The National Micro Car Rally was an action packed long weekend with a visit to the Morgan factory, several scenic road runs and culminating with Sunday’s Show ‘n’ Shine on the rally field. The event attracted over 100 Micro Cars, including a number of rare marques, notably Lawrence and Jenny House’s Brutsch Rollera single-seater, powered by a tiny Ilo engine, and their Kleinschnittger. However, it was the line-up of 13 Meadows Friskys (a world record) that made this event extra special. Not since the NMCR at Burford in the late '70s have there been anywhere near as many gathered in one place, not even when they were new at the factory in Wolverhampton - which closed in the early '60s.

Colin Elstrop brought along his 1959 Frisky Family Three that his father purchased for him in 1968 in order for him learn to drive in the garden behind their home. The car last saw daylight in 1978 and was the first time it had left home in over 40 years, making a round trip of 500 miles to be at Malvern. Incidentally, the Frisky must have been a wonderful car to learn initial driving skills as Colin has since gone on to be a racer and now runs Elstrop Racing!

Jim Hacking’s superbly restored 1957 Zundapp Janus also attracted many admiring glances. The Janus was a one year only model, with 6903 built. Named after the god Janus (January) the faced god, with one face forward into the future and one face back into the past, hence the two doors which are identical at both ends. The interior converts into a double bed, making it the smallest camper car in the world. Power is from a 250cc engine. Jim’s car was purchased in Hamburg in 2007 and underwent a 438 hour restoration to perfection.

Rosemary Overton’s 1962 Trojan was first registered in Aberdeen and spent 10 years on Yell in the Shetland Islands before heading south to Shrewsbury in 1976 and owned by her since 2004. Ollie Friend’s Messerschmitt was purchased by him completely dismantled in Holland a year ago and has since been restored to concours condition.

Steve Dennings’ 1938 Fiat 500 Topolino Siata Smith Special took Best of Show and the People’s Choice Award. The car is believed to be the sole survivor of less than 20 Smith Specials offered by the Sydney Smith Garage of Purley Way, Purley, Croydon, Surrey. Steve found his car in the front garden of a house in Port Talbot, south Wales, in August 1996 and then commenced a major restoration that took 13 years!