Last Updated: 17/01/2012 13:32:51
Just a short notice to remind members that the February 13th meeting at the Bird in Hand will be our AGM. Positions are as below; Group Leader - David Solomon is prepared to stand again for this position Treasurer - Mike May is prepared to stand again for this position Club Secretary - Adrian Richmond is prepared to stand again for this position Club Liaison - Mart Talbot is prepared to stand again as Club Liaison Events Coordinator - Peter Pierce would like to stand down from this position but has proposed Graham Carr as Events Coordinator for this year however Peter is happy to provide back up for Graham if required. The AGM will start at 8pm on the Monday evening 13th February so please attend as we would also like to hear more from members about what they would like to do this year in their cars. Remember you don't have to be a committee member to organize an event if you have the time and inclination the club would be happy to support members who wish to organize a trip to an event or location that takes their fancy. Adrian Richmond Secretary Wensum TR
After numerous changes to the original instructions, a cold dark Saturday morning found me alone in the middle of Snetterton Race Track wondering what the XXXX !! I was doing there. Our fearless leader’ King Soloman’ had insisted that, if we wanted to make sure of entering the event we must be at scrutineering at 7-00.AM. Strangely enough nobody else appeared to have received this advice, in fairness Dave and Pete arrived very shortly after me. There followed two hours of madness ending with us ‘Registered’ - ‘Holding Numerous Stamps and Badges’ - ‘Decibel Tested’ - ‘Wrist Banded’ - ‘Briefed’ and ready for the public. We were given virtually open use of the track, whilst keeping strict adherence to track and race rules, taking paying passengers as and when required. Much of the day was spent jumping in and out of a vast range of cars. Alan Wells wearing his marshal’s jacket was kept busy. Dave Soloman likewise sporting a marshal’s jacket was ‘also there’. It was a great pity that there was so much confusion in the pre-show notifications, because on the day a really great time was had by all. We had four TR’s taking part and several members came along, I think we were the largest participating group, and all the members who were not able to join us missed out on a great day. Hopefully next year registration will be a lot clearer and we will have a full contingent, so watch this space. Dave and Alan’s idea of volunteering for duty did in fact work very well as they finished the day in amongst the big boys cars and I understand had as many rides as they could shake a stick at. Graham Carr
Graham Carr Writes;
After being proved totally wrong and finding the Tesco car park very busy, we risked all and served sausage sarnies for breakfast. The various subtle disguises used by the guys, some more extreme than others, helped us to slip into obscurity and avoid expulsion from the start site. After giving out the direction sheets I was informed that the route specified through Coltishall was in fact closed for the weekend, so a quick change of route was arranged. Even with this enforced alteration we all manage to reach the Kingfisher Cafe on Walcott seafront for coffee and ice creams. Then onwards again to our final destination in California, unfortunately the Norfolk one not the USA. After lunch Jan & Mike May were awarded the prize for best costume and the best team prize went to the Vanstones & Barkers of the Stag Owners Club.
Saturday 3rd December 7 for 7.30 start.
The Wensum TR Group join with Norfolk TSSC for Christmas dinner at the 'Bird in Hand' Public House in Wrenningham. For £19.95 per person the restaurant will provide us with a beautiful 3 course dinner, a great evening out and this year it's before Christmas so we can really get into the Christmas spirit. Simply choose from the extensive menu below, complete the form by printing it out and return to Group Leader David Solomon with your payment to reserve your place.
Fine weather greeted the attendees for the start of the MG Memorial Run starting at Tibenham. BBC Radio's Helen McDermot was on the scene to broadcast for Radio Norfolk and we had a healthy Bacon Buttie and Coffee before we set off. Despite being organized by the MG owners club as usual there was a good turn out from the TR Register and Stag Owners Club.
Oscar's car foreground of the TR line up at Tibbenham.
A very pretty route taking drivers from Tibenham through villages such as the Pullhams , Harleston, Syleham, Stradbroke, Denham and Brundish until we reached our lunch stop at Snape Maltings. The return trip took in Framlingham, Baddington, Dennington, Scole back the the Tibbenham club house to find out what we had won in the raffle. I won a tin of WD40, perfect for sorting out a Triumph's rattles. Oscar and Jenny Edwards attended as well as John Allen who is fast becoming the Wensum groups photographic corespondent and of course Yellow John of the TSSC.
Yellow John's Spitfire and other Triumphs at Snape for the lunchtime break.
A good day out despite the heavy shower towards the end of the run. The organizers of the run deserve high praise for the way this is run. It is always a super route plus smooth organization well Done Norwich MG owners Club Committee.
Next week is seething on the 11th and the Gala Day at the showground is on the same day.
Our next Wensum run is Graham Carr's Halloween Run on the 30th October.
Whilst I am writing of events Peter Dadson group leader of the Abbott & Stour group has sent me his list of events for the next few weeks so take a look and see if you would like to participate in our closest neighboring groups events.
ABBOTT & STOUR GROUP EVENTS LIST
September Saturday 10th September Annual 'Fish and Chips' run - organized by Andrew and Nikki Note: meet up at Long Melford Green, just off Church Walk in Long Melford CO10 9DL, for 2pm departure. Our next to last drive-out so please all make an effort and support this. Sunday 11th September - Classic & Sports Cars by the Lake This event, in aid of St Nicholas Hospice Care, is held annually at Hall Farm, Fornham St. Martin, Bury St. Edmunds IP31 1SL Tuesday 13th September Club Night 8pm The Manger Bradfield Combust Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th September - Mile Of Triumphs This popular event is back this year. Please look at the following links if interested. Information at: http://www.tssc.org.uk/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=55&id=63164&catid=183&func=fb_pdf Booking form: http://www.tssc.org.uk/images/fbfiles/files/mot_booking_form.doc October Sunday 9th October Autumn Leaves Run - organized by Gary Pizzey More info at our September Club Night – this is our last drive-out for 2011 so let’s make an all out effort to attend. Tuesday 11th October Club Night 8pm The Manger Bradfield Combust followed by a quiz provided by David & Irene - so best put one's thinking cap on!!! Sunday 23rd October National Restoration Show Stoneleigh Park. For further information select link: http://http//www.stoneleighpark.com/whatson/ November Tuesday 8th November Club Night ???pm The Manger pub Bradfield Combust followed by a talk/presentation by Brian Page on 1940's re-enactments. NOTE: start time may be 7pm - to be confirmed - more information to follow There will be a small charge of £5 per head for this presentation – we will have a ‘finger-buffet’ plus part monies donated to The Royal British Legion, on behalf of Brian Page. Please book your attendance now as we need to order ‘fodder’ with the pub.
Apologies to all Wensum members as there was no report from me in TR Action edition 252 due to my being abroad for most of July and touring Wales in my TR for the rest. This meant I missed the deadline for filing a report however here is our group Newsletter with all the up to date news about the Wensum Group's activities.
10th July saw our very own Oscar Edwards join the Charles Clarke Rally and win the quiz. Congratulations Oscar.
Oscar the Winner!
The international at the end of July gave us a chance to visit Harrogate and a large group traveled up to Yorkshire for the event. All of us agreed this was an excellent venue for the meeting and felt the organizers did a super job of providing a varied program of activities for all to enjoy over the weekend. Highlights were the Hill Climb, Technical seminars regarded as a super addition to the meeting plus of course the beautiful setting of the showground. Car of the show has to be Mark Winter’s beautifully restored TR4. Only completed days before the show Mark’s car provided a gleaming example of the TR4 at a show celebrating the car’s 50th anniversary. The car glowed almost as much as Mark’s smile when he drove it.
Club Member Peter Pierce has designed a new club Polo shirt which can be ordered from him or at any club meeting at a cost of £17 each. These are black with the club logo on the left breast (See photos below) and are available in Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large.
We are open to new ideas for other club regalia such as Sweat Shirts and lightweight Rain jackets so please let us know what you might interest you? Contact Peter Pierce with your ideas by e-mail at ppierce@gotadsl.co.uk or telephone 01603 811401.
20e Circuit Historique de Laon et L'Aisne
The 20th Circuit Historique de Laon and de L’Aisne in May gave us a chance to show off our new polo shirts sporting the Wensum Logo this time in France.
The addition of superb weather and great countryside made this another super weekend, which left us sun burned, tired but smiling. 8 couples traveled to France for the event comprising of TR3a, TR4 x 2, TR4a, TR5 and three TR6’s. The rally on the first day was very well planned and very picturesque.
It wasn't without its drama however. First it was John who had a problem. After years with no issues and a service just behind him his TR6 decided it was going to run hot and vaporize the fuel in the pipes leading to the throttle bodies. This meant he could not stop the engine once hot as it would not start again until the engine cooled. Despite this he soldiered on and managed the whole trip without any further major incidents.
After saying I had never experienced fuel problems I succumbed to a similar fate. I had to stop shortly after the beginning of the rally to bleed my fuel Injectors because the long wait in the cue to leave the marshaling point and the hot weather caused some vaporization in my pipes. Oh err! That in turn caused an air lock in one of my six injectors. This made the car run like a Beetle with a broken exhaust. However after some percussion maintenance with a rubber hammer (tapping or bashing the injectors violently) to re-seat the valve and dislodge any pesky trapped air preventing the fuel flowing I was back to normal and off in a jiff.
Then it was Mark's turn, a strange noise started after driving down a particularly bumpy road which turned out to be something a bit serious, a broken chassis mount. Coaxing his car back to the hotel followed by an early morning visit to the local equivalent of quick fit sorted that out and he was back on the road.
I think something's Broken Mark!
On Sunday the now famous parade (blast) around the streets of Laon was enjoyed by all. Though the previous days sun burn was beginning to give us all cause for concern and we had to ask kindly passers by who had sun cream if we could steal a blob or two. This event is a great weekend and the organizers do a superb job of making the weekend both friendly and fun.
Here Dave, I bet these cars aren't as fast as your 5!
Thanks to Brigitte and the organization for a great event and for getting us onto the town square - pride of place for the day.
The mayor thanks us for coming and all were given yet more champagne to celebrate the day. On the Monday we took the scenic tour provided by the organizers to Péronne for a visit the museum of the Great War before heading to the ferry. Driving rain met us at Dover but despite the rain we all drove back top down defiantly. The round trip totaled 872 miles making it a good run out for the cars. Picardy is beautiful and I would happily return to visit again to see more of the region.
Until our next report - Happy Motoring
13th June 2011
Donington Historic Festival
April saw a new event for the UK calendar, ‘Donington Historic Festival’, organised at very late notice yet 3 cars ventured to the event and I am pleased to report it was a great weekend. Not without difficulty but in the end really good fun with some great races to watch and very nice cars to look at too. The first day we arrived we were a little disappointed as we discovered that despite buying tickets and stating we were with the TR Register nobody told us we needed a special registration number to obtain passes to the infield club parking nor were we told that there were club passes for the parade lap of the track.
Luckily the organisers were very flexible and allowed us in to search for some other TR register members. Unfortunately there were none on the Saturday to find but we did meet with the local TSSC Area Organiser who was very friendly and helped us with both infield passes and track passes for the parade lap later at lunchtime.
The parade lap was quite informal and we had a good blast around the track to see how our cars performed without the restriction of a speed limit. A few get out of the way moments but all in all great fun. The weather was glorious and this added to the events atmosphere. A few more stalls with vendors would have been good and some entertainment infield near the classic car parking would have made it a bit livelier. However for the first stab at a new event it was good.
See a video of the day at;
http://youtu.be/shGQ-XzrOWI
New Logo
We launched our new Wensum logo this month month, a badge which we think identifies much more clearly where the Wensum group is located, it is now on the home page of the web site here and we hope you like it. Polo shirts are available with the Wensum Logo on for a modest price and should be ready before the run to Laon Historique at the end of this month.
Contact Group Leader David Solomon to order one for club outings.
Adrian Richmond Mimosa TR6
Easter Run
Today's glorious sunshine made the Easter run to Sutton Hoo a highly enjoyable event. 27 cars pitched up and group leader David Solomon gave us a super route through some picturesque countryside for the run to the museum. Including a stop in Scole for coffee and a few minor adjustments to the cars en-route, the day concluding with lunch at the local pub nearby. Paul disappeared early in his TR4 maybe he couldn't wait for lunch?
Other news we have almost completed our discussions about a new logo for the Wensum group that more accurately represents who and what we are. I hope to tell you more about this soon and show all the finalized artwork as soon as the committee have finally agreed on the design.
Organized at short notice for next weekend, a small group of us are going to the recently promoted Donington Historic Festival at Donington Park race course. Leaving Friday afternoon to overnight ready for the start on Saturday with the event concluding on Sunday. The weekend promises to be fun and the Register are supporting it with a club area for members to display their cars. Tickets for the weekend are £30 and are available from the TR Register direct. For more info visit; http://www.doningtonhistoric.com
Sunday 25th April 2011
Well the first real run of the season saw us join with the Abbott & Stour TR group for their run to Ironbridge Gorge. The event was organised by Abbott & Stour's events co-ordinator Ian Hewlett and Ian did a great job as the event was well organised and great fun.
Ironbridge George is a beautiful place with an amazing amount of things to see and do.
First we visited Blists Hill Victorian Town. This is a great day out and we spent almost the whole day looking around the town talking to the costumed guides who play the part of people who would have lived in the town during the Victorian period.
Followed by a run through the Shropshire countryside and a wonderful meal at our hotel. The next day we visited the Jackfield Tile Museum a former world centre of the decorative tile industry, this also provided a lot to see and comprehensively explained the history of tile making in the area. Included was a scale reproduction of the tiled station at Covent Garden.
A super trip and we plan to do more joint trips with the Abbot & Stour group in the future. In fact during Laon we plan to meet up with Abbott & Stour Group members who are also attending.
Our next trip is Group Leader David Solomon's Easter Run. This year David has organised a trip to Sutton Hoo.
Happy Motoring to all club members,
Adrian Richmond Mimosa TR6 Saturday, 2 April 2011
A small group attended the AGM and the whole committee was returned bar Andy Copper our treasurer who following on from a serious stroke has had to give up the post. Happily Andy is making a progressive recovery and we wish both Andy and Andy’s wife Linda all the best at this difficult time.
Mike May has graciously agreed to take on the treasurers role for us. Mike is a long-standing member of the TR Register and has been active in its organization over many years. We thank him for volunteering to get involved in committee once again.
An updated events list has been loaded up to the web site and can be downloaded form
http://www.groups.tr-register.co.uk/wensum/docs/events%20Calendar%202011.doc
The first event to kick off the season will be our trip to Stoneleigh for the Triumph Spares Day.
Get in touch with Group Leader David Solomon for more details.
I am rebuilding my distributor and hope to have that finished in time to refit in preparation for our weekend run with the Abbott & Stour Group to the Ironbridge museums.
Adrian Richmond
Mimosa TR6
arichmond'at'ensign.demon.co.uk
Monday, 21 February 2011
For those planning to attend the International Weekend at Harrogate. A small group of us have booked rooms for the weekend at Ascot House in Harrogate a 5 minute run from the showground and a 5-10 minute walk from the town centre. There are limited rooms available at £89 for a double room B & B with a single being slightly cheaper. Includes breakfast and has on site parking. So if you want to stay in a hotel with the rest of the team myself, Mark and Peter just call 01423 531005 and say you are with the classic car group of Mr Richmond's booking. A deposit will be required. Hurry though as rooms are going fast.
To view the hotel go to;
http://www.ascothouse.com
Adrian Richmond MimosaTR6
Dear Members, Let me wish you a happy and prosperous 2011. It's around this time of year when our thought's turn to what we might do when the sunnier weather arrives and we look forward to being able to get our cars out on the road.
To wet your appetite for driving, our provisional events calendar has been posted on the Future Events page, a link is on the left of this page. I hope you will see some trips that will interested you in joining us.
We are also planning some joint events with other TR groups in the East Anglian region which we hope you will attend.
Looking forward to seeing you at our 2011 events. Adrian Richmond
Many thanks to those who supported me in my bid to become the regional coordinator for the East. I was in fact not elected but Ian Freeman of the East Saxons Group was elected as our representative for the Eastern groups. Ian is a very nice chap so we hope to see him at some of our meetings in the future when I hope you will all make him welcome. One aspect we are hoping that Ian will take on is the organization of an Eastern regional meeting for all East Anglian Groups.
Ian Freeman East Group Co-ordinator
David Solomon has been approached by Continental Car Tours to ask if we would like to join in the Circuit Historique de Laon 2011.
Photo:Oscar Edwards
David has booked 10 rooms and these are up for grabs to those intersted in joining in this great event. Hotel Campanile - Circuit Historique de Laon 2011 The early booking offer with no deposit has been extremely popular and the hotel is now almost fully booked. We are currently holding the requested rooms for your group for three nights as per the attached spreadsheet. If you are the sole contact for your group, please enter all the names, car details and dates on the attached spreadsheet and return to us within 14 days of this email. Alternatively, please forward the attached Booking Form to each member of your group to complete and return to us by email direct within 14 days. We will email at the beginning of February 2011 to request the full payment which is to be paid by mid February. Let David know if you are interested by calling him on 01603 747038.
Hello fellow Wensum members, It seems the magazine failed to print our group report again so here is a potted history of our events so far. Having missed out now on two publication dates the strories go back to Easter and lead up to the Magny Cours trip in June. I intend to get a report on the Magny Cours trip into the magazines next issue here's hoping it will get published this time. David and Mark’s ‘Breckland Scenic Easter Run’ proved to be very popular with more than 40 cars gathering at the High Lodge forest centre near Thetford for the start. The weather was a little overcast and cold but a hearty breakfast at the lodge cafe set us up for the run. Cars from all of the various East Anglian Triumph groups plus a variety of cars of other makes joined in for the 65 mile run. Rain stopped before we set off and after a stop for coffee the sun came out making the remaining 40 mile run very pleasant. The route took us via Grimes Graves and the Stanta Battle Ground to finish in Mundford where we enjoyed an excellent lunch at the Crown Hotel. As an added treat to round off the day David made arrangements with the local Iceni Brewery for participants to take a tour so they could learn about the brewing process and of course, taste some of the output. A very popular event we will be sure to repeat next year when David promises a fresh route which will reveal more hidden delights of the Norfolk countryside.
Snetterton 10th April saw the return of the ‘swinging sixties’ race to Norfolk. The main interests were Dave McDonald (car 78) a TR6 and Keith and Josh Files (car 40) also a TR6. Dave despite a spin was 7th on the grid and Josh got 3rd. The race appeared to get off to a good start. Dave was doing well slowly fighting his way through the other cars, when we realized, no Keith! He had stalled on the start line and then over revved the engine and had to pit early as his fan belt had snapped. This put him well back in the field and even though it was a 40 minute he never really recovered. Dave had a trying but eventful race and had pushed through the field to 3rd position, when 10 minutes from the end of the race he had further trouble with his left rear, which caused him to finish in the tyre wall which ended his race. Dave was ok, but some major surgery needed on the car. Keith finished the race but we were unable to determine his final position, although he had managed to move up the field well. Thanks to Dave McD for the tickets it was a good day’s entertainment.
Monday 12th April 2010 Wensum TR group staged the Norfolk - Joint Triumph clubs meeting at our normal meeting place the Bird in the Hand pub at Wrenningham. It was a dry, but very cool evening with a total 23 cars attending the group was made up of of TR2’s, TR3’s, TR4’s, TR6’s, Stags, Spitfires, GT6, Triumph 2000’s, Vitesses and Heralds all polished up for the ‘People’s Concourse’ which was part of the evening fun. After inspecting the cars, those present retired into the warmth of the pub to discuss the entries and mark up their voting forms. The main topic of conversation over the beer was the differing merits of the various cars and the high standard of those that had turned out to attend the meeting became. In the end ‘Runner Up’ in the ‘People’s Concourse’ was Edward Williams with a beautiful mid-night blue TR6. For the purists, mid-night blue was a British Leyland colour; in fact the paint number is 1006, congratulations to Edward. However the ‘People’s Concourse’ winner was Ian Fisher with his superbly restored green TR3, an award that certainly brought a smile to his face! Thanks go to Sue Stoddard (Club Triumph) for counting the votes and Linda (TSSC) for checking them I think it should be mentioned that Sue Stoddard has been voted Club Triumph organizer of the year, so our congratulations to her. As any organizer knows, it is a hard job. Remember we have commissioned some Polo shirts costing £15.99 and sweat shirts £20.99 with the Wensum TR logo. So if you want to own a smart Polo shirt or a sweat shirt to keep you warm whilst TR’ing during our British summer evenings just contact David Solomon to make an order. David also asks if members have any requests for Wensum group regalia they should get in touch with him. Peter Pierce is adding to the calendar of events for 2010 by planning an autumn trip to the code breaker’s museum at Bletchley Park, dates to be announced soon. Keep up to date by viewing our events page at the address below for details as they are published. http://www.groups.tr-register.co.uk/wensum/future_events.html
June is here already and we have had some great fun runs already with David's Easter run proving very succesful. For the more adventurous the Magny Cours trip was great fun with over 1300 cars attended and despite a wet start the weather turned in our favour to make it a great weekend for the classic car enthusiast. The Saturday rally took us through some super countryside but Sunday the route proved a little beyond us or more to the point beyond our capabilities in French. All clues were in French and despite a good start we were unable to decipher the route. however on returning to the track we discovered entry included a chance to drive the race course and park on the starting grid for a photo oportunity. Tearing around the track was great fun and combined with all the satnds selling classic car models, poster, parts, tools, regalia and books we had a great weekend. Hiughly recommended for next year. Next local meeting is the ANCC Barbecue and Concours on the Friday the 18th at Felthorpe Flying club hosted by the Norfolk Jaguar Drivers Club. This is a very friendly evening and starts at 6.30. Happy Motoring.
Classic Days at Magny Cours trip The run to visit the Classic Days event at Magny Cours race circuit is organised with ferry and all hotels decided for this 4 night trip. The cost is around £268 for ferry & hotels if booked soon. The event includes two days at the famous Magny Cours circuit to take part in the scenic rally and spend time showing our cars in the special classic park. Vendors and demonstrations of all types will taking place across the weekend. This is the first time we have attended this event so it will be a new experience for all. Past trips to other French events have been superb becasue the level of organisation excellent. This event looks very promising indeed. Itinerary: Thursday Morning 0500 Depart Norwich Board Dover ferry 1000 am Arrive Dunkirk 1300 European time Arrive Laon Hotel 1700 approx. Dinner in Laon a picturesque walled town which holds the famous car raly and town parade in May each year. Friday Morning: Visit the Reims Musee Automobiles for lunch Depart at around 1400 for Nevers arrive at Ibis Hotel Nevers around 1900. Saturday Morning Magny Cours circuit - two new scenic rally routes have been set for this year - (one run for the Saturday afternoon, and an other one for the Sunday morning) 50 euro entry fee. Sunday Magny Cours Circuit Monday Return to Dunkirk for 20.01 Ferry to Dover 21.00 Dover - arrive Norwich 00.30 approx. If you are interested in joining the trip just get in touch with me to find out how to book. arichmond‘at’ensign.demon.co.uk simply replace the ‘at’ with @ to mail or call 01603 452714. Vist the web site to see yourself what is on offer. http://www.classic-days.fr/
