The best pre-war classic cars, part II

Bentley 3.5 Litre

Produced in 1933, Bentley’s 3.5 Litre – dubbed the ‘Silent Sports Car’ – was the first car produced by the British manufacturer following its acquisition by Rolls-Royce. Although it wasn’t designed to be a sports car, the Bentley 3.5 Litre is considered the sports variant of the Rolls-Royce 20/25 and ended-up being driven competitively in a number of races. It had a top speed of 90Mph and is still a good choice for classic car rallies.

Ford V-8 

The Ford V-8 was basically the Ford Model B (the successful follow-up to the Model A), but with a more powerful flathead V8 engine. This engine was the first mass produced 8 cylinder engine and its popularity continued into the 1950s with the rise of hot rodders. The V-8 started out with 65hp when it first rolled off the production line in 1932, but by around 1934 the engine had around 85hp. The V-8 is now very popular among collectors of classic cars, with individuals paying thousands of pounds in restoration efforts.

Love classic cars? Want to take part in some of the world’s best classic car rallies? Contact HERO today and find out more about how you can get involved.

The best pre-war classic cars

Rolls-Royce Phantom III

The Phantom III was Rolls-Royce’s last car produced before WWII, having been introduced in 1936, with production ceasing in 1941. The Phantom III was a big beast of a machine at the time and had a top speed of around 87Mph according to contemporary tests (it could also reach 0 to 60Mph in around 16 seconds). The car was of course made famous in a number of films, including Goldfinger, where it was driven – chock-full of gold -by the eponymous villain.

Ford Model A 

The Ford Model A was a big success when it was introduced back in 1927 as the US manufacturer’s follow-up to the seminal Model T.This classic car features a solid chassis and is built to withstand long rough drives (after all we’re talking about an era before the widespread development of modern roads), making it a  good choice if you fancy taking a pre-war car to one of our classic rally events.

Love classic cars? Want to take part in some of the world’s best classic car rallies? Contact HERO today and find out more about how you can get involved.

Classic Cars: 10 of the best, part III

Citroen DS

Ranked as one of the most beautiful cars of all time (it was designed by an Italian sculptor Flaminio Bertoni), the Citroen DS was way ahead of its time when it rolled out in 1955. The French beauty is also a popular car for classic car rallies as its superior suspension helps smooth out those long bumpy rides.

Lotus Cortina MK1

The Lotus Cortina MK1 is one of the fastest classic sports cars on the block and it’s also one of the most iconic.It may have been surpassed technically by its younger sibling the MK2 but, due to its sporting heritage, the MK1 remains a favourite among classic car enthusiasts.

Ferrari 275GTB

Ok, we’d all give an arm and a leg for one of these! The Ferrari 275GTB is perhaps the most desired classic car in history. It’s not hard to see why, this machine is the epitome of Italian style and class, so much so that its hard to care what’s underneath the bonnet (though at 0-60 in 6 seconds, the 275GTB is no slouch).

Love classic cars? Want to take part in some of the world’s best classic car rallies? Get in-touch with HERO today to find out more.

Classic Cars: 10 of the best, part II

1967 Ford Mustang

Along with the Corvette Sting Ray, the other American muscle car that became enshrined in popular culture via numerous movies and TV shows is the 1967 Ford Mustang. With its extra long frame and meaty big block V8 engine, the 67 Mustang is the definitive Pony Car.

Volkswagon Beetle

As well as being a style icon that transcends generations, The Volkswagon Beetle is also one of the most popular classic cars for vintage rallies. This is largely down to its solid reliability and the widespread availability of spare parts. A great choice if you’re new to the world of classic rallies.

Datsun 240Z

If you want to take part in a classic car rally and want something a little more sporty than a VW Beetle, then the Datsun 240Z is the perfect choice. A mainstay in HERO’s rallies due to its strong powerhouse performance and, of course, its simple and elegant design.

Love classic cars? Want to take part in some of the world’s best classic car rallies? Get in-touch with HERO today to find out more.

Classic Cars: 10 of the best

Mini Cooper

Despite its humble size, or perhaps because of it, The Mini Cooper has become a quintessentially British icon. It’s elegant design influenced a generation of car designers and ensured its popularity all the way from 1961 to 2000.

Jaguar MK II

Along with the Mini, the Jaguar MK II is one of those classic cars that conjures-up scenes of England during the swinging 60s. Along with its saloon size, the nippy 220 bhp engine ensured the MK II was particularly popular with law enforcement, celebrities and bank robbers…

1969 Corvette Sting Ray

If the Jaguar MK II and Mini Cooper are the embodiment of 60s England, then the 1969 Corvette Sting Ray evokes similar levels of nostalgia for wide-open roads, drag races, neon diner car parks and everything else about the old USA. The Sting Ray is a movie icon and its muscular design makes the car look like something you might spot on a safari.

Love classic cars? Want to take part in some of the world’s best classic car rallies? Get in-touch with HERO today to find out more.

Minutes from the Clerk of the Course – October

Being the Event Director for HERO Events Ltd and Clerk of the Course for all the events run by the Historic Endurance rallying Organisation, brings a host of ever changing challenges – most of which I relish, but just a few can drive a normally sane person mad. I suppose you have to be half way there to contemplate taking a large number of British and European crews from Land’s End to John O’Groats during the worse weather the UK had seen in over 40 years.  However, that’s what we did last December and not only did we complete the event, the last control closed on time.  We did lose some sections on the way, but that was to be expected when we even had snow in Land’s End. The party atmosphere at the finish was stunning – with a group of competitors having a snowball fightin the hotel car park at 3am dressed in their dinner jackets! Can 2011 live up to that – of course it can. We may (I emphasis may, as I have been caught out in the past by saying it wouldn’t snow) not get heavy snow, but with John Kiff bringing a fresh pair of eyes and the experience of a four times gold medal winner to the route work, you can be sure of a tough, challenging event with new tests and regularities, plus a twist on some of the favourites. The entry is already up on last year’s start list and it looks like we will get the bets entry we have had for some years.

Someone asked me last week if I had realised that at any one time I am working on three events simultaneously. To be honest I had never really given it a thought, but the reality of running four events a year means that at one specific time we are actually working on all four. Fortunately we don’t get them mixed up, but when two sets of timing schedules are open on your PC and you wonder if adding a third screen to the two you already have will allow a third spreadsheet to be viewed, you realise the time has come to go home.

A journalist recently asked me what HERO’s secret was, as we seem to be the only organisation that was showing an increase in participants across all the events. My response was that I like to think that HERO is moving with the times and offering competitors plenty of variety and good value for money, and that we listen to the comments and points raised by crews. In addition we pride ourselves in being supportive and helpful to anyone who calls the office for advice – regardless of whether they plan to do one of our events.  We do get the odd strange question but no matter what we are asked, HERO tries to provide the right information, even if it does mean telling someone that their pride and joy sitting in the garage isn’t actually eligible for classic events.

Those of you who followed the Summer Trial will know that it was a great success, with the largest entry since the event was created four years ago. There were tests at places like Goodwood, Thruxton , Beaulieu and Cowes. The Beaulieu test was held in the arena outside the museum, much to the delight of the visitors. HERO was the first organisation to be allowed to run a timed test at Beaulieu and we are extremely grateful to Lord Montague for granting such permission. Next year’s event will again take place in the South of England with the first two nights at the Goodwood Park Hotel, which means that we can once again use the estate and/or circuit. I also have a few special visits lined up for the Tourers. While writing this the mail has arrived and I am delighted to see our first entry for next year’s Summer Trial – hopefully a sign of another healthy entry!!

We exhibited at the Goodwood Revival a few weeks ago which was a great success as always. If you haven’t been – you should go. It is a wonderful experience. Take your tax exempt classic car and you can park in a dedicated car park close to the entrance. Hopefully we will be there again next year, so come along and enjoy the endless cups of coffee always available at the shows we attend.

Its Throckmorton next week and we have a great entry. It is also the championship decider so my next notes to you should include some interesting observations.

More from my desk next month

Good Rallying

Peter Nedin

Classic car rallies: Top tips

It’s not a race

Classic car rallies are not a mad dash to the finish line You need to arrive at set points within a specified time Once you arrive at the destination this time is logged. The winner is the team that arrives closest to the time controls and doesn’t finish too early or too late.

Don’t panic

If you go off course and get lost during a rally then the first thing to do is stay calm and avoid panicking! Try to keep track of where you are on the maps we supply and the Tulip diagrams. You can always contact an official event marshal if you’re hopelessly lost.

Preparation

Remember, classic car rallies aren’t about finishing first, you have to stick to fixed times. So when preparing your car the main thing to focus on is reliability. Most of the time breakdowns are caused by electrical failures. Of course, if you make use of HERO’s storage facilities you’re car will be regularly checked and maintained before any event.

For more information on the range of classic car rallies that HERO organises, please visit our home page or get in touch via email: enquiries@heroevents.eu.

Classic Car Events: Summer Trial

HERO’s Summer Trial event was designed to encourage novice classic car enthusiasts to get involved in vintage rally driving, while still retaining a competitive element for those crews who enjoy a challenge (next year’s first prize is a sailing holiday in the Mediterranean!).

The event itself takes places on the Isle of Wight and is open to cars or 4x4s built before 1984. The Summer Trial is split into two rallies; the tour is designed for those who want to experience a more leisurely drive, while the trial is for teams looking for competitive classic car events, where cars are classed by engine size, age and body type.

Included in the fee for all entrants is four nights stay in local accommodation, dinners where the even prizes are awarded, lunch on three days of the competition and ferry crossing to Isle of Wight.

Next year’s Summer Trial classic car event will take place between 12th and 14th of July 2012, for more information on the event and how to book yourself a place visit our home page or email us: enquiries@heroevents.eu.

Classic car events: Storage

All HERO members get a special discounted rate if they choose to store their vintage car at our secure indoor premises in South Wales, where you benefit from a number of services.

At our storage facilities, your car will be regularly started-up by our trained vintage car specialists, taken for a short drives and then checked over for any leaks or problems, which are then attended to by our in-house mechanic.

On arrival, and after any classic car events, your vintage car will be washed and thoroughly checked over. We make sure that tyres, fluid levels and batteries are monitored and topped-up when necessary to ensure that your vehicle is always in a ‘ready-to-go’ state.

As soon as you want to get behind the wheel, we’ll be there to deliver your car anywhere in the UK and pick it up when you’re done. You’ll also benefit from insurance cover and fully-alarmed secure premises with 24 hour CCTV.

For more information on our classic car events and our classic car storage service visit the links on our home page or get in touch via email.

Scotland’s best historic car rally

The Scottish Malt’s 2012, which takes place April 29th to May 4th, begins at the world famous Turnberry Resort, one of Scotland’s most iconic hotels with breathtaking coastal views. Participants in our historic rally will be able to take advantage of the hotel’s facilities while staying there, including the golf course.

The rally itself takes place on April 30th and comprises a reliability trial and a classic car tour, the latter intended for non-competitive crews looking for a more stately drive. While those embarking on the classic car tour are able to follow the same route as the reliability trial, they are given a special route map with a simpler set of directions, as well as highlighted places of interest.

Driving tests will also feature as part of the event, letting you test the manoeuvrability of your car against others in the same age category, with medals awarded to first, second and third place.

Of course, when booking a historic car rally event with HERO you can be sure that its organisation is of the highest standard. We check all hotels and facilities that you’ll be staying at beforehand and we have a fully trained mechanic team to assist should you and your car run into any troubles along the way.

Please follow the link for more information on the Scottish Malts 2012 historic car rally. Or email us at: enquiries@heroevents.eu.