Welcome | TR Register Essex Group

February 2009

Bulletin 53

I'm dreaming of ....better weather!

Snow continues to fall as I sit at my computer composing this Bulletin and I suspect only TR7 coupes have ventured out onto the roads of Essex during the last ten days or so of wintry weather. Perhaps having a traditional winter at last will ensure we will enjoy a decent Spring and Summer – dream on!!

Strong support for Club Nights

It is very gratifying to report that attendances at the regular monthly meets have been excellent – despite the weather. A very good turn out at The Rabbits was followed by exceptional support for the Historic Video Evening at The Old Windmill at the end of last month. Forty-three people tipped up for the screening of “Operation Europe”, a promotional film produced by Frank Callaby and the Standard Triumph Film Unit back in 1956.

The film follows the fortunes of 76 American tourists who flew to Britain to collect 40 brand new TR3s and then departed for a 2,000 mile fault free tour of Europe. It’s a fascinating look back into recent history and underlines just how potent and advanced the sidescreen TRs were back in the fifties. Thanks go to Register H.Q. who lent us this archive film and to Mike J, without whose technical help in converting the film to DVD, the screening would not have been possible.

Just a reminder that this month’s Windmill evening will be given over to another of our Technical Talks. Mike Jennings (European Director of Engineering for Gilbarco Van der Roote) will present “The Secret Life of a Petrol Station”. The title hardly does justice to the presentation which I am sure you will all find fascinating.

Has your licence expired??

Roger Mew had been in touch regarding the “new” credit card size photo driving licences. Roger points out that these licences are valid for only 10 years and if yours was issued in 1998 it will now be invalid. Check your expiry date at 4b (on the licence) to make sure you are not one of the 4,570 unlicensed drivers revealed by the DVLA. A further 300,000 licences are due to expire this year so this could be quite a problem. Many thanks to Roger for this rather alarming “heads-up”.

The mother of all rebuilds

If you want to see the mother of all re-builds, next time you are surfing the net, go to http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/Triumph-TR3-Plus-4.htm (phew!). There must be easier ways of producing a good looking, fast modern sports car! Many thanks to Bob Eve for the link – enjoy!

Anything for the AGM?

The Group’s A.G.M. (no groaning, please!) will be held at the Windmill on Tuesday the 28th April. Please give some thought to any changes/improvements you would like to see to the Group and also consider if you could make time to serve on the Group Committee. I shall be sending out the usual A.G.M. documentation with the next (March) Bulletin but if you have any suggestions or would like to serve, do have a quick word with myself or any other Committee Member as soon a possible.

Articles wanted for the Spring edition of Essex News

This is the last call for contributions to the Spring edition of Essex Group News. If you have any articles, reports, archive material or photos for publication please don’t delay, let me have them today! We are already planning the layout so it is crucial that we have your contributions a.s.a.p.!

Group Clothing

Here’s an opportunity to look really smart by wearing Group regalia when supporting the Group at the many meetings on this year’s Events’ Calendar.

Polo Shirts @ £17.50
Sweat Shirts @ £20.00
Rugby Shirts @ £20.00
Fleece Gilets @ £20.00
Radiator Badges @ £8.50 (round only)

All the clothing is good quality (Fruit o’ the Loom/ Result etc) and is embroidered in gold with the Essex Group badge. The radiator badges represent excellent value for money. They are old stock and there are only eight left and replacements will cost at least twice as much when I reorder. I will be bringing the full range of regalia to the next couple of regular meetings, so stop me and buy!