Category: news

Message from Craig Powers which will be of interest to any member invlved in sprinting or hillclimbing.

All,

You will recall that Avon Tyres Melksham plant closed in Dec 2023 after the parent company Cooper Tires / Goodyear restructured the business. This left the hillclimb / sprint sector without many types of competition tyre. Cars, bikes, sidecars were all affected.

BMTR (Birmingham) were stockpiling hillclimb / sprint tyres in late 2023 to take them through 2024.

I’m told that a management buyout has taken place and a new company will manufacture Avon tyres. The name is Nova Motorsport.

https://novamotorsport.com/

That’s all I know at the moment but I will try to find out more.

Craig

Welcome to something a little different – Back in the 1960’s several Lancashire Automobile Club members including Billy Turner and Ted Heath helped organise the Castles Run which finished at Clitheroe Castle.

We have 2 short films from the time one kindly donated by LAC member Nigel Bentley. Many of the cars were regulars on the Manchester to Blackpool Cars Runs of the day. I wonder how many still reside in Lancashire?

We hope you enjoy a slice of nostalgia ( The everyday cars in the background make good viewing too – can you name them all?!) For more information on the Lancashire Automobile Club why not visit our website -here https://lancsautoclub.com/

Please click on link below to view

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPXVIxTAwOQ

Welcome to this latest instalment of the Lancashire Automobile Clubs very own Mike Wood – his rallying years – this time Mike looks at the 1971 Monte Carlo Rally where he navigated for Tony Fall in the works Datsun 240Z – A large part of the film looks at the recce & behind the scenes, an interesting insight into rallying in the 70’s!

Thanks again to Mike & thanks for watching.

Please click on link below to watch the video or copy and paste into your browser.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQF_fASdM-Y

We thought you might like to see some pictures from the Dinner Dance. You never know you might be in there somewhere.

Welcome back in this video LAC member Nigel Bentley shares his memories & footage of the LAC 3 Day Scottish Highland Classic Car Tours. Many thanks to Nigel for allowing us to use his photographs & videos.

Organised by Mike Raven the Highland 3 Day was actually nearer to five days with an initial run up to Scotland for the start. The route went from hotel to hotel all round Scotland taking in some of the finest roads on the way. Many entrants dressed up for the occaision all adding to the fun. To add to Mike’s challenge he managed to find a new route every year quite some task.

If you are enjoying these videos and have any pictures or videos from LAC events and would like to show them to a wider audience please contact Jeff Chambers who will be very happy to incorporate your pictures into future videos.

Click on link below to view the video or copy and paste the link into your browser.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAAFSOuD9SM

Welcome back to the latest episode in the LAC’s very own Mike Wood – his rallying years on film, this time Mike looks back at the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally where Mike was part of the Leyland Motors works Rally Team, this time Mike was part of the Recce Team running ahead of the Rally & reporting back. Enjoy a slice of history all filmed by Mike himself……………

Please click on link below to view.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP0_-glR5MM

Welcome back, as the entries open for the 2024 Fellsman Classic Car Tour we thought you might like a quick look back over some recent years of the event.  Jeff Cahmbers has once again put together this short video with all photographs kindly supplied by one of our members, Nigel Bentley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96Ny6q9pZvY

Enjoy.

Welcome to the next instalment in the LAC’s very own Mike Wood – his life in rallying this time Mike looks back at The Alpine Rally, also known by its official name Coupe des Alpes, a rally competition based in Marseille and held from 1932 to 1971. In the 1950s and the 1960s, it was among the most prestigious rallies in the world and featured an international route, consisting of famous mountain passes in Europe.

These videos were films taken by Mike mainly during the reccee and during free time on the event. Obviously whilst out on the event itself Mike’s attention would have been elsewhere co-driving the car.

It wasn’t the most succesful of events for the Ford Team with Roger Clark, Jean-Francois, Ove Andersson and Mike and Hannu all retiring. In all of the 61 starters 41 were to retire.

Worth mentioning that Mike has just celebrated his 90th birthday – many happy returns Mike.

Click on link below to see the video or copy and paste into your browser.