Welcome | TR Register Essex Group

July 2007

Bulletin 34

Great day for a BBQ

It has not really been top down motoring for most of us over the past three weeks and it is easy to forget the splendid sunny Sunday afternoon many Essex Group Members spent at Alan and Betty’s in Little Bursted. The first Sunday in June saw an impressive turn-out of TRs (and a few other classics) and over forty guests at a superb barbecue held by Alan and Betty. The line up of TRs in their huge back garden was very impressive as was the weather – baking hot sunshine! Alan and Betty really pulled out the stops and everybody had an excellent feed and a very enjoyable afternoon in most pleasant surroundings – a huge vote of thanks goes to Alan and Betty for their generosity and hospitality.

TS2 tour arrives in Essex

The much anticipated arrival of TS2 was greeted by a strong contingent of Essex Group members on Wednesday the 6th June. The Committee had arranged to show TS2 at both local venues – The Rabbits and The White Horse and, considering that many members were at work, the Committee was delighted with the response and attendances. Being able to experience this truly classic car at close quarters was a real treat – well done TR Register for this innovative initiative.

Meetings and shows

Despite the persistently wet weather, I am pleased to report good attendances at both “The Rabbits” and “The White Horse” where members and their partners continue to enjoyed good company, food and beer! These regular meetings serve to give everyone opportunities to make new friends and exchange information, technical tips etc. They also give the Committee a chance to fill invitations from other Groups/organisations to show off our cars. Such was the case recently when we received invites from The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club and King Edward’s Grammar School.

On Sunday the 17th June when a contingent from the Essex Group supported the JEC at their show at the Police H.Q. sports ground in Springfield, the poor weather put off the Porsche Owners Club and the TVRs, but we braved the thunderclouds to support the Jag boys. Although a very small show by our standards it was surprisingly interesting with a guided tour of the new Police Eurocopter and its electronic and optical wizardry and a walk round the Police Museum (Brown rather than Black, I thought) in the bowels of the H.Q. building.

A similar impromptu event was our visit to KEGS. King Edward’s Grammar School in Chelmsford has a very active Corps of Drums and this June saw the 100th anniversary of their formation. A member of our Group has sons at the school and suggested that we may like to exhibit a few cars to bolster the number of classics promised for the KEGS centenary fete on the 23rd June.

The weather looked reasonably promising when a contingent of 6 TRs rolled onto the KEGS playing field to complete the circle of other classic vehicles. Although this was a small show by TR standards, there were some interesting cars in the line-up. A superb 3.5 litre Bentley Le Mans (which had just returned from that event in France) was probably the centrepiece of the display. This was a truly superb car which retained a high degree of originality and was obviously in road, rather than exhibition, trim. A Bedford fire engine of fifties vintage and an ex-military scout car attracted the most attention from the many children present but our line-up of TRs was pretty representative of the marque with a couple of sidescreen 2s, a 4a, a 6, a 7 and a TR8.

Although the sun was still shining, clouds were beginning to accumulate when the Corps of Drums began their display. Considering the tender years of these lads, they performed intricate marching manoeuvres impressively well. It is not easy to march on grass (you can’t hear your own footfalls) but these boys kept in time whilst all the while playing their fifes and drums and wheeling and countermarching to the directions of their RSM. During this display the first of many showers broke. The Corps finished their set and retired to the shelter of the trees which fringe the field. After a short while the rain eased and the “old boys” of the school assumed the instruments their sons had just been using and gave an exhibition of their remembered skills. I don’t know if they had practiced this display (although I rather suspect not) but they were pretty good considering the passage of years and the swinging beer bellies! Another, brisker, shower brought their gyrations to an early close and umbrellas were deployed! It was clear by now that the weather had turned and any hope of a dry afternoon was “out of the window”. We all stayed on to around 4pm but by that time most exhibitors had drifted away so we followed suit.

A great turn out for Essex Day

We were all keeping our fingers crossed that the weather would improve for, probably the most important event on our calendar, Essex Day on Sunday the 1st July. We were sadly disappointed! A stalwart band of volunteers braved the slashing rain on Saturday morning and erected tents and gazebos on the somewhat soggy field at Ingatestone Hall. I left my home on Sunday morning, with the hood and screens off, in bright sunshine. By the time I reached Ingatestone, the clouds had rolled in and it obvious that rain was imminent. I was very heartened to see so many of the Essex Group arrive at the venue despite the rain and gusty winds. I was even more heartened when guests started to tip up from 10 o’clock on. What we had feared may be a financial disaster of the first water was averted thanks to the determination of a dedicated bunch of classic car enthusiasts! Despite the frequent heavy showers and the increasingly worsening ground conditions, a really enjoyable time was had – a full report of the day will be published in Essex News – and a big “thank you” from the Committee goes to all who made the effort to attend and special thanks to those many helpers on both the Saturday and the day itself without whose help it would not have been possible to hold the event.

Arrangements for the International

The International Meeting at Malvern takes place later this month (Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd) and the Essex Group will again be commandeering a large enclosure for Members. I shall be setting off on the Friday on the “pretty route” avoiding trunk roads and motorways as much as is practical. See me at The Rabbits (or ring me on 01245 324593) if you wish to tag along – journey time is around 4 hrs from Birchanger Services. Steve Tant is setting off early Saturday morning so contact him if this is more suitable – Steve can be reached on 0208 550 3046. Whether you are convoying or not, it would be helpful to have an idea of how many Essex Group members are intending to camp so a word to Terry or myself would be appreciated.

Payments due for the Waverley trip

Finally (whew!!), Terry has asked me to remind all who have booked places on the steamer Waverley, to let him have your cheques a.s.a.p. Cheques must be made payable to “The Essex Group, TR Register” - the cost is £16 per head.