61 replies to this topic

[Geoff E]

 

M.G. TD, UMG 124, fairly new, so must be 1950 or later?

 

That was a 1949 car.  The newest was probably SEV 9 of Dec 1950.

[Rupertlt1]

That was a 1949 car.  The newest was probably SEV 9 of Dec 1950.

 

SEV 9 Ford Ten-based R.B.W. is referenced here:

https://forums.autos...-noel-richards/

The key to this mystery is what may be a pub in the background of the opening scenes (as in the recent Bentley photo) and the high street as cars depart?

The Chilterns hosted many trials in period e.g. M.G. Car Club (S.E.), 28 January 1951. Started from Chesham? Both R. N. Richards and Tony Rumfitt were on this event.

The Cotton specials were built by D. F. H. (Douglas) Cotton, a Horsham and District Motor Cycle and Light Car Club member, in his garage at Cranleigh, Surrey.

Resident at Fern Down, Barton Road, Bramley in 1949, 1953, 1954.

Was the garage Cotton & Sons, High Street, Bramley?

Still trading in 1965, 1968.

https://library.revs...x-dinner/424391

(Not to be confused with the Cotton motorcycle.)

Doug Cotton is pictured in Autosport, 16 February 1951, Page 198.

Caption:

"Why did I sell my motor car? Anything

but cheerful picture of Doug Cotton who

passengered H. Clayton. His successful car did

well in the hands of its new owner."

Partial reg PE 38 (Surrey)? H. Clayton was from Horsham.

About this time the Mackson FIII cars were being built at nearby Guildford:

https://www.psychoon...uk/tag/russell/

Did the Cotton morph into the Cannon?

Is the Cannotton the bridge, EMK 778 (Middlesex)?

https://library.revs...er-trial/427585

P. A. Barden's Cotton IV was RPJ 3 (Surrey):

https://library.revs...er-trial/428875

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 16 December 2024 - 07:25.

[Rupertlt1]

Southsea M.C.—The confirmed results of the President’s Trophy Trial (February 19) are as follows: Geoffrey Ansell Trophy (best performance by S.M.C. member): Price Spl. (D. W. Price). President’s Trophy (best performance by member of invited club): Cotton Spl. (D. Cotton). Up to 1,100 c.c.: Auswyte (S. White); up to 2,000 c.c.: Lotus Spl. (A. Chapman); over 2,000 c.c.: Allard (A. Rumfitt)

Autocar, 10 March 1950, Page 299

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Edited by Rupertlt1, 16 December 2024 - 07:07.

[Rupertlt1]

The Chilterns film could be:

10 February 1952—M.G. Car Club (S.E. Centre) Chilterns Trial, C.I.

Does anybody have Safety Fast?

Tony Rumfitt ran in the President's Trophy, Southsea M.C., the same day so that rules the M.G. event out?

Doug Cotton also ran in the Southsea M.C. event. So who is driving NPE 797 (Surrey) in the film?

Rumfitt was driving his "newly acquired" in Feb 1951 Cotton Special 1,172. This possibly points to the film being from later in 1952?

(Rumfitt won the 2 December 1951 event in the Cotton II, 1,172 cc. He was from Seven Kings, Essex. Was this PPH 6?)

2 March 1952—Chiltern C.C.—Committee Cup Competition, Chiltern Hills, C.—a production car event

—starting from the Griffin Hotel, High Street, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, 11:00 a.m.

7 December 1952—Chiltern C.C.—starting from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire:

https://wheelspin.in...ilternHills.pdf

(The competitors/numbers do not match the film. Note #10 Overton.)

The closing shot of the film M.G., reg JB 6158 (Berkshire)—a car with quite a history:

https://www.triple-m...?TOPIC_ID=10278

Devon Trial, M.C.C., 31 July 1948, #34 M.G., reg JB 6158, R. W. Christmas, 3rd-class award.

Exeter Trial, M.C.C., 1 January 1949, R. W. Christmas, "PB" M.G., 1st-class award.

Land's End Trial, M.C.C., 16 April 1949, R. W. Christmas.

M.G.C.C. (S.E. Centre) CHILTERNS TRIAL (Jan.28th 1951)

BANANA TROPHY: R. W. Christmas (PB M.G.)

DUCKHAM'S TROPHY: B. A. M. Gilbert (M.G.)

SALMSON'S CUP: A. E. Rumfitt (Cotton)

FIRST CLASS AWARDS: G. L. Hancock (Dellow),

A. E. A. Day (Dellow) and H. Lawson (Lotus).

(Is this the event in the film? No sign of a Lotus? R. N. Richards was running the R.B.W. in 1951, but that early? Yes, SEV 9 was #162 on the Exeter Trial, 29-30 December 1950.)   

Seen on the Exeter Trial, 2-3 January 1953, R. W. Christmas, #231 M.G. 939 c.c. supercharged:

https://library.revs...er-trial/433589

Also R. W. Christmas, 15 February 1953—M.G. Car Club (S.E. Centre) Chilterns Trial—best M.G.C.C. member—but a snowy event.

Richard W. Christmas seen in a Singer pre-war. 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 22 December 2024 - 06:06.

[Rupertlt1]

Falcon M.C.—The postponed Guy Fawkes Trial was run on November 18, in incessant rain. The event started with a timed test, and of the 11 timed tests two were cancelled because of the wet weather. J. C. Smith, in his 1,172 c.c. J.C.S., won the President’s Cup for his best performance, and G. L. Hancock, with his 1,172 c.c. Dellow, was first amongst members of the invited clubs.

Autocar, 30 November 1951, Page 1546

So which Dellow was it?

Mk 1, NPP 597, red?

No match to film.

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Edited by Rupertlt1, 21 December 2024 - 11:49.

[Rupertlt1]

CHILTERN C.C. TRIAL (Dec 2nd 1951)

CHILTERN HILLS TROPHY (best performance).—A. E.

Rumfitt (1,172-c.c. Cotton II)

FIRST-CLASS AWARDS:—J. C. Smith (1,172-c.c.

J.C.S.), H. Sinclair-Sweeney (1,442-c.c. Jezebel

s/c), E. J. Chandler (1,172-c.c. Chandler Special,

s/c).

SECOND-CLASS AWARDS:—P. A. Barden (1,172-c.c.

Dellow, s/c), A. G. Curwen (747-c.c. Austin).

CHILTERN AWARD (best performance by member of

promoting club).—V. S. A. Briggs (1,172-c.c

Ford, s/c).

TEAM AWARD.—A. E. Rumfitt and H. Sinclair-Sweeney

22 competitors.

See also: https://wheelspin.in...ilternHills.pdf

By a process of elimination everything points to the film being:

10 February 1952—M.G. Car Club (S.E. Centre) Chilterns Trial, C.I.

Austin, FVW 638 (Essex)?

Curwen, Austin, thought to be KP 2473 (Kent):

https://library.revs...hy-trial/451595

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Edited by Rupertlt1, 21 December 2024 - 16:40.

[Rupertlt1]

At 1:46 in the Chilterns film we see the Dellow, DON 658, of M. W. Todd. This is the ex-Peter Collins car.

Other sightings:

Falcon Motor Club's "Guy Fawkes" reliability trial near Stevenage, Sunday 5 November 1950:

First Class Award: M. W. Todd

Berkhamsted M.C. & C.C. Lockhart-Bossingham Trial, 10 December 1950:

M. W. Todd (Dellow) unplaced
Herts County Auto & Aero Club, Winter Cup Trial, 4 February 1951:
First Class Award: M. W. Todd (Dellow 1,172 c.c. supercharged)

M. W. Todd resident at 253 Stockingstone Road, Luton, Bedfordshire (1953).

I am determined to crack the event/date of the film. As Mrs Slocombe used to say I am unanimous in that.

GRU 7 is Leslie J. Onslow-Bartlett, Ford-Austin Special, later in the hands of J. C. Smith?

At 1:36 Buckler, LUR 899 (Hertfordshire)? Is this R. Butler?

Three Waters on the Jacobean, 25 February 1951:

https://www.motorspo...arch=1018549419

When was this car registered? Was it a Buckler?

See also: https://forums.autos...dpost&p=4634673

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 22 December 2024 - 05:07.

[Rupertlt1]

At 56 secs in the Chilterns film we see the Dellow Mk 1, MKO 222 (Kent), the car of A. E. A. Day.

First known appearance of the Dellow 1,172 s/c: Knott Trial, W. Hants & Dorset C.C., 24 September 1950, 2nd Class Award. 

P. A. Barden had Dellow Mk 1, LXT 879 (London):

https://library.revs...er-trial/294716

Does anybody have Autosport, 7 December 1951, Page 728?

(Update: Just ordered off fleabay!)

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Edited by Rupertlt1, 22 December 2024 - 09:32.

[Rupertlt1]

Photo caption:

SUCCESSFUL TRIALS CAR: Tony Rumfitt in the 1,172 c.c. Cotton built

by Doug Cotton. The car has now been acquired by A. A. Baring.

Autosport, 16 November 1951, Page 637.

Registration NPE 797. His lady passenger was Pamela Rumfitt.

President's Trophy Trial, Southsea M.C., Petersfield, Hampshire,11 Feb 1951:

https://www.motorspo...arch=1018549464

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Edited by Rupertlt1, 23 December 2024 - 06:46.

[Rupertlt1]

At 2:14 in the film D. G. Roberts, D.G. Ford-engined Special, registration KUR 900 (Hertford)

B. A. M. Gilbert is Barry Gilbert, seen in an Austin A30 (1954) and a Turner in 1958-1959.

https://library.revs...tor-club/384180

From Birmingham. See above.

#26 EGJ 358 (London) is here:

https://www.motorspo...arch=1018549308

Who is it?

Bingo! "in spite of the vigorous efforts of its passenger, the supercharged Ford of V. S. A. Biggs slewed to a standstill on Draper's One."—Lower Hill Farm, Prestbury, Gloucestershire, Saturday 16 December 1950.

Picture published in Autocar, 22 December 1950, Page 1312.

Previously seen post-war in Riley, H.R.G.

See also:

https://www.motorspo...arch=1018549302

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 23 December 2024 - 19:56.

[Rupertlt1]

Chilterns film summary 

56 secs the Dellow Mk 1, MKO 222 (Kent), A. E. A. Day.

1:28 R.B.W., Ford Ten-based special, SEV 9 (Essex), Robin N. Richards

1:36 Butler Special, LUR 899 (Hertfordshire), R. Butler

1:46 Dellow Mk 1, DON 658, of M. W. Todd

1:58 Cotton, NPE 797 (Surrey), Tony Rumfitt

2:05 Ford Special supercharged, EGJ 358, V. S. A. Biggs (Previously Biggs, Allard, ELL 300.)

2:14 D.G. Ford-engined Special, registration KUR 900 (Hertford), D. G. Roberts

The closing shot of the film M.G. PB, Cream Cracker, reg JB 6158 (Berkshire), R. W. Christmas

Austin, FVW 638 (Essex), unidentified

With all this evidence we still do not know the event/date?

The film has an M.G. Car Club flavour?

Tony Rumfitt "the ex-Cotton car", R. N. Richards, R. Butler, M. W. Todd, R. W. Christmas all competed 28 January 1951 (start at Nashleigh Garage, Chesham)?

Other known competitors:

D. W. Price, (1,172 c.c. Price special)—is this LPG 870 (Surrey)?

Visitors' Novice Award: E. H. Manners (1,172 c.c. Falcon)

T. A. Davidson, N.W. London Club, Ford V8

D. F. Aris, M.G. "P-type"—is this YS 4533?

Teltsh, M.G. TD supercharged—is this UMG 124 (Middlesex)?

S. Pipe, Ford Special 1,172 c.c.

P. W. Wain, Morris Minor, UF 5976

45 entries

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, Yesterday, 19:48.

[Rupertlt1]

I received a nice Christmas present from local historian Matthew Jones in the form of some information ref the public house in Chesham at the start of the Chilterns film:

"The building in the background looks like the old pub, The Nash Arms, which closed, I believe, in 2014. This was on the left of the road as you headed towards Tring at the bottom of Nashleigh Hill opposite the garage."

Known as The Nashleigh Arms in period.

https://www.closedpu...m_nasharms.html

I think this is the clincher that the film is of the Chilterns Trial, M.G. Car Club (South-East), 28 January 1951.

References: Autocar, 2 February 1951, page 63; Autosport, 9 February 1951, Page 183.

The Motor anybody?

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, Yesterday, 20:59.