Tuesday, 29 April 2008

The cars that we own..

Many of you when receiving your membership cards following renewal will have had a request from me asking for the Make / Model of your cars where we do not have them, in order to complete our database. From this database at 28 April’08 we collectively have the following 698 cars listed within the club


Arkley
4


Austin Sprite
21


Austin A40 Farina
1


Banham Sprint
1


Healey/IOW Sprite
14


Innocenti
5


Unspecified Midget
21


Midget Mk 1
16


Midget Mk 2
33


Midget Mk 3
56


Midget Mk 3 FL
22


Midget Mk 3 RWA
59


Midget 1500
59


Sebring Sprite/Replica
4


Speedwell Sprite
1


Unspecified Sprite
4


Sprite Mk 1 Frogeye
230


Sprite Mk 2
35


Sprite Mk 3
34


Sprite Mk 4
78


Members looking for a car
10


Members undeclared
40


Interestingly since the club began in 1983, we have had 760 Frogeye and 570 Midget 1500listed, some may have changed hands but where are they all now? We will continue to refine the list and thank you for your cooperation. This is
some list and will have been a great show at Gaydon for Spridget 50 if you are all were able to come! John Platt (membership secretary)

posted by Toby Anscombe at 14:12 0 Comments

Wednesday, 23 April 2008

Drive it day SS&NB style

                                                                                               
A run to Shugborough Hall took place for local members of our club on Sunday the 20th April 2008.  
With weather conditions chilly, almost winter like, only the brave turned out.  They were
 
John and Pom..………Red Midget.                                                                           Andrew and Jeanette....Big Red Healey                                                                       
Mark and Louise……..Red Midget
Gavin and Dawn……...Green Midget 
Bob and Dianne………Yellow Sprite 
                                                           
Also in attendance John and Pom's friends in their modern car.
 
Everyone had arrived on time and parking had been reserved by the friendly attendant, so far so good. We thought it was strange that we now parked a long way from the house so it was decided to walk to the coffee shop for drinks and then have a walk round the grounds. As we headed for the coffee shop a large but polite security man stopped us and asked for our tickets. Tickets? We all seemed to say together, what tickets? Entrance tickets he says. But we are only going for a cup of coffee! Without tickets of £12 each we were not allowed into the grounds or the coffee shop!   
 
"Mutter mutter mutter" this must rate as one of the most expensive cups of coffee in the Midlands!  A quick re-think by John and we all get into our cars and head for the Barley Mow on Milford Common where they served the biggest cups of coffee I have ever seen. Suitably refreshed we said our goodbyes to Andrew and Jeanette, John and Pom and Friends.           
 
The three remaining cars headed by Gavin and Dawn had an impromptu run over the Cannock Chase back roads via Brocton, Hednesford and Slitting Mill. On the way round catching sit of a stag (no not a Triumph but one with antlers!)  We even had people waving and cheering as we drove by. We finished up at a walker's/ biker's rest area and not only had more coffee but entertainment as well from the local bird life singing away, not to mention the visiting Woodpecker.                                                                          
My thanks to all that turned up and especially to Gavin and Dawn who not only telephoned Bill, then lead us round parts of the Chase on a scenic traffic free run.
 
            Regards to all                                                                                                                          Bob .   

posted by Toby Anscombe at 21:38 0 Comments

Monday, 21 April 2008

Healey Driver's club coming from Devon to Spridget 50

This is a reprint of an article that appeared in the HDC magazine and even though the numbers quoted are over 100 cars fewer than presently booked I thought I'd blog it here in case any one in the southwest fancies convoying oop north with them.
 
SPRIDGET 50 –THE BIG PARTY 24 MAY 2008 AT GAYDON
 
600 SPRIDGETS ARE BOOKED IN ALREADY FOR THE BIG PARTY!!
 
This is beginning to look like the largest collection of Sprites, Midgets and derivatives to be in one place!!
 
Many historic cars will be there including "PBL 75"and John Sprinzel's "PMO 200"
 
Bic Healey is hoping to attend and formally open the event and cut the birthday cake, which is in the shape of a Frogeye Sprite, and join in the other activities
 
There are also to be talks by Don Hayter who was responsible for the production of the Frogeye Sprite when it moved to Abingdon as well as Mike Garton, prominent Spridget racing driver and author
 
The profit generated from this event will donated to the MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT
 
Further information and booking details can be found on line at <http://www.spridget50.com or call the ticket hotline on 01954 231125
 
A group of us are planning to drive up on Friday, probably leaving at about 10am from the Exeter services to arrive up at Gaydon between 3pm and 4pm as some of us are involved in setting up for the Big Day!! We are already meeting another Spridget at Taunton Services later that morning
 
If you are interested in joining this group, or know of anyone who may be interested, please contact David Clarkson on 01626 364441 or 07791 666784 to discuss arrangements
 
It looks like being a terrific event—don't miss it!!
 
It might appeal to travel as part of a larger group of like minded people, I often enjoy a "bimble" in company, adds an extra spice to know you are not alone
 
Bill

posted by Toby Anscombe at 14:19 0 Comments

Sunday, 6 April 2008

SS&NB report (again)

More (and I do mean more) from SS&NB

 
Last month after the Green Man meet on the first Wednesday, Geoff and I took a familiar run across to Sambourne to visit the Warwick's bunch, like the "Wild Bunch" but more of 'em, and had a blinking cold drive home afterwards.
 
We didn't do much more than that either, I fitted a new red spring to my SU HIF carburettor, courtesy of John Collinson and a three inch stack stub to replace the K&N filter in preparation for my track day next Saturday. Courtesy of Toby Anscombe, the club webmaster, cheers mate! John Collinson provided a Pipercross sock to filter the air intake so next weekend ought to mark a fresh day in the history of Lara my ex-Arkley Midget. We shall see, whilst having buckets loads of fun…
 
On Wednesday night as I arrived at the Green Man for this month's meeting I didn't really have great expectations for a big meeting. I had to wander through the labyrinthine connected rooms looking for the "team" and found them as far away from the door as we can get at the Greeny. We had a central large-ish table, plenty of room there I thought. Off to the bar for a refreshing drop of liquid gold and was joined by nigh on half a dozen extras and after we got back to the table it was full to bursting point so we added another to it to stretch the accommodation.
 
But this wasn't enough and we had even more additions so many that for the first time in ages I passed the notebook round for a roll-call, sixteen of us, we took over the entire alcove/room/cubby hole.
 
So much chatter it was impossible to be in every thread, hasn't been that busy for ages, marvellous.
 
Roll call follows: (not in order of appearance, we're not the BBC tha knows)
Matt and Steve Dicken, Andy Bird and Jeanette Bowron, Vince Gillin, (now using his car at last after its long rebuild and very very lovely it is too) And Geoff Mears. Behind Geoff, Dawn and Gavin Manion and across from me Mark Guthrie and Bob Clarkson and Trevor Lane (Our webmaster in SS&NB) Working round a bit further John Collins and John Wragg. Dave O'Neill and Bill McKenzie (Bill 2 fame, of course) and myself. Phew now my fingers are out of breath…
 
We have decided, at Bob's instigation, that we will be meeting up at Shugborough Hall on Sunday the 20th of April, this year's Drive Your Classic day. This has become an annual event on the Sunday nearest to St George's Day. If you fancy meeting up with us we intend meeting at the Hall at 1400 hrs.
 
Bob, in addition to being the MASC database manager is also the SS&NB events co-ordinator and often has good ideas for us to go to meetings. See us anywhere this year and Bob will have been involved somewhere I reckon, he certainly found this as a good low-key event for us. Come along and share the day out. Shugborough was the home of the late Lord Patrick Lichfield, cousin to HM the Queen and famous photographer. His house has been a great place to visit for years. My very first MG based event was there back in 1989. How time flies.
 
The picture was taken (on film! shock horror!) back in 1989 at Shugborough at an MGOC event. Anyone know any of those cars? It would be nice to see them again at Spridget 50 next month.
 
I had my latest copy of MASCOT this week and I was impressed, at last it shows a healthy blend of car pictures and pictures of the people that make this a great club. Keep it up Barry, thanks. Just what I have been hoping to see.
 

Bill Mohan SS&NB

 

posted by Toby Anscombe at 14:49 0 Comments

April, a new month and summer's here. OK it snowed today

.

posted by Toby Anscombe at 14:46 0 Comments