Lancia Motor Club

Snippets of ENA400 competing in 1938!!! (well mostly static) but nice record.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvg2ithOtj8

Tim

. . . and a Lambda saloon at 1:43 or so.

In 1938 Aprilias with 1352cc engines finished 8th and joint ninth. Also 18th, 25th, 43rd, 54th, 59th, 73rd, and 79th. Those were the days.

Anyone know what that is above the screen?  My guess is a blind to roll over the entire screen overnight to keep the ice off.  Other guesses might be a sunblind - looks like it rolls down rather than being a rigid peak, or perhaps even something to direct warm air down the outside of the screen?

I'm a sucker for accessories - all those optimistic little illustrated adverts.  There's also something really purposeful about a Cyclops light which somehow a pair of spots don't quite (for me) match.  Perhaps its all those Mille Miglia photos.

David

At this event Aprilia ENA400 was being driven by and probably owned by Midge Wilby, who was a well known northern competitor. She is mostly associated with the Atalanta - see http://www.atalantamotors.co.uk/template-98.php?page=29&section=7 . A few years ago I tried to help an Aprilia owner/ restorer, who was keen to find out more about Midge Wilby's Aprilia, but I couldn't find any information on ENA400 in any of the LMC records that I had access to.

Colin

The source of the film has suggested Joan Cotton as the driver? All news to me - only passing this on.

Tim

Funny how much it matters to get the facts rights after all these years! My informant is a bit of an expert on Midge Wilby and related matters - on the question of who was the Aprilia driver in the film from 1938, he writes:


“Interesting – yes Midge originally wanted to enter an Atalanta but they were not producing enough to secure what I guess was “homologation” from the rally authorities at the time.

The driver is without question Midge however the co-driver is seen in the film on the driver’s side.

I think the co-driver with Midge may be Miss Joan Brotchie who I understand was a long term “partner” of Midge.  Miss Brotchie also rallied an Atalanta in late 30’s RAC events. It could well be that Brotchie may have become Cotton at a letter date?

Her choice to use a Lancia was an interesting one (not really) in that as you know it was one of the few cars at the time that had independent suspension front and rear, a USP also adopted by Atalanta.”

I hear from another source that ENA400 might still exist and its whereabouts is being investigated!

Colin

A cryptic message from our press-officer leads me to look at the LMC 2011 register of members and their cars and I find that the ex-Midge Wilby Aprilia ENA400 is listed as now being owned by Julian Eckersley. It’s more than four years since I looked for that car and had given it up for lost  – great to know that it still exists and is ‘in the club’.

Colin