Welcome | TR Register Essex Group

October 2006

Bulletin 26

Battlesbridge Show - We won the Cup!

Sunday the 24th September dawned surprisingly sunny after a few wet and windy days earlier in the week. This was a welcome relief as the 24th was the day of the very popular Battlesbridge Show. Classic cars and bikes roll up in their hundreds and the Autojumble is certainly the best in Essex. After a short convoy from The White Horse at Downham, twenty gleaming TRs were squeezed into our taped off enclosure together with a 1950’s PortaFold caravan and an immaculate rolling chassis of a TR4a.

Earlier, a working party had erected the Group’s gazebos, banners and flagpole and by the time we had arranged the cars and the two exhibits mentioned above, the Essex Group stand looked really impressive. Thanks mainly to the interest from the public in Mike and Seonaid’s micro caravan (which was hauled to the ground on the back of their 2) and Brian’s very impressive 4a re-built rolling chassis complete with engine, o/d gearbox and drive train (which was transported on the back of his classic lorry!) the organisers awarded The Essex Group the cup for “Best Club Stand”. The Battlesbridge event has always been very popular locally and this year the entry was up at least 20% on last, so our achievement is even more noteworthy. Well done everyone – now what the hell can we do next year to top this?!!

Club news

We were pleased to see eighteen members and partners at last night’s meeting at The Rabbits, but we are getting ever greater numbers at the eastern venue of the White Horse. Even after the socialising at Battlesbridge, nearly forty members and partners tipped up at the Horse the following Tuesday! Can’t get too much of a good thing, I guess!

If you are able to get to The White Horse for the next regular meeting (Tues 24th Oct), you will be able to collect your copy of the latest Essex News, with the ink barely dry! Copies will also be available at The Rabbits on the 14th November. If you can’t make either meeting, I will post your copy as usual, but if you have not received your magazine by the end of November, please let me know. Several copies were “lost in the post” last time and with Christmas coming that could get worse. The new postal rates are likely to increase our costs so, please do make an effort to collect from your local venue.

Bargains galore at Stoneleigh show

A small contingent from The Group travelled to Stoneleigh in Warwickshire on the 1st October to visit The Classic Restoration Show. This is the second year running I have made the effort and well worth while it is! Apart from the s**t awful weather for which the Show is apparently well known (thunder, lightening, monsoon-like rain and gale force wind!) a very enjoyable and profitable day was had by all. I say profitable as, amongst other things, brand new original Smith’s 187 degree aneroid thermostats were selling at £1 a go!! A real find for side screen owners as these items have been seen on e-bay for £25. I consider myself especially lucky as I picked up a new O.E. Lockheed clutch slave cylinder (for my TR2) for a mere £40 and a Clarkson Autochuck and collets for my newly acquired milling machine for similar money! Apart from Triumph specific autojumbles at the International and Triumph Day, this is definitely the best source for those essential obsolete items. Many specialist engineering firms are also to be found at the show offering services from o/d rebuilding to steering wheel restoration. If you tend to do most of your own work on your car and particularly if it is a side screen model, put this show on your calendar for 2007 – it’s usually the first Sunday of October but I will confirm this in later Bulletins.

Book now for Salston Manor 2007

I know it seems a long while ahead but, if you haven’t already done so and you are an Events Fund subscriber, don’t forget to book your place on the Salston Manor weekend at the end of May next year. If you have mislaid your booking form, contact me for a replacement (I can e-mail them if you are on the net) or see any Committee Member.

The Salston Manor weekends are famous within the Group for being a really good bash. Excellent accommodation and food, smashing guided convoy runs around Dartmoor and exceptionally hilarious evening entertainment (just ask those who went last time, if you don’t believe me!). We have the whole Hotel to ourselves for the weekend, including unlimited use of their magnificent indoor, heated swimming pool – note this is a proper size pool, not one of those modern, micro pools so often found in hotels nowadays.

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