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Odds & Ends 2001
The Car Club c. 1960's
The Clayesmore Automobile Racing Club of our vintage consisted of two items of automobile 'history', and a keen and enthusiastic band of what are (now) known as petrol-heads.
These were a B.S.A Bantam (the thought was that we should all take turns to strip and reassemble this 50cc marvel) and a much more powerful 'go-cart' based on Bert Hopwood's design of the 50's Triumph twin (500cc?) which in performance, in a straight line, was more like a dragster to us, and had to be used on the local airfield. This latter had been constructed in the woodwork shop of welded gas pipework, and was topped by (a suitably overheated) Austin 7 seat, and possessed a lay shaft, chain & sprocket drive to Lambretta wheels, and Mini 'steering' wheels at the front. Both were useful early exercises in engineering experience and I like to hope that many a career was thus spawned.
But my abiding memory of this club's activity was in the attempted abduction, and disposal of several of its members. This occurred when Humphrey Moore was indisposed and we were all booked, and on the coach to go to Wiscombe Park speed hill (descent) in Devon. I can't recall whether or not I was yet a 'prefect', but I decided to use my initiative and take charge of the outing, in lieu of HJM. All were duly instructed to be back at the coach by the appointed hour (or be left behind and miss Complin), and I do remember loosing count of the number of 'free rides' cadged by many a child in high-powered single seat specials with twin rear wheels, more than twin carbs, and more than the permitted load of competitors / Clayesmorians. I was duly hauled before the Head and instructed that my life would not be worth living if I "EVER did that again", but as we'd not lost a single child, (and all had had a wonderful day out) we'd better forget that incident.
So much for enthusiasm / initiative. Needless to say I still love cars, have an elderly '68 Daimler V8 250, and she reminds me of that slower, gentler era when fun meant zooming down from the top road at 50 mph on a bike, or down Wiscombe Park under more control, with more mechanical noises - probably no other stimuli were needed then.
Alastair J S Graham (61-66)