Last Updated: 25/10/2011 13:59:08
On Friday July 8 Tony and I set off to join the Shropshire group for their annual weekend meet. We have been before and they make us so very welcome, it is one of our “must do’s” on the TR calendar. We arrived at the campsite, pitched the tent, then it was time for drinks and BBQ whilst we waited for the others to turn up. This year Chris and Kate joined us; they had never done any of these weekends before, but thoroughly enjoyed themselves and said they will be doing it again. On the Saturday the four of us had breakfast, egg and bacon on the menu, of course. At 10:30 it was off on the convoy run down some very narrow lanes and enjoying some lovely views. We did have to do a detour when a milk lorry got stuck coming up the hill as we were going down, so we all had to reverse back up the hill, no mean feat considering the number of cars. We stopped off at a pub for lunch, and sat outside in a lovely courtyard enjoying the sun, food, drink and of course the great company. Then it was back to camp for more chats, drinks and another BBQ.
On Sunday it was breakfast together in the awning again and at 10:30 off on another convoy run, this time on wider roads and through some wonderful picturesque villages complete with classic black and white cottages. Then, how good is this, nearly twenty TRs driving through Ludlow Market Square with the market in full swing. For the several minutes it took to get us all through, very little was sold in the market. After all, the TRs were the star turn. Lunch at a pub was followed by a raffle, then it was time to say goodbyes to those that were leaving. Chris and Kate went home, but Tony and I stayed till the Monday. The end of another great Shropshire Weekend.
Yet again a long period has elapsed between reports, Mea Culpa. I was going to concentrate on our annual bash, which was held at the Woodman in Fernham, enthrallin you all with tales of the great food and wines we had that night. But I won't. Instead I would like to remind you of a couple of our members from a few years ago, namely Haru and Satoko. Those that remember them will also remember the exceptionally fine silver TR4A that Haru bought as the epitome of the British Sportscar. Haru was a regular attendee to meetings and functions, he and Satoko always arrived with the TR4A immaculately turned out and always with good humour. However, ventually they had to return to Japan as their work in the UK was completed. We have periodically kept in touch, and at one point received the missive, that as it was winter, and the temperature in the "Little Boys" room was at -4 degrees and not conducive to sitting down to read the latest car magazine in peace; Haru is one huge petrolhead. Then we heard about the terrible earthquake in Japan and immediately fired off an email just in case. After a few days we received our answer: all was well, relatively speaking. Did I mention they were a very stoical couple? Anyway, I will leave you to read Haru's own words and a picture of them both in happier times - I never did find out what Ian was showing them. “Dear Mike and Rachel, plus the rest of the VoWH group, Thank you for your mail. I should tell you that Satoko and I are safe and still alive. Satoko faced the first earthquake at 2.46pm at our house in Utsunomiya which is about 100km north of the Tokyo. She saw a heavy pottery pot on a gas cooker moved aside and it fell down, cracked; four European antique goblets decorated fell down, cracked; a piano moved by 30cm; 90cm and 75cm wide aquariums also moved and made a flood on the floor, etc, etc. I was in an electric train returning from Ohmiya which is about 30km north from Tokyo to Utsunomiya. The train departed at 2:44pm and faced the first earthquake at 2.46 pm; making an emergency stop immediately, then it took three hours for me to get out from the carriage. As the railroad service was suspended, I had to stay one night at the shelter in Ohmiya City. However, our situation is not serious compared with up north in the coastal area. I have no words for what people have suffered there; I guess more than 10000 people were swallowed by the tsunami. Anyway, thank you for your mail. I am very glad that I found we are still members of VoWH group. Haru and Satoko Wakebe”
Well here we are again after another successful IWE. A dry tent to pack on Sunday, and wet insides from Friday night, chuck in the new gas BBQ and all went well for the Vale of White Horse! I even took home more loot than I arrived with, thanks to the excellent Bring and Buy stall, a very big thank you to Cotswold Vale TRs for their magnificent and tireless work over the weekend, it really was appreciated. Looking to 2011, unless I relent and bring the 4x4 as well as the TR4, we will not have space for all the usual food and the BBQ, plus the four hour drive could cause a little deterioration in quality. So, a new format and a new venue may ensue; interesting. Moving back a fortnight, we had the unusual sight of the Red Army in Le Mans. Not Herman G. and the Brown Shirts, or Oswald M. and the Black Shirts, no, this was none other than Duncan Jolly and the Red Shirts, colloquially known as the TR Register on parade. All out in force for the Friday night beer and burger it was an impressive gathering. It has been a while since we have been to Le Mans, and the Classic was as good a reason as any to make the return trip. The campsite layout was excellent, with numbered pitches for the car and tent; even better, a very hot and tired gate marshal walked our equally very hot TR4 to the exact pitch. I do thank him warmly for his consideration to a weary traveller. It was hot, very very hot, I mean HOT! If you were not out of the tent by 7am you were by 10 past. The best time was around 5am in the morning: cool, oh bliss! We had the electric fan fuse blowing when negotiating a steep hairpin in Cherbourg on our return. I phoned Pacet when we got back and asked what size fuse I should be using - I was about 17 amps shy of the minimum. Hmm, that might have been the cause then. Ah, Portsmouth. I will not mention what I said to the Immigration "official", but when you are in a TR4 loaded to the gunnels and you get asked " Just the two of you travelling sir?" would you expect a polite reply from me? Whether he asked the same question to the guy in the single seater I do not know, but I had the impression that a sharp riposte was given. Rachel was equally diplomatic by this point, when another "official" mentioned that if she thought she could get out faster by changing lanes, she was welcome to try. She nearly had his legs off, but we did get out quicker. Anyway, to sign off I will leave you with a pic of our TR4 taken just after 5am on the Sunday morning.
