Grand Union

The end of May we had a break on our Narrowboat on the Grand Union Canal in Northhamptonshire, starting from Gayton Junction the wife spent a couple of days with the Grand daughter through Blisworth Tunnel to Stoke Bruerne and back to Gayton. I joined on the Monday after the Duxford Show, we then cruised up the Buckby Flight, and through the Watford Staircase Locks towards Market Harborough, then back to Gayton. Only 1 bad weather day with showers on and off, the rest of the time was quite warm.

Stoke Bruerne.

Negotiating a typical bridge.

Rising in Watford Staircase Locks.

Sunny Mooring.
Sunset over the Grand Union Canal.

Entering Crick Tunnel.

1000 yds into the tunnel.

Leaving one of the Watford Staircase Locks.

Me doing all the hard work!

Near miss with a Virgin Pendalino!
Was great to get away from all the doom and gloom of the reccesion and work for a week, purposely did not use the TV/mobile or laptop to cut of the outside world which is easy to do on the canals. Bit shocked to hear of the La Carrerra cancelation, though hope to be on the informal run.

Triumph Marque Day-Duxford

The Triumph Marque Day at Duxford Imperial War Museum was a very good day, Norfolk Area met at Fourways Services near Mildenhall, with a convoy of 8 Triumphs, which quickly turned into a fast run!
Must explain convoy behavior at the next meeting!

The day was very hot, with sunburns all round, I had to take shelter in the aircraft hangars on a few occasions, but worth it to see the historic aircraft on display or under renovation, particularly liked the American Display, with the Blackbird, and my favourite yank plane the A10 Thunderbolt. I also liked the Land Warfare Museum, which is set out as trenches/battle zones from the various wars. Apart from the cars in the Marque display there was only 1 other Triumph in the whole museum, and that was a Triumph despatch riders bike in the 2nd World War exhibition.

The cars display had around 500 various Triumphs, most numerous been Stags and TR6, there where some early Triumphs, but for me it was good to see more than 20 TR7's and 8's, my car of the show was the Atlas Van, closely followed by the Coca Cola TR7.

General View of the cars on display.

Coca Cola TR7, this was a prize in a joint Coca Cola/Levis competition, fitted with a fridge, door trims from Levi jeans materials, complete with pockets, I think 2 are still in existence.

On the return journey, the recently installed rear axle drove me mad, the noise I heard, which I thought was the LH driveshaft bearing, and subsequently changed, must instead be from the diff bearings, also a vibration has now set in when backing off, definitely not the propshaft, its a specialist job to change these bearings, so will stick the other axle back in when back from holiday.

To further add to my woes, the radiator seems to have sprung a leak around the bottom outlet, so another job to do before La Carrerra.

Another Sunny Outing

Thursday night I decided to change the LH wheel bearing again as it was noisy. Getting used to this now so it did not take long to whip the wheel and brake hub off, undo the 4 bolts holding the driveshaft in and remove. Never realised before that you can remove the driveshaft without dismantling the brakes. I took a grinder to the bearing bush, chopping part way through it, then chiselled off the bush as recommended in the Leyland Workshop manual. Could not see much signs of wear with the bearing, but removed anyway and opened the box containing the bearing assy I had bought at an auto jumble. Lesson to be learnt, check the contents when you buy from auto jumbles, the bearing bush was missing!!!!

This meant a dash to Robsport on the Friday afternoon after work to get a bearing bush, and guess what, thet are only sold as a full bearing kit. So £25 lighter the bearings are in and driveshaft fitted. This has cured the problem.

Halfshaft removed with brakes still in position.

Saturday I gave the car a well overdue clean and polish, this has not been done properly since the HCR, under the bonnet was particulary dirty.

Sunday 10th Club Triumph Norfolk took 10 cars to Henham Wings and Wheels. The weather was great, sun all day, slight breeze, leading to some red faces and arms. This is always a very good show, with the light aircraft flying in and out all day and some aerobatic displays adding interest. Most unusual was a tug plane towing a glider around with the glider spinning around on its tow rope, flying upside down before finally being released and heading high, then doing stalls and spins.

A wide variety of classics and vintage cars where on display, here are a few photos of some that took my attention.

Club Triumph Area.

Club Triumph Area.

Stearman Biplane.

Mk11 RS 1800.

Talbot Sunbeam, Vauxhall HS 2300 engine.

My favourite other Wedge!

Pristine Spitfire.

Skoda, Rally prepared.

Nice Triumph.

MOT and May Bank Holiday

MOT for the DHC was booked for the end of April with Anglian Triumph, beforehand I sorted out an earth gremlin in the rear fogs and fitted a new flasher relay, the old one flashed very slowly, the car sailed through. Minor problems seem to be a couple of oil leaks in the usual places, namely front and rear crank seals, and a gearbox oil leak from the remote to gearbox housing, so will live with these for now. 1 major problem seems to be with the left hand rear wheel bearing, which is becoming noisy, this was fitted before the HCR and has only done 1500 miles, I have a spare so will change this week.

Sunday was spent gathering more treasure hunt clues for 21st June, then on Bank Holiday Monday we entered the Broadland MG owners club Heritage run.

This is one of the best organised runs in Norfolk with an entry of 170 cars, the majority MG's, but loads of other classics, this event never seems to attract a large number of Triumphs which is a shame, in fact with 4 TR7,s attending the wedge was the most popular of the Triumph Marque, others where 3 Spitfires, 3 TR6, 1 Dolly 1500, 1 Herald, 1 TR2, 1 TR5, 1 Stag, 1 GT6.

The start was at Caister Life Boat Station with coffee and bacon rolls for all. A good route book was given out with Tulip diagrams, descriptions of interesting places en route, a rally plaque, and vouchers for tea and coffee at the halfway stop.

80 miles later after a little run along the coast, criss crossing of the Broads, along excellent minor roads in dull overcast conditions we finished at Blickling Hall where all finishers received a rally plaque.

We had no wrong turns, plenty of time to stop and view interesting places, and had a few convoy situations as we considered it rude to overtake except when a slow vintage car was in front (or a traction engine)

MG Display.

Caister Lifeboat Station.

Lone Triumph.

Convoy Developing en route.

Dolly 1500 at Halfway Stop.

Slight hold up on route.

Blickling Hall.

This Rover now a classic?

TR7V8 & MGRV8.