SUNDAY MAY 7TH - CHOLMONDLEY CASTLE - MALPAS - CHESHIRE
Three photos of the club stand on Sunday, each taken at a slightly different time - can you spot who the late comers were? Thanks to Richard and Andrew for the photos.
The first big show of the year was not blessed with the best of weather. Ralph, Eric and Richard were the first arrivals and managed to bag a good spot in the free for all for club pitches. This was right in the far corner nearest the Castle and more importantly, the proper loos! Bill&Olive, Peter and myself arrived shortly after and we all proceeded to get the stand organised. Alan and Marianne arrived just in time to miss the ceremonial raising of the flag ceremony,after queuing for half an hour at the entrance - why don't they get this sorted.. Robert arrived even later without his car, which he had been forced to leave outside the show ground - they were not allowing any more in because it was full!! Once he had found where we were he was able to go back and persuade them to let him in once he could prove that he had a space to go to - they ought to put them in charge of immigration control at Dover!!!
The Dickenson family arrived in their proper car, just in time to take some photos, before the rain arrived.. By 1 p.m. it was pouring down and with no sign of it clearing we all decided to break camp and were all ready to leave by 3 p.m. Let's hope for better weather at the rest of the season's shows.
LEYLAND MOTOR HERITAGE MUSEUM SUNDAY 21ST MAY 2006
Once again the weather got the better of the club attendance. By 10.30 a.m. the rain had started and only a few club cars arrived - well done Ralph and Eric again, this time with Dave Utley and Tom Ford as navigator , Dave Staniforth and Tom Evans with his Postman Pat Morris van. Ralph reckons he has seen more MGs on Asda car park !!
Report and photo - Ralph
CAPESTHORNE HALL - BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 29TH MAY 2006
It was an interesting place to visit, the hall being built in the 1800 period - some parts even predate that. As you can see it's in a poor state - the trust is trying to raise funds but I think a few million pounds would be needed to restore it to its former glory.
The added interest on the day was several farrier`s making and fitting shoes to the Shire horse,
By midday it was very busy with visitors but only 2 cars from our club turned up - some false info given out !!
Report and photos from Tom Ford
Bank Hall Open Day - 28th May
Thanks to
Richard Sherman and Dave Staniforth
for the photos.
Report to follow shortly
JUNE 2006
TATTON PARK - SATURDAY AND SUNDAY 3RD /4TH JUNE
With the requisire 18 cars on each of the days of the show, the club stand was packed to bursting point. It impressed the organisers so much that we won a "Best Club Stand" award on the Saturday .
well done to Paul and Peter for their first event trophy
Photos of the prize winning stand
Camping overnight in Tatton Park.
A couple of photos that sum up the pleasure of the open air in June - hope it encourages more of you to try it.
Relaxing in the sun is what shows are all about - but it looks as though it all got a bit too much for Richard and Tom .
DERIAN HOUSE
CHORLEY
SATURDAY JUNE 10TH
Derian House Children's Hospice held their annual summer fete on the grounds of the hospice on the 10th/11th June. On the Saturday, Tom took both his T types, one driven by Carol, along with Brian in his roadster and my MGA. The photos show Carol and Brian spending some time fixing the Lancashire flag to Tom's TC. A fantastic hot day greeted us but we decided to make an early departure - something to do with a football match!
SANDON HALL - SUNDAY 18TH JUNE
Dave & I went down to Sandon Sat` p.m. as the advance party. We enjoyed a warm and sunny trip and a very nice evening. Sunday morn` Brian,Carole,Bill & Olive arrived to a very busy show, early in the morning Dave & I had breakfast in the sunshine but by 10am it became a little cloudy and a few spots of rain about midday. It is still a good show to go to, well attended by the big clubs - what happened to the rest of W.L MG Club members?
We left at 4.45 no rain until we came to Skem` and then very light, I gather it was quite a wet day here. Tom Ford
Photo - left
Tom and Dave pitched for the Saturday night.
Photo right
Sunday with Carol's roadster and Bill's GT arrived.
ASTLE PARK STEAM RALLY - CHELFORD 24TH & 25TH JUNE 2006
Once again an excellent show - and it's closer than either Capesthorne or Cholmondley and it's more fun. Not wall to wall cars like Tatton, but a good variety of tractors,lorries, Landrovers, steam engines and even ponies , complete with a Sunday service no less. With 10 club member's cars in attendance this show is becoming more popular with the club .
The only down side this year was that our club banner, on display on the Saturday and left out over night - was not there on Sunday morning - it had been stolen. The security was not able to stop some local lads infiltrating the camp site and getting away with the banner - no doubt adorning some teenagers bedroom wall as a trophy. Cam has reported this to the local paper so it might have some effect.
Any ideas for the design of new one ?- see a member of the committee.
PHOTO LEFT
Paul's Car in pride of place on the Saturday stand next to Jamie's MG sign
PHOTO RIGHT - this is what happens when you get up late on Sunday - no room on the stand for Paul's car!!
PHOTO LEFT - Tom starts a fire to keep warm - he was hiding the lighter fluid behind his back in case Dave tried to drink it!
PHOTO RIGHT- Everyone else kept warm in the gazebo - Olive, Bill and Dave avoid the breeze.
A couple of excellent shots of the Sunday stand - many thanks to Andrew Dickenson once again.
JULY 2006
WESTHEAD CARNIVAL SATURDAY 1st JULY 2006
August 2006
Woodvale - Sunday 5th August 2006
The majority of club members attended the show on the Sunday which is the main day for car clubs. Some members also went on the Saturday and this turned out to be a good choice for John Dickenson who was awarded the " Best MG" trophy. Thanks to Andrew Dickenson for the photos.
Tom took both his T types to Westhead Carnival (with Dave Utley driving the TF) along with Cam, Dave Bryant, and Tommy Evans. Tom is seen here with his sister between his 2 cars.
CUMBRIA STEAM GATHERING - CARK AIRFIELD, FLOOKBURGH - JULY 28/29TH
SATURDAY'S SHOW SAW 6 CLUB CARS ON OUR STAND . tHE WINDY CONDITIONS MADE IT NECESSARY TO HAVE THE FULL 6 ANCHOR TIES ON THE GAZEBO AFTER CAM'S NEW FLAG SNAPPED THE MAST SUPPORT.
Thanks to Richard for the photos
SUNDAY HAD THE MAXIMUM OF 6 CARS ON THE STAND AGAIN, WITH RALPH'S TC MAKING THE 75 MILE TRIP. OLIVE SAVED HER APPLE PIE AND CREAM TO CELEBRATE THE TC'S SUCCESSFUL JOURNEY.
Click on photos for a larger image
BANK HALL - TARLETON - JULY 29TH
On the same weekend as Flookburgh, the Bank Hall show is a small local show that is sure to gain popularity. John and Alison Dickenson were joined by Noel in his yellow GT and Dave Bryant in his Twin Cam.
photos - Andrew Dickenson
Trentham Gardens - 5th August
Trentham was a lovely evening -after arriving at about 5pm, Bill, Olive, & Brian, who came with me in the TF, Carole came down the next morn with her mum.The morning brought the hot air balloon as it did last year but this time at six in the morning, that woke us up with the roar of the burners.
The show was well attended and plenty to see in the gardens if you don't like cars It was very sunny and hot - we left at 5pm but didn't see any bad weather until Skem` area.
It is one of the best shows and only 65 mile away. I am sure a lot more of our members would enjoy it as the gardens have had a lot of money spent on them. TOM
TATTON PARK - 19/20TH AUGUST
Saturday was rather a washout, but some brave ( mad ) souls made the trip and there were 9 cars on the stand. I for one was a "fair weather camper" and "wimped out" only going on the Sunday. This was a much better day with only a few showers attracting 14 cars on the stand. It turned out to be a brilliant day however when the judges came round and 3 awards cards were left on the stand. Ralph took the best open sports class, Cyril took the best MG award and the stand also won a best stand award thanks to Tom's organisation. The judges comment was that our stand had the "lion's share" of the best MGs at the show.
Tom's pig was also visited by aliens during the night - not sure if they gave it an award. Photos - Tom Ford
CAPESTHORNE HALL - BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 28TH AUGUST
The weather forecast of showers for the day kept a lot of people at home so the grounds in front of the magnificent Capesthorne Hall were a little empty.With perhaps half the usual numbers of entrants there ere still 10 cars on the club stand . The weather lived up to its forecast and there were quite a few showers resulting in everyone making for the cover of the club gazebo. The arena events continued however and once again the club came away with 3 awards. Tom, Richard and Cam gained trophies in the 50s, and sports car classes, with Richard and Cam's MGAs going forward for the car of the Show judging - eventually losing out to an immaculate 1966 MG1300.
Above - club stand during the brighter spells
Car of the show judging
Above - sheltering from the rain in the gazebo - one way of spending a Bank Holiday Monday!
Barry Griffiths from Sefton Council organised this event in conjunction with the BBC to celebrate Basil Davenport's association with racing on Ainsdale beach before the last war. The VSCC put Barry in touch with the late Mr. Davenport's "Spider" racing cars and with the help of his daughter Mrs. Anne Blackham, managed to put them on Ainsdale beach for possibly the last time.We were invited to send half a dozen of our older cars - the only problem - we had to be there for 7.30 a.m. on Friday ,but fortunately it was a beautiful sunny morning. Of the 30 cars there, our cars were the newest with most of the others being pre war. Our cars were - the TCs of Tom and Ralph, The TFs of Cyril and Tom and the As of Richard and Cam. Other notable cars were a good selection of Morgan 3 wheelers , 1920s Lagonda and a Rolls. With the two excellent beach racers of Basil Davenport, a Spider Special with a handbuilt 1500 cc engine that went like a rocket and an interesting 3 litre special with 8 cylinder rotary engine ( more often seen in aircraft) - sounded like a box of bolts at tickover but when it was revved up sounded wonderful. There was very little wind and the beach was hard and dry so fortunately very little sand got into the cars. A BBC film unit was present to record the whole event - this is to be shown shortly on a programme called "Inside Out". Everything was rather rushed as high tide was due at midday so we all had to be off the beach by 11 a.m. Sefton Council had arranged refreshments for all participants and we all enjoyed an excellent buffet to round the morning off.
WIDNES FAIRGROUND ORGAN RALLY
Saturday and Sunday 23rd/24th September
The Saturday turned out to be a cracking day, I picked Dave up at 10am & when we arrived Eric was in position with a couple of MGs who I gather will be joining the club, and Alan Grindley arrived at 1pm.
The new site for all the cars was on the opposite side of the fairground close to the entrance to the park, a very flat area and well away from the Organs - also very close to a pub which Dave went to at 12 30 to watch Liverpool beat Tottenham 3 - 0, it made his day not having to drive.
On the Sunday I picked Dave up again at 9 30 . When we arrived at the park it was nearly full with 250 cars. It then started to rain and the thunder storm was right above for some time so we took shelter in the marshals gazebo for about 45 mins until the sky cleared. Tom Evans with Bob Atherton arrived just after that. The guy who lives in Widnes and has the black MGA twin cam was asking why Cam had not come. I explained that he had got rather wet on the way when caught in the thunder storm and couldn't bail the water out of the car fast enough and so had to turn for home.
It is a better laid out show now and one can just hear the organs in the background so we all enjoyed another sunny, warm and very busy day.
TOM
OCTOBER 2006
NEC CLASSIC CAR SHOW - SUNDAY 29TH OCTOBER
Cam decided to drive down to sample this show for the first time and managed to persuade Ralph, Richard together with Peter Ferris and son to accompany him.
General impressions were good with 4 halls packed with classic cars and autojumble that took us 6 hours to get round. Recommneded for a visit next year if you have never been.
Thanks to Ralph for the photos below.
KIRKLAND & CATTERALL - GARSTANG STEAM RALLY
SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2006
Tom Ford found out about this small event and persuaded Ralph, Richard and Cam to join him .
Ready for the off at the Bay Leaf, Tarleton
Parked up at the Village Hall in Kirkland - space was very limited
A shower of rain at the start at Tarleton lights didn't deter the 4 of us as we set off for Preston. An hour later we were in the centre of Garstang and no steam rally to be seen. Tom decided to try a couple of pubs , but even they were shut. By chance we went back onto the A6 and stumbled over the rally in the village hall grounds right next to the road. An excellent hot pot at lunch time followed by apple pie and cream , all for the princely sum of £3 - a bargain but a poor substitute for Olive's special pie. Photos, Richard, Ralph and Tom.
