May's Mid monthly meeting was at the Prince William near Dalton beacon. This was back to where we used to meet in the 1980s - actually next door at the Beacon Inn. Left shows members cars lined up in the car park - Right shows the same cars from the other end of the car park wilth the Prince William pub in the background.
Photos - Andrew Dickenson
Catton Hall on the 2nd May - Left shows Tom and Bill in front of the hall with their Midgets. Right shows the club stand come camp site - right next to the river - a lovely scenic show ground - but at 90 miles from home - too far for most members.
Cholmondley on the 9th - 2 photos of Bob with his MGB. Left - Bob tries to free his hand from behind the front bumper and Right - Bob smiles relieved after successfully freeing his hand.
Photos - Nigel Malyan
June 3rd - Mid month meeting Scorton Village near Garstang
A rainy day seems to have put many off this meeting. But the rain stopped in time for the evening run the evening and Nigel Malyan led the brave out north of Preston to Scorton Village.
Photo left shows L to R - Brian and Carole Stafford, Martyn and Mrs. Griffiths, Andrew and John Dickenson, Lisa and Jamie, Mrs. and Nigel Spry , Richard with a little Malyan. Photo - Nigel M.
ASTLE PARK STEAM RALLY - CHESHIRE - 27TH JUNE
Tom led a few of us to a new event for the club - with 1000 steam engines on display and with over 200 tractors, both Jamie and Eric were in their element.
Even I found it interesting and with cars being in a minority for a change there were plenty of new experiences,The wet Saturday meant that I had to put my soft top up for the first time - but only when parked over night whilst camping.
Photos above left - is it a bird, is it a plane? - NO! it's Tom trying to take off with Jamie's new car cover. Above right. Tom's Plastic Pig in the middle of our over night camping
THE ANNUAL TREASURE HUNT -
This year set by last year's winners (Ralph and Eric). 12 cars went out on the run (most except Moaneyanne Grumbly) and enjoyed the 20 mile drive. Eventual winners were David Bryant driving his twin-cam with Peter Dobson as his navigator. Obviously a combination of youth and experience is needed to win. Jamie and Lisa were equal on points but they travelled 3 miles further (and they went in a Mondeo).
TATTON PARK - 6TH JUNE
Below - superb panoramic shot of the club stand in beautiful weather.
Photo - Peter Dobson
July Events 2004
Saturday 3rd July - Norwood Primary School - Southport
Photo left shows the small but select line up of cars on the school field. Eddie Rafter with his American cars was first in place followed by Noel in his yellow GT. John brought both his GT and Alison's TF. Eric's red Midget was next, followed by my MGA - Jamie's Daimler arrived too late for the photo shoot. The line up was completed by a number of Motor bikes. The weather improved throughout the afternoon with plenty of customers to swell the school funds.. Only problem - to quote Eddie " the brats with their interminable and uncontrolled footballs" . One hit my car and the kid was lucky to escape with his life!!
Photo - Andrew Dickenson
Photo above shows the line up from the other direction - the bikes can be seen at the end of the row.
Photo - Eddie Rafter.
Lichfield Cars in the Park - Sunday 4th August
Photo left - Lichfield club stand.
Jamie , Lisa and I had a long drive after the Norwood school visit - we drove down to Lichfield afterwards - with Jamie swapping his Daimler for his MGB . It had been playing up but he bravely drove the 90 miles to Staffordshire without a problem . Rain greeted us on the motorway but we soldiered on with tops down much to the amusement of passing motorists in their "proper" cars. At Lichfield we joined Tom and Bill & Olive and camped over night in the beautiful park just outside the city centre. Ray joined us for the Sunday show which was well attended . The sun shone all day and made a good little show.
Photo - Tom Ford
LAKELAND CLASSIC - LEIGHTON HALL CUMBRIA SUNDAY 11TH JULY 2004
Once again the club visited this popular show near CARNFORTH in the LAKE DISTRICT. Tom and the camping party enjoyed a spectacular sunset on the Saturday night and good number of members cars were displayed on our stand in front of the Hall.
Spectacular sunset on Saturday night
Photo - Tom Ford
Panoramic view of our club stand on the Sunday - Photo - Peter Dobson
Baron's Rest Public House , Astley Village Chorley.- Saturday 31st July 2004
Jamie's brother Ray invited the club to bring their cars to his pub as a fund raising event for Derian House Children's Hospice , which is just down the road from the pub.
We were greeted by a beautiful day and a good number of members turned out to support the event, with Lisa and Olive manning thre BBQ.
PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP EVENT AT CLUB EVENING AT BRIARS HALL- 15TH JULY
Over 25 cars lined up in the car park (See photo Left)of Briars Hall for the self judging of the Pride of Ownership. Nigel malyan won the Premier Class for the 3rd time and Peter Dobson won the standard class..
To add extra interest to the proceedings, Preston Pheonix MG Rover dealer brought along the MG X Power SV super car (See photo Right). This distracted the members from their judging for a while. I wonder how it would have scored against Nigel's MGB? Full scores on the About page. and in August's Mag.
Photos - Andrew Dickenson
Southport Classic Car Show - Victoria Park - 26/27th July
Photo - left - John's and Noel's GTs parked on a rather sparse club stand. Bad weather kept many away and it clashed with our weekend at Harry's place in Betws -y -Coed.
THE BETWS-Y-COED CAMPING WEEKEND -26TH/27TH/28TH JULY
Club member Harry Hockney decided to upsticks from Formby to North Wales last year and invited the club to use his new place for a club weekend. What a lovely setting Harry's new guest house has. Just a couple of miles from Betws - y - Coed, Harry is turning the former farm house into a bed and breakfast and small camping area. Jamie & Lisa, Ray & Margie and Nigel & family bagged the 3 B& B places so the rest of us camped on the field alongside the house. We needn't have worried. Harry had completed the shower block and toilets just the week previously , with only the indoor pool heating to sort out the facilities were excellent. Soon the camping area was filling up - Paul and Lynn with Laura set up their tent first closely followed by Tom and Dave Utley( in separate tents - something about a gas leakage was mentioned), Brian and Carole and Warren and family. Sandie and I were not far behind and soon there was quite a good MG club village. Harry had a BBQ planned for the evening and after everyone had arrived from the afternoon trip Lisa and Margie set up the burner and Harry, son Dave and Pat soon had the lighting and music set up. With wine and beer flowing everyone joined in the quiz Harry had devised - i managed to win by fair means or foul - mainly foul).The pass the parcel game with a prize for everyone took on a new dimension after alcohol and even the kids enjoyed it. Suprise , suprise - Darren arrived on cue just before his car turned back into a pumpkin!
Photos - Nigel and Ray
Photo - left
Harry's place - Llwyn Onn , Pentrefoelas - phone 01690 770124 for special club rates for B&B.
Photo - right.
Paul was first to set up camp.
Photo - left
Looking rather lost - Laura was first to arrive at the party .
Photo - Right
Lisa and Margie start the burner on the BBQ
Photo - left
Lisa gets the butties out
Photo - right.
Lynn's ZR heads off in the distance as the others are just starting up the engines
Ray organised several jaunts into the Welsh country side on the Sunday and Monday
Top Left A good view of the display with a variety of vehicles including a chopper motor cycle
Top Right The Baron's Rest with Nigel Spry's LE GT in prime position.
Bottom Left Some of the kids from Derian House with their helpers as they visited the display of cars.
Bottom Right Dave's TC as he arrived just in time for the final photo session.
Photos courtesy of Allan Bridge , photographer from Astley Village (01257 231338)
