'Twin Sparks' at Brooklands , June 11th

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Despite the booming sales of Tesla coffee grinders and tv sets, the frequency in which we see fully electric cars at racing circuits is not alarming. Still you can test your senses and very soon see - not so much hear - two impressive electric motorcars show up at Brooklands, June 11th.  The two sparkling motorcars are a 1906 Pope-Waverley, aVictoria Phaeton, or in simpler words a two seater drophead. And a slightly more modern 1907 Victor High Wheel Electric Runabout, in other words a highweeler buggy also apt for adverse road conditions as often was the case  in rural America of those years.

   Back then buying such a car had nothing to do with any green thoughts. Much more with women's liberation. The freedom brought by the car was in fact limited to male drivers as starting and masteign the technique of the prewar years had more to do with muscles than with gemale refinement. The electric car was a brilliant alternative. No start and extremely easy to handle and thus bringing motoring freedom to women as well. That speed and range were limited, were relative isssues.  However, when a few years later the electric starter was introduced, the end came quick to electric motoring. And the cars and makes were quickly forgotten.

   Yet times are a changing.  A growing list of big cities around the world is no longer allowing older diesel and petrol cars in the center. And our fear is that this will have a large impact on our hobby in the end. By that time we will greatly envy the happy few who have timely invested in those early forgotten electrics. They will be allowed to drive anywhere, anytime.

(photos courtesy Historics at Brooklands, auction June 11)

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