The “Cambridge University Austin 7” Club was formed in October 1956 by a group of Cambridge students to serve two purposes. The first was that in the mid 50s, the impecunious student could only afford to run the cheapest of cars, and they didn’t come much cheaper that a rather tired Austin 7. With a Guinness beer bottle label acting as a tax disc, a fresh set of treads painted on tyres as smooth as a baby’s bottom and the MOT test still a twinkle in the eye of a youngster in the Ministry of Transport, it was a practical form of transport that could be supported on the most meagre of budgets. Secondly, the watchful eyes of the Motor Proctor prevented an influx of student-owned cars onto the medieval streets of Cambridge thronged with bicycles. Membership of a motoring club was reason enough to permit a Car to be brought up to University, hence the Club was born.
Soon, Ray Walker , a local garage owner, champion of the Austin 7 and destined to be the long-term President of our Club, was invited to join as the first non-University Member. Over the years the membership changed in nature and as the University membership dwindled, the Club became the Cambridge Austin 7 and Vintage Car Club.
Club members have always been particularly enthusiastic in using their cars and have travelled the length and breadth of both Britain and Europe over the past 50 years. This rally is to celebrate those 50 years and all the fun we have had with our cars and those like minded individuals, nay friends, we have met on the way.
Mary Walker's Memories of the early years of the club.
My first contact with the club was when, in 1956, Ray was approached by Nick Jackson, the founder of the newly formed Cambridge University Austin Seven Club, and Ray became the first “Town” member. The club at that time consisted of Nick Jackson (1929 Chummy KP486), Roger Sweetland (1926 Chummy PX4488), Brian Gray (1925 Chummy PP4291), David Brooks (1928 Chummy MP7161), Graham Patterson (1927 Chummy BMG854) and Simon Bowie (1927 Top Hat Saloon YE8655). In those days Undergrads had to have permission to keep a car in Cambridge. Car Club members could apply to the Motor Proctor for permission to use their cars for Rallies and club meetings.
Rallies in the 1960’s were all-day affairs and ranged over quite a large area using Ordinance Survey and map references – another skill now dying out with the use of Sat Navs – with a lunch stop at a suitable hostelry. Driving tests at the old airfield at Milton and sprints courtesy of RAF Waterbeach were regularly held and were well attended.
Also very popular at that time was a Hill Climb!! No, not The Gogs or Castle Hill... Where does one find a hill to climb in Cambridgeshire? Answer: near Great Chesterford. It was a public road bordered by fields leading to just one house. Permission had to be obtained from the farmers and also the Police, but it was a great venue and we used it for several years; and apart from Patrick Cowell and the tractor disappearing into a ditch on one occasion, all went well and it was a lot of fun! We also had a great time tearing around a field at Coton for an Autocross, and quite a number of weird machines took part, including Dick Howlett’s “Goldfish”, “Ed” and the “Big John” Special.
Another popular event organised by the club in the 60’s was a display of cars at the Shire Hall. All people with known vintage cars were lobbied to take part and on the appointed day the cars assembled at The Engineering Labs on Lensfield Road and we proceeded in procession from there through the town and assembled at Shire Hall where cars were on show to the public and a collection was taken for a local charity.
The 1st Beaulieu A7 Rally was held in 1963 and although Ray and I and David Dew-Hughes were the only CUA7 members to go that year it has been a popular venue for club members up to the present day. In the early years we met at the garage in Perowne Street and went down in convoy, hoping to make The Crispin at Windsor in time for lunch. In those days you could camp anywhere in the New Forest and we always camped at the same spot near the roadside about 3 miles from Beaulieu and any late-comers knew where to find us. We had a very nice banner which we displayed there until one night in 1968 it was stolen! One year whilst camped there we were woken early by a film crew who made a film of our morning preparations, including Peter James having a wash in our wartime army camping bowl and Ray appearing from a tent wrapped in a blanket like an Indian. I never actually saw the finished film when it was shown but maybe it’s still somewhere in the BBC archives.
Longleat was also a “must” in the 60’s. We camped a few miles from Longleat in a field next to a pub – The Horse and Groom – where the Landlord always made us very welcome. On Rally Day the cars looked great parked up in front of Longleat House. One year on the way to this rally, not far from our destination – running late – getting dark – on the road in front of us – a cow! We managed to miss it and it charged off down the road. A bit further on men in a Range Rover asked “have you seen a cow?” Answer – “Yes, it went that way!” Unfortunately Robert Frayling-Cork, who was not far behind us, wasn’t so fortunate and car and cow collided. No damage to the cow but considerable damage to the A7!
Over 50 years on the Club is still going strong but a lot of fun seems to be gone from it. The cars are now more valuable and people are less likely to want to drive them with the abandon needed for Autocross or Sprint. With a few exceptions they are no longer everyday transport.
