VVC Rally - Brighton 1981

THE EIGHTEENTH VETERAN VESPA CLUB ANNUAL RALLY HELD AT WITHDEAN STADIUM CAR PARK JUNE 1981

Wives, families and guests joined Veteran Club members for the weekend rally on June 20. Held at Withdean Stadium, the Saturday evening get-together included a slide show from past events both at home and abroad. In the audience, the conversation went something like this: “A 42L2? No, it can’t be. Headlamp in the wrong place. Oh look, there’s Tommy Behan, came from Cheltenham didn’t he. That’s Bill Gaskins, wonder what he’s doing now. What’s that, 92L2? No you fathead, it couldn’t be with a number plate like that” It was certainly an evening of nostalgia and interest. And the club hope that younger members were not put off by all the strange jargon.

Next day the sun was shining, as it does on the righteous, and there were lots of haloes around that morning for the run and rally as committee members worked hard to prepare the course. At 11.30 am, six machines led by a VS1 and two VS5s, followed by a 150 Continental, a 92L2 and a 152L2 set off in the sunshine to enjoy the beauties of the Sussex lanes. All six completed the course and returned safely. Then came the Concours event, with the judge Ernie Hendy having a hard job trying to pick the best. The weather continued fine even after lunch for the Gymkhana. Both riders and machines were put through their paces, watched by VCB Vice-President Charles Caswell and his wife Ellen. Charles himself got a taste of nostalgia, and attempted the course on a 150 Continental, which he had once owned. He had a bit of a mishap on one of the obstacles, but fortunately neither man nor machine was hurt badly.

Results

• Overall winner – Clive Mills
• Gymkhana (Veteran)
  1. Jon Eliston
  2. Tony Thorpe
  3. Malcom Hayes
• Gymkhana (Vintage)
  1. Spike Edwards
  2. Clive Mills
  3. Barry Holness
• Concours D’Elegance (Veteran)
  1. Jon Eliston (VS1)
  2. Tony Thorpe (GL2)
  3. Malcom Hayes (VS1)
• Concours D’Elegance (Vintage)
  1. Dave Hawkins (VS5)
  2. Dave Hawkins (VS5)
  3. Clive Mills (152L2)
• Ladies’ Award
  1. Cathy Holness and Margaret Farquhar.

Report by Eric Montague

(Originally published in Vespa News August 1981)

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