NEWS
VSCC set to celebrate an historic 75th Anniversary Welsh Weekend
Friday 10 October 2014
As we celebrate a remarkable 80 years of the VSCC in 2014, so too do we mark yet another significant milestone this coming weekend as we anticipate the 75th Anniversary of the Club’s legendary Welsh Weekend, encompassing both the two-day Trial and Sunday’s Rally over the 11/12 October.
The Trial will begin proceedings, with a capacity entry of over 100 Vintage cars arriving at the weekend’s spiritual home at The Radnorshire Arms in the Welsh Border town of Presteigne on Saturday, having completed the morning’s mandatory road mileage. The afternoon will see competitors tackle five sections, including the famous ‘Smatcher’ – first used by the Club in 1939 – before a return to Presteigne for the evening’s time-honoured social gathering. An early rise on Sunday for the morning’s seven sections before a final flourish for the day’s final three challenges at Cwm Whitton will determine results.
Amongst the entry, it is no surprise to see the trio of David Golightly (Ford), Matt Johnston (Austin) and Louise Bunting (GN), who between them have dominated the first half of the Club’s Trials season so expect them to again challenge for top honours in the Short Wheelbase classes and the overall victory.
As has become the norm in recent years, Ford Model As dominate the Long Wheelbase classes, although perhaps the victor will come from a different marque, with Paul Jeavons’s Vauxhall 30-98 and Graham White’s Lea-Francis both winners already this year. Another notable point of interest will see a number of members of the same families go head-to-head over the weekend, with both the Price and Collings clans represented by three generations.
In a change from tradition, the start of Sunday’s Vintage Welsh Rally has been moved to The Royal Oak, Much Marcle in neighbouring Herefordshire, with the route winding its way through the beautiful Welsh Marches before finishing alongside the Trial at Cwm Whitton. Almost 50 Pre-war cars will line-up for the day’s challenge with a healthy mix of seasoned campaigners and newcomers to the discipline.
Making his VSCC bow, young Charlie Tindle will set off as Car No 1 on the road ably navigated by Club stalwart, Annabel Jones in a Frazer Nash, soon followed by the likes of reigning Club Rally Champion, Ray Edge in his Derby Bentley and the Sunbeam of former World Rally Co-Driver for Timo Makinen, Paul Easter. Elsewhere, we welcome a number of first-time VSCC Rallyists to our ever-popular Champagne Class, including Graham Tyson, who adds an air of elegance in his 1920 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Cunard, and Anthony Galliers-Pratt, who swaps the race track and Post-war Frazer Nash Targa Florio for a 1924 Lancia Lambda.
Spectators are most welcome to attend the weekend’s events.
Although not traditionally ‘spectator’ events, we welcome the public to come and watch the Trial at ‘Smatcher’ on Saturday (open 12.15-5.15pm) and the three sections at Cwm Whitton on Sunday (open 12.30-4.00pm) where the Rally will also be finishing, whilst spectators are also welcome to attend the Rally start venue at Much Marcle on Sunday (assemble from 8.00am with first car starting at 9.30am). Parking, toilets and refreshments are available at all three venues.
For more details, including full time and location information and Provisional Entry Lists for both events, download a copy of the Spectator Information (CLICK HERE).
Amongst the entry, it is no surprise to see the trio of David Golightly (Ford), Matt Johnston (Austin) and Louise Bunting (GN), who between them have dominated the first half of the Club’s Trials season so expect them to again challenge for top honours in the Short Wheelbase classes and the overall victory.
As has become the norm in recent years, Ford Model As dominate the Long Wheelbase classes, although perhaps the victor will come from a different marque, with Paul Jeavons’s Vauxhall 30-98 and Graham White’s Lea-Francis both winners already this year. Another notable point of interest will see a number of members of the same families go head-to-head over the weekend, with both the Price and Collings clans represented by three generations.
In a change from tradition, the start of Sunday’s Vintage Welsh Rally has been moved to The Royal Oak, Much Marcle in neighbouring Herefordshire, with the route winding its way through the beautiful Welsh Marches before finishing alongside the Trial at Cwm Whitton. Almost 50 Pre-war cars will line-up for the day’s challenge with a healthy mix of seasoned campaigners and newcomers to the discipline.
Making his VSCC bow, young Charlie Tindle will set off as Car No 1 on the road ably navigated by Club stalwart, Annabel Jones in a Frazer Nash, soon followed by the likes of reigning Club Rally Champion, Ray Edge in his Derby Bentley and the Sunbeam of former World Rally Co-Driver for Timo Makinen, Paul Easter. Elsewhere, we welcome a number of first-time VSCC Rallyists to our ever-popular Champagne Class, including Graham Tyson, who adds an air of elegance in his 1920 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Cunard, and Anthony Galliers-Pratt, who swaps the race track and Post-war Frazer Nash Targa Florio for a 1924 Lancia Lambda.
Spectators are most welcome to attend the weekend’s events.
Although not traditionally ‘spectator’ events, we welcome the public to come and watch the Trial at ‘Smatcher’ on Saturday (open 12.15-5.15pm) and the three sections at Cwm Whitton on Sunday (open 12.30-4.00pm) where the Rally will also be finishing, whilst spectators are also welcome to attend the Rally start venue at Much Marcle on Sunday (assemble from 8.00am with first car starting at 9.30am). Parking, toilets and refreshments are available at all three venues.
For more details, including full time and location information and Provisional Entry Lists for both events, download a copy of the Spectator Information (CLICK HERE).
