2010 - June Highlights

June 5th Saturday - Woolpit Steam Rally - Report by Peter
As usual, the weather had a major say in our decisions, so some of the club members decided to attend the Woolpit Steam Rally on the Saturday rather than chance the forecast of a wet Sunday.We met up at the Haughley Truck Stop. Ian and Terry in their TR4 and me again with my TR4 (which hadn’t been to a Steam Rally before – I am extending its horizons!) just on entering the Steam Rally field, we met up with Neville and Vince in Neville’s TR2. It was a lovely summer’s day for wandering ‘aimlessly’ around the exhibits and jumble stalls. There seemed to be a vast number of stationary engines pumping water from here to there and back again, whilst others were making themselves useful by illuminating light bulbs. A wide range of tractors were on show, though thankfully most were not powered by TR engines! That would have been a little bit embarrassing I feel! The Steam engines were very impressive and noisy and smelly just as they should be!From the pictures, you can see:- the two TR4’s in the events ring along with other classic cars; our three club members’ cars along with ‘posing’ club members! And finally, but not least, Ian in his spare time reading his TR Action aided and abetted by Terry who found time to make Ian a well deserved cup of tea! All in all, a very nice day out for both us and our cars.


June 8th Tuesday - Club Night - Report by Hazel Humphries
It had been decided that, as a change to our usual format, at our next club night we’d go for a run to another pub. So on 8th June, after a drizzly day it was a beautiful evening when we met in the car park of the Manger and there was a good turnout, with Peter, David & Irene, Peter & Maureen, Neville, Robin, Ian & Terry, Ray & Jack, Bob Bell, Joe & Louise (and Monty), Peter Mitchell, Andy & Nikki and Richard & Hazel. Club business was quickly concluded and we set off for our run, ably led by Peter Dadson, who had decided to take us on a lovely trip round south Suffolk lanes and pretty villages, to the little hamlet of Edwardstone where our watering hole was the White Horse Inn, an excellent pub that did a good selection of real ales. Once there we met up with Lynn & Paul and also Andy & Lynne McNab who had phoned to say they’d like to join us and perhaps join the Abbott & Stour group. It was warm enough for us to have our drinks outside and we all decided that the evening had been a resounding success. Peter has set the ball rolling and we hope that other club members will pick up and run with it, so if any of you have a favourite pub within a half hour’s drive from the Manger do let Peter or any committee members know so that we can organise more runs during the summer months.


June 12th Saturday - Ace Cafe - Report by Peter
Steeped in myth and legend, the ACE Cafe, North Circular Road, London is home to bikers, or should I say ‘Rockers’! However, in addition to the regular bike meets, it now hosts a vast number of car events each year. Saturday 12th June was Triumph Car Day and my TR4 took it into its head to drive me along so that it could mix it up with a varied group of Triumph cars – ranging from TR2, 3A, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7, 8, Stag, Dolomite Sprint and 2.5 pi’s – not a bad turnout  of Triumph’s ‘best’ offerings. I had not visited the ACE Cafe before, so had looked forward to the event and was not disappointed – I met up with TR members from Essex, East Saxons and North London and had some interesting chats with other TR owners. Whilst the journey there is not the most interesting or picturesque, travelling on ‘A’ roads, motorways and through road-works after road-works, it turned out to be a very interesting and worthwhile visit as, hopefully, the pictures will show. The picture of the aptly named van ‘CITIJUNK’ was a rather opportune photo moment! Though I’m still not sure whether he was touting for business or just plain lost!Perhaps next year we can get a group turnout in support of Triumph Car Day at the ACE Cafe and meet up with other TR groups and Triumph owners for an enjoyable late breakfast, tea and ‘all things Triumph’ chat.


June 13th Sunday - Danbury Gardens - Report by Ian Hewlett
Sunday 13 June saw me, Terry and Peter meet Peter Jones and 4 Stag owners at his house. From there we drove though the pretty countryside to Danbury and parked our cars in the drive of the lovely house seen in the photo, note the white doves under the house eaves above mine and Peter’s cars, more on that in a moment.   The drive quickly became the main parking for about 25 classic cars of differing marques.  We then set off on our stroll around the gardens of the village that by the way are quite spread out, the tea and cakes at various stops gave us a well deserved respite from all the walking!  Seeing these lovely manicured gardens you can be sure that they don’t own a Triumph and I could find no evidence of TR territory marking (oil leaks) on the long sweeping drives. The weather was kind to us despite Peter bearing his legs to all and sundry and this must be the reason the doves decided to adorn our cars with “offerings”. A good day was had by all including the birds.

June 20th Sunday - Hylands House 'Hearts Perfect Sunday' - Report by Gary Pizzey
With an early start on a very warm sunny June morning.........sorry,  I meant a cold and overcast June morning, still dreaming of a summer!!.  Setting off from The Manger in our 3 car convoy which consisted of Ian and Terry Hewlett and Peter Dadson in their TR 4’s and me in my TR 6, we took the A134 through the very green Suffolk countryside to Sudbury.  From Sudbury we travelled south through Halstead and Braintree then onto Chelmsford and Hyland House.  The Hyland House Car Show reportedly held 600 cars of various makes and models and of varying ages.   The TR Register had a very good turnout of around 30+ cars, being made up from the Abbott & Stour, Essex and East Saxons groups, with Head Office and the Eastern Region group co-ordinator giving their support on the stand.  Peter Hudspith took along his gleaming red Peerless which attracted a lot of attention for the stand, which also had the Coca Cola TR7.  There were a number of attractions going on with bands playing a variety of music in the gardens of the house, along with helicopter and hovercraft rides, so plenty to do through the day and a very good day it was. 
Between Terry, Ian and myself we did have an idea for a new quiz.........this being to list what Peter Dadson “HAS NOT” got in his “just in case” backup list of spares he takes along in the boot of his car!!!