News - Talbot Owners' Club

VSCC Prescott - 3rd August 2019

The undoubted ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Vintage Sports-Car Club year, the long-established Prescott Speed Hill Climb takes its traditional slot on the first weekend in August, with 250 Pre-war Racing and Sports-Cars taking on the challenge of the traditional 880 yard course – first established by the VSCC in 1938. The weekend will follow the regular 2-day format with P...

Pre-War Prescott - 20th July 2019

Pre-War Prescott continues to gently grow, but doesn’t seem to lose its lovely informal atmosphere. Ably organised by Ian Grace of the Vintage Minor Register – all done from Seattle! – it’s an opportunity to take cars that ordinarily wouldn’t be able to enter a hill climb event. Thus, there are few out and out racers and more saloons and tourers. MG’s featur...

In the Shoes of the Shrewsburys; Welsh Marches Tour - 7th July 2019

James Fack’s instructions were very clear. Be at the Springslade Lodge on time or miss your route directions for The Cannock Chase Caper (and lunch !!) It was thus an expectant group of Talboteers who met up for a welcome cup of coffee by 11 a.m.- precisely. The route took us on unnamed roads, through herds of horses and past hundreds of cyclists – it was a sunny Sunday after all! High...

Tour of Southern Ireland - 2nd June 2019

Thirteen cars assembled in Wexford near the port of Rosslare on a cloudy Sunday afternoon, three from either Northern Ireland or Dublin airport and cars arriving via the Fishguard or Pembroke ferries. Most had taken two days to reach the Welsh coast in kind weather, a test in itself for the cars. Those arriving via air were picking up cars already in Ireland. David Cook had recently participated i...

Ufford Vintage Gathering - 6th April 2019

Saturday 6th April was Foppe d'Hane's classic car show held in the field at the White Lion in Ufford. This year saw a cold day but six Talbots braved the chill - three 105s of Tom and Carole Whatton, David Sharp and Bob Collins whose car he had rescued from eleven years in a field many years ago and built it up himself - very impressive! Sally and David Morris were there in their 14/4...

TOC AGM, 30/31 March - 30th March 2019

Perhaps the Mothers’ Day, clock-putting-forward and losing an hour’s sleep weekend was not the best choice of date for the TOC AGM, but, in spite of that, there was an impressive attendance at the meeting at the Woodland Grange in Leamington. The formal business of approving the report and accounts was briskly dealt with, showing that the Club is in a healthy position with regard to...

Visit to Veteran Car Club HQ - 13th February 2019

The TOC on tour at the VCC. Now, not only is the VCC the oldest car club in the World founded in 1930, but more importantly it has the closest clubhouse to a pub in the world. Frankly I didn’t hold out a lot of hope for this trip, sounded a bit down-market for Howard, as he has set the bar rather high with previous jaunts. But as I am both a member of the VCC and have an eligible Invincib...

The TOC Antipodean Tour 2019 - 8th February 2019

This is a tour that will cover the country from the ‘Winterless North’ to the mountains and tussock country of the south, more or less. We say ‘more or less’ in that we may tweak this a bit as ideas develop. Also, we will be offering various route options and excursions between some destinations, enabling you, the participant, to tailor your journey depending on how relaxed...

TOC Christmas Lunch, Sunday 9th December - 9th December 2018

Forty-five people were booked in and forty-one assembled at the Kettering Park Hotel for our annual Christmas lunch, rather more than last year when snow curtailed the numbers to only eight! Vivien Fishwick was thanked for organising a very successful event. Tom and Carole Whatton received the distance award for arriving in their delectable 1933 105 VDP Ulster saloon. Ian and Gill Pot...

Classic & Sports Car Club Awards 2018 - 9th November 2018

Great news yet again! James Fack and I attended the Classic and Sports Car Club awards in Birmingham on Friday evening after the first day of the show at the NEC. We have received another award, this time for most improved club magazine. High praise indeed, compliments to everyone who has contributed to the Magazine. This represents another very public acknowledgement of the great w...

Technical Seminar - 3rd November 2018

Since inheriting my father’s AV105 Van den Plas Tourer some years ago, I regret that it has lain dormant in the back of the garage whilst weddings, house moves, work on other vintage cars and other distractions have taken priority. However, my son and his fiancée have declared that they would like to use it for their wedding next summer, and so the Talbot Technical Day seemed an ideal...

Club of The Year - 25th October 2018

At the Historic Motoring Awards, the Talbot Owners’ Club won the ultimate club accolade – Club of the Year. To be shortlisted was an extraordinary achievement in itself; to win was amazing! These prestigious and now well-established Awards are, as Robert Coucher, Head Judge and Octane International Editor explained, “a celebration of the passion, achievement and excellence...

New Items Available in the Members shop - 29th August 2018

New items are now available in the Members Shop area. Login and check them out!! ...

VSCC Prescott - 4th August 2018

The TOC put on its customary fine show at VSCC Prescott with eight Talbot entries, well supported by a host of Club Members. John and Christine Talbot-Cooper organised a lively dinner on the Saturday night and Martin and Hilary Bryant put up our display with able assistance from Sally and Dave Morris among others. Hilary recruited Ruth Dunkley and Sue Wheildon to assist with the Champagne and deli...

Pre-War Prescott - 21st July 2018

Pre-War Prescott is a unique motoring event for all pre-war car owners which the TOC first attended last year and found hugely enjoyable. The atmosphere is relaxed and you can experience the unrivalled opportunity and thrill of driving your car up this historic speed hill climb venue in the glorious Cotswolds. Prescott is owned and operated by the Bugatti Owners Club and the event is ...

Tour of Normandy - 9th July 2018

Day 1 Quentin Chases The rally was not starting well. On the way down to Portsmouth, a terrible whine from the rear, and no child in the back to be making that noise. It had to be part of the Holy Trinity, transmission, brakes or wheel bearings. Bugger! Solution: stop for coffee and ring my mate Trevor. Now he has been towed off three TOC rallies, so he knows a good noise when he he...

Le Mans Classic 2018 - 6th July 2018

A victorious event for Talbots! The outstanding performance of the Talbots at the 9th running of Le Mans Classic, held on the famous Sarthe circuit from 6th – 8th July. There were seven Talbots among the 70 cars in Plateau One, the pre-war grid: GO52 – Gareth Burnett JJ93 – Michael Birch BGH21 – William Medcalf and Patrick Blakeney-Edwards GO53 – Chr...

North Eastern Tour - 17th June 2018

Day 1, Helen Mohr Having met the rest of the group the night before at the impressive Lumley Castle, we set off after breakfast with David and Susann for Hadrian’s Wall. The weather was bright and sunny with clear skies. Unfortunately, as we drove along the wall, the skies darkened and it became so cold and windy that we had to stop and put on hats, coats and gloves! On arrival at Ches...

Jurassic Jaunt - 13th May 2018

13-16 May The sun shone and the roads were quiet when we set off in ‘Gina’ for our trip to the South West on the Jurassic Coast tour. Having plenty of time, we meandered our way down the coast to Sidmouth, stopping en route, Dorchester for coffee, Lyme Regis for lunch and to buy Roger and Carmen Peel shrimp nets. They obviously planned to seriously do the seaside th...

AGM - 28th April 2018

There was a wonderful, positive and enthusiastic air about the whole proceedings, much remarked on by those present. It was more a gathering of friends than a formal AGM. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed. You make this Club the success it is today. As previewed in the last issue of the Magazine, three Committee Members have retired – James Fack, David Booth and Cecil Sch...

Ufford Vintage Gathering, Suffolk - 7th April 2018

Foppe d’Hane’s 15th Vintage Gathering in his home village of Ufford attracted a wide range of interesting cars from the area—and beyond—including an excellent showing of Talbots, of which, these are just a few. Tim O’Brien and his niece, Imy, set off for home in their AM75/90 Tourer; Jim Parker’s 75/105 VdP ...

Bentley Memorial Foundation and BDC HQ Visit - 21st February 2018

Meet The Neighbours - The TOC visits the Bentley Drivers Club In the Roaring Twenties, Bentley was just up the road from Barlby Road, and whilst geographically close they could not have been more dissimilar. Clement Talbot part of an international conglomerate with its own large purpose built factory, and an Invincible history stretching back almost to the beginning of the century. Walt...

TOC CHRISTMAS LUNCH - 10th December 2017

Malcolm and I travelled up to Kettering on Saturday to stay the night. We had taken note of weather forecasts and were wondering what impact this would have. We woke up to about 20cm (8”) of snow - and it was still snowing! Uh Oh! As the Telly Tubbies would say, and there were plenty of those slipping and sliding outside as they made their way across the car park. Condi...

Regent Street Motor Show, London - 4th November 2017

It is early on Saturday 4th November – Sarah and I are on our way to Regent Street, carrying rucksacks and pushing wheelbarrows laden with items for the TOC display. Apparently, we do not look suspicious. Police officers are more concerned with directing cars, vans and trucks assembling in the side streets. All are waiting for 8.00am and permission to enter Regent Street.&n...

East of England Tour - 15th September 2017

Six Talbots and one Bentley met in the grounds of Burghley House at midday on Friday 15th September to begin the tour under louring skies. Half an hour later the heavens opened, yet half the group were intrepid enough to have a picnic outside whilst the rest of us hit the coffee shop. Due to Lord Burghley’s great Elizabethan pile being closed on Fridays, some of us walked or drove into n...

VSCC Prescott Weekend - 5th August 2017

We always look forward to this annual event and arrived on Sunday morning. The weather was perfect – not too hot, not too cold and, best of all, no rain. The car parks were filling up quickly and the first place we headed to was the auto jumble, always hoping to find that elusive spare part. It was there that we bumped into Sue and James Wheildon (obviously looking for the same part!)....

Pre-War Prescott/TOC Swapmeet - 22nd July 2017

For the first time, the TOC was invited to Pre-War Prescott, an informal ‘garden party’ type event, combining untimed runs up the hill with autojumble stands and plenty of socialising. The TOC had a tent with tables for selling unwanted items and some decent sales were achieved. The Club put on an excellent showing with twelve Talbots in attendance in the spectators&rsqu...

Alpine Celebration, by Old Lane Adventures - 30th June 2017

On the 1st July 2017 nine Talbot motor cars and eighteen intrepid Talboteers rendezvoused at the Hotel du Golf to the north of Reims. Under the leadership of David Thomson, they had come together to celebrate one of the most remarkable achievements in the long competitive history of Clement Talbot – the winning in 1932 of an Alpine Cup by a team of three standard Talbot 105s, without t...

Mystery Tour - Peak District - 13th June 2017

13 JUNE – 16 JUNE 2017 This was a first for the TOC – a mystery tour; and in what more attractive a location than the glorious Peak District? It was also a mid-week affair following on from the great Talbot Themed Tour in 2016. Based at a charming country hotel in the Peak District, a few days before the start on 13th June an email was sent to all participants...

Talbot Technical Training Day - 27th May 2017

Having spent 36 years in Policing, perfecting the art of avoiding ‘nasty surprises’ and too much hard work, I failed to keep up standards when I attended my first TOC event as a proper member and fell for Martin Bryant’s impassioned plea to write this report. As the blurb promised, this introduction to Talboteering and all things mechanical, sparky and oily was a great way to ...

Vintage Montlhéry, Ardennes, Maastricht Tour - 4th May 2017

From Calais, we drove a very picturesque road along the coast to Wimereux (with a diversion to avoid Sangatte which we obeyed on this occasion!). I noted, for future reference, that we passed a very beautiful looking golf course just outside Wimereux. When we arrived at the Hotel Atlantique we were greeted by Susie and Quentin. Tom and Carole’s Ulster saloon was already there so, of...

AGM, Woodland Grange Hotel, Leamington Spa - 8th April 2017

The Woodland Grange Hotel in Leamington Spa again hosted the TOC AGM weekend and looked after us very well. Chairman Martin Bryant kicked off the proceedings and welcomed everyone on a warm and sunny day, which had encouraged many members to attend in their Talbots. There was no need for an election for the Committee this year as the number of candidates equalled the number of pla...

Lower Ufford/Suffolk Rally - 1st April 2017

LOWER UFFORD RALLY, 1 APRIL Reno Gatto Talboteers put up a good show at this annual event in the field adjacent to the White Lion Pub in the village of Ufford, about 5 miles north of Ipswich. This is a word of mouth event with no obvious organiser and on arrival in Ufford there was hardly any guidance as to the location of the event. Of course those in the know needed no signage as...

Visit to the MINI production facility at Cowley - 17th February 2017

Reno Gatto This very well attended visit was organised by Howard Day, resident of the parish. His cousin Paul was also present, both Talbot owners. A gathering of about a dozen Talboteers assembled at the Premier Inn, opposite the car plant, for a light snack on a glorious sunny day, which made a change from the miserable weather hitherto. Sadly, no Talbot cars were in evide...

Tour of Newby Foundry - 18th January 2017

This was a very rare opportunity to experience something which will fascinate all members. The Newby Foundry is casting the new iron blocks for Talbot 105’s. See the youtube video: Click Here On 18th January, Newby Foundries Group kindly hosted a visit by the TOC. Richard Newby, Chairman and Talbot owner is working with Gareth Burnett of Pace Products to ...

Windsor Concours of Elegance 2016 - 3rd September 2016

The Talbot Owners’ Club was delighted and honoured to be invited as one of the country’s foremost and most prestigious car clubs (to quote the Daily Telegraph) to form part of a display in honour of Her Majesty’s 90th birthday celebrations at Windsor Castle. Click here to read the full article ...