Extremes of Enthusiasm: Typhoo and more

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Mike Tebbet writes: "The New Years Day Gathering of the Vintage Sports Car Club at the Royal Oak, Much Marcle, Herefordshire was the 36th such gathering, organised as usual by the indefatigable Mark Garfitt. The gathering can be relied upon to produce a wide variety of delectable pre-war motor cars as well as a good selection of post-war classic cars, though the latter are usually asked to park in the adjacent lay-bys and on the verges. Occasionally however something post-war and exceptional can be found within the car park and this year was no exception. Indeed there were two vehicles that demonstrated two extremes of enthusiasm, as well as two extremes of size! The French ‘voiture sans permis’ Acoma Mini-Contesse from the 1970s caused some amazement with its 50cc single cylinder two-stroke engine mounted above and driving the single front wheel, turning with it in the same fashion as the Bond minicar. The advantages of good steering lock do not perhaps outweigh some of the disadvantages of this particular mode of transport.

At the other extreme, amazement, and indeed respect was engendered by the arrival of a large steam lorry. This turned to some envy as the day wore on and the rain came down and it became rather cold, as the warm dry cab of the lorry seemed most inviting! Mind you this was not just any steam lorry, but a ‘special’ consisting of a six-wheeled 1970 ERF truck chassis fitted with the boiler and engine from a Sentinel steam railway engine. Apparently this boiler and engine are similar if not the same as those fitted to the famous steam lorries from this Shrewsbury manufacturer. The owner lives locally near Ledbury, but had recently acquired it from a vendor in East Anglia and he drove it home... including using the motorways... though apparently he had to buy a ton of coal on the way home. This splendid machine rejoices in the name ‘Typhoo’, presumably some sort of reference to the 15” gauge ‘Typhoon’ on the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway or does the owner/driver just like tea?"

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