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| A slightly gloomy late-night scene outside the Bristol on 12th September 2013 |
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| The Chairman's 1949 MG TC |
Although the weather had cleared by five o'clock we felt it socially inappropriate to park our classic cars outside a luxury hotel as a sign of comparative affluence (if only they knew). Many Poles feel these protests are entirely politically motivated but in many cities, towns and villages I have visited outside of Warsaw, Polish life has certainly not experienced the 'miracle of regeneration' and the avoidance of recession often commented on in Western media. The 'trickle-down' effect of Warsaw economic centrism is not always clear. Many people outside of the capital (and even within it) struggle without a job, sufficient disposable income or the luxury of any car at all let alone a classic one. One cannot help but be sympathetic.
Detailed introductions were made by members to our three new Polish friends. I noticed that members defined themselves entirely through the cars they owned. An unapologetic and stimulating character trait in these benighted times of constant attacks on male pride. Occupations were not mentioned which gave rise to lively objective discussions of subjects predominantly related to cars. Interesting that, rather like conversations in an English pub where the backgrounds and work of interlocutors are scarcely ever mentioned.
The usual convivial evening ensued with a discussion of technical points and expression of the strong emotions generated by incidents of financial betrayal by mechanics. This was accompanied by conversation concerning the normal challenges of restoring, running and maintaining classic cars in Poland and elsewhere. Contact details for outstanding mechanics with reputations for reliability and honesty were exchanged.
When registered in Poland, a classic car is classified as a 'moving historical object' and becomes at a stroke part of the nation's official cultural heritage. As such disposing of them later outside of Poland can be a bureaucratic nightmare.
When I first began this process I thought through a mistranslation that the authorities were referring to me personally as a 'moving historical object'. Quite true of course and becoming increasingly historic by the minute! Oh, and not increasing much in value....
Conversation topics I overheard from my end of the table ranged from the seemingly inevitable and possibly misplaced concern men have with cars and their ability to attract women, through Polish widows hiding priceless classic car collections assembled by their sadly deceased husbands, the delivery of vegetables to Covent Garden in London via narrow gauge landed estate railways to the amusingly gauche nature of Australians such as myself, their concerns and accents.
The distinct advantages of not being a one marque car club were heavily endorsed by the membership.
Andy Fincham suggested in the future the possibility of a CCC Charity Meet where exciting short drives in our cars could be offered from the American Muscle Cars with V8 torque, vibration and thunderous sound to shall we say the pre-war design delights of the cart-suspension MG TC skipping about once beloved of Spitfire and Hurricane pilots.
There was an discussion agenda covered during an hiatus in the excellent dinner.
Casual Car Club Logo - Warsaw, Poland
For more on Louis Zborowski and the Chitty Bang Bangs see the Brooklands Society Website
http://www.brooklands.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96:zborowski-and-the-chitty-bang-bangs&catid=52:cars&Itemid=50
This link is also quite interesting on the history of the car and house following Zborowski's death - James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, Chitty Bang Bang and Tristram Shandy all feature in some way!
http://www.jonsummers.net/2012/05/james-bond-sherlock-holmes-chitty-bang-bang-and-tristram-shandy/
I was so engrossed in the evening and the lecture I entirely forgot to take photographs of the assembled company as I usually do. Sorry.
For the record there were 13 of us at dinner:
Michael Motz; Patryk Kruk; Marcin Kruk; Marcin Zientara; Andy Fincham; Neil Crook; Richard Berkeley; Iain Batty; David O'Driscoll; Ian Booth; Paul Ayre; Blazej Zulawski; Michael Moran and Piotr R. Frankowski.
If you have a classic car in Poland or are simply an enthusiast and wish to join the CCC contact:
Michael Moran
CCC Club Chairman
mjcmoran@wp.pl
The usual convivial evening ensued with a discussion of technical points and expression of the strong emotions generated by incidents of financial betrayal by mechanics. This was accompanied by conversation concerning the normal challenges of restoring, running and maintaining classic cars in Poland and elsewhere. Contact details for outstanding mechanics with reputations for reliability and honesty were exchanged.
When registered in Poland, a classic car is classified as a 'moving historical object' and becomes at a stroke part of the nation's official cultural heritage. As such disposing of them later outside of Poland can be a bureaucratic nightmare.
When I first began this process I thought through a mistranslation that the authorities were referring to me personally as a 'moving historical object'. Quite true of course and becoming increasingly historic by the minute! Oh, and not increasing much in value....
Conversation topics I overheard from my end of the table ranged from the seemingly inevitable and possibly misplaced concern men have with cars and their ability to attract women, through Polish widows hiding priceless classic car collections assembled by their sadly deceased husbands, the delivery of vegetables to Covent Garden in London via narrow gauge landed estate railways to the amusingly gauche nature of Australians such as myself, their concerns and accents.
The distinct advantages of not being a one marque car club were heavily endorsed by the membership.
Andy Fincham suggested in the future the possibility of a CCC Charity Meet where exciting short drives in our cars could be offered from the American Muscle Cars with V8 torque, vibration and thunderous sound to shall we say the pre-war design delights of the cart-suspension MG TC skipping about once beloved of Spitfire and Hurricane pilots.
There was an discussion agenda covered during an hiatus in the excellent dinner.
Discussion Agenda CCC Bristol Dinner 12/09/13
· the future direction of the CCC
No great concerns expressed here about the present direction of the club
· recruitment of new CCC members in particular Polish enthusiasts
Three new Polish members joined at this dinner thanks to Michael Motz. Needless to say we would like to attract more members. Current CCC Membership List is in the care of the Chairman to avoid confusion and fog
· the nature of present club activities and further event suggestions
It was decided that all members would be supplied with a current email membership list. They could then make individual suggestions for activities maintaining the energy of spontaneity and variety according to individual interests. We can make up our own individual 'Doodles' and suggest participation. Refer to Chairman for the most up to date mailing list.
· mixture of cultural, social and technical activities similar to UK car club activities?
Yes - to be decided as above by members according to specialty, interest and training
· implementing a few club rules that cannot be too casual
After the flurry of bromidic emails concerning dinner and other bookings, individual responsibility for confirmation and prompt payment is now accepted by members apart from Acts of God and force majeur
· Continuation of Michael Moran as club chairman. Discussion of revolving the chairman each year or assistance with planning events
In view of his ownership of a modest model R-R it was decided unanimously that Michael Moran should remain Chairman until a new election at the September Dinner 2014. Surely a victory of style over substance...discuss.
· the logo and regalia
Paul Ayre's excellent winged CCC logo was accepted unanimously. Financing and design of regalia to be discussed at the next dinner.
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The dinner concluded with a most interesting talk in brilliant, idiomatic English by Piotr R. Frankowski, the President and editor of the glamorous RAMP car and lifestyle magazine book (the latest format). He chose as his subject the great Polish Zborowski motor racing family. Count Louis Zborowski resembled in many ways a Polish Gatsby figure if that is not a contradiction in terms. A highly entertaining and informative lecture. Some illustrations from the talk are given below.
At the conclusion of the talk the questionable justification of the adoption of the title 'Count' by Louis Zborowski was raised, an uncomfortable moment in view of his heroic status in Poland. What bearing this subject of titles has on his fabulous sense of style, wealth, courage, engineering and driving ability was not at all clear to me. The great French writer Honore de Balzac was not entitled to the aristocratic 'de' he adopted but what of that bearing in mind his literary genius and gifts to us!
Click on photos to enlarge for best results
At the conclusion of the talk the questionable justification of the adoption of the title 'Count' by Louis Zborowski was raised, an uncomfortable moment in view of his heroic status in Poland. What bearing this subject of titles has on his fabulous sense of style, wealth, courage, engineering and driving ability was not at all clear to me. The great French writer Honore de Balzac was not entitled to the aristocratic 'de' he adopted but what of that bearing in mind his literary genius and gifts to us!
Click on photos to enlarge for best results
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| Piotr. R. Frankowski, President and editor of RAMP magazine and our multi-talented lecturer on the Zborowski family. Here snapped in serious mien in the rather more salubrious surroundings of Goodwood House at a Dinner and Summer Ball held on July 11th during the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed |
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| Palladian Higham Park at Bridge nr. Canterbury in Kent, home of the fabulously wealthy 'Count' Louis Zborowski . Mozart stayed here as a nine-year old. Jane Austen and Ian Fleming were both guests - two ends of the cultural spectrum there surely! |
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The Zborowski black-tie dinner How I yearn for the style, post-war euphoria and spontaneity of the 1920s! Front row Lt. to Rt. Vi (Count Luis Zborowski's wife), 'Count' Louis Zborowski (centre), Pixi Marix and Captain Clive Gallop, who joined the legendary Bentley Boys but who worked with Zborowski in 1921 as a co-driver, driver and designer of the Chitty Bang Bang cars. This picture was taken in January 1922 at the glamorous Hotel Negresco in Nice the night before they set off for Marseilles to drive cross the Sahara in Chitty II with a White Mercedes following carrying the luggage. The way it was done... |
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| Chitty Chitty Bang Bang II with Vi in the passenger seat during the Sahara trip. Under the bonnet an 18.8 litre Benz Bz.IV aero engine |
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| Chitty Bang Bang I at the Brooklands Easter Meeting 1921. Under the bonnet a 23 litre, 6 cylinder Maybach aero engine |
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| The wreck of the 1924 GP Mercedes in which Count Louis was killed at Monza in 1924 |
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| Our intrepid lecturer, President and editor of RAMP, Piotr R. Frankowski, in an Alfa
GTAm (Alleggerita Maggiorata) |
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| Own this outstanding magazine/ book if you are Polish or fluent in Polish! Available in 180 EMPIK stores OMG She's naked! Photograph by the equally brilliant Creative Director of RAMP and CCC Member Blazej Zulawski |
For more on Louis Zborowski and the Chitty Bang Bangs see the Brooklands Society Website
http://www.brooklands.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96:zborowski-and-the-chitty-bang-bangs&catid=52:cars&Itemid=50
This link is also quite interesting on the history of the car and house following Zborowski's death - James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, Chitty Bang Bang and Tristram Shandy all feature in some way!
http://www.jonsummers.net/2012/05/james-bond-sherlock-holmes-chitty-bang-bang-and-tristram-shandy/
I was so engrossed in the evening and the lecture I entirely forgot to take photographs of the assembled company as I usually do. Sorry.
For the record there were 13 of us at dinner:
Michael Motz; Patryk Kruk; Marcin Kruk; Marcin Zientara; Andy Fincham; Neil Crook; Richard Berkeley; Iain Batty; David O'Driscoll; Ian Booth; Paul Ayre; Blazej Zulawski; Michael Moran and Piotr R. Frankowski.
If you have a classic car in Poland or are simply an enthusiast and wish to join the CCC contact:
Michael Moran
CCC Club Chairman
mjcmoran@wp.pl
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