Final Network rally preparations are underway across the UK as rallyists prepare their cars for the rigours of a trip to Wiltshire on 7th June. The boot of a Minor Semi-Sports is difficult to access, (via the tilting seat back) and awkwardly shaped, with a good 40% of of its capacity being occupied by the spare wheel. A tool roll, petrol can and essential spares take-up much of what remains, so a luggage rack is almost a necessity if anything more than a change of underwear is required over the course of the weekend!
The 2019 PWMN Moonrakers’ Rally kicks off in less than a weeks time, centered upon the historic Wiltshire town of Marlborough. A record entry of 32 cars and their crews are scheduled to take part and will traverse the county’s rolling countryside using byways and lanes ideally suited for these 90 year-old vehicles. The image above was taken at the start of the Saturday tour on the 2014 ‘Olde England’ rally based in the Suffolk village of Cavendish.
1930 MG Midget WM 5429 2M/1771 has a new owner in Tony Gamble from Selby, North Yorks. It transpires that the motive behind Tony’s recent sale of his Minor projects was to clear some garage space for this, another car requiring significant work before it is ready to take to the Queen’s highway. Congratulations on your new acquisition Tony!
During the course of a long rally tour it’s not aways convenient to stop where the facilities are located, hence the reason for these abandoned Minor saloons. The photographer stumbled upon them in the Gloucestershire countryside with the occupants nowhere to be seen, although it transpired, the culprits were very close by.
Richard Hurdwell owns this 1934 Abbey bodied E.W. Wolseley Hornet special (VE 9956) and attended the VSCC’s Suffolk Tour on 19th May. However, in this photo taken deep in the Suffolk countryside to the north-east of Newmarket, it’s not Richard at the wheel but a young family member given the opportunity to taste the delights of vintage motoring.
Geof Wilson is endeavoring to finish his Wasp Minor Special in time for the Network’s rally which is now just three short weeks away. His car is seen here being loaded for a trip to his panel-beating shop for the remaining panels to be fitted, prior to the addittion of wings, radiator, instrumentation etc., plus of course some initial proving runs.
Network members, Linda & Toby Sears and Kate & Ken Martin have just returned from a Morris Register organised tour to the south west of England. Unfortunately, Ken Martin’s Minor Saloon developed an engine issue just prior to departure, necessitating the use of the family’s Vanden Plas Princess. No such issues for Toby and Linda who drove across from the New Forest in their 1933 Minor Saloon (YG 2017). Photo: Ken Martin
Les Beardmore in Lytham, Lancs has just completed a six-year restoration of this 1931 Minor Semi-Sports (EC 9689). The Westmoreland registered car has not been on the road since the 90s and will sit alongside a Stewart & Ardern registered 1931 £100 Two-seater (MU 3272), which was also restored by Les. EC 9689 joins a growing number of roadworthy (genuine and replica) Semi-Sports models, a Minor variant that until 15 years ago was a rare sight at Morris gatherings.