1930s hood fasteners evidence - plea

[Malcolm Parker]

Many years ago I was on The Eskdale Reliability Trial in North Yorkshire in my Reliant engine Big 7 special.  We had had lunch at Rosedale, famous for Chimney Bank, at 1 in 2 1/2 the steepest gradient in the UK.  An elderly couple, Bill and Greta, were in Bills Wolsley Hornet Special and Greta was struggling to remove the tonneau cover.  Bill calmly watched his wife struggling for a few minutes, then ambled over to the car.  Greta immediately had a go at him about the tonneau being awkward.  Bill pointed to one of the fasteners and asked 'what does that say?'.   Greta looked closely and read the words 'Lift the Dot'.   'Yes' said Bill, 'Lift the Dot, not Rive the Bugger!'
From then on I have always referred to them as Rive the Buggers.