2010 - April Highlights

April 5th Bank Holiday Monday - Wensum Run
Ian and Terry, along with Peter and daughter Catherine, both in their TR4's, attended the Wensum TR Easter Bank Holiday Monday Run - this was the 10th year of this run and was well attended by a number of Triumph Car Clubs with around 40 cars arriving for the start. Whilst it was overcast and a bit cold, the rain held off so quite a reasonable day for the beginning of April. The run started at the High Lodge Forest Centre, Thetford and completed at The Crown Hotel, Mundford - a route of 62 miles. On arrival at High Lodge, we made time for a quick cup of coffee and a bun - essential to relieve any hunger pangs during the forthcoming journey! Once we had received the route directions, Ian led the way with Peter following - that is until we looked in our mirrors and realised we had a small convoy in tow! The run was along fairly deserted roads, through Europe's largest lowland pine forest. In fact, some of it was familiar to us, as we were travelling over some of the roads that Bob Bell put together for last year's April Showers Run. The route instructions were very clear and we managed to arrive at our destination without making any wrong turns. Both the roads and the villages we passed through were very picturesque and all in all a very pleasant drive. With all the cars arriving at The Crown, Mundford parking was at a premium, but we all managed and had a very enjoyable lunch. Some returned home after lunch, whilst others drove a short distance to visit the Iceni Brewery. This is termed a micro-brewery and has its own small hop garden as well as shop selling its bottled ales. Unfortunately they weren't currently brewing, however we were treated to a tour and a tasting - the 'mammoth' being a particularly fine flavoured beer. That being the end of our day out, we returned home for a well earned rest!


April 18th Sunday - April Showers Run
April 18th, the day of our April Showers run, the first of the season, was beautiful, sunny and warm. We had a grand turnout of 14 cars and 26 club members, with the star of the show being the Peerless, lovingly restored by Peter Hudspith and out for its very first club run. Bob Bell once again treated us to a very enjoyable run through lovely Suffolk countryside to an excellent pub in the pretty village of East Bergholt in ‘Constable Country’ where we fortified ourselves in the gardens with good food and drink. We then set off to Flatford Mill (where John Constable painted ‘The Haywain’) and people walked, talked, ate icecreams, took photos and generally had a very good time. Thankyou Bob for all your hard work, I think I can say we all had an excellent day.



April 25th Sunday - Drive it Day
Drive it Day dawned disappointingly overcast and by the time six cars ranging from a TR2 to a TR7 plus their 11 owners met for our drive to Sandringham it was starting to drizzle. Hoods were quickly put up (or not so quickly for one or two who swore the hoods had shrunk during the winter), and one owner (namely me!) tried to put his on back to front! It shows how often it’s been used in the three years I’ve had the car!  The drizzle stayed with us as we wended our way through quiet Suffolk woodland and pretty Norfolk villages but as we arrived at Sandringham the sun came out and it was hot while we picknicked. Peter, our group leader had arrived in shorts which came in for a lot of stick during the rain but he was vindicated during the afternoon and those milk white legs even managed to turn slightly pink.   The North Norfolk Classic Car Club were there and altogether there must have been in excess of 100 classic cars of all makes and ages, so, with the farmers market and the house and grounds to see if wanted, there was plenty to please everybody. Another successful run, despite the wet start.