this hero of the skies with concentration overloadensuring a novicepilot,you’llquicklybeon So muchsothatif,likeme,you’re goodness it’s uncannilyr head HeritageCentre (MHC),butmy sits onthefirstfloorofMaiden a cockpitandfivemonitors, cause itamountstolittlemore than tor. You knowit’s asimulatorbe Spitfir is astate-of-the-art tion andarchive mentionedopposite The centrepiece oftheATA exhibi eal to‘fly’. e simula - - - - cramped thecockpitis,andthat’ century lator for 15 minutes the bargain of the for takingfullcontrol oftheMHCsimu one second, which surely makes £7.50 for fulldetails. www.maidenheadheritage.org popular, sopre-booking is essential–see Suitable forthoseaged9-90itisinevitably Spitfire istotallyaddictive. We’ll see! neighbours!). Myonlyfearisthat MHC’s normally toneddownindeference tothe you’d expectfrom aMerlin(thoughit’s super sensitiveandthesoundjustwhat of allenergy. Fabulous! Thecontrols are airfield withoutdrama,thoughdrained and loopheadedbacktothesame abarreldown theSolent,performed role its maidenflightonMarch 5,1936),flew the Spitfire prototype –K5054made fr obeyed’, Itookoff able instructionsfrom ‘hewhomustbe and,withsuit was shiningformysortie out flyingjacket,parachuteetc.Thesun . Thefirstthingyounoticeishow

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Centr While visitingtheMaidenheadHeritage Motorcars too once madether vour forthetown’s carindustry. Marques ish car–StirlingMossaboard aVanwall. Prix victorybyaBritishdriverandBrit the 70thanniversaryofBritishGrand tended tomountanexhibitionmarking at MHCinthepast,and2017itis Examples ofeachhavebeendisplayed Vanwall andBurney (as featured on P8). enough tohave‘flown’ MHC’s Spitfire simulator Maidenhead, Theresa May, isamongthoselucky Above: HomeSecretary andtheMPfor e you,likeme,cangetaweefla www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com e includeGWK,Mar HERITAGE MAIDENHEAD CENTRE

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WIRESWITHIN WHEELS HOW MOTOR WHEEL SERVICE KEEPS OUR CLASSICS TURNING Let’s be honest, most of we classic car owners have a love-hate relationship with wire wheels. There’s no denying they set our vehicles off a treat, but they’re a pain in the proverbial to maintain. Thank goodness then for Motor Wheel Above: Truing wire wheels is a skilled Service International Ltd (MWS) who’ve been in the business of manufacturing and time consuming task Below, L to R: The exterior of MWS’s and restoring such items since 1927, and are now a worldwide one-stop- smart modern premises; tyre fitting; wheel wheel-shop for the owners of veteran, vintage and classic cars. building in progress; piercing a new rim; the Cutteridge balancing kit; tyre balancing 3 15 14

products from the Midlands to Wheels company’s turnover. Since 2003, MWS upkeep and are up to 1.5kg lighter - the wheels, however, for which restoration Speaking historically Talking Technical downside is they are dearer by around can often result in significant saving. India Ltd in Chennai (Madras) and grant- has also been a distributor for Blockley £100 a corner and have a slight yel- In such turbulent times, it’s rare to find ed MWS exclusive worldwide distribu- tyres and, in addition to the wheel repair 1.Replacement wheels tion rights. The original machinery was workshop and offices, the smartly pre- lowy tinge that could be unacceptable 2. Restored wheels a successful company that’s remained Wheels India is a vast manufacturing relocated and a number of Dunlop staff sented premises house stocks of some to those requiring optimum originality. in family hands for nigh on 90 years – enterprise that produces many types When off-the-shelf replacement wheels were involved in overseeing the crea- 65 Blockley crossply and radial prod- Most MWS wheels are now available for they’ve usually gone to the wall or been of wheels as well as other products. Its are unavailable, or are vetoed on the tion of the new production line; as was ucts, and feature a tyre bay where they tubeless tyres – the only outward differ- swallowed up by bigger fish. MWS was quality control is understood to be very grounds of originality, MWS’s impres- Smith himself – by then affectionately can be fitted to the veteran, vintage and ence being the safety humps for holding founded in Shepherds Bush, London high, with stringent checks carried out sive workshop steps into the breach. known as ‘George The Wheel’. By 1988 classic cars of retail customers. Other the tyre in place. and, having worked there for a number on a regular basis. Despite the scale of Suitable rims and centres are taken the company had begun relocating to products are constantly being added of years, George Smith assumed con- its international business, the company from stock and punched and drilled as the larger premises it now occupies in to an already long list that currently The choice of restoring some existing trol in 1947. Following continued ex- continues to work very closely with required. New spokes are fashioned Langley, Slough and control was being includes: centre-lock and bolt-on wire wheels or fitting replacement ones is pansion, the company was awarded ex- MWS to broaden its wire wheel offering (interestingly, the metal is pressed to transferred to George’s son Colin. wheels in painted, chrome and stainless generally a no-brainer unless originality clusive rights for the UK distribution of and refine existing products. Chromed create the thread rather than cut) and steel finishes; splined hubs; knock-on is a key issue as, with today’s unfavour- Dunlop’s wire wheel products in 1978, stainless steel spokes and nipples now then laced on a jig. The latter process is These days MWS boasts 19 employ- centre caps; studs and retaining nuts. It able chroming costs, restoration typi- which at the time included OEM supply feature on all chrome wheels, reducing extremely skilled and can be very time ees and enjoys worldwide sales of over also features: straight-side, beaded, ra- cally works out at around £550-600 per to the – a rela- corrosion and making them easier to consuming – the outer spokes adjust 20,000 new wire wheels per annum zor and rolled edge replacement rims, wheel, plus VAT – certainly 99 percent tionship that continues to this day. maintain. Fully stainless steel wheels the lateral run-out of the wheel while the to a customer base of some 5,800. centres and spokes for the restoration of MWS’s customers nowadays opt for are also available for some fitments. inner set dictate how true it is in the ver- Around 3,000 of these are located over- of existing wheels – see www.mwsint. like-for-like replacements. This is not It was in the early 1980s that Dunlop The bonuses are they require minimal tical plane. seas and account for 36 percent of the com for details of all available fitments. necessarily the best answer for pre-war relocated manufacture of its wire wheel Continued overleaf>

www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com 16 www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com WIRES

IN WHEELS IN WITH Gary Gardner: “Brakedustandroad salts lar maintenance.SaidGeneral Manager ever thefinish,wire wheelsneed regu- pany is at pains to point out that, what- stainless steeloption.However, thecom- in MWScreating theaforementioned full lower maintenancewire wheel,resulting Morgan’s OEMrequirements demanded care Wheel 4. lock wheels. tains cupstofit42and52mmcentre- and 40mmbalancingspindles,con- are designed to accommodate 36, 38 ancing kit,whoseinterchangeable parts problem, MWSsellstheCutteridgebal- are locatedonthecar. To overcome the –ieasthey via theirmachinedsurfaces they are notcapableofmountingthem outlets are unsuitableforwire wheels,as chines employedbymanymoderntyre knowingthatbalancingma- It isworth Balancing 3.

a

power tools. also sellscleaningbrushesforusewith and disposablegloves.Thecompany solutions, dispenser, applicatorbrush kit thatincludescleaningandprotective MWS’s growing listofaccessoriesisa sion isanirreversible process.” Among rust,ascorroyou alsomustanysurface - remove themasquicklypractical, soon astheylandanditisimperativeto as begin attackingthewheelsurface erally corrode from theinside outwards.” especiallyasrimsgen- component parts; that onecanfullyreview thestateof - it’s notuntiltheoldtyres are removed need neworrefurbished wheelsaswell request asetoftyres, onlytofind they Said Gardner: “Customers sometimes with care anywheelstheyencounter. to whichtheyare affixedandMWSchecks Tyres are onlyasefficientthewheels first Safety 5. on thisfascinatingcompany. See E-Type arises. whenevertheopportunity ting behindthewheelofdad’s SeriesIII has proved himself ‘one of us’ by get- in most aspects ofthe business and eration –hehasalready beengroomed Oliver, takingthefirm intoitsthird gen- will beassumedbyColinSmith’s son models. Inthecomingyearshelm wheels, asfittedtotheRoverP5andP6 currently consideringrecreating Rostyle range ofproducts –forexample,itis and isforever lookingatincreasing its MWS hasbeenexpandingsincedayone The future stocked byMWS Blockley crossply andradialtyres are Above: www.mwsint.com formore details Some 65 different types of Some 65different typesof

GETTING SHIRTY GETTING all thecoolingand brakingproducts from aforementioned Piloti shoesand shirts, this year, Silverstone,June4/5,where the We willhaveourusualpresence atMG Live! sics.co.uk) andtheMG Car Clubshop. Motoring Classics Motoring Silverstone herewe come Classics Motoring wear. Theyare availablenowfrom both ers anddistributorsofhighqualityleisure for usbyAutoRacingClub;manufactur- that’vebeenproducedand sweatshirts clusive newrangeofMG-brandedpolo pleased to announcea unique and ex- On the within 12months. time in severalyears there may be a need fora second one pleted arunofthese,yetinterest issohighthatforthefirst is anincreasing callforMGMidgetshells.We havejustcom- strong demandforthisservicetoo.Theotherinteresting trend time, however, ofthisyearhasseen anotably theearlypart We haveprovided theoptionofpaintedshellsforquitesome level of demand has carried over into the early builds for 2016. strong2015 wasaparticularly periodforsuchsales,andthat the Mini,totalnumbersandmodelderivativebreakdown varyconsiderablyyearonyear. hard topredict and,whilstweusuallyscheduletwobatchesperannumforboththeMGBand everyotherBritishmarqueof virtually from thesameera.Thiselementofourbusinessisquite products seeminglytakenforgrantedbyMGandMinienthusiasts,buttheenvyofsupporters British MotorHeritage(BMH)iswellknownforitsextensiverangeofreplacement bodyshells- Managing Director JohnYea reveals all Motoring Classics Classics Motoring willbeondisplay and

(www.motoringclas- front I am design thanthepoloone–price£45. more isnevertheless subtlein sweatshirt features atwobandwhitestripe,butthe logos andasmallracingcar. Thecollar the rightchest,plusBMHandSafetyFast Heritage bluewithMGbadgeinred on front isalso –price£35.Thesweatshirt right chestandachequermotifacross the the number 5, an MG badge in red on the isHeritageblue,featuresThe poloshirt much lookforward to meetingyouthere. range ofproducts wenowoffer. We very and guideyouthrough theever-increasing will beonhandtoanswerany questions ready forsale.Asalwaysoursalesstaff BMH FROM www.motoringclassics.co.uk www.bmh-ltd.com

17 Motoring Classics in

British Motor Heritage MD John Yea reports from the cockpit

Our motorsport activities began to get the best from this MG. Unfor- able to cut the ignition and coast to early this year with the opportunity tunately, selecting the wrong gear the outside of the circuit - the oil fil- to test the MGB GTV8 ‘soft tune’ caused the water pump to smite the ter had become detached allowing car at Snetterton on March 4. The radiator. Russ cured the resultant all the oil to escape, so it was an weather in the lead up was terrible leak, but it did restrict our amount early return home. so, though I know the Snetterton of track time. Nonetheless, it was 300 circuit reasonably well, the all very useful and I much look for- The engine survived though, so prospect of driving a strange car ward to racing ‘Kermit’ – the clue’s on Saturday, April 2 we headed in poor conditions was pretty daunt- in the colour! to Silverstone for the first race of ing - in fact it turned out clear and the season on the Grand Prix cir- sunny. Russ McCarthy had kindly The next outing was the March 30 cuit - the Coy’s Trophy. The entry driven up with the car to enable the HRDC trackday at Goodwood - an included TVR Griffiths, AC Cobras, two novices, myself and Paul Ray- opportunity to dust off the A40. E-Type Jaguars, HRDC cars, plus ment, to carry out the test and Paul Again we were blessed with fantas- some A35 Academy ones, so some went first on a slightly damp track, tic weather, and our planned activity real speed differential issues were Photo – Jeff Bloxham while I enjoyed what was essentially was for technical guru Ralph and I in store. Qualifying saw us under

18 a dry circuit. to both drive the car and continue the three minute mark, and second

Photo – David Savidge 19 its development. I completed two HRDC Touring Great; albeit 23rd This was my first experience of one sessions in the morning, and chang- on the grid. Going to the start the of these cars, which didn’t seem to es from the first one immediately ignition warning light was staying resulted in some massive braking I held third at the start of the race, be massively more powerful than made the car turn into corners bet- on and on the warm up lap one car as we caught the safety car on the but the Naismith Austin Westmin- my FIA car. However, whilst I was ter. More alterations were made at shed a large fibreglass bonnet, lit- entry to Copse. After two laps the ster breezed past me on the Coop- able to enjoy the better brakes (four lunchtime, but the ensuing session tering the track with debris. We A40 was running fine, the ignition er Straight. Thereafter I was unable wheel discs in a lighter car) and nearly brought disaster. I left the began under the safety car, which I light no longer evident, and I made to maintain the pace of the three grip (modern Dunlop race tyres as pits with everything fine, but the oil thought meant we would file away in my mandatory stop as soon as the front cars, but was comfortably opposed to historic ones) it was pressure light came on as I entered order, but the majority took to mean pit lane opened. However, with only ahead of the following pack. I had clear I would need to up my game the first corner. Fortunately, I was a full bore conventional start, which Ralph to assist, it took far too long a scary moment passing the huge and the engine cut out half way Cadillac which, having held me up round the first lap; the battery now through Druids, thumped me in the completely flat due to the earlier passenger door as I went by - the Photo – Jeff Bloxham charging issues. biggest damage was to the sill from his ginormous bumpers. I pitted on Our next race on April 10 was the lap 16, and the practice paid off as first HRDC Touring Greats one on we took only 1 minute 14 seconds, the Brands Indy circuit. The car a real improvement on our usual felt super in qualifying and, after performance - a time of 1 minute a delay for officials to retrieve an remains the target, however. After upended Alfa from the Paddock all the stops we finished 3rd overall Photo – Jeff Bloxham Hill gravel, I ended up 3rd on the and first in Class S, a real result this grid, our best result to date. Rec- early in the season. ognising our real weakness over pit stops we did some practice - in particular getting me to exit the car in a timely manner. Chris Ryan had come to see how we were getting on and was roped in for helping at the stop.

Photo – Jeff Bloxham

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