Norfolk & Norwich Rover Owners Club

The 34th Bressingham Rally - 29th May 2011

With fuel prices as they are I had feared that numbers would be lower this year but I needn’t have worried as we were again fully booked some weeks before the event. The forecasters were predicting heavy cloud and blustery winds for the day and unfortunately they got it right this time but at least it was dry and not too cold. We nearly lost the club gazebo at one point due to the gusts but swift action by some of the team quickly had it secured again. As always, Arthur Beck, John Bishop, Peter Cane, Nigel Randall and Terry Reynolds had put in much effort on the Saturday to mark out the field and put up bunting, etc in preparation for the day. On the Sunday I met up with the team just before 9am and we were still putting the finishing touches in place when the cars started to arrive at about 9.15, somewhat earlier than expected. Over the next 2 hours Rovers arrived thick and fast keeping John & Tony on the gate and all the Stewards extremely busy. By lunchtime we had nearly 100 cars, all arranged by class, making a very fine display indeed and all helping to keep the famous Rover name alive.

From the Rover stable there were just 2 pre P4’s this year but we did have 38 P4’s; 17 P5’s; 18 P6’s, including an estate, and 6 SD1’s. With Rovers no longer being produced, we had decided to introduced a new class this year of Modern Rovers and this attracted 5 entrants. In addition, we are usually well supported by the owners of non rover and this year was no exception, with 12 very fine cars being entered, all helping to add variety to the day. These included a splendid 1966 V8 Daimler (Mk2 Jaguar style), a Triumph Stag, 2 iconic Mercedes’, a silver Bentley convertible, a superb Humber Hawk and an Austin 3 litre. As in previous years, cars came from as far afield as London to Leeds and the Midlands to the East Coast, and there were many fine examples in attendance dating from 1935 to 2005.

The P4 Guild were again represented by Chairman Stan Johnstone, supported by many members of the Guild committee, and it was interesting that Colin Blowers, who has attended many of our rallies over the years, had with him a certificate awarded to him at one of our first rallies back in 1978. David Green again represented the P5 club together with many of his members and the P6 club were also well represented, bringing along many fine cars. In addition, we were pleased to welcome again members from the SD1 club and from many of the regional clubs in the area.

Class winners were chosen by all those attending. Tom Norman, who many will remember as the previous owner of Classic Rover specialists, Ely Services, again chose best club car and Jim Brown together with young son Tom, the current owner, chose the car of the show and presented the cups for us. Car of the show this year was the 2000SC entered by R Smith. The best club car & P4 winner was the 1963 95 owned for many years by Nigel Randall. The John Ringwood Memorial trophy, for long serving member, was this year awarded to Russell & Christine James who own a P4 100. The P5 class winner was the recently restored 3.5 coupé entered by Peter & Janet Cane. Other class winners were the P2 entered by Glen Read, the P6 entered by B Bean, the SD1 entered by D Parker, the Modern Rover entered by F Gunning and the Mercedes entered by M Golynia. The full list of winners and runners up for each of the classes are listed below.

As always thanks go to all those who brought their cars along for the day; to the club team who organise the rally; to Jim Brown for continuing to sponsor our event and to the staff of Bressingham for making such a splendid site available. Details of next year’s event will appear on our web site at www.norfolkandnorwichroveroc.org.uk and also in the main Rover Club magazines early in 2012.

Russell James

Interested in joining us for the day in 2012, then click here for a printable entry form at the beginning of March

Class Winners

Pre P4 Winner	G Reed	BLU 575	1935 P2	P4 Winner	N Randall	7 DNG	95
Pre P4 Runner up	S Parsons	GFY 77	1949 75	P4 Runner up	M Stewart	150 NHN	100
P5 Winner	P Cane	NHV 245L	3.5 Coupé	P4 Third	A Phillips	JEX 935	95
P5 Runner up	J Wallett	MVE 948H	3.5 Coupé	P6 Winner	B Beane	JFL 974N	3.5s
P5 Third	A Markham	6043 PL	3 litre MKIA	P6 Runner up	R Smith	KDX 594F	2000SC
SD1 Winner	D Parker	A811 VMN	Vitesse	P6 Third	B Webb	VLK 493M	2000TC
SD1 Runner up	E Randall	B705 WPU	--	Non Rover Winner	M Gloynia	2483 MF	Mercedes
Modern Winner	F Gunning	YF54 LHG	75	Non Rover Second	M Hardingham	HWH 722E	Humber Hawk
Modern Runner up	J Bishop	EA52 KHM	75	Best Club Car	N Randall	7 DNG	P4 95
John Ringwood Memorial Trophy	R & C James	511 XUC	P4 100	Car of the Show - Ely Services Trophy	R Smith	KDX 594F	2000SC