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Orstin
United Kingdom
673 Posts |
 Posted - 07/04/2025 : 07:41:19
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And I can confirm, after years of intense research, there are no pubs in that area.. It is a rather well to do area though (and still is) and, in the 50s, I wouldnt be at all surprised if some of the buildings contained individual flats (I knew a chap who lived in something similar further up the road) but it always has been a road of large houses and the conversion of some of them to hotels came later... But I do like the idea that the '163 Club' relates to the number of the house. As I say, I am still negotiating to look at some photo albums from that era that may reveal further clues... Sadly, the creator of the albums recently died at the age of 101 and she may well have been able to provide more insight.. Life is full of missed opportunities..
So many dynamos |
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KevinA
New Zealand
712 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2025 : 12:04:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Franklin
Outstanding! I vote we re enact the photo and the parties! 
Best Regards,
Dick
PA 1623.
Thank you Dick for volunteering to pay for all the drinks at the re-enacted parties.
Well that's the way I read it, all those in favour say aye...,. |
Edited by - KevinA on 07/04/2025 12:05:24 |
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Orstin
United Kingdom
673 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2025 : 14:31:14
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How about this little item to make the research even more intruiging...
For those unfamiliar with the name, read here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Scott_Brown
So many dynamos |
Edited by - Orstin on 07/04/2025 14:31:46 |
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Franklin
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2025 : 15:22:38
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Kevin if you find that NA Airline Coupe for me you can count on me for the first round!
Sadly Hugh reports there are no local watering holes but we'll find a way to improvise.
Hugh, what a find! The connection to Archie Scott-Brown makes this even more interesting. Scott- Brown was born in 1927 so he spent the first 11 years of his life at this residence. My Encyclopedia of Racing Greats tells me that his mother gave him a lawn mower engine powered specially built miniature race car for his 10th birthday so we can assume the pedestrians on Hills Road were terrorized by little Archie learning his race craft. Scott-Brown started his actual racing career with an MG TC he bought with an inheritance from his grandmother. He later partnered with Brian Lister and that relationship produced the Lister MG which was sadly underpowered for the class it raced in so it was quickly superseded by the Lister Bristol.
Thanks agains for all your efforts!
Dick
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Edited by - Franklin on 07/04/2025 15:24:00 |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6533 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2025 : 15:26:55
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The blue plaque can just be seen in the photo I put up.
Simon J
J3437 |
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Orstin
United Kingdom
673 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2025 : 16:33:42
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And the MG connection continues more closely with the involvement of Don Moore, the great engine builder and tuner in Cambridge and, of course, the memorial in the guise of the Don Moore trophy awarded by the Register...
So many dynamos |
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Orstin
United Kingdom
673 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2025 : 16:35:33
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But we digress.
I do wonder (and it is pure conjecture) whether the 163 Club was formed in memory of Archie after his untimely death in 1958. That might just seem to match with the possible date of the photo...
So many dynamos |
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Franklin
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2025 : 18:08:28
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Simon, thank you for pointing out location of the blue plaque.
Hugh, I also wondered if the picture represented a gathering to honor Scott-Brown but I think it was taken before his death in 1958. I would think a picture from 1958 would have an MG TF or MGA in the ranks of cars parked on the roadside.
Dick |
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Franklin
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2025 : 18:26:50
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My apologies for any confusion caused by an earlier post. I'm afraid I misread the plaque as 1927 - 1938, when of course it reads 1958. My misinterpretation led me to believe he grew up in this house but of course that is incorrect. He was born in Paisley, Scotland. The only reference I can find to when he may have lived in Cambridge comes from the Historic Racing site on line and their bio of Scott Brown had the following "On leaving school he took a job as a salesman for Dobie's Four Square Tobacco in Cambridge in 1949, staying 6 years." Perhaps we can assume that he was in residence at 163 Hills Road when the picture was taken?
Dick |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6533 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2025 : 18:43:50
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I’d have thought 1958 was quite plausible a date for the photo. One gets the impression of cheap and cheerful motoring with nothing too new, ptretty much like me and my pals ten years later. The Jowett and the TDs are late 40s, early 50s, the Dellow, early 50s and a split-screen Morris likewise.
Simon J
J3437 |
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Orstin
United Kingdom
673 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2025 : 19:09:44
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And it could well be a Student group, of course, being in Cambridge. Like Simon, a line up of cars like that in 1958 would not have been unusual, methinks.. Archie also went on to run a garage on what was known as the Huntingdon Road, now A14. I am making enquiries with a chap who purports to know quite a bit about him (childhood hero, and all that) We will see if that throws anything up...
So many dynamos |
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KevinA
New Zealand
712 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2025 : 05:48:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Franklin
Kevin if you find that NA Airline Coupe for me you can count on me for the first round!
Hi Dick
Are you aware that the registration records for the NJ series still exist and are stored in the County Records Office in Lewes?
Some areas the records show very little, others can be very detailed including chassis numbers, registration dates, first/ last owners etc.
It is the luck of the draw what has survived the cull of the great DVLA |
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KevinA
New Zealand
712 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2025 : 06:39:56
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Actually it seems that the records have relocated to Brighton. I have Emailed them and it will be interesting to see if there is any sort of positive response
Kevin |
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Orstin
United Kingdom
673 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2025 : 12:40:56
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From my pal who knows a great deal about ASB - "CLXIII is 163 in Roman numerals. It was also known as the Clixy club. Basicaly, it was a group of racing enthusiasts who would meet in Archie and his mother's flat at 163 Hills Road. Jay welcomed them all as Archie's friends. They would all club together to attend race meetings. So instead of all going in their own cars, they would all fill cars and go together. For instance, 5 in Archie's Ford Anglia. Dress was formal"
I'm meeting up with him next week to talk in greater detail, so watch this space..
However, none of this has got us closer to the owner of the Airline! However, I have not yet given up hope that something will turn up here...
So many dynamos |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6533 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2025 : 13:02:25
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The origins of CLXIII Club and the reference to it on the back of the photo might suggest that the picture was taken before ASB died?
Simon J
J3437 |
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Topic |
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NA Airline Coupe NJ 8074
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