50 replies to this topic

[Trevail]

Sometime ago I was entrusted with some home-cine footage taken by Bert Westwood who owned a garage in Clacton, Essex. Westwood was an enthusiastic clubman in the 1950s & 60s.

One of the reels marked RAC Rally I had transferred to DVD, but admittedly the quality was not that good. This is now on YouTube

https://www.youtube....h?v=zVYcHJLIZFQ

I am now 99% sure that it is the 1958 event, the footage and the report in Motorsport (April 1958) tie in perfectly. The report mentions that Westwood drove a Standard, but does not state the model. My guess is he was not up amongst the leaders as the footage mainly shows the slower cars including a Gogomobile and Isetta. The Sunbeam Rapier shown is not the car driven by Peter Harper which won the event.

Would anyone out there have a list of all the entrants in this event or a complete list of the finishers?

Many thanks.

Leigh Trevail

[Vitesse2]

Mr Westwood's car looks like a Standard Ten. The very similar Eight didn't have over-riders on the front bumper and the Pennant, introduced 1957, had a different grille, as well as mildly finned rear wings.

[Trevail]

Thank you for your reply. However, you are assuming that the Standard shown in the footage is that of Bert Westwood. The only car we can be sure is his; is the interior footage taken of either the dashboard or the rear window. The fact that these scenes are almost unwatchable does not help. 

[BRG]

There only seems to be sketchy partial results on the internet, as you have doubtless noticed.  Maybe the Royal Automobile Club itself holds some sort of records or archives?  

 

I note that your Mr Westwood had competed on the Monte Carlo Rally back in 1951.

[Roger Clark]

Autosport 28/2/58 has a full entry list.  A C Westwood drove a 948cc Standard, number 198, starting from Hastings.  I think that 948cc means a Ten or a Pennant.

[Trevail]

Bert Westwood did indeed compete in the Monte Carlo Rally, he also raced at Brooklands. One of the reels of film was just labelled “Clacton”, hoping that it contained footage of one of the 1950s E.A.M.C. Clacton Rallies I took a chance and had that copied as well.

Unfortunately for me it contained very little of interest so I uploaded it to YouTube in case anyone in the seaside town would like to see it. Within a short time it had over 100 views, I guessed that most of these viewers had never heard of Bert Westwood so I hastily put together this:

https://www.youtube....h?v=ZriHV_BsM8s

It was the first time I had edited or compiled any footage and it does show!

[Vitesse2]

Thank you for your reply. However, you are assuming that the Standard shown in the footage is that of Bert Westwood. The only car we can be sure is his; is the interior footage taken of either the dashboard or the rear window. The fact that these scenes are almost unwatchable does not help. 

I was working on the assumption that the cameraman has devoted quite a bit of the 'on track action' to filming a Standard. Certainly more than any other individual car with the possible exception of that white and red Rapier. We see the Standard do the manoeuvrability test, the camera follows it three times in the circuit race near the beginning, there's a panning shot of it when they're stuck in the snow (which shows it isn't a Pennant, as we can see the rear wings) and we see the same car twice on what looks like a tarmac sprint at about 6'25" - and probably once again in that last section at what looks like Woodcote at Silverstone.

 

And do my eyes deceive me - or is that an Aston Martin DB2 in the undergrowth? The damage to it looks distinctly expensive! The Minx at 5'50" is looking rather second-hand as well.

[68targa]

Near the end of the footage I am sure they going anti-clockwise at Mallory Park and that is an AC Aceca in the undergrowth, possibly also at Mallory.

[68targa]

The damaged AC looks like reg # WTG339 in which case it still exists although now red according to the DVLA.

[BRG]

Near the end of the footage I am sure they going anti-clockwise at Mallory Park 

They were.  See the Motor Sport report of the rally 

 

Competitors started from either Hastings or Blackpool, converged on Prescott Hill for a hill-climb, thence to  Chateau Impney, on to Eppynt for another hill-climb, then tests or racing round circuits at Lydstep, Oulton Park, Aintree, Blackpool, Tow Top, Ulpha, Charterhall, Otterburn, Croft, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Snetterton, Mallory Park, Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Hastings.

 

What circuit is it in the film with a cooling tower in the background?

[Trevail]

Autosport 28/2/58 has a full entry list.  A C Westwood drove a 948cc Standard, number 198, starting from Hastings.  I think that 948cc means a Ten or a Pennant.

 

Thank you Roger. Knowing the rally number is useful!

[Trevail]

They were.  See the Motor Sport report of the rally 

 

Competitors started from either Hastings or Blackpool, converged on Prescott Hill for a hill-climb, thence to  Chateau Impney, on to Eppynt for another hill-climb, then tests or racing round circuits at Lydstep, Oulton Park, Aintree, Blackpool, Tow Top, Ulpha, Charterhall, Otterburn, Croft, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Snetterton, Mallory Park, Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Hastings.

 

What circuit is it in the film with a cooling tower in the background?

I think that is Aintree.

[Trevail]

I was working on the assumption that the cameraman has devoted quite a bit of the 'on track action' to filming a Standard. Certainly more than any other individual car with the possible exception of that white and red Rapier. We see the Standard do the manoeuvrability test, the camera follows it three times in the circuit race near the beginning, there's a panning shot of it when they're stuck in the snow (which shows it isn't a Pennant, as we can see the rear wings) and we see the same car twice on what looks like a tarmac sprint at about 6'25" - and probably once again in that last section at what looks like Woodcote at Silverstone.

 

And do my eyes deceive me - or is that an Aston Martin DB2 in the undergrowth? The damage to it looks distinctly expensive! The Minx at 5'50" is looking rather second-hand as well.

You may well be correct regarding the Standard, but I have to keep an open-mind.                       

 

​I also think it is an Aston Martin with the expensive damage. 

[Rupertlt1]

You might like:

 

https://library.revs...C Rally^all^and!date%5E1958%5Eexact%5Eand/1

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 07 January 2023 - 21:26.

[Trevail]

You might like:

 

https://library.revs...C Rally^all^and!date%5E1958%5Eexact%5Eand/1

 

RGDS RLT

Many, Many Thanks! It is a Standard Ten registered 7730 HK . 

[Rupertlt1]

7730 HK shown here:

 

https://library.revs...ub-rally/388729

 

Shows the value of captioning registration numbers —  you can search for them!

Who was the co-driver? Where was the picture taken?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 08 January 2023 - 06:45.

[Trevail]

I am sure you will all understand why I erred on the side of caution but I now think that Vitesse2 was 100% correct in his assumption. That particular car features the most in the film and the spacing of the number plate suggests at the number/letter configuration could well be 7730 HK. 

 

I still have the original reel and fully intend to have a copy made of a much higher quality, when I have I will let you know.

 

Once again, thank you for your help!

[Fred Gallagher]

Co-Driver was W.E.Ray.

 

They were 21st overall and 4th in Class 1.

[bradbury west]

What a joyous gallery of photos, Rupert. Thanks for posting, and also to Trevail the original poster.  I think they also did Brands back to front. One shot shows a Victor and a series 1 Rapier seeming to come  up to Paddock Bend. IIRC the Aston driver, Lyndon Sims, later rallied, in the Monte I think, a DB4.

Those early RAC  shots take me back to the days of the early Yorkshire Rally, and also going out to Bramham Crossroads to see the Glasgow Monte starters pass by.  Halcyon days.

Roger Lund

[Rupertlt1]

1958 R.A.C. Rally of Great Britain

Entry list (Autosport, 28 February, 1958)

Starters from Blackpool

Comp. No. 1, L. O. Sims (Aston Martin 2,580

c.c.); 2, L. A. Maiden (Jaguar, 3,442 c.c.); 3, B. F.

Mitton (Jaguar, 3,442 c.c.); 4, R. B. Cade (Jaguar,

3,442 c.c.); 5, P. B. Dann (Jaguar, 3,442 c.c.); 6,

P. R. Proctor (Aston Martin, 2,922 c.c.); 7, A. G.

Bird (Aston Martin, 2,922 c.c.); 8, J. T. Nixon

(Jaguar, 3.442 c.c.); 9, E. R. V. Walker (Armstrong

Siddely, 2,290 c.c.); 10, D. B. Pulley (Jaguar, 3,442

c.c.); 11, D. G. Scott (Ford, 2,553 c.c.); 12, R.

Grant (Morgan, 1,991 c.c.); 14, J. Carefoot (M.G.

1,489 c.c.); 15, Miss H. M. Close (M.G. 1,489

c.c.); 16, H. Jacoby (Triumph, 1,991 c.c.); 17, P.

Bolton (A.C., 1,971 c.c.); 18, A. J. Burton (A.C.,

1,971 c.c.); 19, K. Liptrot (Triumph, 1,991 c.c.);

20, W. P. Howells (M.G., 1,489 c.c); 21, E. H.

Harrison (M.G., 1,489 c.c.); 22, J. B. Wild (M.G.,

1,489 c.c.); 23, R. W. S. Bell (Triumph, 1,991 c.c.);

24, F. Mosedale (Triumph, 1,991 c.c.); 25, A.

Newsham (Triumph, 1,991 c.c.); 26, Mrs. E. Ashall

(Triumph, 1,991 c.c.); 27, Brian R. Waddilove (Jaguar,

2,478 c.c.); 28, G. E. Middleton (M.G., 1,489 c.c.);

29, D. L. Nurse (Renault, 850 c.c.); 30, J. C. Wall-

work (Alfa Romeo, 1,290); 31, J. C. Worswick

(Ford, 1,172 c.c.); 32, C. Corbishley (Standard, 948

c.c.); 33, K. E. M. Kaye (Morris, 948 c.c.); 34,

R. A. Gouldbourn (Standard, 948 c.c.); 35, T. A.

Gold (Standard, 948 c.c.); 36, A. T. Crusher

(Austin, 2,639 c.c.); 37, H. J. O'Connor Rorke

(Jaguar, 3,442 c.c.); 38, J. Carewell (Austin, 2,639

c.c.); 39, P. G. Walton (Jaguar, 3,442 c.c.); 40,

R. H. Harris (Austin, 2,642 c.c.); 41, T. H. Rowe

(Jaguar, 3,442 c.c.); 42, Mrs. E. R. Einhorn (Ford,

2,553 c.c.); 43, E. Elliott (Ford, 2,553 c.c.); 44,

R. H. Jenkinson (Jaguar, 2,483 c.c.); 45, J. F.

Dickinson (Ford, 2,553 c.c.); 46, M. V. Mackie

(Standard, 2,088 c.c.); 47, E. Harrison (Ford, 2,553

c.c.); 48, T. C. Harrison (Ford, 2,553 c.c.); 49,

J. Atkinson (Ford, 2,553 c.c.); 50, A. C. What-

mough (Ford, 2,553 c.c.); 51, F. Taylor (Ford, 1,703

c.c.); 52, A. Kirkham (Jaguar, 2,483 c.c.); 53, E.

Hodson (Jaguar, 2,483 c.c.); 54, R. Hooper (Sun-

beam, 2,207 c.c.); 55, K. H. James (Riley, 1,489

c.c.); 56, Mrs. J. Crossley (Wolseley, 1,489 c.c.);

57, P. E. Foden (Riley, 1,489 c.c.); 58, G. M. R.

Pearson (Singer, 1,494 c.c.); 59, A. Griffiths (M.G.,

1,489 c.c.); 60, D. C. Absalom (Riley, 1,489 c.c.);

61, H. E. Rumsey (M.G., 1,489 c.c); 62, A.

Lineker (Vauxhall, 1,507 c.c.); 63, J. Ray (Sunbeam,

1,427 c.c.); 64, R. W. Roberts (M.G.. 1,489 c.c.);

65, O. F. Christenson (Sunbeam, 1,494 c.c.); 66,

J. Handley (Ford, 1,172 c.c.); 67, S. E. Mather

(Fiat, 1,089 c.c.); 68, T. G. Peacock (Simca, 1,290

c.c.); 69, Mrs. A. Hall (Ford, 1,172 c.c.); 70,

K. C. Chambers (Ford, 1,172 c.c.); 71, K. C.

Kelsall (Ford, 1,172 c.c.); 72, P. J. Guest (Ford,

1,172 c.c.); 73, B. W. Fursdon (Skoda, 1,098 c.c.);

74, D. H. Holland (Morris, 948 c.c.); 75, T. B. D.

Christie (Morris, 948 c.c.); 76, F. A. Marsh

(Renault, 850 c.c.); 77, H. E. Marvin (DKW,

896 c.c.); 78, J. F. May (Standard, 948 c.c.);

79, E. Fishwick (Austin, 948 c.c.); 80, F. Naylor

(Standard, 948 c.c.); 81, N. Brown (Morris, 948

c.c.); 82, B. J. Cox (Renault, 850 c.c.); 83, R.

Gradwell (Morris, 948 c.c.); 84. A. Pownall

(Renault, 850 c.c.).

Starters from Hastings

86, P. P. Roberts (Austin-Healey, 2,660 c.c.);

87, W. G. V. Gallie (Austin-Healey, 2,660 c.c.);

88, Maj. I. B. Baillie (Jaguar, 3,442 c.c.); 89, G. N.

Burgess (Ford, 2,553 c.c.); 90, J. Sears (Austin-

Healey, 2,639 c.c.); 91, D. S. Shale (Austin-Healey,

2,639 c.c.); 92, D. J. Mackay, (Austin-Healey,

2,660 c.c.); 93, J. L. Kendall (Jaguar, 3,442 c.c.);

94, Sir C. Kimber (Triumph 1,991 c.c.); 95, B. H.

Arnold, (Porsche, 1,682 c.c.); 96, D. A. Wilcocks

(M.G., 1,489 c.c.); 97, S. G. Cobbam (M.G., 1,489

c.c.); 98. Mrs. E. P. Mayman (Morgan, 1,991 c.c.);

99. P. H. G. Morgan (Morgan, 1,991 c.c.); 100,

A. L. Yarranton (Morgan, 1,991 c.c.); 101,

W. A. G. Goodall (Morgan, 1,991 c.c.); 102, J.

Patten (A.C., 1,971 c.c.); 103, L. H. G. Handley

(Triumph, 1,991 c.c.); 104, G. Farrell (M.G.,

1,489 c.c.); 105, D. G. Bennett (A.C., 1,971 c.c.);

106, O. Issard-Davies (Mercedes-Benz, 1,897 c.c.);

107, K. N. Rudd (A.C., 1,971 c.c.); 108, A. P.

Grant (M.G., 1,489 c.c.); 109, E. Searle (M.G.,

1,489 c.c.); 110, D. G. Dixon (M.G., 1,489 c.c.);

111, F. J. Powell (Bristol, 1,971 c.c.); 112, Capt. J. O.

Beard (Triumph, 1,991 c.c.); 113, K. N. R. Ballisat

(Triumph, 1,991 c.c.); 114, I. W. McCulloch

(Triumph, 1,991 c.c.); 115, L. F. Parham (Bristol,

1,971 c.c.); 116, R. Michalkiewicz (Morgan, 1,991

c.c.); 117, C. W. Brasher (Triumph, 1,991 c.c.);

118, T. Clarke (A.C., 1,971 c.c.); 119, J. G.

Dathan (Abarth-Fiat, 747 c.c.); 120, D. R. Milton

(Austin, 948 c.c.); 121, N. Jarrett (Morgan, 1,172

c.c.); 122, H. A. Thomas (Ford, 1,172 c.c.); 123,

C. M. Seward (Standard, 948 c.c.); 124, I. Mantle

(Berkeley, 492 c.c.); 125, A. R. Wheeler (Berkeley.

492 c.c.); 126, P. Wren (Berkeley, 492 c.c.); 127,

Mrs. N. Hulbert (Austin, 948 c.c.); 128, F. W.

Marriott (Morris, 948 c.c.); 129, J. Sprinzel (Austin,

948 c.c.); 130, Lord J. Avebury (Standard, 948 c.c.);

131, Miss P. Burt (Alfa Romeo, 1,290 c.c.); 132,

R. N. Richards (Austin, 948 c.c.); 133, P. B.

Hopkirk (Standard, 948 c.c.); 134, Mlle. A. Sois-

bault (Standard, 948 c.c.); 135, D. C. T. Bennett

(Fairthorpe, 1,097 c.c.); 136, W. Scott (Alfa Romeo,

1,290 c.c.); 137, R. C. Willis (Volkswagen 1,192

c.c.); 138, G. H. Turnbull (Ford, 1,172 c.c.);

139, E. Lewis (Lotus, 1,097 c.c.); 140 E. W. L.

Nicholson (Austin, 2,639 c.c.); 141, A. F. Coakley

(Austin, 2,639 c.c.); 142, R. A. Sanson (Austin,

2,639 c.c.); 143, P. D. Sapsed (Jaguar, 3,442 c.c.);

144, E. Brinkman (Jaguar, 3,442 c.c.); 145, D. G.

Warwick (Austin, 2,639 c.c.); 146, T. E. F.

Sopwith (Jaguar, 3,442 c.c.); 147, R. W. Faulkner

(Jaguar, 3,442 c.c.); 148, A. Q. Norgard (Jaguar,

3,442 c.c.); 149, M. Day (Ford, 2,262 c.c.); 150,

J. W. T. Gurney (Ford, 2,262 c.c.); 151, Maj. E. L.

Graham (Ford, 2,553 c.c.); 152, R. M. Stead

(Sunbeam, 2,267 c.c.); 153, W. T. Franklin (Ford,

2,553 c.c.); 154, G. Jopp (Jaguar, 2,483 c.c.); 155,

J. T. Shiel (Sunbeam, 2,267 c.c.); 156, C. R. Syms

(Ford, 2,553 c.c.); 157, Lt.-Col. M. G. M. Crosby

(Jaguar, 2,483 c.c.); 158, G. E. Day (Riley, 1,489

c.c.); 159, L. Taylor (Sunbeam, 1,390 c.c.); 160,

J. Gregson (Jowett, 1,486 c.c.); 161, E. H. D.

Smith (M.G., 1,489 c.c.); 162, K. Faire (Riley,

1,489 c.c.); 163, F. H. G. Vagg (Hillman, 1,390

c.c.); 164, R. B. White (Vauxhall, 1,507 c.c.);

165, B. A. T. Clark (Riley, 1,489 c.c.); 166, G. R.

Hartwell (Sunbeam, 1,494 c.c.); 167, K. N. Lee

(Riley, 1,489 c.c.); 168, L. Leston (Riley, 1,489

c.c.); 169, Mrs. N. Mitchell (Riley, 1,489 c.c.);

170. G. Grant (Sunbeam, 1,494 c.c.); 171, P. Jopp

(Sunbeam, 1,494 c.c.); 172, Miss M. H. Page (Sunbeam

1,494 c.c.); 173, P. Harper (Sunbeam, 1,494

c.c.); 174, Miss D. Freeman (Sunbeam, 1,390 c.c.);

175, A. B. Fraser (Sunbeam, 1,494 c.c.); 176, K.

Piper (Sunbeam, 1,494 c.c.); 177, B. K. Fry (Borg-

ward, 1,493 c.c.); 178, D. Crosley-Cooke (Wolseley,

1,489 c.c.); 179, A. M. B. Piggott (Skoda, 1,089

c.c.); 180, P. J. Anton (Ford, 1,172 c.c.); 181,

D. A. Smith (Fiat, 1,089 c.c.); 182, J. C. Seage

(Ford, 1,172 c.c.); 183, M. A. Lester (Volkswagen,

1,192 c.c.); 184, A. E. C. Hartnell (Ford, 1,172

c.c.); 185, G. M. C. Bailey (Skoda, 1,221 c.c.);

186, H. A. R. Nash (Ford, 1,172 c.c.); 187, E. J.

Haddon (Ford, 1,172 c.c.); 188, F. P. Grounds

(Ford, 1,172 c.c.); 189, W. G. Cawsey (Renault.

850 c.c.); 190, J. H. D. Whitmore (Austin, 948

c.c.); 191, K. Lumsden (Morris, 948 c.c.); 192,

J. P. Carpenter (Austin, 948 c.c.); 193, A. P.

Kilden (SAAB, 748 c.c.); 194, D. Bain (Fiat, 633

c.c.); 195, S. D. Guttridge (Austin, 948 c.c.);

196, A. G. Baldet (Isetta, 300 c.c.); 197, G. J.

Mabbs (Standard, 803 c.c.); 198, A. C. Westwood

(Standard, 948 c.c.); 199, J. E. D. Brindley (Goggo-

mobil, 392 c.c.); 200, W. H. Wadham (Morris,

948 c.c.); 201, Miss P. A. Moss (Morris, 948 c.c.);

202, T. J. Clarke (Goggomobil, 392 c.c.); 203, P.

Allard (Goggomobil, 392 c.c.); 204, F. C. Cole

(Austin, 948 c.c.); 205, A. A. McKechnie (Austin,

948 c.c.); 206, D. Barker (Austin, 948 c.c.); 207,

H. J. Harper (Morris, 948 c.c.).

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 23 January 2023 - 02:40.

[Rupertlt1]

R.A.C. RALLY

The final phase of the R.A.C. Rally is

to be broadcast in the Light Pro-

gramme on Saturday, 15th March. The

broadcast will be between 1.10-1.20 p.m.

when Raymond Baxter gives a commen-

tary on the tests, and later between

4.45-5 p.m. he will give further news of

the Rally and probably interview some

of the drivers taking part.

Between 10.40-10.50 p.m. Baxter sum-

marizes this year's event and hopes to

introduce the winning crew to Light

Programme listeners.

Autosport, 14 March 1958

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 09 January 2023 - 08:37.

[absinthedude]

Just a quick word....the quality of the DVD transfer is poor. The camera work may not be pro quality but as someone who still shoots 8mm cine film today I can assure you that there's much better images lurking in those frames of celluloid than presented in your video. 

 

Have you considered using a professional service? Also personal experience informs me that the amateur units now on sale for around £300 do a better job than this. Apologies if you made the transfer yourself

[Trevail]

Just a quick word....the quality of the DVD transfer is poor. The camera work may not be pro quality but as someone who still shoots 8mm cine film today I can assure you that there's much better images lurking in those frames of celluloid than presented in your video. 

 

Have you considered using a professional service? Also personal experience informs me that the amateur units now on sale for around £300 do a better job than this. Apologies if you made the transfer yourself

No offence taken. That copy was done the best part of 10 years ago. I assume the chap that transferred it had a cine projector and a video camera and just filmed the images as they appeared on the screen. I kept the original cine-film and it has now been copied to a much higher quality. You are correct in all you say!

[Rupertlt1]

7730 HK shown here:

 

https://library.revs...ub-rally/388729

 

Shows the value of captioning registration numbers —  you can search for them!

Who was the co-driver? Where was the picture taken?

 

RGDS RLT

 

The photograph of 7730 HK was the cover shot in Autosport, 21 March 1958, with the following caption:

 

OUR COVER PICTURE

DAWN breaks over mid-Wales as competitors in the

R.A.C. International Rally press on over packed snow

on a main road section. The arctic conditions brought

the downfall of many competitors while roads were

found treacherous all over the northern sections of the

route. Pictured are A. C. Westwood (Standard) and

Peter Jopp (Sunbeam Rapier).

 

Does anybody recognize the location?

 

RGDS RLT  

Edited by Rupertlt1, 15 January 2023 - 04:03.

[Vitesse2]

Given that it's wide - by 1950s standards - and straight, I'd hazard a guess that it's somewhere on the A5. Not that that helps much!

[BRG]

It says the shot was in mid-Wales.  So perhaps not the A5.  According to the route outline, they had to proceed from Lydstep (nr. Tenby in Pembrokeshire) to Oulton Park in Cheshire so would have probably headed NE through Carmarthen, Llandovery & Oswestry so somewhere along that route (A40, A483 etc)   There is a distinctive looking house in the shot if anyone is from that neeck of the woods.

Edited by BRG, 15 January 2023 - 15:04.

[Rupertlt1]

I've scoured the A483 on street view, but the route now has bypasses and minor deviations to add to the difficulty. No luck. The Autosport report mentions Corwen. I am asking a chum in Shropshire who photographs old buildings.

 

RGDS RLT

[BRG]

Yes, I had a go at Street View too, but as we don't really know the actual route that they took and it is a LONG way, I decided that was a bit futile!

[RCH]

I'm sure I've seen that photo identified somewhere. Was it on here? Sadly life is too short to go through every thread but does someone remember? 

When I first saw it I thought it was my Grandmother's cottage but that was in Worcestershire. 

[BRG]

Rod

 

Did your granny never tell you about when the rally cars came past the cottage in the snow? 

 

The early route was from Prescott to Chateau Impney and then on to Eppynt, so Worcestershire could have been on the route.  Where was your gran's cottage?

[Rupertlt1]

Advice from Shropshire: the lodge to Maesmawr Hall Hotel, on the A489, between Caersws and Newtown, Montgomeryshire:

 

https://www.google.c...5h,87.24t/data=!3m9!1e1!3m7!1sWGIpj9x29-mFQFz5D2T94g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!9m2!1b1!2i52

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 16 January 2023 - 13:04.

[BRG]

Nailed it!  Good work.  

[Geoff E]

Nailed it!  Good work.  

 

... although they were heading SW, not NE as you suggested.

[Rupertlt1]

RAC Rally, Tuesday 11 March-Saturday 15 March, 1958

TEST 1—PRESCOTT Hill Climb

TEST 2—CHATEAU IMPNEY

TEST 3—EPPYNT

TEST 4—LYDSTEP Hill Climb in the dark

TEST 5—OULTON PARK

 

So the question is how did they get from Lydstep to Oulton Park in the snow?

Where were the controls?

North-West of Tenby

Maudland, near Newcastle Emlyn

Tregaron, Talbot Hotel, Cardiganshire

via Rhayader Mountain Road

Elan Valley Hotel, near Rhayader

Abbey Cwmhir, near Llandrindod Wells

Stuart Seager, Assistant Editor Autosport:

"We threaded our way back down to the main road as dawn was breaking and headed north over the tortuous A483 towards Newtown.

The snow was even thicker now, but at least we could see where we were going, and as the sun rose the scenery was really beautiful."

"However, as we went through Newtown and west towards Caersws and the next control at Dylife, we began to encounter rally cars coming

the other way again—in considerable numbers this time."

"You can't get through", said Nancy Mitchell and Les Leston, who were running a little ahead of us. "There are ditched cars everywhere a few miles up the road and we've all had to turn back."

Dylife

via Bwlch-y-Groes

Corwen

Oulton Park

 

"There were only two secret checks on the whole itinerary—one on the approach to Dylife and one approaching Hardknott."

 

Best efforts — does this make sense? Surprising what one photograph can reveal.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 17 January 2023 - 09:14.

[BRG]

Yes, that all fits.  This was a rally route, after all, not just a main road transport section from test to test. So they were using some of the small classic Welsh rally roads.  But in that weather, I reckon there was no way they would have got over Bwlch-y-Groes - at 485 metres (nearly 1,600 feet in old money) one of the highest passes in Wales

[Rupertlt1]

Autosport caption:
ANNE HALL was one of only seven crews to complete the whole route and she also put up an excellent performance in the test in her Ford Anglia. However, the marking system dropped her to 98th position overall. Here she is in the Brands Hatch test.

Dylife:

"After that most turned round and went back, but a few, including Peter Harper and the two Pennants, managed to weave their way through the wreckage, equipped with chains, and did, in fact, reach the control."

So who else completed the course?

Of the 135 finishers, only seven re-

ceived no penalty for not complying

with the directions given in their Road

Book or Route Card. That correctness

with one exception, does not pay, is

shown by the order in which they

finished, i.e. Walton, Finisher, Anne

Hall, 98th, Jimmy Ray, 89th, Fursdon,

59th, Robin Richards, 44th, Whatmough,

41st, and Peter Harper, a wonderful

first.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 17 January 2023 - 10:57.

[BRG]

Oh, I've been there!  Complete the whole route & visit every control, but then lose out to others who didn't, because a section of the route gets cancelled.  Sometimes there's no justice!

[RCH]

Rod

 

Did your granny never tell you about when the rally cars came past the cottage in the snow? 

 

The early route was from Prescott to Chateau Impney and then on to Eppynt, so Worcestershire could have been on the route.  Where was your gran's cottage?

Soon realised it couldn't have been, similar shape cottage and proximity to the road but surroundings different.

Solved now but a great photo.

[Rupertlt1]

FRAGMENTS

 

Three Skodas appeared on the 1958 R.A.C. Rally:

#73 Brian W. Fursdon (Skoda, 1,098 c.c.) registration XTT 770, light colour, two-tone? Finished 59th

#179 A. M. B. Piggott (Skoda, 1,089 c.c.)

#185 G. M. C. Bailey (Skoda, 1,221 c.c.)

"a Skoda had landed on its roof", presumably the red Skoda in the Westwood film at 1:08. Who are the sinister security men?

Anything more known? Type 440?

 

#124 Berkeley 492 c.c., Ian Mantle

#125 Berkeley 492 c.c., A. R. Wheeler

#126 Berkeley 492 c.c., Peter Wren/W. B. Barlow, Prescott 62 sec

 

See: https://forums.autos...aph-collection/

 

5th O/A, #200 Morris Minor 1000, 948 c.c., Wilfred H. Wadham/Peter Wadham

8th O/A, #165 Riley 1.5, 1,489 c.c., registration MJB 123, B. A. T. Clark/D. C. E. Johns

16th O/A, #27 Jaguar, 2,478 c.c., registration NAK 749, Brian Waddilove/Gregg Wood, winner of Class 5

26th O/A, #102 A.C., registration KUT 251, John Patten/M. Carson

32nd O/A, #204 Austin A35, 948 c.c., Fred Cole/Michael Hotton

33rd O/A, #183 Volkswagen, 1,192 c.c., Michael A. Lester/Alan Dowsett/Iain Macdonnell

41st O/A, #50 Ford, 2,553 c.c., Arthur Whatmough/Norman Quick/Robert Armstrong  

42nd O/A, #112 Triumph TR3, 1,991 c.c., registration NVC 14, Capt J. O. Beard, U.S.A.F./Tony Noel

45th O/A, #159 Sunbeam Rapier, 1,390 c.c., Dr. L. R. S. Taylor/Commander Laing

92nd O/A, #116 Morgan, 1,991 c.c., R. Michalkiewicz

94th O/A, #194 Fiat 600, 633 c.c., D. Bain/A. M. H. Bennett

 

#1 Aston Martin DB2/4, 2,580 c.c., registration NGO 651, colour red, Lyndon Sims/H. Walton

#17 A.C., 1,971 c.c., Peter Bolton/Gordon Shanley

#30 Alfa Romeo, 1,290 c.c., Johnny Wallwork, DNF accident

#40 Austin, 2,642 c.c., R. H. Harris (Reg Harris, ex-World Cycling Champion) 

#56 Wolseley, 1,489 c.c., registration 150 BMA, Mrs. J. Crossley

#63 Sunbeam, 1,427 c.c., registration SKV 732, Jimmy Ray

#86 Austin-Healey 2,660 c.c., registration LCJ 945, P. P. Roberts/W. H. Morgan

#90 Austin-Healey, 2,639 c.c., registration UOC 711, Jack Sears/Peter Garnier

#106 Mercedes-Benz, 1,897 c.c., registration TNM 311, O. Issard-Davies

#107 A.C.-Bristol, 1,971 c.c., registration KR3, Ken Rudd/Bob Jennings, DNF, oil pressure

#120 Austin A35, 948 c.c., Dennis Milton/Derek Milton

#127 Austin A35, 948 c.c., registration 119 KMH, colour red, John Sprinzel/Richard Bensted-Smith, DNF crash

#131 Alfa Romeo Giulietta, 1,290 c.c, Miss P. Burt/Mrs. Beryl Neate

#133 Standard, 948 c.c., Paddy Hopkirk/Jack Scott

#144 Jaguar, 3,442 c.c., Eric Brinkman, 1st in class Production and Improved Touring Cars over 2,600 c.c.

#147 Jaguar, 3,442 c.c., R. W. Faulkner, DNF

#154  Jaguar, 2,483 c.c., registration 999 BPA, G. Jopp/H. G. Martin

#158 Riley, 1,489 c.c., George Day/Dr. R. Penny/A. Turner

#162 Riley 1.5, 1,489 c.c., K. Faire

#164 Vauxhall, 1,507 c.c., registration VOP 658, Rolf B. White, crew of three, who are they?

https://library.revs...ub-rally/387974

#166 Sunbeam, 1,494 c.c., registration RU 3, G. R. Hartwell, DNF

#169 Riley 1.5, 1,489 c.c., registration OMO 600, Nancy Mitchell/Joan Johns, DNF crash

#170 Sunbeam Rapier, 1,494 c.c., registration VRW 507, works-prepared, Stuart Seager/George Phillips, retired at Blackpool

#172 Sunbeam, 1,494 c.c., Miss Mary Handley-Page/Lola Grounds

#174 Sunbeam Rapier Mark 1, 1,390 c.c., registration SXD 222, two-tone, Miss Daphne Freeman/Pat Bassett

#175 Sunbeam Rapier, 1,494 c.c., Alan Fraser

#178 Wolseley 1500, 1,489 c.c., two-tone, D. Crosley-Cooke 

#184 Ford Anglia, 1,172 c.c., Tony Hartnell/John Bell

#188 Ford, 1,172 c.c., registration LOL 1, Frank Grounds/David Grounds/Jack Hay

#190 Austin A35, 948 c.c., registration ONT 663, J. H. D. Whitmore

#193 Saab 748 c.c., registration 045900, A. P. Kilden from Göteborg, Sweden 

#195 Austin A35, 948 c.c., registration SDG 1, S. D. Guttridge

 

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 23 January 2023 - 14:10.

[Vitesse2]

The 'sinister security men' are probably traffic police, who - for convenience - usually wore caps rather than the traditional helmet. They're in greatcoats, which I think are the same double-breasted style as a 'war surplus' Civil Defence one I owned 'back in the day', and which had a big lapel that could be buttoned right up to the chin. Like this one ...

 

https://www.cetomili...-1952-4043.html

[BRG]

Ah, 1958, when the police wore uniforms and great coats, rather than appearing as some sort of bizarre hi-vis ninja.  When did our 'boys in blue' cease to be blue?  Sgt Dixon wouldn't approve!

[Rupertlt1]

In my imagination the security men were StB agents from Prague, waiting to arrest the driver for damaging state property.

More seriously this was the start of a long run for Skoda on the R.A.C.?

 

#190 Austin A35, 948 c.c., registration ONT 663, J. H. D. Whitmore

This is Sir John Whitmore, early days in a significant career in motor sport. Does anybody know who might have accompanied him?

Seen at 5:30 in the Westwood film. (Whitmore drove a Lotus 1,172 at SUNBAC Silverstone, Saturday 6 September 1958, car described as a "Lotus Elva VI", also at Oulton Park, Saturday 11 October 1958.)

 

In the snow here:

https://library.revs...ub-rally/398012

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 20 January 2023 - 07:28.

[BRG]

Skoda had a long run of class successes in the RAC Rally but these came rather later in the 70s and 80s.

[Trevail]

At the risk of sounding crude, shown at 07:11 is a view of someone's rear-end. I think I know who's it is but could I have your thoughts on it first?

[Rupertlt1]

In the film at 27 secs is an Austin A35, registration RCJ 604? The car is white with red roof, grille, and side flashes, shown at the start in Hastings. Anybody have a clue as to the driver?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 22 January 2023 - 13:32.

[Trevail]

In the film at 27 secs is an Austin A35, registration RCJ 604? The car is white with red roof, grille, and side flashes, shown at the start in Hastings. Anybody have a clue as to the driver?

 

RGDS RLT

 

I now have the advantage of a much better copy of the footage. From this I can tell you that is car 205 entered by A. A. McKechnie.

[Rupertlt1]

In the R.A.C. national rally,

which began on Tuesday and ends

at Hastings to-morrow, Saturday,

part of the first day's route was

through North Herefordshire, in-

cluding Leominster. A control

centre at Tenbury Wells was

manned by members of the Here-

fordshire club.

WELL REPRESENTED

In the rally the Herefordshire

club is represented by A. A.

McKechnie, R. K. Taylor (Austin

A35), W. A. G. Goodall, J. R. W.

Thomas (Morgan), Mrs. P. Mayman,

Miss V. Domleo (Morgan),

P. P. Roberts, W. H. Morgan

(Austin Healey), H. Rumsey, A. T.

Fisher (M.G. Magnette) and

A. L. Yarranton, J. P. Taylor (Morgan).

Kington Times, Friday 14 March 1958

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

What do we know about this Saab? At 6:58 in the film.

 

#193 Saab 748 c.c., registration 045900, A. P. Kilden from Göteborg (Gothenburg), Sweden

 

It was privately-entered, green, and a 93B?

 

The field was "international" in name only, for of the 196 starters there were but three "foreigners", Annie Soisbault from France, A. P. Kilden, a private SAAB from Sweden, and Ireland's Paddy Hopkirk.

 

Could he be Ake Kilden, seen on Scandinavian rallies? Åke Peter Kildén? Who was the co-driver?

 

See: https://forums.autos...e/#entry2353315

 

Kildén was on the Tulip Rally in 1958, #170, with Erik Carlsson.

 

R.A.C. class winner: Test 13, Croft; Test 14, Sherburn-in-Elmet

 

Bill Boddy said ref Silverstone:

"Kilden's Saab was truly impressive, using the full width of the track for cornering, tyres protesting, but far faster than the Standards of Mabbs and Westwood. Incidentally the Saab had three spare gaskets taped to the lid of its luggage boot."

 

https://library.revs...ub-rally/402430

 

Picture at the final test in Hastings? Presumably the Saab finished? If so, where? 

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 24 January 2023 - 11:26.

[BRG]

Kilden used a SAAB 93B on the Midnight Sun rally in 1958 (co-driver Lennart Strom), so it is likely to have been him on the RAC.  I don't think Kilden is a very common Swedish name as I cannot see any others with that name.

[Rupertlt1]

See also: https://library.revs...ub-rally/415037

 

Started from Hastings.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 27 January 2023 - 08:17.