|
 The
Bert Hadley Memorial Championship is a series of Sprint and Speed
Hillclimb events held each season for PWA7C members driving Austin
Sevens of virtually any suitable type. The Championship is completely
amateur and unsponsored and is geared to cater for drivers of all
ages and occupations, expert or novice. Venues in the 12 round series
include Oliver's Mount (Scarborough), Gurston Down (Wiltshire),
Loton Park (Staffordshire), and the Anglesey Race Circuit, between
April and October. The cars are divided into 'Road' and 'Track'
classes and may include sports cars and reproduction single-seaters,
inspired by the works cars, as driven before the war by Bert Hadley
and his team mates.
 Herbert
Lewis Hadley - always known as 'Bert' was born in 1910, at Kings
Norton, Birmingham, and son of Bert Senior a toolmaker. He gained
a coveted place at the Austin Motor Company's Apprentice School.
In 1930, he was selected to join the 'elite' Racing and Experimental
Department within the famous Longbridge Works. Throughout the following
decade, Bert was to make an ever-increasing contribution to the
works' competition activities - initially as a mechanic, then race-car
builder, test driver and finally as development engineer and number
1 team driver. He was personally involved with all the competition
cars, particularly with Murray Jamieson and the O.H.C. single-seaters.
As a driver, he was equally effective whether up Shelsley Walsh
Hill or on the circuits at Brooklands, Crystal Palace or Donington
Park. It was Bert's idea to convert the failed Le Mans sports cars
into what became the famous "Grasshopper" Trials Team.
Our Sporting Trial series celebrates Bert's success in this activity.
Had not the war intervened, Bert was all set to become a full-time
professional driver with a continental team. Instead he tried to
become a fighter pilot, but the RAF thought, at the age of 29, his
reactions would be below the required standard. Having ascended
Shelsley in 40.05 seconds and lapped Brooklands at 130+ mph, just
a few months previously, Bert was not impressed!
He remained at Longbridge, where aircraft frames were now being
produced until 1941, when at the personal recommendation of Lord
Austin, he was seconded to the Ministry of Labour. His task was
to co-ordinate the production facilities of all the many engineering
firms, large and small, which then dominated the Midlands manufacturing
sector, towards the war effort. No mean challenge for a 31year old.
Bert was to remain a "man from the ministry" until his
retirement. However in 1950, he was asked to partner Leslie Johnson,
who he'd known at E.R.A. before the war, in Jaguar's first appearance
at Le Mans. They were 3rd when the clutch failed. For the next five
years he drove in the 'TT', Mille Miglia and at Le Mans again for
the Jowett, Healey and Triumph works' teams. In 1952 he was in the
famous '7 days and 7 nights' endurance run at Montlhery in the XK120
Coupe LWK 707, alongside Moss, Fairman and Johnson.
After his retirement Bert took a great interest in what is now
the Vintage and Historic scene and wrote with great authority of
his recollections of those eventful years before the war.
With his sad death in 1993, went the last true link with the Austin
Works team. However, with the support and encouragement of his son,
Clive Hadley, himself a PWA7C member, our championship ensures the
life achievements of H.L. Hadley continue to be recognised.
For further details of The Bert Hadley Memorial Championship or
The Grasshopper Challenge Austin Seven Trials programme, please
contact the Competition Secretary.
|
|
|
|
|
The Seven has no superior.
|
|
