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NEWS & CHAT PAGE
You may like to take a look at this website - www.driversanonymous.co.uk - Lots of interesting stuff
We have been asked to pass on details of Preston & district's annual event
'The Lancashire Lanes Run' will take place on 20th September this year.
If anyone wants further information or an entry form please go to www.prestonmg.co.uk
June 2009 Cobblestones Run
We were blessed with a hot and sunny day and the new venue for the start and finish of the event turned out to be a the right decision.
A total of thirty six cars set off from the Fair View Inn and the Cavalcade of Excellence followed a route that took us through some breathtaking scenery around Lancashire and West Yorkshire.
Various optional stops along the way allowed time for refreshments and breaks with the chance to talk to fellow MG and classic car enthusiasts.
The splendid carvery was served to all returning drivers and passengers who tucked into the fayre whilst the raffle tickets where drawn.
We must do it again sometime!
Some of the 36 cars that took part
May 2009
As you all know May did occur but our roving reporter was otherwise engaged
April 2009
At North Manchester MGOC we all take turns in
organising our monthly runs and this provides plenty of variety and routes to
take. Our April run was the ever popular St Georges Day Run and was prepared by
Jim and Joan Keating.
The day dawned to a spectacular sight as we entered the car park to see all the
entrants lined up and ready for the off in brilliant sunshine.
Among this Cavalcade of Excellence were some welcome visitors with their classic
cars including a three litre Austin Healey, an MGA, a Nissan Figaro, MGB's and a
Midget - fantastic!
Our route took us into the Cheshire countryside with pre-planned stops at a
large garden centre and a country park and with a final destination of the Lion
Salt Works near Northwich. At the salt works we were treated to a narration
about the salt making process and the background to the Lion works. Sounds
boring but it was very interesting indeed!
What set this outing as a special day was the opportunity to meet new friends
whom we hope to see again in the future. We really all had a great day out.
GRAHAM TAYLOR
A nice turnout
March 2009
At last warmer weather is returning which means
it's more fun driving our MG's. But here at North Manchester we go out
throughout the year anyway!
For example in March we all went on a outing entitled Harvey's Run. Now Harvey
is only five years old but he is a regular on our Sunday run's accompanied by
his parents Gary & Sharon and his younger sister Rebecca. So, where do you
think the final destination point for Harvey's Run was? An ice cream parlour
of course!
Harvey's Run took us over the Pennine's into Holmfirth and via our new
favourite road down onto the A628 towards Barnsley. A cracking road and the
Cavalcade of Excellence was in full throttle for a goodly few miles.
We arrived at the Yummy Ice Cream Parlour at Delph House Farm and we were
greeted by hens and chickens running around the car park and the mooing of a
herd of cows. A highlight of the visit however, was meeting up by chance with a
fellow MG enthusiast from, I think, the Sheffield club who just happened to be
visiting the farm in his emaculate bright red Jaguar 120. A nice chap and a
nice car!
Our photo tells it all. A great day and great company.
Harvey is second from the right (front row)
January 2009
Our first run of the 2009 season was held on a
cold but bright day in January. Graham managed to keep his hood down for the
first seventy miles but completed the last thirty or so home in a warmer Midget
with its hood firmly up!
It was in fact Graham's run and the whole route was centred around a single road
that runs from Holmfirth over 't tops to Tintwistle. It's a cracker and
everyone commented on the views and moorland scenery. The final destination for
the Cavalcade of Excellence was a retail outlet mill complex near Wakefield.
First class.
Good news for the 2009 Cobblestones Run! We have changed the venue to the
Fairview Inn which is only a mile or so away from our venue for past events. We
tested the Fairview's Classic Carvery for our Christmas Meal and we can verify
that it is a really good treat. The even better news is that we can reduce the
entry cost to only £9 per person. So, we think that this is good news
especially in the current economic climate. If you want to find out more visit
our website or speak to Brian or Graham or, if you are "local", just turn up at
one of our meetings.
Our events list for 2009 can also be viewed on our Events page or again contact
Brian or Graham (see Homepage) and we can e-mail you a copy.
So, we hope we see you during 2009 at the "friendly club".
December 2008
The North Manchester MG Owner's Club Christmas Party was held at a different venue this time. The Fair View Inn, with its classic carvery and full supporting menu, proved to be a good decision and everyone enjoyed the meal. In fact we have decided to adopt this pub/restaurant, close by the Spring Inn, as our new venue for our annual Cobblestones Run to be held during June 2009.
Our monthly runs take us in all directions from our start point near Rochdale and always have a destination that is of interest to everyone. So why not come along ?

The Christmas Meal at the Fairview Inn
November 2008
October 2008
MONTH: October
SUBJECT: Fran & Dave's "Fuel for Thought Run"
CONTENTS: Ghosts, Henry the 8th, Christmas
goodies and flower style urinals in the gents! Wow!
A good crowd set off from the Spring Inn along with
Ken and Stuart, a couple of new friends from the Sheffield MGOC, who had made a
special journey over to us for the day, to top that we had two Ladies from
Kingston Ontario who had made the journey especially to be with us!
The weather was dry and the MG's were in
good order and the Cavalcade of Excellence wound its way through hills, villages
and towns in Lancashire over to the impressive Samlesbury Hall near Preston.
Here, Henry 8th, or someone who looked and talked like him, explained the finer
points of this fascinating stately home to anyone who would listen. It seems
that the place is haunted but nobody said boo to us!
Leaving the splendours of this 1325 AD built hall behind us we progressed on
further afield to the Barton Grange garden centre near Garstang. here the
Christmas displays made us all festive with cheer - and the cash tills did ring.
Now, one of the more unusual aspects of this centre is its unusual stand-up
plumbing arrangements in the gents toilets. Well, they're porcelain and shaped
like Lilies, Roses and Tulips and it's most peculiar - but fun!
Later with twilight fast approaching and the MG's asking to be tucked up in
their garages for the night it was a safe return journey home.
Thanks to Fran & Dave for a great day out.

Smiling faces outside Samlesbury Hall
September 2008
This September we enjoyed two great runs courtesy
of four of our north Manchester members.
The first outing was an evening run organised by Brian and Debs that took our
cavalcade of excellence up and over the hills out of Lancashire and into West
Yorkshire. I think I can speak for all those who took part on the night in
extending our congratulations to Brian and Debs on an outstanding little route
that led us through some spectacular scenery and eventually onto the Pack Horse
Inn and a hearty hot meal. Lovely grub!
The second run was organised and planned by Ian and Trudy and took place on a
warm and dry Sunday late in September. By coincidence we left Lancashire again
and headed into West Yorkshire travelling through towns and villages and across
open expanses of moorland where we had a chance to open up the throttle a bit.
Lunch was at Shibden Hall and comprised of a picnic on the lawn. A tour of
this old building was undertaken but Brian and I just ate our ice-lollies on a
wooden bench and savoured a Last of the Summer Wine moment! We left the Hall
and proceeded still in formation over the hills again and arrived at Oxenhope
Steam Railway. Now we have been here before but you just can't miss the
opportunity to see an engine with a full head of steam performing and, true to
form, one arrived in the station platform while we were there. Superb!
Before leaving for the return leg we had the opportunity to come to the aid of a
biker who unfortunately had broken down in the station car park. Despite
valiant pushing by Brian and Graham the bike failed to proceed. However, Gary
came to the rescue with a set of jump leads produced from his car boot.
It was an unusual sight to see Gary's Midget starting a 750cc motorbike side be side. Nice to be able to help another enthusiast.

Picnic on the Grass

Now That's something you don't see very Often
August 2008 The Treasure Hunt and BBQ run
The day started fine and dry and continued to be so as, it must be said, a smaller than expected number of cars set off for our now annual Treasure Hunt and BBQ.
Jim and Joan did the honours this year mainly because they won the event last year.
So as you might imagine the idea of the Treasure Hunt is not to win, whilst still trying to make it look like you tried your best.
The questions this year really tested the entrants, with 4 stops en route, a garden centre two Exhibitions/Museums and an Aquarium.
The people on duty must have wondered what was going on as person after person asked the same questions.
I bet you didn’t know what substance Human Blood is chemically closest to?
Well it’s Seawater.
So it came to pass that the Cavalcade of excellence finally arrived at Jim and Joan’s residence. The BBQ was enjoyed and our version of the Birds nest stadium in Beijing waited for the start of the games.
We may not have expended as much energy as our glorious Olympians but we did have lots of fun competing in Darts, Lawn darts, Mini Golf and Quoits.
After the Gold Medals were awarded the only thing left to do was announce the winner of the Treasure Hunt.
Dam it was me, so next year the BBQ will be Hosted by Brian & Deb – mental note must try harder not to win.

Double Medal Winners from the MG Olympics
July 2008
Instead of organising our July monthly run we
joined our close friends and MG neighbours at Bury MGOC for their annual Black
Pudding Run. This was a prearranged swap because they had entered our
Cobblestones Run that took place during June. So we returned the favour.
I am sure I can speak for all the North Manchester crowd in thanking Bury MGOC
for the warm welcome we received at the event. The organisation was superb and
the run was great. The route took the Cavalcade of Excellence around all parts
of Lancashire with interesting views and places of interest and then back to the
start point for refreshments and a barbecue. The hot food was definitely
welcome after the bracing day due to high winds and low temperatures!
In order to maintain a long-standing tradition, Kelvin, who is one of our
members, managed to get a puncture by hitting a boulder that ran out into the
road before he could avoid it. This maintains his "will I break down again"
success rate of 100%.
All are welcome to join North Manchester MGOC for our monthly runs that take us
all around our area with interesting destinations and routes. Alternatively,
call in for a chat at our monthly meetings at the Spring Inn in Rochdale.
June 2008 - The Cobblestones Run
We are glad to report another great
Cobblestones Run held during June with a near record number of entries that
filled the car park at the Spring Inn start and finish point.
Despite a threatening sky the tenth
Cobblestones Run Cavalcade of Excellence proceeded on a route into Yorkshire and
around some picturesque scenery and interesting stop-off points including narrow
boats, steam trains, a heritage centre and retail shopping. Some were lucky and
missed a shower or two - some weren't!
However, all arrived back to a piping
hot meal in the restaurant to witness the raffle draw. What a draw, we had so
many prizes that it took about half an hour to get through all the winners and
to give out the prizes. The selected charity the Springhill Hospice, situated
just around the corner from the venue, benefitted from the generosity of all who
took part.
We trust that all who participated
enjoyed the event as much as North Manchester members did.
Well they look to be enjoying the day
May 2008
Anyone who owns a Midget and is sometimes
disappointed to see the model outshone by larger MGB's etc at shows and
concourse events will have had a field day at the Spridget 50 event at Heritage
Motor Centre at Gaydon In May.
The organisers expected around 1,000 Midgets
and Sprites to turn up and I for one would not doubt that they achieved their
goal. What a day and what an event - superb!
Notable cars where the many examples in
absolute first class condition and the V8 version that I wouldn't have thought
would be possible but there it was. But I personally liked just browsing around
the car parking areas and looking at all the smiling faces and everyday cars.
The museum itself is certainly worth a
visit and seems to have been changed since I last went some years ago. A full
history of autos from the early beginnings until the present day.
I took loads of photos and it is difficult
to select one to illustrate these words. So, to solve the problem I am showing
my own Midget on the crest of a hill plus a few others.
Just A Few of the Participants
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