Tut tut John, you clearly haven't been reading your Peter Garnier history of the MCC which covers the Torquay Rallies in the chapter entitled 'The Also-rans'. Donald Cowbourne also covers the 1932 to 1938 MCC "July" Rallies/Trials in his British Trials Drivers (1929 - 1939) book. But briefly .... the 1935 Torquay Trial & Rally started at London, Birmingham, and Bournemouth; the routes converged at Exeter; and the Trial competitors then climbed Windout, Pepperdon, Little John, Simms, and Slippery Sam on their way to Torquay. There were 171 car entrants and 153 car starters but the entry and award system was far too complicated to explain here - see Cowbourne pages 477 and 478. What a shame that the West Country roads are now far too congested in July to repeat this little jaunt. Andrew
In a little postscript to the above ... at the MCC AGM on Saturday evening John Aley pointed out to me that the MCC still run a very similar event to the Torquay Trial, it's just that it's in January and is called 'Class 0' on the Exeter Trial. Andrew
Tut tut John, you clearly haven't been reading your Peter Garnier history of the MCC which covers the Torquay Rallies in the chapter entitled 'The Also-rans'. Donald Cowbourne also covers the 1932 to 1938 MCC "July" Rallies/Trials in his British Trials Drivers (1929 - 1939) book. But briefly .... the 1935 Torquay Trial & Rally started at London, Birmingham, and Bournemouth; the routes converged at Exeter; and the Trial competitors then climbed Windout, Pepperdon, Little John, Simms, and Slippery Sam on their way to Torquay. There were 171 car entrants and 153 car starters but the entry and award system was far too complicated to explain here - see Cowbourne pages 477 and 478. What a shame that the West Country roads are now far too congested in July to repeat this little jaunt. Andrew
ReplyDeleteIn a little postscript to the above ... at the MCC AGM on Saturday evening John Aley pointed out to me that the MCC still run a very similar event to the Torquay Trial, it's just that it's in January and is called 'Class 0' on the Exeter Trial. Andrew
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