Lea-Francis Owners' Club 2006 Stanford Hall Rally

			Lea-Francis Owners' Club Events - 2006 Stanford Hall Rally
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	Webmaster’s Note: Thanks to General Secretary and LeaFlet Editor Robin Sawers for his account of this years’ Stanford Hall Weekend, published in full in the LeaFlet. Thanks also to Competition Secretary Hugh Price for organising the event despite being overseas most of the time until shortly before the event. The 2006 Stanford Hall Weekend was, again, a great success. Saturday June 3rd: The Wood at Rowington by the canal bridge turned out to be an inspired choice as a rendezvous, with alfresco eating at tables in the glorious sunshine in a garden and the cars in full view (about a dozen of them). Food and beer were excellent. Some members had come considerable distances, such as Graham and Hazel Williams from Norfolk in the 14hp coupé, Matthew Wright from Warrington in the 1926 J type drophead and Stephen Chittock in the 1925 K type from Scarborough. After suitable refreshments at The Wood, the rally set off for nearby Baddesley Clinton, a really enchanting National Trust Elizabethan moated manor house, where we were privileged to park in front of the house. This was quite intimate in size with fine oak panelling. Outside the rhododendrons were in full bloom along the moat, and families of baby ducks swam in line ahead on the small lake among the trees. From here we followed a cunning and attractive route devised by Hugh Price which avoided the motorways and major conurbations and magically brought us out on Brownsover Lane in Rugby for the Brownsover Hall Hotel. Sunday June 4th: At Stanford Hall a number of cars had already arrived, perhaps most notably the 14 Sports 1384 which has been so splendidly restored by John Blundell and Mick Walsh, as chronicled from time to time in Classic & Sportscar, of which Mick is Editor in Chief. The car has been in his family for more than 40 years, having been bought in 1963 by his father and passed to him in 1997. It is now quite unrecognisable as the red and cream “Noddy’s car” pictured in the December 1998 LeaFlet. Another restoration that took a while was that of Simon Chambers (formerly Clive Wilkinson) who rescued his 1951 14hp estate from a Dorset scrapyard in 1985. But then Simon/Clive did all the work on the body himself. He records his first Stanford day with the completed car in a separate article (he did bring it some years ago when half finished). It looks really good. The ultimate family car! A red 2½ Sports that arrived with an unfamiliar number (220 UXT). This was being driven for Barrie Price by Simon Porter (who hopes to bring his own 2½ next year, another long-term project). He said it was John Thomson’s 5154, currently with Barrie for mechanical work. In the same corner of the field was another unfamiliar car, John Dalton’s smart 1951 14 saloon, now resplendent in two-tone red and cream paintwork. On the rather thinner vintage side of the field it was good to see again David and Diane Weeks’ pretty blue Hyper, still looking as immaculate as ever, but in need of some recommissioning so brought on a trailer. They achieved identical results in the driving test, and tied for best vintage performance. The test this year was on the basis of regularity, with each competitor allowed two tries, under the eagle eye of Lawrence Creaser. Best of the lot (meaning most consistent) was Jim Jenkins in his 14 Sports. Later in the morning a rumble as of distant thunder heralded the arrival of the mighty Leafcirrus, Colin Bullock’s new creation which features on this month’s LeaFlet cover. The whole car has been designed and finished to a very high standard. Unlike so many specials, this one looks the business, and we hope it will go as well as it looks. The afternoon passed in no time with the usual conversations about LeaFs past and present, particularly past.
			A traditional sight in a traditional setting... The two late-type 14hp Saloons are pictured over the front wing of a 14hp Estate in front of the Brownsover Hall Hotel. Although not part of the Rally, the comfortable and convenient accommodations have become a tradition for many LFOC members attending the Stanford Hall Rally.

			Graham Williams' unusual 14hp coupe at is pictured here at rest outside Baddesley Clinton.

			Star Attraction... The star of the show on Sunday was Colin Bullock's mighty Leafcirrus. Believed to be the first aero-engined Lea-Francis, the body has been superbly executed, unusually, as a single-seater but with road equipment. What a terrific idea for fun motoring!
	Prizegiving: Judges Roger Ballard and Sean Davies finished judging and it was time for the prizegiving. The awards presented were as follows: Directors Trophy (best overall in the concours) Jonathan Bowskill, 1953 14hp 4-light saloon G T Andrews Trophy (best new restoration) John Blundell and Mick Walsh, 1948 14hp Sports 1st Vintage Concours Matthew Wright, 1926 J type drophead coupé 2nd Vintage Concours Robin Sawers, 1930 P type fabric saloon 1st Post-vintage Concours Peter Baston, 1949 14hp Sports 2nd Post-vintage Concours Ken Old, 1951 14hp 4-light saloon Derrington Trophy (best in driving test) Jim Jenkins, 1948 14hp Sports 1st Vintage Driving Test Tie between David and Diane Weeks, 1929 Hyper TT Replica 1st Post-vintage Driving Test Allan Lupton, 1938 12.9hp Corsica Driving Test Special Award (most entertaining performance) Dave Purdy, 1963 Unihorse tractor Vintage Long Haul Matthew Wright, 1926 J type drophead coupé Post-vintage Long Haul Graham Williams, 1950 14hp coupé Annual Trophies LT Delaney Memorial (for promoting the Lower Ford Street cars) Bryan Gill, 1930 S type Spence Special Harry Spence Trophy (best aggregate in competitive events) Mike Neale, 1929 Hyper TT Replica Ken Rose Trophy (for promoting the postwar sports cars) Robin Sawers, 1948 14hp Sports Cliff Wright Trophy (for promoting the 14hp saloon) Peter Povey Albert Ludgate Trophy (for services to the Club) Jack Leonard, LeaFlet Editor		The 4½ litre air-cooled Cirrus engine is quite compact so fits perfectly well in the chassis (a 1928 P type).








	Saturday, June 3rd 12:00 PM Members will meet at: ‘The Wood’ Finwood Rd. Rowington, CV35 7DH The Wood (otherwise known to older locals as ‘The Tom o’ the Wood’), just south of the B4439 between Hockley Heath and Hatton adjacent to the canal bridge. Grid ref. SP 194 697. "A pleasant canalside pub offering restaurant meals and bar snacks to help down the ale." per Hugh Price. http://www.thewoodatrowington.co.uk/default.htm
	2.00 PM On to: Baddesley Clinton Rising Lane Baddesley Clinton B93 0DQ Directions provided on the day, a very short distance. This is a magnificent moated 15th century manor house, little changed since Elizabethan times, with fine gardens. House opens 1.30pm, gardens at 12.00pm. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-baddesleyclinton/

	4:00 PM Motor to Brownsover Hall Hotel on the northern outskirts of Rugby (see below). Hugh Price will provide a suggested route avoiding as far as possible the especially dense Midland motorway network and conurbations around Coventry, which will necessarily be devious, but not without charm. OPTIONALLY - Packwood House Baddesley Clinton is in effect ‘twinned’ with another NT property, Packwood House, a restored Tudor house with furnishings of the period and topiary in the garden, which is very near by. Tickets can be purchased which give entry to both offering a saving of about 25%. Packwood opens earlier than Baddelsey (House 12pm, gardens 11am). It would be quite possible therefore to visit both in the day, according to taste and time available. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-packwoodhouse/
	Brownsover Hall Hotel Near Stanford Hall Although not officially part of the Rally, it is where many members stay and dine. Accommodation is limited, so be sure to book early. (Click on the image for more detail)

	Sunday, June 4th STANFORD HALL Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 6DH Tel: 01788 860250 Fax: 01788 860870 http://www.stanfordhall.co.uk/index.html 10.30 AM Arrive Stanford Hall. Only new members will be provided with directions to this lovely isolated country house where the LFOC annual rally became rooted almost as long ago as some of the trees! But if you are making your first visit and need directions give us a shout. We should have the place to ourselves as so far there are no other bookings. 1.30 PM Concours d’élégance judging. 3.45 PM Prizegiving. Please call or email Hugh Price if you would like any further information. Hugh will, unfortunately, be in Austria until shortly before the event but please feel free to call 0043 316 404 2528 or email using: hugh.price@magnasteyr.com Although the event is essentially a LFOC event, others who delight in older vehicles are free to visit us and are most welcome.



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Webmaster’s Note:

Thanks to General Secretary and LeaFlet Editor Robin Sawers for his account of this years’ Stanford Hall Weekend, published in full in the LeaFlet.

Thanks also to Competition Secretary Hugh Price for organising the event despite being overseas most of the time until shortly before the event.

The 2006 Stanford Hall Weekend was, again, a great success.

Saturday June 3rd: The Wood at Rowington by the canal bridge turned out to be an inspired choice as a rendezvous, with alfresco eating at tables in the glorious sunshine in a garden and the cars in full view (about a dozen of them). Food and beer were excellent.

Some members had come considerable distances, such as Graham and Hazel Williams from Norfolk in the 14hp coupé, Matthew Wright from Warrington in the 1926 J type drophead and Stephen Chittock in the 1925 K type from Scarborough.