07-01-2024, 10:25 PM
Some further thoughts on Gunnar Poppe’s unsuccessful outing in the 1924 Small Car Trials. One of the most remarkable features of the Seven is its competition life, from before going into production. Speed events started at in 1922 at Shelsley, where they will continue later this year. Early racing included not only Brooklands, but driving to Monza, and the opening event at Monthlery.
Trialling also started very early, in the Colmore and the Lands End in 1923. The 1924 Colmore in February saw Gunnar Pope get a Silver, in OL3419, and he took a Bronze completing the April Lands End. All Sevens entered in the June London – Edinburgh finished, Poppe in OL 3418 getting a Gold In July Poppe drove one of the three brave Chummies who successfully managed the 875 miles of the Lands End to John O’Groats Trial. So what went wrong with OL3418 on the Small Car Trial? The car was entered by the works, who had to lodge a bond of £250 in case they were challenged for entering a car that was not in standard production condition. Canning Brown suggests magneto. Whilst a number of cars had magneto problems caused by the deep watersplash at Beulah, this was on the Southern Loop, not en route to Bwlch y Groes. Cowbourne mentions in passing the Autocar report, which clearly notes both clutch smell and lack of forward movement.
For those of you VSCC members with cars eligible for LCES, abbreviated versions of the trial routes will be used for the LCES Spring Weekend, Friday 5/Sat 6th April. For those of us with modified Sevens, or indeed Morgans or GNs, it is intended to recreate the Small Car Trial on Fri 17th/Sat 18 May. This will use the full Northern Loop, whizzing up Bwlch y Groes. The Southern Loop passes the actual start of the hillclimb just outside Brecon at Warren Road. As far as I know this was only used in August 1921. The four miles or so of the Warren Road diversion will be but a fraction of the day’s original 176 miles, so will be attempted.
Expressions of interest are invited so that planning can commence. No bond of £250 will have to be lodged with the organisers. Participants will be encouraged to stop at the bottom of hills to fill scuttle tanks to the brim. Wing tanks may be available from a well known forumist.
stevekaytwo@btinternet.com or PM
Thanks and acknowledgements as ever to Austin Harris and the LAT Archive