Wollaton was a great day despite the pouring rain on the journey there. However by 10 o’clock the sun shone brightly until 4 p.m. Attendance by members in their Austins appeared to be well down and it reminded me of one of Paddy Malone’s sayings …… “our members think it did not rain in the thirties!! “ The people I felt really sorry for were the autojumble stallholders who had endured torrential rain whilst camping on the previous evening. Through this column I would like to express my sincere thanks for their stoicism against adversity. I managed to spend £265 buying various bits, exhaust & silencer for my van restoration. Unfortunately I then spoke with Ian Bancroft who is overhauling my van engine and he told me my crankshaft was cracked! Never mind; as my dad used to say “there are no pockets in your shroud.”
Wednesday June 9th saw just 13 Austineers turn up at Newark Air Museum for our cultural visit of the year. Although few in number this meant we maximised our time with Dave our guide for the evening. In 2000 the Lincs. Club took part in the fundraising of Hangar No. 2 by buying a brick which was clearly labelled for all to see. Hangar 2 cost half a million pounds and 90% was provided from a Lottery grant, and a very impressive exhibition hall it is to. The highlight of the evening was being allowed to board a Shackleton aircraft which used to fly 18 hours at a time some 400ft above sea level. My goodness was it cramped inside! As an ex RAF Armourer Ed Davies was in his element when viewing the Vulcan, later on he even recognised an aircraft he had worked on! At the end of our tour the café was kept open especially for us and a little later we went to the car park to say our goodbyes; and that’s when the fun began. Godfrey our Austin Ten would start up but not run. It was getting dark and the staff wished to lock up so only the main jet was blown out but to no avail. The staff very kindly said we could leave him locked in their compound till the next day, then horror of horrors Ed had to take us home in the Ruby! It is believed Ian managed to get a photo of yours truly [ hooded ] getting into “the greatest little car that Austin ever made. “ At this point I should add that on our recent trip around Ireland Ed was stopped by a customs officer while departing the Swansea to Cork ferry who asked…” Is it a diesel!!!!!!!!!!!”
July 14th the meeting is at The Bull in Rippingale, Nr. Bourne. A lovely old fashioned pub oft frequented by some of our members on a weekly basis! Make your own way there to arrive around 7 p.m.. If you wish to dine please give Sue the landlady advance warning by ringing 01778 440054. Details of the joint meeting at Wellow on July 21st are given further down this report.
Looking to future events, planning for the August BBQ is well in hand. Members old and new will have spotted the typographical error in the block advert for this event. Your £5 ticket includes one free drink not free drink all day!!!! However you will also get a bread bun, a sausage, a 4oz. Beefburger, a lemon chicken kebab salads & desserts. Richard’s bungalow is a great venue with literally acres of space. I also believe he may be surprising us with some musical entertainment. Sue has already sold tickets at Wollaton and taken names of who can bring either salads or desserts. If you can help and did not manage to get to Wollaton or the Newark Air Museum please give her a ring on 01636 892919, you can of course order your tickets at the same time. Alec & Maureen are not available to attend this year so if anyone would like to help Alan Cady with the BBQ please let me know. Ed says he is not volunteering as he always burns everything!!
Finally, Brenda Johnson has very graciously volunteered to take over the management of the Lincs. PreWar A7 website. Ed Davies and his son set it all up some time ago and it really is very professional [ www.lincsa7.co.uk ] If you wish your car to be included then e mail your photos to beaandtony@hotmail.com
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Meetings from September to April in the stable block of The George Hotel, Leadenham.
7.30pm for 8.0pm unless stated otherwise. May to August the venue is as arranged:-
July 14th Bull Inn, Rippingale, Nr. Bourne. [ Book in advance for meals, see above for tel. no. ]
July 21st Joint Meeting at Wellow. Members who wish to book meals
at the Durham Ox phone 01623 861026 or at the
Olde Red Lion. 01623 861000.
Sat. August 14th BBQ @ Richard Moore’s., “Bredon”, Salliebank Lane, Laughterton, LN1 2JY
If Wet! Sun. 15th
September 8th Talk by Jim Shortland. Tirpitz.
October 13th Wind Up Night with Ian Bancroft, to be prefaced by a discussion on the events to be planned for 2011.
November 10th Quiz.
December 8th Christmas dinner, George Hotel. Theme still to be decided.
OTHERS
June 19/20th Morton Steam.
July 3/4th RAF Waddington.
July 10/11th Thorpe Camp 40’s weekend.
July18th Rover club day at East Kirkby. [ All Austin 7 entrants parked together ]
August 29/30th Stapleford miniature railway open weekend.
August 30th Walcot Trial. North of Scunthorpe.
September 4/5th Boston Steam and Vintage weekend.
September 12th Darren Darby run.
September 18/19th Waltham On-the-Wolds Fair.
September 19th Coast to Coast.
September 18th Collingham Show.
FURTHER CLUB VISITS
At our recent committee meeting one of the committee members said he had heard rumblings that we were not putting on enough club visits. As a member of three other classic car clubs I feel we have , coupled with the list above and our Sevens to the Sea, a much fuller and varied programme than many other clubs. That said the committee is there to serve and assist the local membership. Therefore if any individual or couples wish to take on the organisation of either a weekend or evening event then they will always have the help and support of both myself and the other committee members. Also this year the first part of the October meeting is Planning for 2011. In previous years there has been a dearth of suggestions from the floor. If you think you have good idea for a visit then tell us at the meeting. Alternatively drop me an e mail anytime [ pc.rowlands@btinternet.com ]
BBMF I have been trying unsuccessfully to get the visitors centre to open up especially for us on a weekend because if I arrange a visit for a weekday in September it will exclude our working members.
However after a further telephone conversation with Kelly the site co-ordinator there is an outside chance the RAF will agree to weekend opening in the near future. I should know something further in early July.
