Richard Bradley's 10 on an indoor stand                   Photo: Richard Bradley

 

The format of the Malvern Classic Car Show, which has always been one of the club's best supported events, changed dramatically for 2006 when the organiser changed from Ian Green who retired after some 20 years at the helm,  to Andrew Greenwood.

 

I must confess that I was a little apprehensive at the likely effect of the introduction of a charge of £2.50 per day per car when the event had previously been free for exhibitors  and some of our members had paid less than that for their cars (and I'm not joking when I say that !).

 

Unfortunately for October 2006 the weather was against us. We had a low turnout on the Saturday but caused a lot of head scratching for know-alls telling friends authoritatively that you could tell a 1950s 8 from a 10 because 10s had bootlids and 8s did not. The only 8s and 10s on display were my 8 which as the post 1957 Gold Star model has a bootlid and Harry Assheton-Smith's Family 10 which has the early 8 bootless bodyshell. We also had Patrick Brotherton's 10 van both days, a Flying 8 and Brian Shakespeare's Vanguard Phase 1A "Nellie" which was a late substitution for Steve Smeltzer's 1927 V4, which sadly succumbed to a serious mechanical problem just before the event , though Steve kindly made his passes available to Brian. Harry won a trophy in the ring for the best 1950s saloon.

 

Saturday ended for me with a downpour on the way home with which my 8 coped admirably. t was far more dramatic for Harry and Brian who stayed overnight on the showground when the gazebo of the Land Rover Club on our next door stand took off and demolished our flagpole fortunately missing anything else.  

 

On Sunday we had a far better turnout and a strong Welsh contingent with the Lewis' from Newport bringing a 1948 8A of the Flyer shape and a 1954 8 and the Goughs from Aberystwyth bringing their 1959 Gold Star 10. The 1950s range of 8s and 10s was completed by Mike Wilkes' Companion and the Ferris' Pennant. 

 

Steve Barr surprised us with a superb 1939 Flying 10 for which hopefully someone will soon surprise him by coming up with a response to his appeal in the magazine for the correct bumpers. Steve O'Hara's 9 and the Homer's Flying 12 Drophead completed the line-up (spooky, considering we were never there - webmaster!)

Brian Birch won a trophy in the arena in the 1950s category and the Standard contingent at the show was completed by new member Richard Bradley's 1955 10 on the indoor stand of his local club recently featured on the club website. If I've missed someone out of ( or put somebody into ) my tale, my apologies to them.

 

Sadly the show was brought to a premature end with another downpour which started at lunchtime and continued for the rest of the day. However Andrew Greenwood seems to be able to attract the Autojumblers and there were some good spares to be had so everyone went home happy.

  

Malvern 2007

I hope to organise stands for both of this year's shows on the weekends of 14th and 15th April and 20th and 21st October. (You are co-opted, Peter.)

 

If anyone wishes to come on the Club stand please could they send me a cheque for £2.50 per car per day payable to the Standard Motor Club which ensures an admission pass for 2 adults or OAPs and an unlimited number of children and also covers camping. Please could you include a SAE for each of the April and October shows and give details of your intended car (though this can be changed) and advise which day or days you wish to attend.

I propose to close bookings for the April show on 20th March and the October show on 20th September.

My contact details are Peter Lockley, 28 Wulfstan Drive, long Itchington, Warks, CV47 9QR 01926 813240 chairman@standardmotoclub.org.uk

Read the report of the Malvern Autumn 2006 show