In 2001 Lancashire Automobile Club was approached by Jaguar cars to help with the celebrations of Sir William Lyons birth one hundred years previously.
The event was centred on Blackpool, where Sir William was born, and after a week of runs moved yo Coventry and the Browns Lane factory where a glittering evening event took place.
RonnMiddleton was our Clerk of Course and entrants cam from all over the world.
Click on the link to see ‘Top Dog of the Big Cats’ which went out on ITV.
In 2001 Jaguar Cars celebrated the 100th anniversary of Sir William Lyons birth. As he was born in Lancashire the Lancashire Automobile Club was asked to organise a series of events based initialy in Blackpool and then Coventry. This video was made to record the event. You may catch glimpses of a, very, young Ronn Middleton (Clerk of Course and a few others you may recognise.
During the lock-down you may have searched online for motor-related stimulation, and if old Austins are your thing you may have come across a video of the 1939 launch of the Austin 8 in the Lake District. In the video the little Austin, driven by Tommy Wisdom, takes on the challenge of climbing 25,000ft in a day – no mean feat for a car of that time on what can only be described as goat tracks in many instances. Just how many tyres they got through is anybody’s guess!
It really is a fascinating watch, not least because it is the first colour film of the Lakes and shows the area as it was prior to the 2nd World War. If you haven’t seen it, search ‘Austin 8 Introduction movie’ on YouTube.
Obviously we can’t do a present day run following in their tracks because they ‘double use’ many of the passes (this is against Motorsport UK regulations) but Chris Lee has spent hours and hours going through the video to determine where they went (that’s what lock-down does). Chris has now plotted this and prepared a booklet with the history connected to the launch and marked Ordnance Survey maps to give you more detail.
Whilst we can’t exactly follow the route on an organised Club event, we are in discussions with Motorsport UK’s Rally Liaison Officer as to how we can do a run in the spirit of the original whilst complying with present day restrictions.
THe cars line up for the start at the Norbreck Castle Hotel in glorious sunshine
As Mike Wood will tell you anytime this month we were due to run our 28th Coast to Coast Classic Car Run. Mike ran the Lancashire Automobile Club’s first Classic Car Run from Blackpool to Scarborough but that’s not the whole story!
Long before Mike’s run for Classic Cars, in 1991, the Club ran a run not for Classic Cars but for Kit Cars from Blackpool to Scarborough. The run was thought up by Anthony and Carolyn Taylor after a discussion with Chris Lee.
At the time Chris was involved with a life assurance society, the Scottish Legal, who had sponsored the LAC Doninigton Sprint as well as Chris’s XR3i which he had competed in the club’s sprint championship. The Directors of Scottish Legal wanted an event to give publicity to their annual conference to be held in Scarborough. The previous year the conference had been held in Blackpool so running an event from Blackpool to Scarborough made sense.
The only stipulations were that the event had to be held on the Saturday to meet the conference timetable, when most of the conference delegates should have arrived and before the conference started formally, and that the finish be at the Scarborough Spa where the conference was to be held.
This all tied in with Anthony and Carolyn’s involvement with Kit cars and their contacts locally garnered via their own Aristocat Jaguar 120 evocation.
So Chris got on with designing a route and venues along the way which had to have a reasonably timed start in Blckpool, a lunch halt and an arrival time in Scarborough to meet the Directors time constraints.
Norbreck Catle Hotel Blackpool
We had a good relationship with the then manager of the Norbreck Castle Hotel so that was the start venue in Blackpool and the finish was arranged at the Scarborough Spa with adequate parking reserved. Carolyn arranged a lunch halt at the Devonshire Arms at Bolton Abbey so all that was needed was to link the three up with a mileage to ensure a finish at Scarborough on time.
So at 09.00 in the morning a fine array of Kit cars lined up at The Norbreck Castle Hotel Blackpool ready for their journey over to Yorkshire. The cars ranged from a 602cc 2 cylinder Lomax 3 wheeler to the mighty 4.2 litre 6 cylinder Aristocat. Quite a difference in performance and capabilities!
Drivers Briefing
Following a briefing from Anthony Taylor the cavalcade set off in bright sunshine for the lunch halt at The Devonshire Arms using mainly B roads and the A59.
Lunch halt at the Devonshire Arms.
By the time they reached the Devonshire Arms the weather had closed in and there had been some rain so it was hoods up for the second leg to Scarborough.
The route then went over Blubberhouses towards Harrogate then north past Ripon and on to Thirsk before the cars tackled Sutton Bank. For those who don’t know Sutton Bank it is The A170 runs up the bank with a maximum gradient of 1 in 4 (25%), and includes a hairpin bend just to add to the challenge. Vehicles have to keep in low gear whilst travelling up or down the bank, and it is considered so bad that caravans are banned from this length of the A170.
A short breather at the top of Sutton Bank.
After completing the climb, the cars stopped for a bit of a breather at the top of Sutton Bank and enjoyed the views before pressing on to Scarborough.
Then out on the A170 through Helmsley and Pickering then on to Scarborough. The weather was now light drizzle but the crews of the cars were in fine spirits as we were met be the Directors and civic dignitaries at the Spa.
Entering HelmsleyHelmsley – back in sunshine.Following the A170 in North Yorkshire.Roof off in the Lomax
The cars arrive at the Spa in ScarboroughRoof back on in the Lomax as the weather changes.We certainly attracted a crowd.Judging the cars for the Scottish Legal Pennant award.The end of a long but enjoyable day.
The winner of the Scottish Legal Pennant
OK so it wasn’t a ‘Classic Car Run’ but it laid the foundation of many runs to come which used the Norbreck Castle for a starting point and finished at the Spa in Scarborough. Over the years things changed and we sought places new to start and finish to give a choice of new and more interesting routes.
One thing is certain at no point on that did we realise that Mike would pick up that mantle and organise an event which has now gone on for 27 years and after a break this year will be back in 2021.
Many thanks to all who organised and took part in the event.
Nigel Bentley brough this video to my attention. So here’s another interesting motor sport video. Ok so it’s Watkins Glen in the USA but wait till you see who sponsored the video and the adverts.
It struck me that whilst many LAC members would know the general layout at Longridge for motor racing the sprint layout as used by both Longton and District Motor Club and Lancashire Automobile Club may be unfamiliar to them.
The featured picture is a painting of me coming out of Quarry Bend into Paddock Bend – I seem to have lost the original.
The picture, below, shows the layout of the sprint layout and I thought you might be intersted to have a competitive run round with me.
The paddock is situated along the cliff top at the bottom of the picture. We run down a gentle slope to a collect area by the Start Line (shown red).
As cars depart we slowly move forward to the start line – not to close to the car in front as they kick up stones as they warm their tyres!
Now the marshals call us forward to the start line and carefully align us with the timing beams. The traffic lights flicker red, amber as they rock the car gentley back and forward. It is a down hill start so the car tends to creep forward.
Once the traffic lights are a steady amber we await the green. A car already on the circuit flashes past on our right. Once he reaches Weighbridge corner the lights will go green and we can start in out own time.
The lights go green and we sprint away onto Rock Straight – the quarry wall looms above us to our left.
All to soon we reach Weighbridge Corner a tight right hander. JUst in view to our left tucked behind the barriers is the tow truck and ambulance.
We are now on the short straight after Weighbridge the grid markings for the race start flash past beneath us. In the Esses we pass through the timing beams for the first time.
The Esses is tricky to get right as the exit determines our positioning into Quarry Bend. Get this wrong and the hump on the inside of the corner will spin you round and send us into the barriers which are all to close on our left.
With the line just right we enter Quarry this is the start of a climb which continues into Paddock Bend. Paddock is easy to get right but gmake a mess of it and our speed along Rock Straight will be compromised ruinig our time.
As we leave Paddock Bend the trck drops and as we go over the rise the steering goes light. More than one car has lost it here but we are OK. Back on Rock Straight we are more confident both tyres and brakes are wrmed up and we leave bracking for Weightbridge a littel later and carry more speed. As a result we clip the dirt on the outside of the corner as we exit. It is not simply a matter of going flat out to cross the finish line at the entrance to ther Esses. The marshals on the very end of the pit wall on out right (just where the pit exit for the race meetings is located) wave a chequred flag. Our run is over.
We cotinue into Quarry and exit to our left just before Paddock Bend to return to the paddock.
By the way this layout meant that the timing crew could get a time for a flying lap picking up the car as it past the timing lights at the finish the first time the car passed and then again when it finished it’s run. This is why Kim Mathers time in his BRM at a Longton meeting qualified for many years as the fastest lap of Longridge and remained tied with two others who set their laps at race meetings when the circuit closed.
The picture below shows an arial view of the caravan park which is there today. I have marked the spring circuit in red to give an indication of the way it fitted inot the layout.
It came as quite a shock to realise that May 13th celebrated something rather special in the motorsport world.
This video is rare BBC Newsreel footage of the British and European Grand Prix on 13 May 1950, designated as the first ever F1 World Championship race.
The race took place at Silverstone in the presence of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, and was dominated by the Alfa Romeo cars.
If you are into motor racing, Minis or want to know more about John Cooper here are three videos (two with the same title but different!) for you to savoir.
As part of the launch of the Austin 8, in 1938, this publicity film was produced.
This type of film was not unusual at the time and the idea was to present the car by setting a target – in this case to climb 25,000 feet in a day. The area chosen was the Lake District and the film is worth viewing for the scenery and a glimpse of life (and roads) pre war.
Sometimes when I talk to entrants they ask how much work goes into setting up an event. They seem surprised when I reply that our bigger events take roughly twelve months and the simpler events between se
ven and nine months.
Frankly I don’t think they really believe me and I don’t want to bore them too much by going into the details. So I hope the following will give a simple guide to running an event: –
To begin with we need to determine where we want to go and roughly what mileage is involved. For events like the Manchester to Blackpool or Coast to Coast we have a fairly good idea of the place but not the actual venues.
Next we need to find start and finish venues which can accommodate up to say 70 cars, meaning around 140+ entrants plus officials.
Then we need to talk to these venues and establish that they are willing to accommodate us and set out our needs – many hotels are tied up with weddings over a year in advance so we need to get in early!
Having established a start and finish there may be other bodies we need to get permissions from such as Lancaster City Council for use of the sea wall or Blackpool Corporation for the use of Stanley Park.
Local authorities will need agreements signing and forms filling in including acceptable Risk Assessments for our activities.
Other non-motoring activities can clash preventing use of venues or putting time constraints on our event. These can include things like a Park Run on the sea wall in Morecambe. We have to be clear by 9.00am to avoid 300+ runners coming down the prom or something as simple as the opening time for a restaurant or pub we are using.
A weird one which can arise is consulting tide tables – yes tide tables! Roads along the coast can be inundated and closed at high spring tides. Classic owners don’t like driving through salt water.
OK now we know where the start and finish are plus any time constraints now we can start on a route.
Using good old fashioned maps, we try to give an enjoyable and scenic route avoiding mayor town centres and potential problem areas whilst staying within a reasonable mileage and assuming an average speed of below 30mph (a constraint necessary to get permission to hold the event from Motorsport UK and the police).
This gives us an idea of where rest halts and lunch breaks need to be situated by calculating the time of the route and breaking it up into reasonable sections.
This then leads us to locating suitable comfort and lunch stops along the proposed route. Then we try to find places in the general area of the ideal location which can accommodate us. Obviously there aren’t pubs located everywhere that are willing or able to accept us but by searching and ringing we do locate places that will work.
Now we know the locations of theses stops we can modify the route to go to these places.
All in all, this may take several months of phone calls and e mails but we now have a provisional route.
We know the date and route so now we can look for other events which may clash along the way such as Appleby Horse Fair or a major event in Blackpool using the Promenade or other events potentially leading to road blocks or closures.
This may lead to further modifications of the route.
Once satisfied we have a viable route we must contact all the Motorsport UK Route Liaison Officers responsible for the areas we pass through and let them have copies of the route for their approval. For example, the Coast to Coast may pass through up to four RLO areas!
The RLO are aware of ‘Black Spots’ where there are potential problems and agreements have been made that motoring events will not pass through. They are also aware of other events and there is a six weeks’ rule that we are not allowed to use a road which other clubs are using both 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after our event to prevent overuse and public complaints. That is why we need to get in early to be at the top of the list. Hopefully we can get the provisional route to the RLO and approved at least 6 months before the event.
The RLO comments may lead to a need to revise the provisional route again and re submit. Hopefully this does not adversely affect the start, finish or other stopping points or we will have to go through that loop again.
During this process we can start on the regulations, entry forms etc.
We now need to determine the number of officials and marshals we need and can start talking to relevant volunteers to pre warn them of the event and give them an idea of potential locations dates, timings etc.
With the provisional route agreed we can start to prepare the Route Book. In the ‘old days’ we drove the route noting every junction and condition of the road and potential issues. This may lead to a re-route which would have to go back to the RLO. Today we use Google Maps to do much the same but that doesn’t remove the need to drive the route at some point!
Now we can apply to Motorsport UK for a permit – called a Certificate of Exemption. Such permits from a recognised organisation are required to comply with the Road Traffic Act for all events with more than 12 cars. Failing to do this could leave the club open to legal action and invalidate the insurance of the entrants.
Having got the certificate, we can finalise the regulations entry forms and start on other paperwork such as the Final Instructions as well as organising Rally Plates.
The Entries Secretary can now start sending out the Regulations and Entry forms as well as publicising the event.
With the Route Book prepared we can do the first run through to check the route. This is more than checking the mileages we need to ensure that any road signs match those in the route book and are in place. Also the actual road is observed. Has the surface broken up and become too rough, is there an unsafe pull out onto a major road? Has there been a physical change a new roundabout for example or a change in priorities?
This in turn may lead to a change in route which has to go back to the RLO for approval.
At this point a quick check is needed to ensure all the locations on the event are still open and ready for our arrival. Pub managers seem to change regularly and often the new incumbent is unaware of our event and the arrangements we made with the previous manager.
Work can now start on the Route Information Book which tells entrants about places of interest they pass through on their journey.
By visiting the County Councils web sites we can determine any planned road closures affecting the route. You can’t do this to early as they often don’t get put on the web site until a month or so before the works! This again may lead to a re-route which has to go back to the RLO.
When the route is finally ‘set in concrete’ we can write to all the police forces affected by the event with route maps timings etc.
The final version of the Route Book with all mileages and any changes incorporated can now be produced.
The type and amount of any equipment needed for the event can now be determined. Things like Control Boards, arrows banners etc.
By now entries should be rolling in and we get an idea of numbers which need to be relayed to all the venues in particular those providing food and refreshments. We can also order the Rally Plates ensuring we have enough for both entrants and officials.
With a couple of weeks to go to the event a final run through is required. It is surprising how often things change. We have had collapsed bridges, new traffic lights, new roundabouts and long term road closures all affecting the events
Marshals now need to receive firm details of their locations and duties.
With a week to go Final Instructions for entrants, marshals and officials need to be sent out.
In the week up to the event a wary eye needs to be kept on weather reports and potential flooding on the route. Where necessary deviations to avoid flooding will need preparing to hand out at the start.
On the day of the event the officials at the start need to be there early to sign on and prepare for the entrants to arrive. As a final check a Course Car leaves the start to run the route some 30 minutes before the first entrant leaves.
The course car has ‘arrows’ to mark any last minute detours and ensures the marshals are in position and signs the marshals on.
All that’s left is to welcome the entrants to the finish an oh and start on next years’ event.
What a night!
Those of you who enjoyed Mike Wood’s Monte Memories last night certainley had a real treat. Mike was on form and the packed Whalley Golf Club, with around 100 in attendance, had a great evening.
We promised to make videos of the Monte Carlo Rallies we found of Mike on the rallies available so here we go.
