Drive it Day

Gill and I organised a run for Drive It Day, the run was from Wymondham to Holkham Hall. 10 cars where at the start in cloudy weather, but as they set off the rain came down heavily which was a shame after the fantastic week of weather we had just had. The route took us out of Wymondham, on country roads to Dereham, then on to County School Railway Station for a quick stop. County School, at one time a naval acedemy. then a private school was served by this station until Dr Beeching cut rural branch lines. Now restored, it forms part of the Mid Norfolk Railway, but is not yet connected to their running tracks.
On from County School the run went through pretty North Norfolk villages heading for Holt, then on to the coast at Blakeney, before turning up the coast road to Wells next the Sea, past Morston and Stiffkey and on to Holkham Hall.
We had provided a route description and tulip diagrams, so no one got lost.

By Holkham, the rain had stopped and the sun came out, Gill had arranged parking in front of the Hall, allowing some good photos.
The group where able to sit and eat outside in the courtyard, before taking advantage of the reduced entry to Bygones Museum and the Hall.

We spotted other classics out and about for drive it day, a bunch of Rileys, 4 Reliants, a group of MG,s, including a broken down one, a few Ferraris, a lone E type, and at Holkham Hall some Morris Minors.
On the way home Gill and I saw some Healey 3000's and a couple of TR6's.

We had hoped that some Stag Owners and Wensum TR Reg cars would join us after we supported their events recently! We did have a lone TSSC Herald with us and we made them very welcome.

Getting the route maps.

Daves Mk 2500 PI.

Getting wet at County School.

More cars at County School.

Reliants at County School, including unusual Reliant Fox.

View from Holkham Hall.

Line up outside Holkham Hall.

Early Bentley owned by Earl of Leicester.

Some other older cars in the Bygones Museum.

Cracking Weekend

Its being a cracking weekend here in Norfolk, Sunny all weekend and quite warm. Out and about on Saturday we spotted a Herald estate on French plates, we introduced ourselfs and found they where an english couple visiting relatives for a couple of weeks. They may turn up for the drive it day run next week.
















French registered Herald Estate.

Also took a trip to the lock-up to check on Gills FHC, which is due back on the road in May, usual things, start up, check lights, check brakes not locked on, etc. Could not get in gear, so presumed a stuck clutch, which was easily cured by starting in gear. Quick spin found everything else ok.
As it is back on the road soon I finally had to confess to Gill about the damage to the wing caused when the lock up door had swung against the car in the wind. Needless to say I am not in her good books!!!

Oops!!!


Also took the time on Sunday morning to fit EBC Green stuff brake pads to my 7, only took about an hour. Braking did seem to be improved slightly. With an Mot due soon I noticed that both front shocker gaitors where split, not sure if that means a fail, will have to check with Mot station, whatever its a pig of a job, and means dropping complete front suspension strut. Might also be the right time to fit roller bearings to front strut tops in place of cones for improved low speed steering.

EBC Green stuff Pads ready to be fitted.

The rest of a hot Sunday was spent on a recce for the Norfolk Area Treasure Hunt around The Broads, great driving with the hood down. With only 2 crossings of the River Bure either end of the Broads, and clues on both sides of The Broads there will need to be some careful navigating!

Looking for clues.

Norfolk Inter Club Meeting

Following on the inter club relations theme, the 4 main Triumph Clubs held a small show and shine event at the Bird in Hand, Wreningham, near Norwich on the 12th April.
With some 20 Triumphs attending on a cold, but sunny evening the event was quite well attended, however I think if held a month later we could benefit from more cars and lighter nights.
1st place in the peoples concours, voted for by drivers and passengers was a nice TR3, with 2nd place being taken by our own Ted Williams with his TR6.
Here are a few shots of the evening.

Early arrivals at Wreningham.

Stags in the Sunset.

Some early TR's and a Spitfire.

Judging the peoples concours.

 Smart Stag and PI.

Teds 2nd place TR6.

The TR2 and winning TR3.

Norfolk Area Update

Thought I had better do an update on the Norfolk Area events now the season has started.
Meetings are still well attended,with a few new members,although with the bad weather a few moderns have been seen in Caistor Hotel car park over Jan, Feb, and March, mine included, as I had a brake cylinder leak again.
21st March saw a good contingent of cars from Club Triumph and the Stag Owners Club complete the re-arranged New Years Run, now called the Spring Run!
We where on holiday on the narrow boat, but reports stated that all enjoyed the run.

Some of the runners at Caistor Hall.

Couple more entrants.

At the finish.

Thanks to Keith for the photos.

28th March was the first show of the season, This was Langley Daffodil Day at Langley School near Loddon.
A small show, but well attended with classic cars. We where sidelined with the brake cylinder leak, the TR7 was driveable,but low on silicon brake fluid,I cannot seem to find any silicon fluid to top up in my local motor stores, so had to order on line which did not arrive in time,so we took the modern.
Thankfully there are a large amount of indoor activities, including good food, at Langley where you can keep warm on such a windy and chilly day.

CT Norfolk cars at Langley.



















Steam Traction at Langley.

Easter Bank Holiday Gill and I recced the drive it day run for Club Triumph Norfolk, picking a bad day to do it, shortly after leaving home we where met with an enormous storm, rain and hail so heavy the TRs wipers could not cope and we had to pull over for a while.

Storm approaching.

We had picked an interesting route from maps, and after the storm we converted this into Tulip Diagrams as we went along, hopefully making for some easy navigation for the entrants.

Interesting stop on the drive it day route, restored railway station.

Spotted another couple of Triumphs on route.

This year we have lost the big Triumph event of the year in Norfolk, ie The Mile of Triumphs, therefore the main Triumph Clubs are developing a policy of co-ordination eg:- trying to share runs and events, thus on Easter Bank Holiday, 5th of April, Club Triumph Norfolk, TSSC, and Stag Owners Club where invited to join the Wensum TR Register Breckland Run.

Starting at High Lodge in Thetford Forest this pleasant 62 mile run around the Breckland region of Norfolk looped around the army ranges at Santon Downham, where they train for Afganhistan, around the pretty Thetford Heath area and through the large areas covered by Thetford Forest, before a good meal at The Crown in Mundford. Weather was dull, but the rain held off. For the record there where 40 cars, many of which where Stags and TRs 2 to 6, plus the Club Triumph contingent.

Stag Owners and Club Triumphs at the start point.

Some early TRs.

Having a break at 40 mile point.

Club Triumph cars at the finish.

CT Spitfire at the finish.

Thankd to Wensum TR Register for a well organised run.