There were three photographers at Rob Roy on August 17 - Richard Abey, Martin Stubbs and Bill Hunter. Until I get the new Motormarques website operating smoothly, I'll concentrate on the Bill Hunter set. So, by way of introduction, I'll mention a few things that need further comment.On the  first part, I must make a comment .

The administraton of Motormarques has changed the way that readers can access our site. Our commitment to classic cars, drivers, and admirers  remains as strong as ever - so,  thanks for staying with us - I believe we will continue to improve and attract even bigger numbers of readers and supporters.

Doctor Stuart Saunders  MAB SpecialThe car featured here is a rare 1908 aeroplane engined monster found 20 years ago in a paddock near Wagga Wagga, by Dr Stuart Saunders of the Australian Capital Territory.  The initials MAB were stamped on the remains of its radiator and on many of the bearings, bushes and castings.“There was very little left of the engine and so a 1918 Packard-Liberty V12 aero engine was installed to build a facsimile of a pre-1910 racing car. The liberty has a capacity of 27 litres,” Dr Saunders said. “Most of the racing cars of the period were chain drive and some had engines of 20 litres or more."The MAB was restored by the mid-1980s and has done thousands of miles since then, and I believe it has been seen in rallies and demonstrations in the UK and Europe.“Apart from twisted drive-shafts in the early years, the car has been very reliable.”  Dr Saunders said.This photograph was taken by Bill Hunter for Motormarques at Winton, Victoria (Au) in 2006.

The original Chummy Tourer first appeared in 1922. It had 190 cm wheelbase, a 10 bhp engine and the weight of 356 kg. Its tiny side valve engine with two bearing crankshaft only 28.6 millimetres in diameter proved tough enough to win the longest and races such as Monza, Brooklands, Ulster and elsewhere, and to withstand supercharging.

Barry Quantrell is in the process of building and developing a new race car. The project is nearing completion, and in the meantime he has accepted Motormarques' invitation to submit photographs taken at Eddington during March 2014.

A big turnout saw return of favourites and brilliant newcomers.  A special treat was to see Jim Russell back in form, driving Testa Plata (Ford V8 Spl - Car No 1)Special note on Austin 7 racing cars.   The original Chummy Tourer first appeared in 1922. It had 190 cm wheelbase, a 10 bhp engine and the weight of 356 kg. Its tiny side valve engine with two bearing crankshaft only 28.6 millimetres in diameter proved tough enough to win the longest and races such as Monza, Brooklands, Ulster and elsewhere, and to withstand supercharging.The Ulster Super Sports car was Austin's most serious effort in the sports car market. It had an A frame, transverse leaf spring at the front, 1/4 eliptic springs at the rear, and tiny four wheel brakes. The 747 cc side valve engine was fitted with a gear-driven Cozette supercharger, special cylinder head, valve gear and camshaft and pump-cooling. The two-bearing crank shaft was required to turn over at 5000 rpm. It was pressure-lubricated and balanced.The three speed gear box had close ratio gears. Wings, hood, windscreen and lights were quickly removable for competition work and the weights with a doorless, open, two-seater body and spidery outside exhaust system was around 435 kg. With 33 brake horsepower available, the little car could exceed 120 kilometres an hour (75 MPH) reliably. An unblown 24 bhp version could reach 100 kilometres an hour (60 mph).The blown car, raced by the factory in 1929 scored four class wins in major British races, and finished third and fourth in the Ulster Touring Trophy. In 1930 the little orange cars took three more British class wins and won the 500 miles race at Brooklands outright at 134.25 kilometres (83.42 mph).