Easton Farm Park Show

Last Sunday was Easton Farm Park classic car show in Suffolk,been a few years since we have attended here. We had the usual Norfolk crowd in attendance, 7 cars and a couple of interlopers in a Stag and Spitfire from Suffolk, we chose to meet in Framlingham, about 5 miles away rather than convoy from nearer home.
Started off as a grey windy day, but roof still came down for the drive there. Only about 20 miles for me, following my old route to work, so a familar quick blast but others had done lots more miles to get there. No bacon butties available here so not attending next year! Sun out by dinnertime, quite hot, so glass of Aspells Cider and a Hog roast went down well.

A few photos.

Norfolk Area Line up

A nice Mk11 2000 and a Tickford Capri.

A very good Mustang.

Lanchester, Roller, Stag, and Mk1 2000.

Selection of VW's, mostly lowered.

Liked the treatment of the rust on this one, looked as though sealed and laquered.

From the right, Lea Francis, Riley, Austin, and Wolseley Wasp.

Alans Stag with Weber conversion.

1952 Cadillac

Oldies sheltering from the sun.

TR Drivers Club National Weekend

Gill and I attended the TR Drivers Club National weekend at Billing Aquadrome which celebrated 30 years of the TR Drivers Club, this was on the same weekend as the Grand Prix which did not help attendance.
Some really nice TR7's and 8's, I thought I had spent a fortune when restoring our FHC and DHC, but some of these guys mentioned crazy money. No rally cars this year which was a shame.
Only took the DHC as entrance fee at Billing is a bit steep and used approx £40 petrol so theoretically saved a bit.
Weather was changeable on Sunday, we had a shower when on the road run.
Thanks to Chris, Jim, Simon, and Phil who did all the organising and all those who helped.
Some pics.


Some of the Drop head coupes lined up, Persian Aqua Blue seems
popular, knew we should have taken Gills FHC.




A few early cars, fantastic TR2.




Genuine TR8's, the Blue A reg had a reputed 15k spent on it. There was also
another A reg and a D reg, these being some of the 18 auctioned
TR8 factory cars not registered till after production ceased.




Nice TR7 V8 conversion.




A good selection of the rarer Fixed head coupes along
with a couple of Grinnals.




TR Drivers Coke Car, owned by Chris Turner.




Lined up for the afternoon run.



Like this shot, got away from a junction quicker than the followers.




The obligatory pub stop.



Good views of Northamptonshire from the pub car park.



Winding through the lanes.



Not a bad day, 270 miles in total, caught with the hood down in a thunderstorm on way home, a little wet when we finally put the hood up!

Finally have a weekend without shows coming up to catch up on home stuff. Then the Club Barbecue at the Norfolk Area Monday night meeting.

Vintage Transport Day-North Norfolk Railway

Just back from a weeks narrow boating holiday and then straight on to another car show. The North Norfolk Railway Vintage Transport Day on the 3rd July is an excellent event. 300 plus classic cars, unlimited travel on the preserved steam railway between Holt, Weybourne, and along the coast to Sheringham and also a Vintage Bus service between Holt Station and Holt town and between Holt station and Sheringham. All for £4 entry when showing a car.

Usual Club Stand, Gills FHC TR7 joined by another FHC in faded Persian Aqua.

We spent a little while looking round the cars, then had the usual Bacon butties for a few of us before we caught the packed train to Sheringham, drawn by the Great Eastern E13 and Quad Articulated set in lovely Teak finish.

E13 running round Quad Art set at Holt Station.

A quick stroll round Sheringham, avoiding the many Morris Dancers like the plague!! before a good fish and chip dinner in a restaurant. Then another stroll, this time along the sea front with ice creams and a brief visit to the arcade machines.

Sand and Sky at Sheringham.

We opted for the London Country AEC Regal bus on the way back, fully loaded it struggled up the hill out of Sheringham with a crunching of gears as the driver went all the way down the box and did not feel over safe on corners when seated on the top deck although I dont reckon it got above 30mph.

London Country AEC Regal bus at Holt.

Back at Holt some opted for the shade of the Gazebo whilst I looked round some exhibits and watched the next steam hauled service arrive drawn by BR 9F freight loco "Black Prince"

9F "Black Prince" running round train at Holt.

In between the steam hauled trains the diesel railbus ran a shuttle service to Weybourne to view the restoration sheds.

Railbus exchaning tablet at Holt.

An excellent day, good company, and ace weather. Another must for next year.

Norfolk Navigational Scatter

19th of June saw only 8 cars enter the scatter event we had organised with a MSA Permit around South Norfolk. We had no cars from Stag Owners and the TR Reg this year and despite putting leaflets on lots of Triumphs and other cars at shows only attracted one other make, a Mk11 Jag. It was Fathers day which may not have helped and forecast was not good.

Cars at the Start

I think all enjoyed it this year, it was easier than previous years with locations close to each other and marking was tight. Gill and I enjoy researching and doing the recce's for these events and sometimes get lost ourselves! The Jag dropped out before the halfway point with a leaking top hose.

Having seen everyone off I arrived at the halfway point early to collect first half sheets and hand out second half sheets, this was co-incidentally also a control stop point for Chelmsford Motor Club East Anglia Classic, we had MSA Route Liaison officer approval for this and therefore I saw all their cars having a brief break at the time control at The Industrial Steam Museum at Forncett St Mary, the cars where surprisingly clean considering they where on a run with tests.

Parked up at the steam museum with East Anglia Classic entrants.

One of my dream cars RS 2000 Droopsnoot.

More classics including nice Alpha on the East Anglia Classic.

Our Scatter finished at Alburgh, near Bungay, winners being Julie and David Aspinall with Buster, Sue and Keith Stothard in second just one correct answer behind, then Andy and Wendy Dann, Alan and Christine Hancock, and Paul and Linda Dennis sharing 3rd two correct answers behind.

Well done to Mike Leigh for attempting it without a navigator and doing twice as many miles thanks to sat nav.

We managed to raise a small sum for East Anglia Air Ambulance so thanks to everyone who attended.

June Shows

We attended a couple of shows in June, the first been Norwich Classic Vehicle Club Show, June 5th just outside Norwich, There where 4 CT members car there. Started of as a nice day but then became windy and cold, especially with shorts on!
There where a lot of cars on show, about 300 I would estimate, but little else to do other than wander round an autojumble and look at the cars. We only took the one TR7.
The voting for best in show at this event puzzles me, the eventual winners being a Mini converted to a van, ok, nice conversion, but not original and a late Mercedes Saloon and late Jag, all these when there where TR2 to 6's, Steam cars, many old Rileys, Rovers, Austins, early Jags including E types..

The next show was Euston Hall Rural Pastimes on 12th June, a very big and well organised show. We had 7 CT members cars there, including both our TR7's, 2 Stags, TR6, and 2 Heralds.
Plenty to do at this event, with lots of rural activities on show, crafts, foods, animals, etc. Weather was again fine to begin with but the wind got up and rain arrived late on. Whilst all around where taking down their gazebos before they collapsed, our new dome event shelter stood up against the wind.

CT Members cars.

Took a few pictures at both shows with the digital camera, but all came out purple so I think we need a new one, these camera phone pics are the best I can do.

Standard Triumph Day

A very windy, but dry Sunday I took the 140 mile round trip to the CT organised Standard Triumph Marque Day at Duxford Imperial War Museum. We had 4 Norfolk cars there, My TR7 DHC, a Stag, a Spitfire and a TR6. Had a quick look round the 300 Triumphs there, most numerous been Stags and TR6, least numerous where small saloons and GT6. Hope the treasurer gets better soon after his accident on the stand. Did not see too many CT people about considering it was organised by us. With it been very windy we soon got inside, firstly in the American Air Museum, most notable planes for me where the B52, A10 Thunderbolt, Phantom, Huey, and SR71 Blackbird. Then back to the car for a spot of lunch before looking in the well laid out Land Warfare Hall, this is very good, simulating trenches and battle fields with tanks, gun emplacements, etc. There was a very good informitive film of the war from D day onwards which was showing in the theatre there, quite gory in places but serves to remind of the sacrifices made by many. I then watched the tank and armoured car driving before heading for home around 3pm.

Overall view of the 300 cars on display.

A very modified TR7 V8 Turbocharged car, reminiscent of

the ill fated Le Mans entry by Janspeed.

A medium sized tank captured from Iraq.

Fearsome looking tank on the driving range.

Russian Missile Launcher.

Couple of the Norfolk Cars.

Collection of ADU registered Spitfires.

Busy Few Weeks

Has been a busy few weeks on the car and events front in Norfolk.

Over the long May Bank Holiday weekend we spent a bit of time driving around in the TR7 DHC looking for clues for our Treasure Hunt, prior to getting in form and info for an MSA Permit.
Then an enjoyable afternoon trialling the new "Event Shelter" to replace the club gazebo, followed by a barbie. Thanks Sue and Keith.
Gills FHC had its MOT this week, the fog lights took a bit of sorting out as they had stopped working, in the end it was the contacts in the switch that where stuck together so after a good clean they worked. MOT passed OK, but brakes seemed a little on the weak side. We clamped off the front flexi pipes and the rear brakes where OK on the brake rollers, then clamped the rear flexi and the fronts had reduced effort, so either suspected calipers or pressure reducing valve. Took calipers off and checked condition and pads, they where OK, so had to change the valve which cured the problem.
This weekend was Henham Wings and Wheels, a good show blessed with good weather. We had an "informal" convoy from Bungay to Henham then set up in the clubs area of the field. A good selection of 10 Club Triumph cars where on the stand, plus 4 from the Stag Owners. The new events shelter went up quickly after learning from our trial run.
There was a good selection of cars and bikes, I was number 401 so quite a lot there.
Flying activity was down on last year as there as quite a warm wind but there was a good display from Pitts Specials and a Mustang.


Busy Club Stand.

I liked this Mini caravan.

A rare Allard.

Not often you see a Vauxhall nowadays.

Spotted this nice original TR7 with a plaque on the dash to say it was presented as a prize by TR Register, with keys handed over by Tony Pond and Tony Mason, Roger Clarkes navigator, with photo evidence.