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Women's Spirit of Competition? You don't say.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

16 August 2011

Not just on the circuit: Brooklands celebrates speed in the sky

Women’s spirit of competition lives on at ‘100 years of Women in Aviation’ event      

The home of British motorsport hosts a weekend celebrating human endeavour and achievement with its ‘Women in Aviation’ weekend at Brooklands, on 20-21 August.

Fittingly, for a venue rich in both aviation and motoring competition history, Brooklands is the backdrop for the centenary of the first British woman, Hilda Hewlett, gaining a pilot’s licence: as well as being the most famous race circuit of the time, Brooklands also had the first Flying School (founded by Hilda Hewlett and Gustav Blondeau in 1910) and saw many exciting races taking place with women at the wheel of powerful machinery both in the air and on the circuit.

Hilda Hewlett



From those pioneering days to WWII and all the way to modern times, women have played their part, matching their talents to aircraft and race car speeds. It was indeed at Brooklands that both sexes built their impressive racing history: the very first person to drive on the brand new circuit was in fact a woman: Ethel Locke-King, in her Itala. Motor racing records, such as Gwenda Hawkes’ double-12 motorcycle endurance in 1922 and the Hon. Mrs Victor Bruce, who raced in Brooklands’ first women race in 1927 in an aluminium AC, achieving 17 world records overall in cars, boats and aeroplanes, were as eagerly sought-after as aviation firsts. Perhaps Hilda Hewlett could have competed with women such as Kay Petre and Gwenda Hawkes for the true "Brooklands Speed Queen" title.

In recognition of such records and achievement, the ‘Women in Aviation’ weekend hosts a new exhibition using original material from the Museum Archive, tracing some of the history surrounding those early days of flying at Brooklands.

Air Cadets’ and Astro-Sim’s state-of-the-art Flight Simulators will be there for those not brave enough to try the real skies. Inside the iconic Edwardian Clubhouse, the Blue Bird Room will host a display of career opportunities from the LAA (Light Aircraft Association), Brunel University, Air Cadets and ‘Red Letter Day’ charity Fly2Help. Automotive PR consultant Angie Voluti will be there with her brand new début novel, ‘Clay Ghosts in Sicily’, based on a true story about a Cypriot pilot and women’s contribution to the war in Sicily. Seminars and talks about flight and aerodynamics will be an added bonus.

ENDS

For more information and relevant photos, please contact:

Paul Stewart,                                                                                     Angie Voluti

Marketing and PR Manager                                                             Angie Voluti PR

Brooklands Museum                                                                        The Studio, Forest Road

Brooklands Rd, Weybridge                                                             Hartwell

Surrey                                                                                                Northants

KT13 0QN                                                                                          NN7 2HE

Tel: 01932 857 381 Ext 249                                                               Tel: 01604 863 044/07584 306014

Email: paulstewart@brooklandsmuseum.com                             Email: angie@angievoluti.co.uk

Note to editors: admission prices for either day are: Adults £10, Seniors £9, Children (5-16 yrs) £5.50, Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) £27. For full details of events, directions and general Museum information, please visit http://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/ or telephone 01932 857381. The Museum is open daily from 10am – 5pm (4pm in winter).

Angie Voluti PR

The Studio

Forest Road

Hartwell

Nr Northampton

NN7 2HE

Tel. +44 (0) 1604 863 044

Mob. +44 (0) 7584 306 014

Website: http://www.angievoluti.co.uk/

Twitter: angievoluti

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Did you get an opportunity to read our last News/Blog "Chasing Classic Cars VI"

Chasing Classic Cars VI

You never know where a Classic Car lead might take you.

While scouring the area for Classic Cars, I stopped at Shrock Brothers Studebaker, Coalport PA. It doesn’t get much further out in the countryside than Coalport, PA yet, in the middle of the "PA Wilds" is a thriving classic car business.

Dave was the tour master that day. He was gracious with his time. Myself and wife were treated to the full tour of the shop. What fun!!! 

Shrock Brothers began business in the 1960’s as an auto body shop and then spread itself out. Today, it manufactures vintage Studebaker reproduction replacement parts and sells high end hand made collectible Studebaker Toys. All their toys are made of pewter, one of a kind, perfect detail and of course to scale.The Toys made a big impression on my wife and she had lots of questions about how they are crafted. HMMM, perhaps a gift for her in the future?

Dave and Tom have also custom built several of their own cars. In 1963 they built the “Super Turtle” and in 1980 they customized a Studebaker President Boat-tailed Speedster with a rumble seat. This car has been featured in several magazines over the years including the Studebaker Drivers Club magazine “Turning Wheels”  

In 1982 Dave and Tom restored a 1935 Studebaker Commander Roadster that found itself in the movie “Color Purple”.

So you can see the Shrock Brothers are all about Studebakers.  They manufacture reproduction parts for Studebaker, they hand craft Studebaker Toys and they customize and restore Studebaker Classic Cars.

They also collect Studebaker Cars. I don’t have it in my notes I recall that Dave told me they have a collection because their father starting buying Studebakers, and then he and Tom purchased Studebakers. None of the vehicles were ever sold. He made it clear that none were being sold today either except maybe the Jaguar.

That’s why I had wandered to Coalport that day. I came to see the cars and I was not disappointed.  After the tour of the shop, Dave took us to one of his garages. It was truly a Studebaker Museum.  All the cars and trucks were Studebakers except the Jaguar Replica that his son had built and used while in college. 

Here a few snapshots of what I found:

 

 

If you love classic cars like we love classic cars and you find youself wanting to get out into the country side, give Dave or Tom a call and stop by for a chat. You will not be disappointed. If you can’t do that right away,you can go to the Shrock Brothers website and take the virtual tour. 

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Join us at All About Detail Classic Cars.

Did you have an opportunity to read our last News/Blog "Where are the best Salvage Yards in America?"

Where are the Best Salvage Yards in America?

The Concierge’s Corner: Best Salvage Yards in America

July 27, 2011

Wondering where you can find a salvage yard that might have the parts you’re looking for? With Registered membership in the HVA comes the benefit of having your own historic vehicle “answer man” just a phone call or email away. Check out our concierge’s picks for the top three historic vehicle salvage yards in America and become a Registered member today.
 
Of all the thousands of questions HVA concierge, Glenn Arlt, answers for members every year, one of the most common is where to look for parts.

“When searching for any hard to find part, it’s better to play by the numbers,” says Arlt. “In other words, you’re more likely to find what you’re looking for in a salvage yard with thirty thousand cars rather than one that only has thirty.

People asked about how to find parts so frequently that Hagerty prepared a pamphlet about it. Check out the complete guide, Find That Part: Locating Used and New Components For Your Collector Car, by clicking here. In the meantime, here are Glenn’s top three picks for best salvage yards in America:

Windy Hill Auto Parts
Located in New London, Minnesota, Windy Hill Auto Parts is home to approximately 12,000 salvage cars and trucks. Over 8000 of these are pre-1968, sitting on 150 acres, according to Arlt.

“The age range of their vehicles is 1930-1990, approximately,” says Arlt. “Engines and transmissions and interior parts, is what I generally send people to them for. And they’re happy to ship.”

For more information, call Windy Hill Auto Parts at (320) 354-2201. Check out their website www.windyhillautoparts.com.

Hidden Valley Auto Parts
Located in Maricopa, Arizona, Hidden Valley Auto Parts stocks 8000 vehicles on 80 acres. These vehicles range from 1940 to 1989 and includes some foreign cars.
“I usually send people here when they’re looking for exterior sheet metal and trim parts,” says Arlt.
For more information, call Hidden Valley Auto parts at (520) 568-2945. Or to check out their inventory and inquire about parts for shipping, go to www.hiddenvalleyautoparts.com.

Turner’s Auto Wrecking
Located in Fresno, California, Turner’s Auto Wrecking specializes in classic and antique vehicles from 1928 to the present. They have a huge warehouse full of car and truck parts and an over 70-acre lot with more than 10,000 vehicles.

“This is a good, all-around place for all components,” says Arlt. “Plus, they ship worldwide.”
For more information, call (559) 237-0918. Or check out their parts inventory at www.turnersautowrecking.com

Those are three great suggestion. Do you have suggestion of your own? Please let us know by commenting.

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Did you have an opportunity to read our last News/Blog "What will you be driving when you are 101 years old?"

What will you be driving when your are 101 years old?

Barbara Dunning, 101 years old,  from Plymouth Michigan is still driving her , 1930 Packard Straight 8 747. Join her here at New York Times video "Two Classic one Car".