Veteran Car Club 1908 TT Races

TOURIST TROPHY EXHIBITION
24th September to 4th October 2008

THE TOURIST TROPHY EXHIBITION

THE VCC CLUB'S HEADQUARTERS
Ashwell - Hertfordshire

24th September to 4th October 2008

Charity supported - The British Heart Foundation

Patron: HRH Prince Michael of Kent

Sponsored by Bonhams

Organised by Veteran Car Services Ltd.

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IN 1905 the world famous Tourist Trophy road races commenced in the Isle of Man. They were held on the Island as road racing was banned in mainland Britain; there were of course no racetracks anywhere in the world at that time. With varying distances and formulas they continued each year until 1908. There was then a break until the 1914 race, which uniquely took place over two arduous days. After the Great War came to an end, automobile racing returned to the Island for the last time in 1922 before transferring to Ulster from 1928 to 1936. After the Second World War the TT races again resumed, this time on Great Britain's emerging racetracks.

We intend to mount an exhibition of selected Isle of Man Tourist Trophy motor cars, artefacts, and memorabilia, to coincide with the Centenary of the 1908 TT Race, covering the whole Isle of Man period ie from 1905 to 1922, with an emphasis on the 1908 Race.

The cars will be on display in a rigid framed marquee, which will be linked to the main building; the artefacts, memorabilia and artworks in the Club-House. Normally only open to VCC members, this will be a unique opportunity for members of other invited historic car clubs.

The Royal Automobile Club has agreed to loan us the actual Tourist Trophy for the duration of the exhibition. One of the most famous and valuable of all motor racing trophies, it will form an iconic centre piece of the exhibition.

The names inscribed on the Trophy include John Napier (Arroll-Johnston 1905), Hon CS Rolls (Rolls Royce 1906), Ernest Courtis (Curtis) (Rover 1907), William Watson (Hutton 1908), Kenelm Lee Guinness (Sunbeam 1914) and Jean Chassagne (Sunbeam 1922).

Also on display will be the Veteran Car Club's unique archive of early Motoring including the legendary Gordon Bennett Trophy, and the original 1896 Emancipation medals.

Ticket prices and information on Club rallies to the exhibition, the associated fund raising for the British Heart Foundation will be available in due course.

To register your Club's interest in taking part in a rally to the exhibition, for ticket applications or for entering IOM TT cars, artefacts, artworks, cine film, period photographs, documents or any related IOM memorabilia of any description into the exhibition itself, please contact the TT CENTENARY EVENT ORGANISER: -

NICK PELLETT - VCSL Events Panel "CROUCH GREEN", CODICOTE, HERTS, SG4 8SX.
Phone: - (Land line)01438 820002 - (Mobile)07958 329191 or Email: - nicholas.pellett@virgin.net

More information will be added when it becomes available
Please check from time to time.