TR Action 256
This year’s start line for the Brass Monkey Run at Ashford Cine Centre Car Park produced eleven various TRs, a Marcos and two members in saloon cars due to injury, (big toe! and ankleitus). It wasn't freezing, just very fresh and we had the added surprise of a freelance photographer/reporter from Classic Cars Weekly Magazine called Patrick Boniface on the scene to take loads of photos and interviews. Evidently Patrick picked up the information about our Run from the Kent Group website, which just goes to prove that someone other than group members read “Whats on!”
There were no windy, narrow lanes to contend with this year just smooth tarmac via the A28 plus a variation or two to get us all safely to the Turner Contemporary Museum at Margate Seafront. Entry was free and it would be true to say the museum catered for all tastes from Turner watercolours to a photograph of a woman with a featherless chicken stuck to the front of her knickers! They make a nice cuppa in the cafe and a wide variety of sandwiches but they weren’t cheap. I think it would be safe to say we all enjoyed the brisk drive, being the first organised outing of 2012. Here's hoping there are more.
I have read with interest comments made on the TR Register Main Forum on the thread entitled “What’s the big change in the Kent Group? “ The answer is very simple: the current committee have guided the group for the last five years and now feel it is time for some new blood to step up with new ideas to refresh the group such that progress continues. The present committee took over the running of the group in summer 2007 when it became necessary for a new committee to be formed to give the group some direction. All of the committee are volunteers engaged in trying to revive the group and connect with the membership by organizing and informing members of events etc. Five years down the line, as a committee we feel that we have run our course and that it is time for some new ideas from a greater part of the membership. We remain great friends and you will see us out and about supporting the new committee at Kent events and maybe some even further afield. That’s it in a nutshell! Now, about those midges in Scotland…
We have our AGM on Monday 5th March 2012 at The Halfway House, Challock commencing at 8pm to which all are invited.
Finally, we had a meeting last night at the Halfway House at which 22 members turned out which for January could be a record, although to be honest the car park was devoid of TRs, because it was freezing outside.
Absolutely finally, I have just picked up Classic Car Weekly and lo and behold there are pictures of Kent TRs taken at the Brass Monkey Run. Thanks to photographer Patrick.
Please keep an eye on our activities at: www.groups.tr-register.co.uk/kent
TR Action 255
Late autumn, early winter is a quiet time as we all know and I for one have put my TR up on axle stands and wooden block so that I can crawl underneath and carry out one or two jobs that I have been meaning to do.
Some five years ago I noticed a clunk at the rear nearside of my TR6, when negotiating a right hand bend especially if the camber of the road put extra pressure on the rear nearside. I had never been able to suss out the cause until now.
Wheels off, and cleaning the trailing arms, shocks and springs I suddenly noticed that the top poly donut on the coil spring was squashed and mis-shapen so that the coil spring when under pressure would jerk into contact with the top metal plate which retains the spring in position. Bingo! Clunk sussed out and New Year run will prove me right ( I hope).
Back to the business of reporting and only one event: our Witches Run which took place on Sunday 30th October. The run had been planned and presented by Paul Loveridge, our Group Leader but as he was away on his hols in sunny Portugal the event was run by Paul Mason, who handed out the directions sheet and away we all went from the start point which was the service area at Junction 8 of the M20. It was a reasonably nice day (dry) and our TRs were given a good run ending up at The Britannia Inn, Dungeness. Sunday roasts and fish and chips were enjoyed by those who had lunch and afterwards we all made our respective ways home.
There is an air of change in Kent and next year promises to be eventful in the least with lots to get involved in. Paul, our Group Leader tells me that we currently have 35+ members, family and friends attending our Christmas meal at The Halfway House on Saturday 17th December, so it promises to an enjoyable get together.
On behalf of all Kent TR Group members may I take this opportunity to wish members and families of all our sister groups a belated yet Merry Christmas and a very Happy TRing New Year.
Please keep an eye on our activities at: www.groups.tr-register.co.uk/kent
TR Action 254
You can always tell when Autumn arrives – there seems to be little to report. One, maybe two events to put pen to but I think most members find a decent day at the weekend and off they go, out for a trip to wherever.
The first report I have concerns the Bexhill 100 on August Bank holiday and as the title suggests it was at Bexhill, Sussex. This is a long standing classic car show and the Bexhill 100 Motor Club celebrate the fact that Bexhill is the home of British Motor Racing by staging this show. Five Kent TRs travelled down to Bexhill and enjoyed a day of sunshine, plus a cooked breakfast. A rock n’ roll band and Birds of Prey were just two fun events for all to enjoy.
The second report again involves five Kent TRs who attended a Classic Car Show organised by Folkestone Automobile Club at the Battle of Britain War Memorial Site at Capel–Le-Ferne, which is a clifftop site situated between Folkestone and Dover overlooking the Channel. There were upwards of 100 cars on show and several stalls selling auto-jumble and bric-a-brac, etc. The event had been organised to raise money for Age Concern in the Folkestone area and in fact raised £727. The organisers parked us next to the cliff edge – I hope there wasn’t a subliminal message hidden by this fact. Even so the fine weather and location made the day.
Our next club organised outing is our Witches Run on Sunday 30th October, which is usually a well supported run out ending with a Sunday Roast, and I shall report on this event next time round.
Please keep an eye on our activities at: www.groups.tr-register.co.uk/kent
