1938 Monte Carlo Rally

[lancialulu]

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

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

Tim

[JohnMillham]

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

[peterbaker]

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

[DavidLaver]

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

[ColinMarr]

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

[lancialulu]

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

Tim

[ColinMarr]

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

[ColinMarr]

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