We produce our in house magazine four times a year, it is filled with articles, features on different models and history of Hillmans and includes cars and parts for sale and wanted.
To start with here is a picture of our Editors beloved Minx, now featured in the magazine and on the prequel to only fools and horses, "Fish and 'Rocks", I thought fame on the website would be nice as well.
Below is a taster of what our December 2008 magazine had to offer.
London to Sydney winner Hillman Hunter owned by Andrew Cowan - on our Stand at
the NEC Classic Car show November 2008
Chairman’s Chat (December 2008) Hello everyone, it was nice to see some of you at the NEC again this year, and what a show it turned out to be, (more on this from Adrian elsewhere in the magazine) may I just say a big thank you to Andrew and the team for their hard work again in organising our stand, a difficult task this year given that we were part of the larger Association of Rootes Car Club Stand promoting 60 years of Rootes Racing.
When it was announced last year that we would be celebrating 60 years of Rootes racing in 2008, I hadn’t realised how much Hillman were involved in the racing scene (apart from the London to Sydney Hunter), so I started reading up on the history of the Rootes Competition department in a book entitled Works Team by Michal Frostick, which was first published in 1964 whilst the Rootes Group still existed.
In the book we see that Gatsonides drives a Hillman Minx into 19th place in the 1949 Monte Carlo Rally, a Hillman Minx was judged the best equipped car in the 1950 Monte Carlo Rally.
In 1953 Sheila van Damm drove a Hillman Minx, with Mrs Bill Wisdom and Mrs Fotheringham-Parker, their failure to understand the jacking system cost them the ladies prize, and Sheila’s enthusiasm nearly went too far when she strained herself badly trying to hold the car up whilst the others tried to change the wheel when they could not make the jack work!
In 1962, Hillman won the 1500cc class in the South African Tour of Natal, a fact that encouraged Rootes (Canada) Ltd to enter three Hillman Minx saloons in the Trans-Canada Rally – no one can say they weren’t trying!
In 1963 the Tour of Natal was won outright by Eugene Bosman in a Minx and also the minx saloons won first and second places in the 1300 – 1600cc class.
Does anyone have any pictures or stories of their own about Hillman racing that they might like to share with the rest of us, if so please get in touch with Graham Penman or myself (details on page 2). Anyone interested in reading about Rootes Racing can find out more from the publishers Mercian Manuals Ltd Tel: 01676 533304 or visit their website www.mercianmanuals.co.uk Many of you that are on email will receive from Peter Worledge useful circulars with regard to cars for sale and the FBHVC Newsletter, I have highlighted a couple of points from the latest FBHVC Newsletter below, which may be of interest to all our non electronic members as well. It only remains for me to wish all our members a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Debbie Mole Chairman
The intended publication dates of Coventry Spires are 1st March, 1st June, 1st September and 1st December. Copy must be submitted at least ten days before these dates and if it’s a large article – say, one page or more – it really needs to be with the Editor two clear weeks before the intended publication date. Email is by far the best medium although we are able to scan suitable prints and handle typed or written text. All views expressed in Coventry Spires are those of the individual contributor and not those of the Club, Committee or Editor. The Club takes care in selection of advertising and contributions but does not endorse or recommend any advice, product or service which is mentioned in the magazine.
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