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Re: my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 1:55 pm
by 23e Heure
Good sleuthing. Glad to see it being used in anger again.
My godfather owned several Alvis over the years.
He hit a deer in that Speed 20 around 2014ish.
The damage to the car was considerable, but the insurers paid to have it repaired properly (took over a year though).
Sadly by the time it was fixed he was not well enough to drive it any longer, and put it up for sale.
David Rouse was his name, a keen VSCC competitor for decades.
He recounted to me many fun tales of the events he did.
Including some kind of efficiency rally in the 70s (organised by the RAC maybe?).
An adjudicator travelled on board to make sure you didn’t do things like switch off the engine on downhill sections.
He told me that they got the adjudicator tipsy, which put him to sleep on the back seat!
Wish I’d spent more time with him, and recorded his experiences.
He gifted me my first ever camera, for my sixth birthday.
That camera, and his motoring exploits, undoubtedly m left and impression on me, still with me today.
Re: my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 3:44 pm
by Darren65
Ashley James wrote:Son pinching the Healey

....on the Latton road yesterday afternoon?
I was running and gave the driver a thumbs up, very nice

Re: my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 3:53 pm
by Ashley James
I’m not sure where he’s taken it Darren, but he does love the noisy old girl. It makes a gorgeous noise like a D type.
Re: my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 7:09 pm
by Winston Teague
23e Heure wrote:Good sleuthing. Glad to see it being used in anger again.
My godfather owned several Alvis over the years.
He hit a deer in that Speed 20 around 2014ish.
The damage to the car was considerable, but the insurers paid to have it repaired properly (took over a year though).
Sadly by the time it was fixed he was not well enough to drive it any longer, and put it up for sale.
David Rouse was his name, a keen VSCC competitor for decades.
He recounted to me many fun tales of the events he did.
Including some kind of efficiency rally in the 70s (organised by the RAC maybe?).
An adjudicator travelled on board to make sure you didn’t do things like switch off the engine on downhill sections.
He told me that they got the adjudicator tipsy, which put him to sleep on the back seat!
Wish I’d spent more time with him, and recorded his experiences.
He gifted me my first ever camera, for my sixth birthday.
That camera, and his motoring exploits, undoubtedly m left and impression on me, still with me today.
David & his wife were regulars on Light Car events in their Singer Junior Saloon. A car that has 'limited' performance......
There once was a comment in the committee notes in the VSCC newsletter, that following reports of a number of competitors travelling fast between sections on a VSCC trial, that the identified villains would be spoken to......
David wrote a letter to the editor, which was published, to the effect that..." We travel in our Singer Junior Saloon, which isn't capable of travelling fast between sections. Does this mean no-one will speak to us?"
They perfectly demonstrated the very ethos of the Light Car & Edwardian Section, to enjoy a proper standard original 'Light Car', in exactly the way it was intended originally, with a light heart and good cheer. I seem to remember that they made good use of the smoker's hatch too.
W
Re: my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 7:20 pm
by 23e Heure
Sounds just like their perpetual attitude, Winston!
Sylvia smoked like a chimney, despite being a nurse all of her working life.
If you remember them, it would be great to hear some more stories offline.
I’ll send you a PM.
Re: my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 8:21 am
by Lightweight_911
Re: my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 11:46 am
by Ashley James
2CV are great cars.
Re: my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 5:38 pm
by KS
Re: my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 5:53 pm
by gridgway
What is it Keith?
Re: my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 5:59 pm
by rhd racer
I am hoping VW powered given the sponsor! Looks like Goodwood....early to mid 80s?
Looks pretty cool to me, Keith, where are you?!!
Re: my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 6:05 pm
by KS
Goodwood in the 1990s. Lola T300 F5000 (Chevrolet V8 with four 48 IDA Webers) belonged to my friend Geoff Thomas, owner of Autocavan.
I spun it at St Mary's on cold slicks, but barrelling down Lavant at 140+ with that V8 bellowing away behind me was an experience I'll never forget. Drove it there on three occasions, doing about 15-20 laps.
my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 6:08 pm
by 23e Heure
Phwoar! Ex Prince Bira AM Ulster.
I snapped it here at Spa in 2008.
Just read that it sold for £89.5k through Christie’s in 1996.
Might have been a lot of money 25 years ago, especially given as the car was sold ina completely disassembled state.
But - unless I am missing something about this specific car - sounds like an absolute steal now!
Edited to add: It sold again last November. For £1,583,000 incl buyer's premium. So a decent investment... and the seller had been racing it too

Re: my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 6:28 pm
by KS
A propos Prince Bira, the wife of a dear old friend of mine (both sadly passed away now) was a 'debutante' in the London scene. On the sideboard at their home was a photo of this elegant young lady dancing with what was clearly Prince Bira. 'Yes, that's me,' said Jenny. The photo was taken at a party in London and, she told me, Prince Bira was there with some friends. He got slightly (very) tipsy that night and said to Jenny 'Can you drive me home? My car's outside...'. Her reply was that she had never driven as he had only just turned 18. 'Don't worry, I'll tell you what to do,' was his reply! So she learned to drive in London late at night, taught by a drunken Prince....
Re: my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 7:25 pm
by majordad
Same Prince Bird was a liked visitor to the Officers Mess at the Curragh Camp for the car races.
Re: my non-Porsche picture of the day
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 7:45 pm
by Winston Teague
23e Heure wrote:Phwoar! Ex Prince Bira AM Ulster.
I snapped it here at Spa in 2008.
Just read that it sold for £89.5k through Christie’s in 1996.
Might have been a lot of money 25 years ago, especially given as the car was sold ina completely disassembled state.
But - unless I am missing something about this specific car - sounds like an absolute steal now!
Edited to add: It sold again last November. For £1,583,000 incl buyer's premium. So a decent investment... and the seller had been racing it too

I see what you're getting at, but its just not cool.You could get a real, historic chain drive Frazer Nash for a fraction of that, and race it, and overtake all the Aston Martins, sideways, around the outside, and then go back to the paddock, jubilant, laughing, to all your mates (also laughing) and be part of a club of like minded nutters.......which, sadly, the AMOC is not. I promise you'd love it!