Welcome | TR Register Essex Group

December 2008

Bulletin 51

Christmas? Must be time for a curry!

Although generally thought to be a quiet time of year for the Classic Car movement, the stalwarts of the Essex Group have been surprisingly active – no rest for the wicked, perhaps? Attendances at both the “Rabbits” and the “Windmill” have been very good over the last couple of months with many members volunteering their approval of the much-improved latter venue. Whilst on the subject of our regular monthly meetings, please note that due to the Christmas festivities, December’s “Windmill” meet (on the 23rd) has been cancelled. Our next get-together at this venue will be on January 27th 2009. After the traditional Christmas blow-outs, I find that a nice curry goes down very well. The “Royal Tiger” (on the old A130 between Howe Green and Rettendon) is well known to many of the Essex Group as an excellent fusion restaurant. During the week they offer a fixed luncheon menu for around £8. So, if you fancy a curry lunch on Tuesday December 30th, give me a ring and I will see what can be arranged.

Race Night fun

Our annual Race Night on Saturday 15th November held at Little Warley Village Hall was, as always, a resounding success. The venue was full to capacity for this hugely popular family event and every race was very well (and very noisily!) contended. For the second year running, Stevie Hammond was the overall winner with impressive performances in race 5 and the final – so good, in fact, that he will be “handicapped” in future events!! Steve’s wife Carey won the Ladies’ Race with Ralph Armfield the convincing winner of races 3 and 6 and Rob Counsell and Graham Stokes taking races 1 and 2 respectively. The two children’s races were great fun with every competitor receiving a prize. It’s worth noting that the lap times of the children’s heats were only fractionally less than those of the adults – just wait until the little darlings gets their driving licences!! The traditional ‘fish and chick’ supper was enjoyed during the interval and a thoroughly good evening eventually wound up at 11 o’clock – a bit later than planned but who cares when you’re having fun?

Register AGM news

Andy D, Terry Blake and I represented the Group at the Register’s AGM on Sunday 23rd November. We were delayed by an hour and forty minutes due to an accident on the M25 and had a horrendous onward journey through snow and then driving rain to eventually arrive at the National Motor Museum at Gaydon just as proceedings started – well done to Andy for making up time so well! The day’s events will be covered in full in the next TR Action so I won’t go into detail here – suffice to say that our new General Manager Allen Forster (who is a keen TR7 enthusiast) came over very well at his first AGM “blooding”. The awful weather which destroyed the 2007 International cost us dear and hit reserves very badly but, due to the prudent fiscal management of the Register in the past, we have not been seriously financially embarrassed. The meeting approved a rise of £2 on the annual subscription and a couple of non-contentious amendments to the Rules. All in all, the three of us set off home feeling that the TR Register was in very good hands.

What a way to treat the ladies!

Those Essex Group Ladies’ who attended the Pamper Day, organised by Chris Dimbleby (the ladies say ‘Many thanks for another enjoyable time, Chris’) on 29th November were delighted by the treatment(s) they received at the Stoke-by-Nayland venue. A full report of the day will appear in the Spring Edition of Essex Group News but I will say this is the second time Essex Ladies have visited this centre and I bet it will not be the last! A little bird tells me that there is a good discount to be had if a further booking is made before March so, if you fancy a day of being pampered, have a word with Chris who will fill in the details of what is on offer.

News of Essex Group News

The Autumn Edition of EGN has been delayed by some production difficulties but we are confident that copies will be available for distribution at our Christmas Dinner Dance on the 13th December. Those contributors who made the effort to get their copy in by the September deadline are no doubt disappointed by this delay but please don’t let this hic-cup put you off letting us have your articles and photos for the next edition. Copy for the Spring/Summer issue closes at the end of March, so get scribbling and clicking!

Get your Calendar

The 2009 Essex Group Calendar is now available to those who have reserved a copy. If you are unable to collect your calendar at the “Rabbits” meet (next Tuesday) or at the Christmas DD, please let Terry Blake know so that he can make arrangements to post you your copy. You can reach Terry on 01708 768508.

Spring weekend away

Steve Tant our Events Co-ordinator, has just finalised the details of the Spring Weekend Away for next year. This will take place over the Bank Holiday weekend 1st to 3rd May inclusive. The destination is The Albion Hotel on the Isle of Wight. The Hotel is situated at Freshwater Bay on the western tip of the Island overlooking The Needles. The cost is £199 per head based on two sharing. It includes 3 nights B&B and evening meal and the car ferry from Southampton! There will be entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights and plenty of off-road, safe parking for your TR. In order to secure the premium rooms with sea views and balconies we have to book early so, if you are interested you must let Steve know without delay. To take advantage of this special deal (Hotel and Ferry) full payment has to be made no later than Friday 24th January so, as there are only 15 places (cars) available, make that commitment now for what promises to be a really excellent weekend of TR enjoyment!!

Items for sale

If you have any items/cars for sale (or wanted) e-mail the details to Mike Boling and he will include them in the next available Bulletin. If you don’t have access to the net, a written note will do.

And finally.....

All of us on the Committee would like to take this opportunity of thanking Essex Group Members for their support throughout the past year and to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year.