The National Motor Museum Trust

16 February 2013

Friends were privileged to hear Donald Stevens give a rare insight into what lay behind the development of K7 and how his career took him from a junior draughtsman at Norris Brothers to the Project Design Engineer for CN7.

Donald explained the development of K7 and the way the craft had evolved from the studies of Cobb’s fatal crash during his attempt on the Water Speed Record. From this information they produced a configuration and shape for K7 that eventually led to a successful design that enabled Donald Campbell in 1964 to take the record for jet-powered boats to 276 mph.

A film illustrating the design concepts and the Water and Land Speed Record attempts was shown. Donald also revealed that K7 indicated the class of the vessel, whereas CN stood for Campbell Norris in the record breaking car. (Commit this information to memory – you never know when it might come in handy).

John Hough, Chairman, Friends Liaison Committee
 

16 April 2012

The presentation began with the Museum’s Research & Enquiries Officer, Patrick Collins, who treated us to many photos and rare footage of early flight from the museum collection. We saw photos of traction engines (complete with Red Flag Man in the lead), land trains, and other steam driven vehicles including armoured traction engines (how hot would that have been for the soldiers inside?). Then there was the early veteran cars powered by steam and by the internal combustion engine and moving onto the first UK motor show, and the more practical vehicles we recognise as cars today.

Then it was over to Trust Volunteer, Alan Kingwell, who, having been personally involved in raising the Mary Rose, talked first-hand about the building of Henry VIII’s flagship between 1509 and 1511, and how she went down in the Solent about to target the French in 1545.  We then fast forward a few hundred years to learn about the re-discovery of the wreck, the excavation in the 1960s and the planning for its eventual raising and preservation in 1982, 437 years after she sank.

Peter Brewer, Friends Liaison Committee
 

25 February 2012

It is hard to believe it’s 11 years since we heard Murray’s familiar voice commentating on the television and listened to his ‘Murrayisms’ as they have become known in racing circles. However, it is no surprise that any time his name comes up for a ‘Friends Evening’ he plays to a full house and this time was no exception. We all enjoyed stories about his father’s motorcycle racing and commentating. Then we heard how Murray became a commentator himself working on motorcycle trials, scrambling, Grand Prix racing, and of course, Formula One. Mike Jackson was in the Chair and Sammy Miller was also in attendance, starting a 250 racing Honda from the mid 60’s outside, much to the delight of onlookers.

Peter Brewer, Friends Liaison Committee

 

22 October 2011

Bob and Joe Ives shared their experiences of taking part in the 1989 Camel Trophy. Twelve days of obstacles, rutted roads and rivers would be virtually impassable for most vehicles but not for these teams. Ultimately, coming first is the aim but helping out other teams who get stuck could win you the fair play trophy as well. What I saw them going through totally blew my mind!

Next to speak was Duncan Mortimer who has driven his 1978 Mini 1275GT around the world three times. Not only was he completely alone but he had to fix his own mechanical problems, of which he had many! The photos Duncan took along the way were brilliant but what I found fantastic, apart from the journeys, was that he raised money for global cancer research charities along the way.

Peter Brewer, Friends Liaison Committee