Save the date (17th May 2025!)
Aston Hill Centenary Event - 17 May 2025 Invitation
We are approaching clubs and other organisations that may have an historical interest in the events that took place at Aston Hill during the first 25 years of the 20th Century. While details of the Centenary Event in May 2025 can be found in the last section below, we wish to encourage owners of vehicles that competed at Aston Hill in period, or of a type that did so, and that were manufactured prior to 1925, to join us in the demonstration run. In addition, clubs and organisations with a connection to such period vehicles are invited to book a display area in the show field. Please email [email protected] to register interest in the demonstration run and/or the show.
We hope you are able to join us in 2025 to celebrate the wonderful motorsport history of Aston Hill.
Kind regards,
The Aston Hill Centenary Event organising committee
We are approaching clubs and other organisations that may have an historical interest in the events that took place at Aston Hill during the first 25 years of the 20th Century. While details of the Centenary Event in May 2025 can be found in the last section below, we wish to encourage owners of vehicles that competed at Aston Hill in period, or of a type that did so, and that were manufactured prior to 1925, to join us in the demonstration run. In addition, clubs and organisations with a connection to such period vehicles are invited to book a display area in the show field. Please email [email protected] to register interest in the demonstration run and/or the show.
We hope you are able to join us in 2025 to celebrate the wonderful motorsport history of Aston Hill.
Kind regards,
The Aston Hill Centenary Event organising committee
| aston_hill_centenary_event_invitation_1.pdf |
'Missing' cars
As a new 2024 hard copy Register is imminent, it's time to chase up the handful of cars which have gone 'missing' in recent years. The first on the list is E209. This is the lowest known surviving 30-98 chassis number, although it was not passed out from the erecting shop until 1920. Reportedly sold by Vintage and Prestige in 2022, the car's current owner is unknown. If it sold., where is it now?
(Thanks to Eddie Bourke for the period photos).
DK Feb '24
(Thanks to Eddie Bourke for the period photos).
DK Feb '24
E209. David Dunn at Phoenix Park circa 1982
30-98 Register events 2024
Photo gallery coming soon!
30-98 Register events 2023
Last year was a very active year for Register events. Highlights included the Centenary event 'OE100' in June, VSCC Prescott in August, Hampton Court Concours in September, the Rudge Whitworth cup race at Goodwood Revival and some cracking events run by our Australian cousins. Check back for more photos of these events coming soon.
DK Jan '24
DK Jan '24
Owners' Exploits 2023
As always, 30-98 owners have been busy travelling & competing around the UK and Europe in their 30-98s. And of course in Oz. A selection of the 2023 exploits can be found here. Please send additional contributions to [email protected].
DK Jan '24
DK Jan '24
OE295 - Impressed!
By Diarmaid Boland
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I bought my 30-98 from the Polson Motor Company in late 2021. I had been looking for a 30-98 for a few years after my brother bought his 30-98. Having driven his car, I was very impressed by it’s performance and I felt it an ideal sized car in that it wasn’t too big and wasn’t too small, ideal for touring and taking part in events in Ireland. I know John & Ian Polson having dealt with them previously, and I was happy to take their recommendation that OE295 was a good and original car. I was keen to get a car with its original body, and being a late production car it also had hydraulic brakes.
Having driven the car over the last 12 months, I have to say I’m delighted with it and I couldn’t recommend the 30-98 highly enough. The performance and handling are exceptional, especially as by the time my car was built I’m sure they were considered old fashioned. I’m no expert but I would find it hard to believe that there is a better vintage car. I am having my car retrimmed over the winter, so hopefully I will have it back by the spring as I have it entered for the 2023 Gordon Bennett Rally. There should be a large turnout of 30-98’s as there are quite a few in Ireland now! (at least 10 according to the Register! -Ed) Diarmaid Boland |
Motor Sport Sept 1951. The car passed from
Thompson to Noble Jones in 1952.
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30-98 Picnic - September 2022
In early September a group of enthusiastic 30-98ers ventured to Worcestershire for the annual picnic, moved this year from the usual early August date. The weather threatened to dampen the proceedings, but in the event most of us managed to stay dry. The destination was Russell Cook's amazing collection of steam, combustion and fairground vehicles and memorabilia.
Words cannot do justice to this collection, it is simply astounding. Showman's steam engines, living vans, Scammell tractors, fairground rides & organs, Foden steam wagons, an American La France, supercharged Studebaker Avanti, plus a several barns full of veteran, vintage & classic cars and trucks.
And yes of course a Vauxhall 23-60 and a 30-98. Let the pictures below do the talking. With grateful thanks to Russell, his family, and his enthusiastic team of helpers for a memorable day.
Oct '22
Words cannot do justice to this collection, it is simply astounding. Showman's steam engines, living vans, Scammell tractors, fairground rides & organs, Foden steam wagons, an American La France, supercharged Studebaker Avanti, plus a several barns full of veteran, vintage & classic cars and trucks.
And yes of course a Vauxhall 23-60 and a 30-98. Let the pictures below do the talking. With grateful thanks to Russell, his family, and his enthusiastic team of helpers for a memorable day.
Oct '22
2022 Sydney Harbour Concours D’Elegance: Prix d’Honneur winner - Vauxhall 30-98 OE1078
From Just Cars Magazine July 2022: https://www.justcars.com.au/news-and-reviews/report-2022-sydney-harbour-concours-d-elegance/938003
OE1078 (Photo: Just Cars July 22)
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A Vauxhall 30-98 has won a major Concours event in Australia. The Boyd Edkins 'Presentation Car' won best in show at the 2022 Sydney Harbour event. Many congratulations to John Kent and the team at Crankstart Engineering in Melbourne who restored this important 30-98 a few years back.
OE1078. 1925
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An opportunity like no other
By Daniel Zampatti (reproduced with kind permission of VSCC Victoria, from their newsletter)
'Some of you may have heard that one of the VSCC Australia's historically significant cars, OE227 of Peter Holbeach, has had a change of ownership. Great things happen in our club like this is a story which ought to be told and as its beneficiary I offer the following. On the Vauxhall Rally this year whilst putting luggage into the back of the Ryan-Feehan Family Vauxhall, OE22, Peter approached me with the beaming grin which only Peter can manage, “Daniel, I want to talk to you about 227; I want you to take it on!” This set my mind racing wondering what exactly he meant: take it on for tomorrow's run, for future events ….... or long term? Given the current market and circumstances the latter seemed all but impossible for someone just approaching his thirtieth birthday.
A short dialogue then ensued between us................
“But Peter, there is no way I could afford it.”
“No, I want you to take it on at a figure you can afford.”
We continued to talk and finally agreed that we needed to have dinner to discuss this matter further. Dinner of pasta in Glenferrie Road was arranged and finally we were sitting at the restaurant table waiting for Edwina Holbeach, Peter’s daughter, to arrive when there passed between us three life-changing sentences:
“Now, what are we going to do about 227?”
“Well, I can do this and that.”
Peter's hand shot out, “We do this!” And then, I was speechless. Peter has been incredibly selfless.
Edwina arrived, pleasantries were exchanged as we introduced each other. Peter looked at his daughter and announced that I am taking over the Vauxhall. Her reaction on was one of immediate and great joy. Edwina then told me that when her father returned from the Vauxhall rally his mind was obviously content and he had made a significant decision so he felt that he is free to concentrate his energy on other projects.
From my point of view, an opportunity to have a privilege like this is beyond measure and the mortgage can wait. I feel that nowadays we are the custodians of these century old cars and they come with a sense of obliga-on which cannot be meas-ured in monetary terms: we ought to campaign them. They have nearly a hundred years of history and we should add to that and write their next chapter ….. and the next ….... and the next. Peter has been a great campaigner of his Vauxhall and a stalwart of the VSCC. He has worked with so many hats and still he keeps the club's wheels turning and that makes our club great. Leaving the restaurant, Peter asked when I would like to collect the car. With Winton but a week away I asked whether it would be too soon to collect it before the meeting. His response was pure Holbeach, “Drop the rear tyre pressure by 5 psi and slide it around!”
I thank Peter for trusting me and for facilitating so generously the privilege of my taking this incredible vehicle to its next phase of campaigning and vintage motor sport, as he has done for the past couple of decades. OE227 and I have already started with 5 psi less in the rear tyres and sliding it around.........'
June '22
A short dialogue then ensued between us................
“But Peter, there is no way I could afford it.”
“No, I want you to take it on at a figure you can afford.”
We continued to talk and finally agreed that we needed to have dinner to discuss this matter further. Dinner of pasta in Glenferrie Road was arranged and finally we were sitting at the restaurant table waiting for Edwina Holbeach, Peter’s daughter, to arrive when there passed between us three life-changing sentences:
“Now, what are we going to do about 227?”
“Well, I can do this and that.”
Peter's hand shot out, “We do this!” And then, I was speechless. Peter has been incredibly selfless.
Edwina arrived, pleasantries were exchanged as we introduced each other. Peter looked at his daughter and announced that I am taking over the Vauxhall. Her reaction on was one of immediate and great joy. Edwina then told me that when her father returned from the Vauxhall rally his mind was obviously content and he had made a significant decision so he felt that he is free to concentrate his energy on other projects.
From my point of view, an opportunity to have a privilege like this is beyond measure and the mortgage can wait. I feel that nowadays we are the custodians of these century old cars and they come with a sense of obliga-on which cannot be meas-ured in monetary terms: we ought to campaign them. They have nearly a hundred years of history and we should add to that and write their next chapter ….. and the next ….... and the next. Peter has been a great campaigner of his Vauxhall and a stalwart of the VSCC. He has worked with so many hats and still he keeps the club's wheels turning and that makes our club great. Leaving the restaurant, Peter asked when I would like to collect the car. With Winton but a week away I asked whether it would be too soon to collect it before the meeting. His response was pure Holbeach, “Drop the rear tyre pressure by 5 psi and slide it around!”
I thank Peter for trusting me and for facilitating so generously the privilege of my taking this incredible vehicle to its next phase of campaigning and vintage motor sport, as he has done for the past couple of decades. OE227 and I have already started with 5 psi less in the rear tyres and sliding it around.........'
June '22
Historic Winton 2022
Longstone 'Long Car' Race
VSCC Donington June 5th 2022
It was very, very wet, cold and slippery, but brilliant to see 5 30-98s, a 23-60 and a D type out on the track. Saul Stevens (OE239) commented 'The
upside of the conditions was that we didn't need any brakes, so perfect for a Thirsty. There was also a demonstration of Vauxhall drivers determination to compete with a full clutch removal, fix and refit in under 2 hours on OE19. True heroes'.
Congratulations to Andy Newbound (OE199), the first 30-98 across the line in 5th place, and to all the Vauxhall drivers for gallantly taking part!
Any more photos out there?
DK June '22
upside of the conditions was that we didn't need any brakes, so perfect for a Thirsty. There was also a demonstration of Vauxhall drivers determination to compete with a full clutch removal, fix and refit in under 2 hours on OE19. True heroes'.
Congratulations to Andy Newbound (OE199), the first 30-98 across the line in 5th place, and to all the Vauxhall drivers for gallantly taking part!
Any more photos out there?
DK June '22
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Calling OE180.......
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OE180 on the Brooklands test hill during the 2013 Centenary event, owned and driven by the late Douglas Sharp. After (another) restoration in UK, this car is now in California, but the Register has no details of the current owner......perhaps someone reading this knows?
email: [email protected] UPDATE: NEW OWNER LOCATED: DETAILS IN THE NEXT REGISTER!
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OE180. July 2013 Brooklands test hill
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2022 Veteran and Vintage Vauxhall Rally - Oz
This event runs from May 1st-6th 2022, centred on Beechworth, Victoria. There are over 40 Vauxhalls entered. Check back here for photos as the Rally has now started! With many thanks to Steve B, Phil V, Glyn F and Richard W for the photos.
Turn up your speakers!
Dave K May '22
Turn up your speakers!
Dave K May '22
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Vauxhalls at Mansfield
showground May '22
OE53 at Lake Hume
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OE100
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Day 5: Bandiana Military Museum - Wodonga
Day 4: Mansfield Showground lunch stop
Day 3: Gold Dredger
Day 2: Bright and Bethanga pub
Day 1: Shepparton MOVE museum
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E467
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Amelia Island 2022
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Chip Wright lives in Florida, USA, which is an ideal location from which to enter the annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance event. This is one of the calendar’s biggest and most prestigious events of its kind in USA, featuring an RM Sotheby’s auction, a road tour, a Porsche driving experience and much more, including car-themed entertainment for the kids, as well as the world-class concours itself.
Chip entered OE153, possibly the first 30-98 ever to appear at this event? Chip reports that great fun was had by all the family! |
Competition in India
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Around 1926, Faly Petit brought back a Vauxhall 30-98 from a UK trip, and campaigned it enthusiastically in and around Bombay. This car remains unidentified, and likely has not survived.
Images courtesy of https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/vintage-cars-classics-india/ |
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JRD Tata with his Bugatti at the Malabar Hill residence, 30-98 in background
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The Car's the Star
I was recently reminded that 30-98s have been featured in several period drama productions in recent years. A selection is shown below.
There are no doubt others.........let us know please: [email protected].
DK Dec 2021
There are no doubt others.........let us know please: [email protected].
DK Dec 2021
OE282 (The Great Gatsby 2012)
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In 2012, OE282 was featured in the film 'The Great Gatsby'. The owner recalls:
'Our two days of filming for the Gatsby movie took place in November 2011. I remember we had to be at Manly (a beach side suburb on the northside of Sydney about two hours away) by 1.00pm to start filming at 4.00pm. I naively asked when we signed in if we'd be finished by midnight as we had to find sleeping accommodation. No, they said, we'll be working till daybreak! I also remember the week before, when I was fitted for my driver's uniform, I had to have a period haircut and was requested to take more care when shaving as my sideburns weren't the same length; I'd never noticed. My very small role in the movie was to drive two boxers and their manager to Gatsby's house party. There are three extremely brief scenes where you can just see three glimpses of the Vauxhall (rear-right, front-on & front-right) driving around Gatsby's swimming pool about 23 minutes into the movie. All this took 30 hours to film but if you blink you'll miss it. Because we have a centre brake-light tucked away in the gap between the body and fuel tank a scene had to be re-filmed on the off chance this light might be seen in the finished film (I removed the fuse for that circuit). I asked about the Vauxhall being right hand drive and wearing New York number plates, they said Gatsby had wealthy friends who could afford to import expensive overseas RH drive vehicles. One of the shots (right) shows the artificial moon-light hanging from a crane plus the temporary swimming pool and fake ivy on the walls. Under the driveway's white pebbles were sheets of plastic on top of the original red gravel. After the final night's filming we drove home during a fairly busy stop-go morning peak-hour through the Sydney Harbour tunnel. I don't think I'd attempt that journey today in busy traffic if there was an alternative. OE282's involvement in The Great Gatsby film was extremely small even though there was about a week's worth of work involved.'. |
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OE64. Brideshead Revisited 2008
Brideshead Revisited, the 2008 film directed by Julian Jarrold. The car featured is the Wensum bodied OE64, left and below.
Images: Miramax Films
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OE77 (The Avengers)
John Steed's car......
OE77, pictured left, appeared in two episodes of The Avengers: The Gravediggers & The Thirteenth Hole
You should really consider a 30-98 instead of a Bentley.....
OE153 (USA)
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OE153 recently found a new home in the warmer climes of Florida, with a very capable and enthusiastic new custodian, Chip Wright.
Chip is very well known in the vintage world in the USA, and he has written up the story of his 30-98 for prewarcar.com. You can read it here: Dave Kirke October '21 |
Vauxhall D-E Instruction Book (reproduction)
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The Register has arranged a reprint of the original factory issue Instruction Book covering D type and E type models (cover picture left).
A faithful reproduction with 22 pages, it includes tappet setting instructions. The price is £25 inc p&p, and orders can be placed here. Dave Kirke Mar '21 |
The Weldon Special (VV8)
Don Robinson 1948
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Around 8 years ago, I contacted David Birchall in Vancouver, Canada, in search of a 'Wensum' bodied 23-60, OD1207, which he had owned some years previously. That car eventually turned up in California, but in the course of our correspondence, David told me about the 'Weldon Special', which he had owned in the 1980s.
This story emerged again when compiling the 2021 Register, as David has acquired VV11, which was built in Australia and was more recently in California. David tells the Weldon story below. DK. February '21 |
"About November 1983 I was contacted by a friend about a Vauxhall racing car in Northern British Columbia that was advertised for sale in the Vancouver Sun newspaper. My friend had intended buying it and had even put a deposit on it but backed out when he realised how much work the car needed - I was not so wise.......
The car was in Prince George, about 500 miles north of Vancouver and I drove up there in December 1983 with a visiting New Zealand friend who is now married to Bruce McLaren's sister - so there is a racing connection here.
I had an old Volvo station wagon and after looking at photos of the Vauxhall I decided that he best method was to "flat tow" the Vauxhall with a tow bar attached to the front. We drove up there with reasonable weather and met the owner of the car Mr. Don Robinson.
Don Robinson had bought the car from Percy Weldon in the forties, Weldon had bought the car as a burned out wreck sometime around 1928/1930 was my understanding. The body was destroyed and he shortened the chassis and fitted a racing body that was readily available at the time for fitting to Model T and Model A Fords etc for flat track racing.
I never met Percy Weldon but a friend who is still alive did and confirmed that Weldon raced the car extensively in the Winnipeg area of Manitoba-a long way from Prince George where he moved in the forties I understand. He then moved to just east of Vancouver and died in the seventies apparently. I met people who new him at the local car museum.
When I arrived at Don Robinson's place he reluctantly accepted $700 for the car instead of the $2000 he had been asking. He let me put air in the fifty year old tires and attach the tow bar and we set off for Vancouver - just as a blizzard set in.
The Vauxhall vibrated terribly for the first few miles and then there was a terrific "Bang" and I looked in the mirror to see the remains of the driveshaft arcing through the air before burying itself in a snow drift. We backed up and dug out the driveshaft which was still too hot to touch! The Vauxhall towed much more smoothly after that! We made it back to Vancouver, taking one hour shifts at the wheel in the heavy snow conditions and receiving a heavy fine at one point for not having insurance on the Vauxhall.
The Vauxhall was in rough condition. Robinson had acquired the car about 1948 (see photo above). In about 1950 he rebuilt the engine using cast iron Model T pistons. There was a problem, and the car never ran again and was left sitting outside until I bought it. It still had it's racing body although this being steel and cheaply made it had collapsed. The dashboard still had the CAV switch panel with ammeter and the speedo read to either 100 or 120 mph so it was a 30-98 unit. The chassis had been brutally shortened -see photo - and the whole project was very daunting.
I kept the car until about 1992 and agonised over what to do with it. I wanted to preserve it's racing history and declined the suggestion by Julian Ghosh that I replace the chassis with a 30-98 item that he could supply. During this time Arthur Archer supplied me with an endless amount of advice and parts - he really was a guardian angel!
Finally I realised that I wanted a running vintage Vauxhall right now, and learned of a Wensum bodied 23-60 for sale in Ontario (OD1207). I bought that car, modified the engine to 30-98 specs and used it for almost ten years before selling it to a Californian (ex Brit) named Button who still owns it and has driven it to the tip of South America at least twice! With the funds from the sale of OD1207 I bought an Aston DB2 which is on the cover of the next March issue of "Classic and Sportscar" - the sale of that allowed the purchase of my next Vauxhall!
I sold the Weldon Special shortly after acquiring OD1207, to Julian Ghosh. I was sad that I was not able to do her justice but I realised that rebuilding the car was going to be a huge project.
I have tried to follow the car's progress over the years, and saw that a 30-98 chassis was substituted years ago. I am delighted to see that she now has a fitting body and is used properly.
I recently bought VV11 from Fantasy Junction in California after becoming aware of the car about three years ago and falling in love with her. This car is everything I wanted the Weldon Special to be! She is built to a very high standard - far higher than I would have attained had I persevered with the Weldon Special I think......". DAVID BIRCHALL
The car was in Prince George, about 500 miles north of Vancouver and I drove up there in December 1983 with a visiting New Zealand friend who is now married to Bruce McLaren's sister - so there is a racing connection here.
I had an old Volvo station wagon and after looking at photos of the Vauxhall I decided that he best method was to "flat tow" the Vauxhall with a tow bar attached to the front. We drove up there with reasonable weather and met the owner of the car Mr. Don Robinson.
Don Robinson had bought the car from Percy Weldon in the forties, Weldon had bought the car as a burned out wreck sometime around 1928/1930 was my understanding. The body was destroyed and he shortened the chassis and fitted a racing body that was readily available at the time for fitting to Model T and Model A Fords etc for flat track racing.
I never met Percy Weldon but a friend who is still alive did and confirmed that Weldon raced the car extensively in the Winnipeg area of Manitoba-a long way from Prince George where he moved in the forties I understand. He then moved to just east of Vancouver and died in the seventies apparently. I met people who new him at the local car museum.
When I arrived at Don Robinson's place he reluctantly accepted $700 for the car instead of the $2000 he had been asking. He let me put air in the fifty year old tires and attach the tow bar and we set off for Vancouver - just as a blizzard set in.
The Vauxhall vibrated terribly for the first few miles and then there was a terrific "Bang" and I looked in the mirror to see the remains of the driveshaft arcing through the air before burying itself in a snow drift. We backed up and dug out the driveshaft which was still too hot to touch! The Vauxhall towed much more smoothly after that! We made it back to Vancouver, taking one hour shifts at the wheel in the heavy snow conditions and receiving a heavy fine at one point for not having insurance on the Vauxhall.
The Vauxhall was in rough condition. Robinson had acquired the car about 1948 (see photo above). In about 1950 he rebuilt the engine using cast iron Model T pistons. There was a problem, and the car never ran again and was left sitting outside until I bought it. It still had it's racing body although this being steel and cheaply made it had collapsed. The dashboard still had the CAV switch panel with ammeter and the speedo read to either 100 or 120 mph so it was a 30-98 unit. The chassis had been brutally shortened -see photo - and the whole project was very daunting.
I kept the car until about 1992 and agonised over what to do with it. I wanted to preserve it's racing history and declined the suggestion by Julian Ghosh that I replace the chassis with a 30-98 item that he could supply. During this time Arthur Archer supplied me with an endless amount of advice and parts - he really was a guardian angel!
Finally I realised that I wanted a running vintage Vauxhall right now, and learned of a Wensum bodied 23-60 for sale in Ontario (OD1207). I bought that car, modified the engine to 30-98 specs and used it for almost ten years before selling it to a Californian (ex Brit) named Button who still owns it and has driven it to the tip of South America at least twice! With the funds from the sale of OD1207 I bought an Aston DB2 which is on the cover of the next March issue of "Classic and Sportscar" - the sale of that allowed the purchase of my next Vauxhall!
I sold the Weldon Special shortly after acquiring OD1207, to Julian Ghosh. I was sad that I was not able to do her justice but I realised that rebuilding the car was going to be a huge project.
I have tried to follow the car's progress over the years, and saw that a 30-98 chassis was substituted years ago. I am delighted to see that she now has a fitting body and is used properly.
I recently bought VV11 from Fantasy Junction in California after becoming aware of the car about three years ago and falling in love with her. This car is everything I wanted the Weldon Special to be! She is built to a very high standard - far higher than I would have attained had I persevered with the Weldon Special I think......". DAVID BIRCHALL
'Round the Houses' race, Bray, Co. Wicklow. May 1934
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An eagle eyed owner spotted a 30-98 competing in Ireland in this YouTube clip. It clearly shows a 30-98 right at the start, car number 3, possibly fitted with large, late model front wheel brakes?
The programme (right) is online, but only the cover. Can someone identify the car? |
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Piers Trevelyan wins Restoration of the Year: Vauxhall 30-98
Brilliant workmanship by Piers, well done!
October 2020 |
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RAC Club London - Rotunda Car - Vauxhall 30-98 E251 (1920)
October 2019
RAC Club London - Rotunda Car - Vauxhall 30-98 OE193 (1925)
March 2018
