10 replies to this topic

[vintagetriumph]

I am restoring a 1935 Triumph Gloria Southern Cross sports car, which won the Moorfoot Sporting Rally in 1947 and competed in similar events in the early post-war years in the hands of W J Lamb, apparently a pre-war motorcycle triallist of some repute. The car was pictured in Scottish Motor World magazine in 18 July 1947 and 31 October 1947 - and I would be very grateful for any suggestions as to where I might purchase copies of these issues and also any info re Mr Lamb, either pre or post-war. The car reg remains WS 5995 and can be seen on www.youtube.co.uk in its present condition - search for triumph southern cross.

[Graham Gauld]

Bill Lamb, as you say, was a trials motorcyclist who competed alongside Stan Sproat the Ecurie Ecosse race mechanics in trials around Edinburgh but he was later to be one of Scotland's most successful trials drivers in a Dellow with his wife acting as moveable ballast ! He was a very quiet guy who was an active member of Lothian Car Club and competed in rallies. He dropped out of events around 1953.

[Graham Gauld]

Meant to add that the Scottish National Museum in Chambers Street, Edinburgh has been collecting volumes of Motor World magazine - which I edited in the early 1960's and was founded in 1899. I suggest you look up the museum web site and send an e mail to the curator and see if he can help you with that. I used to have a number of the old volumes of Motor World but no longer have them.

[Mistron]

If writing to the museum, I think the senior curator of Transport is still Alastair Dodds.

[Graham Gauld]

If writing to the museum, I think the senior curator of Transport is still Alastair Dodds.

Yes I believe Alastair still is. When you write to him tell him I told you to write and I am sure he will try and help as I have helped him out on a number of occasions in the past.

[Derwent Motorsport]

The Moorfoot Trial was I think an MGCC event and has run until quite recently. I think Jim Clark won it once as there is a trophy in the Jim Clark Room to that effect.
Interested in the Glorias as my father had one in Edinburgh and Fife in the early 40s. It was one of a pair given to a brother and sister in St Andrews. There can't have been too many Glorias around in that area. What was the registration?

[Leigh Trevail]

There was a Bill Lamb who was a member of the Eastern Counties Motor Club in the early 50's. He rallied a Healey Silverstone with Peter Riley and also drove in the 1952 Goodwood 9 Hour race, I assume that this is the same gentleman.

Edited by Leigh Trevail, 15 December 2009 - 19:01.

[Graham Gauld]

Leigh : Not the same man. Bill never raced as far as I knew

Regarding the Moorfoot Rally - not a trial - Jim Clark did win it but not the year I navigated for him on the Moorfoot but the car was the same, the Sunbeam Talbot. I don't have any photos on the Triumph Glorias but I may be able to lay my hands on an article about Bill Lamb which I will put up here when I find it and scan it.

[vintagetriumph]

Bill Lamb, as you say, was a trials motorcyclist who competed alongside Stan Sproat the Ecurie Ecosse race mechanics in trials around Edinburgh but he was later to be one of Scotland's most successful trials drivers in a Dellow with his wife acting as moveable ballast ! He was a very quiet guy who was an active member of Lothian Car Club and competed in rallies. He dropped out of events around 1953.

Graham - Thank you so much for this advice! We have been in contact previously, and it was you who gave me the original info about WJ Lamb - but the new lead to National Museum will hopefully bear fruit.

[vintagetriumph]

The Moorfoot Trial was I think an MGCC event and has run until quite recently. I think Jim Clark won it once as there is a trophy in the Jim Clark Room to that effect.
Interested in the Glorias as my father had one in Edinburgh and Fife in the early 40s. It was one of a pair given to a brother and sister in St Andrews. There can't have been too many Glorias around in that area. What was the registration?

My own car is registered WS 5995 (Edinburgh registration, presumably sold by SMT originally). I am aware of one other Gloria bearing a WS registration which has been rebuilt as a Southern Cross replica (but now fitted with a TR2 engine!) and was originally a saloon. This car is still in Scotland, owned by Drew Scott in Dundee area.

[Derwent Motorsport]

The MGCC Moorfoot event certainly has been a PCT from perhaps the mid seventies until now. Tom Gray was responsible for running it for many years. No doubt it was a rally in earlier days. The 2008 event saw three genrations of the Grays take part, Tom, son Stuart of KH fame and his grandson.