Welcome | TR Register Essex Group

September 2009

Bulletin 60

Return of some old faces

Both our regular monthly venues continue to attract excellent attendances with the number of TRs present nudging into the low twenties. An “old” face who has rejoined the Essex Group turned up at our last TOW meeting on the 25th August and I am pleased to welcome back Dave LeSurf. Dave is presently finishing off a Bond re-build which, when sold, will finance the necessary work on his 1968 TR5. Also joining the Group at this meeting, were Nick and Glynis Webster - in their very tidy dark green TR2. Some years ago, before they moved away, Nick and Glynis were regulars in the Group and Nick was, in fact, Group Leader for several years. Although still based in Norfolk, they have family in Chelmsford so hopefully we will be seeing them as regular visitors.

Gunpowder Mills trip - Arms and the man

The visit to The Royal Gunpowder Mills at Waltham Abbey on the 9th August was blessed with both an excellent turn-out and splendid sunny weather. There were lots of interesting cars on display including some ex-military vehicles. The estate is massive and for two and a half centuries was a high security area. The production sheds have now been converted into a selection of very interesting museums, with lots of interactive displays, covering the development of gunpowder throughout the ages. The highlight (for the blokes at least) was the superb collection of firearms on display in the Farewell to Arms Exhibition.

Unusually for such exhibitions, the public could get “up close and personal” with the displays and even handle (under supervision) some of the weapons on show. Steve Tant brought along his elderly father who had worked at the establishment for some years after the War. Mr. T. Senior recalled some of the events he witnessed at the Mills and kept the Group entertained with his reminiscences during the afternoon!

Triumphs at Knebworth

Although promised a day of wonderful weather, Bank Holiday Monday dawned somewhat overcast and even managed to drizzle briefly as 28 Essex Group TRs entered Knebworth Park to join the Register’s display of 100 plus Triumphs. Although initially a bit chilly, by lunchtime the sun was out and we finally enjoyed the conditions predicted by the forecasters. Although there were not quite so many Trade Stands this year, it was still a good show and very well supported by the TR fraternity. Chris Cunnington presented a selection of TR models from 2 to 8 in the show ring, explaining the way in which the cars had undergone development from the basic TR2 of the early fifties up to the V8 beasties of Harris Mann and Grinnall. A pleasant ride home in bright sunshine was marred for yours truly by a problem with my recently-siliconised braking system. I had to drive the seventy odd miles home on the gearbox and handbrake as, every time the footbrake was applied, it locked up the wheels and refused to disengage! Many thanks to John O’C and Paul S who shadowed me home on what proved to be a surprisingly uneventful journey!

Pre-register your place for Battlesbridge

Apart from the French trip (7th to 13th Sept) our next excursion will be to the ever-popular Battlesbridge Car Show on the 27th. This event is a victim of its own success and, due to the appalling traffic congestion it caused last year, the organisers have been forced to make some radical changes to the usual format of this show. If you wish to attend the show and park your TR in the Essex Group enclosure on the Show Ground, you MUST pre-register your car with Steve Tant, no later than the 8th September. If you fail to do this, you will not be allowed into the Show Area but have to park your car in the general car park. This is not recommended as there have been instances of classic cars being damaged and stolen from this general parking area. I suggest that you do not leave registering until the last minute at the regular Rabbits meeting but contact Steve without delay. Steve can be reached on 07931 180188 or by e-mail at stephen.tant@kier.co.uk

Buzz along to the Rabbits on the 8th

As mentioned above, the annual trip to Normandy kicks off at the crack of dawn on the 7th. This year, twelve cars will be heading out so attendance at The Rabbits on the 8th will inevitably be down of the last couple of months. If you are around next Tuesday evening, why not buzz down to this popular venue and swell the numbers? There is a big car park, the grub’s excellent as is the beer and company!