Joining the chain gang

Simon continued, not altogether convincingly: ‘I won’t need it until the racing season next April, and you’ll be doing me a favour by freeing-up a space in my garage ’

SO THERE I WAS, enjoying a quiet beer with friend and Frazer Nash specialist Simon BlakeneyEdwards, in the euphoric evening haze of another wonderful Beaulieu Autojumble last September, when he suddenly announced: ‘You know what? You should borrow my Nash for a while and see how you get on with it. Then it will completely mess your life up because you’ll want to own one so desperately.’

As I struggled to pick my jaw up from the Beaulieu grass,

Nevertheless, Simon was still adamant next morning that he meant what he’d said and a couple of weeks later he deposited the Nash on my drive One 30-min maintenance course later – the Nash is driven by chains to the solid rear axle, via a bevel box that turns the drive through 90 degrees – this epically quick, race-winning vintage sports car was all mine.

Only problem is that I’m a fair bit taller than Simon, and I could not physically fit behind the steering wheel, since the bucket seat is bolted into the floor on top of a narrow wooden spacer. ‘Just take a power drill to it,’ said Simon nonchalantly. I found an offcut of scaffold board, stained it black and secured it to the floorpan using the original bolt holes, then repositioned the seat on top of it and further back. Now I could just get my legs under the wheel and onto the pedals, with no car butchery required.

Next task: make up a front numberplate, since Simon doesn’t bother with such a frippery for racing. I sourced a battered metal backing plate from eBay and, by using stick-on lettering as stencils and then retouching with a brush to create a more period-looking font, I created something that didn’t look brand new. A couple of black plastic drainpipe clips from B&Q to secure the plate to the tubular front axle, and it was job done

All this faffing about took some time and so it was December before I managed a proper long-distance drive in the Nash Appropriately, this was to the Frazer Nash Club Christmas party, an infamously raucous and enjoyable event being held some 45 miles from my home This was during the UK’s exceptional cold snap, which included a snowstorm on the return journey, next day Of course, I couldn’t resist seeing how the diff-less Nash would cope with an untreated snowy road, and spent an enjoyable few minutes opposite-locking along a deserted lane on top of the Cotswolds What larks, Pip!

I’m very much still getting to know the car and have pinpointed a couple of things I’d like to change to make it even more enjoyable on the road More on those, and what the car ’ s actually like to drive, next month – but, meanwhile, my heartfelt thanks to Simon for his incredible generosity Contact him via his website –edwardsmotorsport couk – if you feel you need a Nash in your life He’s a top bloke

Clockwise, from left

Unexpected snowstorm turned Mark’s first Nash trip into a proper adventure; drive chains need regular lubing; solid rear axle helps traction in snow

Left and below Daimler lines up for a night run at Prescott ahead of Peter Joy’s Elite; the heroes prepping Doris for the Monte morning, Champagne could never taste better

In many ways, preparation for the ‘Monte’ has changed little over the years Filling in the entry form is just as exciting, as is booking hotels and making ferry arrangements Then, of course, come the myriad telephone conversations with fellow competitors, lasting well into the night: what you can and can’t get away with; choice of tyres; maps; the best places to service; and even the weather A never-ending list