I thought it would be a good idea to provide a page for you to relate your memories of our club cars in their heyday. If you would like to submit a story please email it to me at: peterhowardlane@hotmail.co.uk
Submitted by Peter Grimshaw.
Indeed learning to drive and taking my driving test in 1961 in my father's PA Velox was an interesting experience. Unfortunately the emergency stop occurred of its own accord when a car jumped a red light and crossed in front of me.
I braked hard, the nose of the softly sprung Velox dipped dramatically, and in pre-seat belt days the examiner flew off the vinyl bench seat. He hit his forehead on the inside mirror, before ending up in a heap on the top of the gearbox. He was lucky that the Velox had the 3 speed steering column gear change.
Unfortunately the mirror broke on his impact, and blood poured from his forehead, so I drove him around the corner to the nearby hospital. Once there he was totally confused but decided that if the rest of my driving was as good as my reactions in an emergency he had no alterative but to pass me. So he wrote out the pass slip and then rushed into A & E, leaving me to explain to my father why his Velox no longer had an interior mirror. I never did get to do a hillstart or three point turn, or answer any questions on the highway code.
My father's loyalty to Vauxhalls no doubt influenced me to buy an HA Viva as my first car in 1965, Thereafter my wife and I had a 3 HA's - 1 HB - 1 HC Viva, a Chevette and an FD Victor and FD VX4/90.
The last one I bought second hand 3 days old and with 300 miles on the clock in 1971. I kept it exactly 12 months and cover 61,000miles before trading it in against an new FE Victor as a company car for one of our employees.
In 1974 I organised a charity sponsored Round Table event and raised £6000 to fund a physiotherapy unit at our local cottage hospital by driving an HC Viva non stop (apart from refuelling and changing drivers) around a set route in the Cotswolds 24 hours a day for one week. We covered just under 6000miles and the person who estimated to mileage most accurately won the car.
Submitted by Peter Lane.
Its funny how you get to hear those old stories relating to the classic car you own when you are out and about. I was told this story by a chap that lives close by & stopped for a chat when i was out polishing the Cresta.
He explained that he worked as a mechanic back in the days when the PA Cresta was new on the road. He described the sort of impact the Cresta made, he also described the vivid colors, they called the Pink as "Titty Pink"
He recalled the time when complaints were coming in about the accuracy of the Speedo. To test the troublesome Speedo's they went out in 3 PA's, the leading one was known to have an accurate Speedo. They drove at varying speeds, once out in the countryside of the Lincolnshire fens the lead car put his foot down, he remembers the Speedo reading 95mph. All of a sudden the lead car decided to brake sharply to negotiate a right turn!!! With tyre's screeching the 3 Cresta's ended up inches apart, he recalled how close it came to an embarrassing tale to have to tell the boss. After a few choice words they decided to end the testing & drive safely back to the garage.
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