Inter-register Jowett Sport from Peter Holden

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The other day I was talking over lunch to a non-Jowetteer who said "the
Jowetteer has no sporting articles and is full of pictures of large people eating". Now
that statement raises two interesting questions. Firstly, as a non–Jowetteer, how is he
getting hold of a copy of the Jowetteer? And secondly, who are these large people
eating? Well I initially thought of one of the Northern Sections - they are always eating.
It is certainly not me, I have been described as ‘built like a gypsy's dog’. My response
to this statement was quite robust and defended the Jowett tradition: "The Jowett may
have a little engine but is does have the big pull and is quite capable of transporting four
large people in a large bodied Jowett - try getting four large people in any other small
or medium powered cars of the '30s". Well that shut him up, and he had to agree.
I had to agree with him though on one point, that there are very few articles that
are sporting related. Well I am about to change that also. So if this non-Jowetteer is
reading this you can now swallow your words.
Sunday 16th June saw me enter the 10hp as driver and Martin Hoare as
navigator, in the Inter-Register event in Worcestershire. The Riley Register organised
'Marches Bathos Rally’ The event took the form of a scatter rally, a bit like a treasure
hunt, where the competitors are given clues or instructions to find points on a map and
answer questions to confirm they got to the designated points. We were entered in the
Novice class, the largest class. The start was the Galton Arms at Himbleton, which
incidentally would be able to host monthly meetings if we desired. We arrived at the
appointed time of 10.00 am for scrutineering and signed on; we enjoyed a cup of coffee
and Martin had a bacon roll. There followed a drivers' briefing, and a bit more chat and
coffee before the instructions were presented to the competitors at one-minute intervals.
We were one of the last to receive instruction, we had entered late. We had the
maximum of three hours to visit a minimum eight and maximum sixteen controls and
write down the answer to the questions, and would be penalised if we exceeded sixty
miles. On receipt of our instructions we had the best part of thirty minutes to mark the
control points on the map and drive about fifteen minutes to the start point. We got to
the start on time, drove off round the bend, and pulled in on the side of the road to
complete marking the controls on the map - on the same patch of grass as everybody
else! With all the old cars parked at different angles it looked more like a scene from
'scrap yard challenge'! We eventually plotted all the control points and defined our
route. The car ran faultlessly as you would expect, calling at thirteen controls and just
within the sixty miles limit, and well within the three-hour time limit when we arrived
at the finish. We were duly timed in, followed by a little driving test as a tie-breaker
where we had to drive up to a post without hitting it. We parked the car and went for a
beer and lunch. Okay, so we didn't win, but we didn't get the 'wooden spoon' either; in
fact we were about mid-field. Not bad for Martin's second event. Having since got
home and sat down with the map, I have reviewed our route; yes we could have done a
better route and got a better score.
For photos of the event we entered, go to: http://www.petermcfadyen.co.uk/#/galler ... ate-entry/
We thoroughly enjoyed the day, met with other like-minded car enthusiasts and most
importantly got the cars out and were seen driving about the countryside. The car was
never stressed, proving this type of event is open to all pre-war owners to enjoy. So
come on, have a go. Our Club pays a subscription to the Inter Register so we can enter
these events, so why don’t you enter? There are events in various parts of the country,
so you don't have to travel miles to an event as there is one on your doorstep. There was
a list of events in last month's Jowetteer or alternatively visit the Inter Register Club
website for a list of events, regs and entry form at :http://www.inter-register.org.uk