road laid out around the house to enable the cars to drive on to the South Lawn to be photographed ’. These runs were not without their perils , though . A 1905 Club report states that en route to Mrs Gerard Leigh ’ s country home of Kidbrooke House ‘… unfortunately five of the members were caught by the police near East Grinstead ’.
A popular annual event was a motoring gymkhana , held at the Ranelagh Club . Events included a ‘ Crawling Race ’ ( to find out who could travel the slowest over 100 yards without braking or stalling ), ‘ Tilting at Rings ’, and a ‘ Police Trap Race ’, the considerable challenge here being to complete a course at a set speed without the aid of a watch , clock , or speedometer .
The Ladies ’ Automobile Club also arranged outings to the Ascot Races and Henley Regatta , as well as attendance at motor shows and participation in external competitions . The Club organised many motoring-themed lectures including , notably , one in 1905 by the Hon . Charles Rolls entitled ‘ Historical Reminiscences and Roadside Experiences ’, which the Rolls-Royce founder summarised as follows : Three times had a boiler burnt up on the road . Once had to push car three miles in dress clothes . Once stopped a few feet from a quarry . Once had to be towed out of a bog . Once had to walk 12 miles in France for petrol . Twice had a wheel come off . Once had a steering column break adrift . Once had a horse and cart on top of me . Once ran into a tree at 70 miles an hour . Twice overturned . Once had head bashed in by starting handle . Once mistaken for dead when lying under the car examining the clutch – an old lady suddenly shouting out : “ Oh , there ’ s a man been run over and killed by a motor car .”
Twice ran away downhill forwards and three times backwards . Once upset an apple cart in The Strand . Twice had car burnt up .
Above : Charles Rolls lecture 1905 .
Above : The drawing room of the Ladies ’ Automobile Club at Claridges .
Other lectures included ‘ Hints on Motor-Car Driving ’ by Lord Montagu in 1907 and a 1913 talk by Filson Young on Motors and Morals , described as ‘ a gloomy affair ’ in The Autocar . As the years progressed , the topics broadened , with flying and even ballooning being discussed . A 1905 column in The Autocar describes an invitation ‘ The Autocrat ’ took up to attend a lecture at the Club headquarters :
“ After the lecture , tea was taken in the Great Hall , and automobile conversation was rife the while . I was gratified to hear much technique from feminine lips , which goes only to show that woman , when really interested , is twice as thorough as man .”
‘ My hostesses the ladies have really the most dainty headquarters at Claridge ’ s , with their own entrance and many other conveniences ,’ he recorded . ‘ After the lecture , tea was taken in the Great Hall , and automobile conversation was rife the while . I was gratified to hear much technique from feminine lips , which goes only to show that woman , when really interested , is twice as thorough as man .’
Mr R Sedgwick Currie gave an annual series of indepth technical lessons for members covering such topics as Gears & Gear Boxes , Ignition – Old Types & New , and Tyre Retreading . These lessons included practical elements carried out in the club garage , with engines being stripped down and vehicle parts loaned by the leading manufacturers for the students to examine .
18 The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run