Est JULY Echoes of Dales Weekend

Transcription

1 Est NEWSLETTER JULY 2009 Echoes of Dales Weekend

2 Chairman's Chat I know, I know, the sunshine has gone, the glorious weather we had for our Weekend which wasn t a Bank Holiday Weekend is no more, it s getting cooler in the evenings and who s to blame for it all, ME! Why I hear you all ask, well it s because Julie and I along with a couple of other keen MG enthusiasts are about to embark on a journey to Southern Ireland camping. Southern Ireland or as it is more commonly known as The Emerald Isle. Looking at the weather forecast maybe we should stay at home and start rebuilding Dizzy Oh well, it least the Guinness isn t green. Andy Green & Julie on the left, Graham & Richard Noble on the right (Picture taken at the Bloodhound display during the Goodwood Festival of Speed ) I must at this point apologise for my absence from the Treasure Hunt, the Leighton Hall trip and possibly a large number of events still to take place. The reason for our absence is that G & J Lockwood Ltd signed up as a product sponsor to The BLOODHOUND Project, the UK s 1,000 mile per hour Land Speed Record team. Our haulage company is supporting their national and international haulage requirements. The contract, will involve transporting the 12.8 metre show car, equipment and, when built, the 5.5 tonne car, from the Bristol workshop to UK events and runs in the UK and abroad. At the end of 2009, the BLOODHOUND Project will announce where in the world the record attempt will take place. The run locations will no doubt be remote and difficult to access by road. Our expertise will therefore be all the more critical. All this happening after just two weeks of taking over the Chairman s baton from Tony. As you can appreciate, this is one hell of an opportunity both from a business level and also from a personal experience level. Over the next two years, my spare time is going to become non-existent and I m probably going to bore the pants off everyone talking about BloodhoundSSC, big trucks and how wet Ireland was. What I can tell you now is that we have booked Farington Lodge for the Annual Dinner on the Saturday the 5th December. There are also rooms available for those of you who don t want to pay out for a taxi but still want to partake in a drink or two. I will be announcing the details including the costs at the Auto-test at the end of the July. I d like to thank Bill Ryding who has done most of the organising for this event. (Told you I d be delegating jobs.) The auto-test will take place on 28th July at The Schultz Estate. This is always well attended and I m sure this year will be no different. There will be a BBQ available so if you want to bring a couple of burgers, sausages or steaks to cook you re more than welcome. Andy is not giving away any of his secrets for the Auto-Test, needless to say that I m sure it ll involve driving your MG around his field either blindfolded, throwing balls into buckets or at worst dodging water balloons. There will also be a raffle held with two or three great prizes for the lucky winners, so don t forget your purse. On Sunday the 2nd August, the club will be attending the Northern National organised by the Harrogate MG Club. We have requested 10 tickets, which cost 5.00 per person so if you are planning on attending please see Kevin Doran. Some of the club members will be going up to Pateley Bridge on Saturday. Some, who will not have had enough, will be camping and some of us are wimping out and staying in a local bed & breakfast. There is a recommended curry house in the village so we will endeavour to book enough places for those who wish to make an evening never to be forgotten. Bill Bradshaw is planning a trip to Mouldsworth Motor Museum on Sunday the 16th August. These additional Sunday runs haven t been as well attended as the committee expected. However, I believe that this museum is well worth a visit. Bill is trying to organise a pub lunch at a local Carvery or pub. I m sure he ll have all the details by the end of the month. I think that s all for now, oh by the way if you ever get stopped for speeding by a Traffic Policeman, you might want to try this as an excuse; A senior citizen drove his brand new MGF convertible out of the dealership. Taking off down the road, he floored it to 80 mph, enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left. 'Amazing,' he thought as he flew down A59, pushing the pedal even more. Looking in his rear view mirror, he saw one of Lancashire s Traffic Police cars behind him, lights flashing and siren blaring. He floored it to 100 mph, then 110, then 120. (I know this may be hard to believe but Gordon assures me that the New MGF will reach over 100 miles per hour) Suddenly he thought, "What am I doing? I'm too old for this," and pulled over to await the policeman s arrival. Pulling in behind him, the policeman walked up to the MGF, looked at his watch and said, "Sir, my shift ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday. If you can give me a reason for speeding that I've never heard before, I'll let you go." The old gentleman paused. Then said, "Years ago, my wife ran off with a Police Sergeant. I thought you were bringing her back." "'Have a good day, sir,"' replied the policeman. Graham

3 Secretary's Scribbles I m writing this on the Saturday before we leave for a week s holiday in Ireland. I ve just come inside after spending the last 30 minutes scratching my head wondering how on earth are we going to fit all our camping equipment into the MG. When someone earlier in the year suggested going to Ireland camping in the MG it sounded like quite a good idea. Now I m not so sure - trying to squeeze a tent, table, air bed, chairs, cooker, washing up bowl, selection of spares for the car, sleeping bags, cool box, cutlery and chopping board plus a weeks worth of clothes into an MG seems to be the very definition of trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot. If we manage to get it all in, it ll be like a Jackinabox as soon as a door is opened. Looking at the weather forecast for the week, it s not looking too promising - I ve never been to Glastonbury, but I suspect I m going to experience a similar mud bath only with a different sort of music - probably fiddles and bodhrans. Still, if we find ourselves struggling to keep dry, it ll be just the excuse that we need to pop into O Connells to enjoy a bit of banter with the locals, listening to the old chap spinning a yarn (that s the essential accompaniment to any pint in Ireland) - I understand all the pubs are all called O Connells in Ireland. At the end of last month those that managed to get to the club night enjoyed a fabulous treasure hunt organised by Mick and Chris Bamber - this year it was won by Bill Ryding. disheartening if you spend time and effort putting a run together (and believe me, it does take an awful lot of time to arrange a run), for only a handful of members to attend. And finally, Once again provided by Roger 5 surgeons are sitting in a pub discussing which patients they prefer operating on. The first says: "I prefer operating on electricians. When you open them up, everything is colour coded; very straightforward". The second says: "No, I prefer operating on construction workers; it might be a bit messy when you open them up but they don't mind if there are a few bits and pieces left over at the end of the job. They understand that." The third says: "I prefer operating on accountants. Everything is clearly numbered; you can't go wrong." The fourth says: "Well I prefer operating on librarians. When you open them up, everything is in alphabetical order and carefully indexed." The last surgeon says: "No, no, no, you've all got it wrong. Politicians are the easiest to operate on. When you open them up, they've got no b*lls, no heart, no guts and no brain. In fact, they've only got two things - a mouth and an ar*e hole...and they're both interchangeable!' Kevin I know that Bill is presently looking at various possible venues for next year s weekend away. He thought that he d managed to find a great deal on a hotel in the Isle of Man, but it now appears that unfortunately, the cost of the ferry crossing is likely to make that prohibitively expensive. If anyone has any suggestions (we ve already received one or two from members) for locations that they think may be suitable, and which are not too far away, please let anyone of the committee know and they will all be considered. In his Chairman s Chat, Graham has already highlighted several events on the club calendar, I d just remind members that for August s club night, Alan and Dot have arranged a club run. Please do your best to support these events, it gets very

4 Editorial We had a good day at Leighton Hall with nine MG s exhibited, plus a Noble whose owner tacked it onto the end of our line-up. Andy and Carole took both the new V8 and the C that Andy has put up for sale see For Sale section. The show itself seemed smaller than in previous years, with not nearly as many autojumble stalls. Graham and Julie Lockwood are heavily involved with the Bloodhound world speed record attempt car as transporters of the vehicle (see The picture is featured in an article on the website by Brian Lecomber with the wording below:- And then there is this Graham Lockwood and his lovely, cheery wife Julie. Graham quit a highly-paid executive job three years ago in order to start up his own road haulage company based in Wigan and imaginatively named G & J Lockwood. This has been highly successful to the extent that Graham has volunteered to provide, as a sponsor, the transportation needs of BLOODHOUND wherever it goes be it Africa, America, or some site on the moon maybe. In a momentary lull I have the temerity to ask Graham what sort of budget he might have in mind for this extraordinarily open-ended commitment. Boodget? he says in broad practical Wigan-ese. What bloody boodget? What it takes to get job done, that s what. Here, ave a cooppa tea. That doesn t sound like Graham s accent to me his always sounded quite a refined brogue like wot I got. Graham s hoping to exhibit the Bloodhound replica locally later in the year if he can find somewhere to park it watch this space. The run to Mouldsworth Motor Museum on Sunday 16th August will start from the M6 Southbound services on the M6 at 11.00, with a run down the M6 onto the M56 then the A49, turning off through Delamere Forest, arriving at the Goshawk pub (Station Road, Mouldsworth CH3 8AJ) for lunch/refreshments, then to the Museum around 2 pm (Smithy Lane, Mouldsworth CH3 8AR). Over 60 cars, motorcycles, and bicycles of Britain s motoring heritage are on show. FOR SALE 1972 RWA Midget, Teal Blue, good condition but has noisy engine, 2000 ono. Tel: Steve Ward Midget for spares or restoration. Complete car, underside welded and fitted with new sills and doors. Needs front wings and hood, dry stored since ish. Call Sylvia or Richard on (Southport) or (mobile) MGCGT beautifully restored by Cuerden Classics in primrose yellow, 3 litre straight six engine completely rebuilt, immaculate, 9995 ono. Call Andy Schultz. Bill B

5 Est Sunday 20th Sept 2009 The 9th Annual Lancashire Lanes Run ( The Rivers Run ) Come and enjoy a 90-mile tour of picturesque Lancashire, starting & finishing at the Boat Yard canal side public house at Riley Green, near Preston. The entry fee of includes: car with 2 occupants, tea / coffee at the start, route book, classic rally plate and buffet at the end. (Additional passengers 5.00 per person; Children under 10 yrs old free.) Closing Date for Entries 21st August. For information and booking form please contact:rosie Doran Telephone: or see Web Page: Our nominated charity this year is: St. Catherine s Hospice Bamber Bridge Entry Form overleaf. We look forward to seeing you.

6 Lancashire Lanes Update Well, it's just about a month to go before the closing date for receipt of entry forms for the 2009 Lancashire Lanes Run. Currently, in excess of 40 entries have been received. However, as many of those entries have been received from enthusiasts from other clubs, and as we have in excess of 60 members in Preston & District MGEC, that means that quite a few of you have not yet entered. Clearly, some of you have church commitments and others have to work on a Sunday, but that still leaves quite few who have yet to send in an entry form. So, come on! What's stopping you? We've got a good route, a 'cracking' start and finish venue, rosette awards, raffle prizes, a buffet at the finish and a very worthwhile Charity to support. And all for per couple. It's going to be a great day; you really don't want to miss it! Thanks and regards Roger

7 Preston & District MG Enthusiasts Club The 9th Annual Lancashire Lanes Run Sunday 20th September 2009 Driver... Passenger... ADDRESS: POSTCODE... TEL No:... MAKE of CAR...MODEL... YEAR...REG No:... CAR CLUB... address... Car with 1 Passenger No. of additional 5.00 each (Children under 10 yrs old - free)... Total (Cheques payable to: - Preston & District MGEC)... Entries should be sent to: Rosie Doran, 51 Cuerdale Lane, Walton-le-Dale, Preston PR5 4BP (Confirmation will be sent via e:mail. If you do not have an e:mail address, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for an acknowledgement of entry and full details of the start venue.) Disclaimer: There is no timed element to this event, neither is there any penalty for mileage covered. You therefore need no special insurance to take part. The instructions contained in the route book which you will receive at the start act only as a suggested route that you may wish to follow. All speed limits and other rules relating to the roads contained in the route book should be adhered to at all times. I declare and accept the following terms of entry: 1 I will be the driver of the vehicle identified on the application form. 2 The vehicle will be in a roadworthy condition, with a current MoT and covered by appropriate insurance as required by the Road Traffic Act (1960) and any subsequent legislation. 3 I, and the occupants of my car have entered at our own risk and understand that Preston & District MGEC and the event organisers bear no responsibility for loss, damage or injury however caused. 4 I, and my occupants shall behave in such a manner as not to cause nuisance or annoyance to the general public. Submission of the entry form constitutes acceptance of these conditions. We look forward to seeing you.

8 Calendar of Events for 2009 Date Event Location Time Organiser Sat 1 - Sun 2 Aug Northern National Pateley Bridge TBA Committee Sun 16 Aug Mouldsworth Charnock Richard Bill Bradshaw Motor Museum M6 South Tues 25 Aug Evening Run Bygone Times, Eccleston from Alan & Dot Fowler (about 25 miles, finish Welcome Tavern) Sun 20 Sep Lancashire Lanes Run Boat Yard, Riley Green Committee Tues 29 Sep Guest Speaker Welcome Tavern Committee Tues 27 Oct Quiz Night Welcome Tavern Committee Sun 1 Nov Halloween Run TBA TBA Kevin Doran Sat 7 Nov Bonfire Night Schultz Estate Schultz Estate Tues 24 Nov Natter & Noggin Welcome Tavern Committee Sat 5 Dec Annual Dinner Farington Lodge Bill Ryding Sun 27 Dec Cold Turkey Run TBA TBA Committee There will be additional dates to be added for Track days and a possible 4X4 weekend. These will be added as and when they have been confirmed. Directions to Andy & Carole Schultz Access Old School Lane from A582 dual carriage way heading west.

9 Committee, Contacts & Useful Information Committee Chairman Graham Lockwood Appley Bridge (01257) Secretary Kevin Doran Preston (01772) Treasurer Mick Bamber Membership Gordon Mallett Burnley (01282) Mobile Technical Andy Schultz Preston (01772) Mobile Events Bill Ryding Preston (01772) Newsletter Editor Bill Bradshaw Chorley (01257) Dale View, Chorley PR7 3QJ All articles are to be sent to the editor by the 15th of the month. The Newsletter will be published and ed in.pdf format or posted at the end of each month in time for club night. Trading Members Andy Schultz Cuerden Classics Preston (01772) Mobile John Ashworth Accident Repairs etc Croston (01772)