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Ladies
also drive 'Sevens'
(By Doug Castle)
We see so many men driving, displaying
and working on, historic vehicles that it is easy to think it
is a ‘male thing’. We have several lady owner/drivers
in the Cornwall Austin Seven Club who drive their ‘Seven’
regularly on Club events and attend rallies. The most experienced
is Lorna Blewett of Illogan who bought an Austin Seven Special
in 1958 for £25. Her late husband, Ken, did not drive due
to poor eyesight so it was Lorna who drove the car to Czechoslovakia
via Germany and Poland in 1959.
In 1960 she bought a 1933 Saloon
which cost £30 and included a carful of spares. In 1965
when Lorna was studying in France, Ken joined her and they travelled
through Switzerland and beyond.
After they moved to Cornwall in
1971 Lorna used the saloon as daily transport - 46 miles each
day to work, plus shopping and holidays, covering about 17,000
miles per year between '71and '85. Since then Lorna has regularly
driven in Europe with holiday trips in France with the 750MC,
then in 2003 to East Germany and 2005 to Brittany with CA7C. Lorna
still supports local Club events as often as possible.
Another lady clocking up the miles
is Regi Jarmin of Stithians who bought a 1933 RP Saloon as a wreck
in 1989. After much work by husband Andrew it was on the road
in 1992 and with barely 50 miles of ‘Austin Seven’ driving
experience she drove from John O Groats to Lands End (the JOGLE)
in 44 hours, and since then has made two double End to Ends, the
last return trip in 23 hours and 13 minutes. Regi has also been
on two holidays to Scotland plus
several holidays in Devon, Wales, Ireland, France and Jersey,
and as a regular on Club events she has driven just over 33500
miles to date. In all that time only a condenser has been replaced
at the road side, also one puncture and a few blocked jets!
Dorothy Murrish of
Chacewater purchased her 1933 RP Saloon in 1986 from a family
in Falmouth. Being another avid ‘Seven’ owner/driver
Dorothy is also a regular on Club events and has enjoyed trips
to Holland, twice to Brittany, Southern Ireland, Wales, Le Mans
in France where she drove round the Bugatti circuit. She also
did the JOGLE in 2000 driving through the night to complete the
journey in 22 hours and 30 mins. Dorothy averages 3000 miles per
year and has had no major breakdowns although will admit to once
putting diesel in
the petrol tank and having to be towed home!
Dorothy’s ‘Seven’ with: (Left to
right) Cindy Watts,
Lorna Blewett, Sue Doyle, Regi Jarmin, Dorothy Murrish and Ann
Lewis with .
 And
here is Cindy Watts of Shortlanesend withher 1934 RP Saloon and
is another regular driver on Club events.
Ann Brown of Carnkie, Wendron still takes her left hand drive 1934
Tourer on Club events after enjoying many years of ‘Sevens’
with her late husband.
Ann Lewis of Falmouth had her first ‘Seven’ when she was
18 and another before she married and now, over 40 years later,
she is enjoying the freedom of narrow lanes, steep hills and busy
roads driving a 1935 Ruby.
Ladies who are not so regular in the hot seat are Sue Doyle of Camborne
who has to combine driving her 1937 Ruby with being a mother of
a young family and Wendy Waters of Goonhavern who drives a 1935
Ruby.
Tamsin Coxen of Truro has a 1931 RM Saloon which she drives when
work commitments allow.
Freda Capel of Collumpton has a 1933 Saloon upporting CA7C and Bristol
A7C events.
Jenny Gardner of Bratton Clovelly
bought her first 'Seven' when she was 18. It was a Ruby and cost
£7.10s (£7.50). Later she had a 1934 Box Saloon, then
a few years ago bought the immaculate 1936 Opal pictured here
The pleasures of owning and driving
an historic car can be enjoyed by both men and ladies; the ‘Seven’
is one of the lowest cost cars to own and run, spares are available,
and Clubs like CA7C offer a lot of technical support for those
who are not so mechanically knowledgeable or able. So long as
the owner/driver can carry out the basic maintenance checking
and topping up the oil and water, the tyre pressures and a few
other minor things as well as changing a wheel, then anyone and
everyone is can be enjoying the freedom of driving an historic
car.
Doug Castle
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