Accessories

[Malcolm Parker]

Being a happy customer for a wing tank, Duncan, might one suggest that your next project is the extension funnel for magneto engine oil filling? Malcolm, I am most impressed by your navvying accessories, never seen any before. Nav  rallying in a Frogeye or MGB used the Halda, in a twin cylinder Visa was a combination of a stopwatch and desparate  guesswork. In Austin Sevens driving as fast as one dared was about right, never arrived early at a TC. Did you really have sections intended for 26 mph on a Measham? How your navvy ever nodded off is a mystery, I would have thuoght that at such a pace through the frosty night they would have been overwhelmed by Adrenalin and barely able to sleep for days afterwards.

I did the Measham Rally many times during the period 1990 to about 2010, initially as a navigator in a ponderous Austin 12 tourer which was far too slow especially up the hills.   Later I entered my Austin 7 Ulsteroid, based on a shortened Ruby chassis.   Because it was registered in 1936 the VSCC regarded it as a Post-Vintage car, quite correctly.   In those days the Measham Rally had two average speed classes, one for vintage cars and the other, faster speeds, for the post vintage cars and IIRC the sportier vintage stuff.  The fast speed class also used a longer route, typically about 180 miles instead of 160 for the slower cars.  So I was in with the fastest cars, even though my Austin 7 was no quicker than a good vintage Chummy or Ulsteroid.   In those days a Measham route would take in every usable 'white road' on the map and certainly every ford.   Usually a good 10% of the route mileage could be unmade roads.   Maintaining the average speeds was well nigh impossible in an Austin but some of the top drivers managed in cars like the Alvis 12/50 or Frazer Nash.
Some sections were at an average speed of 26 mph.  Later I started using the 1931 saloon and that was much more relaxed and comfortable, as well as being in the slower speed class.    The last Measham I did I was driving in my shirt sleeves it was so cosy in the car.  I think my navigator still nodded off at about 4.00am!
After I started using the average speed rings on the dashboard clock one of the other navigators had obviously been sussing it out and shortly afterwards one of the big Vauxhall 30/98's appeared with a huge version mounted directly behind the steering wheel.   Instead of having separate rings for each speed, this version had about a dozen concentric rings on a disc about 12" diameter.  I don't think they featured in the awards!