The Bristol Austin 7 Club holds an annual summer meet at Newark Park, a beautiful setting for their rally, near Wotton-under-Edge, writes Rich Kelsey.
Austin 7s and many other Austin derivatives from the UK and abroad were on show, as well as other classic cars such as Triumphs, MGs, Morrises and Jensen. Newark Park is a Grade I listed country house of Tudor origins located near the village of Ozleworth and owned by the National Trust. The house was originally built in the mid-1500s and has an estate of 700 acres, thus giving visitors a nice walk about seeing the cars exhibited in different sections of the grounds.
The summer heat didn’t put people off – with the mercury at 30 degrees Centigrade, this being our third heatwave of the year. However, thanks to the wooded location there was plenty of shade.
Car owners were very keen to chat about their cars and share many stories. There were also some SVTEC and Wings Society members cars on show. The Bristol Austin 7 Club is made up of members of all ages who are very enthusiastic about their brand of Austins and are known for helping others to enjoy theirs.
The club was formed in May 1965 by twelve Austin Seven enthusiasts, some of whom are still members today. Since then, the club has grown in strength to approximately 350 with many international members. The Austin 7’s brief history: an economy car that was produced from 1923 until 1939 in the United Kingdom by Austin (mainly with a 696 or 747cc 4-cylinder engine producing around 7.2 hp). It was nicknamed the ‘Baby Austin’ among other names and types relating to body styles such as The Chummy.
Austin 7s were once the most popular cars produced for the British market and sold well abroad. Its effect on the British market was like that of the Model T Ford in the US, replacing most other British economy cars and cyclecars of the early 1920s. It was also licensed and copied by companies all over the world, in Germany, France, and Japan to name a few.
This well organised and enjoyable rally was held in a very quintessential Cotswold setting; good weather certainly makes the perfect Sunday afternoon out with lashings of tea and cake. Many Thanks to the Bristol Austin 7 Club, organisers, car owners and the Newark Park National Trust folks for making the show a cracking event.
Words and pictures by Rich Kelsey
