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| MEETING REPORTS 2010 |
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Kimbolton Castle - 18th July 2010
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It was touch and go as to whether we would make it back in time to go to the show having been away for a week in Yorkshire, but we did. Our thanks go to Martin Pidd (East Anglian Kit Cars/RHOCaR East Anglia) who managed to get the tickets. Chris Brown had written and although receiving a reply, was never sent the address where he was to send the stamped addressed envelope and my attempt to write to the guy also failed. Luckily, Martin did manage to get somewhere. I suppose we shouldn't be too mean since it is all for charity but we all like to save a few pennies don't we....
Anyway, it was a good show this year and although it came over quite cloudy a few times, and varied from absolutely baking to slightly chilly, we didn't get wet for once. It was the show last year that convinced me to sell my Robin Hood, one too many rain showers!
Because of the good weather, there were lots of stalls; the man with the hot pasties is a must to go and see, as is the lady selling various fudges, all very tasty.
I think one of the highlights was the medieval village; various skills were being demonstrated during the day, basket weaving, wood turning, tinker, cooks, gunsmith. They also did a display in the arena. Good fun. The Shire Horses were lovely too.
The link to Martin's report is: http://www.eastangliankitcars.co.uk/kimboltoncastle.htm
If you read his report and either Martin or I have not mentioned your name, please let either of us know.
Attendees : (I stole this list from Martin, with his permission of course):
Martin & Debbie Pidd Luego Velocity XT EAKCC
Bob Rowell Robin Hood 2B EAKCC
Paul Taylor Robin Hood 2B EAKCC
Alan & Dawn Brighten Robin Hood 2B EAKCC
Richard Parcell Robin Hood 2B EAKCC
Derek and Marilyn Overfield Robin Hood 2B RHOCAR
Alan Rowe and Pauline Lotus Elise SG7
Peter Bell Robin Hood S7 SG7
Glyn Rust Robin Hood Super spec Essex kit car club & RHOCAR & SG7s
Peter & Linda Kelleher Luego Velocity Locostbuilders .co.uk
Ian Harrison Quantum Xtreme Locostbuilders .co.uk & SG7s
John Ashpole Luego Velocity XT Locostbuilders .co.uk
David Moloney Locost Locostbuilders .co.uk
Gavin Cocks Essex kit car club
Kev (Madteg) Locost Locostbuilders .co.uk
Trev (Trev D) Locost Locostbuilders .co.uk
Simon & James Kirby Luego Viento SG7
John & Helen Westfield SG7 & RHOCaR
Nigel Bartram & Family, JBA Falcon, SG7s
Bumped into: Alan & Eve Whale, Tiger , SG7s
Bob Howes, Sherpley, SG7s.
Thanks Martin for getting the tickets. A good time was had by all.
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Shhhhh! Someone turned on the sun and forgot to put a rain cloud or two over us! It was a lovely hot sunny meeting, which made a real change. We had 18 kits turn up for the meeting. It was good to see some rare faces, such as Paul Brown, Matt & Louis and David Armour as well as some brand new ones too, Peter & Joe Martin, Pete Gray and Roy Pallister.
Pete Gray lives not far from Baldock but was unaware of our club until he had a little car trouble and was aided by Ron Clements (Westfield) who told Pete about our monthly gathering. Pete’s son also joined us so hopefully they enjoyed their time at the pub and will come back.
Roy Pallister, Bedford, made his initial contact by email and having come along to the meeting, says he will be back and next time bring his wife. As we all know, ladies are an important and welcome addition to the meetings. After all, if the lady of the house is here, you won’t get in trouble if you are home late. (You know who you are if you are reading this! Oh and that same person deserves a little smack for being cheeky! Glad to see you have your car back on the road Mr S.)
Kimbolton Country Fair is the next outing on the list. It is all in aid of raising money for the Sporting Bears charity and is a nice little show with something for all the family. The show is on 18th July. We traditionally gang up with some of the Norfolk guys which is always nice.
The next meeting is on August
 1st, it is the last date of raising money for the air ambulance after which I will send in the money via the donation link on RHOCaR.
Perhaps you might like to add a little to it and donate something yourself by clicking on the following link:
http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/donate/donate_b.asp
Attendees
Tiger: Alan & Eve, Pete Gray
NG: John Hamilton-Smith
Fury: Dave Smith
Robin Hood: Stephen & Lesley, Mike Bloomfield, Roy Pallister
Viento: Ricky Crafford, Peter & Joe Martin
Marlin: Mike Gouldsborough
Quantum: Ian & Robyn
MK Indy: Matt & Louis
Mach 1: David Armour
Westfield: Martin Cockman, John, Ron Clements, Paul Brown
Dax Rush: Chris Shilton
MX-5: me
Motorbike: Mike Montague
Apologies:
Chris Brown, Bob & Carol
Thanks again for coming and being a part of the club.
Following the August meeting, I will revert back to asking for £1 per person attendance donation with the chance of winning a bottle of booze as we did last year. I need to put some money in the bank to buy some good prizes for the Christmas do since I have put very little in over the summer having raised the money for the Air Ambulances. Thank you for being generous when you have bought your tickets.
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For a detailed report and to see some photos follow here
To see photos taken by Bob, Martin and ourselves follow this link:
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What a good turnout. I was a bit worried when I arrived at the car park at the pub; there were already lots of cars taking up the bit we park in. I guessed right that they had gathered there to go walkies. Luckily, by the time most of our members arrived, they had come back from their outing and left leaving space for us to park up.
Firstly, most importantly and most British, the weather! The forecast had been changeable again, they just can’t seem to agree on anything! The more technology they have, the worse the forecasts seem to be. One said showers all day, my weather Guru (my mum) said we would be ok until later in the afternoon. Mum was, as always, right! It did look threatening and there were a few spits of rain in the air but it was good and stayed dry until 5.30.
 
13 kits and Ian with his Morgan joined us today. Nice to see Tim Clark, last visited us five years ago, his car has been off the road for some time, a slight disagreement with a hawthorn hedge. Good that he is on the road.
A ‘new’ builder joined us today. Tony and his wife Linda came to see us. He is building a Robin Hood 2B, in the same purple colour as Stephen’s. Having bought the kit some years ago, it has been a long time in the pipeline due to unforeseen circumstances. We wish him all the best with his build, I am sure there will be some help and advice available should he need it.
Attendees:
Robin Hood: Tim Clark & Chris, Stephen, John & Jill,
Tiger: Alan & Eve
Westfield: Martin Cockman, Ron Clements, John
NG: John H-S
Sherpley: Bob
Luego: Simon & Son
GTM: Peter Bell
Quantum: Ian Harrison
Merlin: John & Jayne
Morgan: Ian Brooker
Mx-5: Helen
Tintop: Tony & Linda Sharp
Apologies: Yvonne, Carol, Chris Brown, Mike G, Bob & Sheila, Mike & Shannon, Dave Smith
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The May bank holiday weekend for us was a disappointment. It was too chilly to want to venture up to Stoneleigh on the Sunday to the kit car show and on Monday, even though I had made a picnic, when John came in from walking the dog he said it was too cold and wet to bother to go to the show at Woburn Abbey. So we stayed home! News from Stoneleigh was that although it was freezing cold, it didn’t rain and in general it was a good show. No idea how Woburn went, I don’t think any of us went in the end. Have you got your ticket for the Knebworth show (August bank holiday Sunday and Monday). If you need information as to where to get a ticket from, get in touch (£2.50 for the advance ticket to get in and out both days for up to 4 people per car, £4.50 to camp over on the Sunday night).
Meeting
Woke up to rain again but luckily it soon dried up leaving a dry if a little chilly at times day with the odd glimpse of the sun. Not such a good turnout as the April meeting but still had 11 cars including the MR-2 and MX-5.
It was good to meet a new member, Danny, he lives locally and had intended to come to a meeting for some time. He drives a red Merlin with a blue hood as you can see from the photo. Nice to meet him and the car and we hope he will come back again.
We had the usual raffle although didn’t make much this time so not much of a contribution to the charity fund for the Air Ambulances. We will keep saving the pennies and try to raise a little more next time.
Fingers crossed that the June meeting will be the start of a warm month. There are a few places left on the camping weekend, get in touch if you are interested.
Happy birthday to John (Merlin) I won’t say how young he is!
Attendees:
Merlin: Danny; John and Jane
Marlin: Mike Gouldsborough
NG: John Hamilton-Smith
Quantum: Ian Harrison
Morgan: Ian Brooker
Robin Hood: Mike Bloomfield; John & Jill
Westfield: John Tween
MR-2 Chris
MX-5 Helen
Tintop: Stephen & Lesley; Richard & Caroline; David
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A good forecast usually results in a good turnout and that is what we had today. 18 cars, including an MR-2 and my MX-5. Nice to see so many cars parked up in the sunshine.
 
We had an appearance by Mal’s ex Westfield, now owned by Chris. Nice to see it is still going well; Chris has apparently done a number of track days with the car and had fun.
A request was made by Peter Bell that in future if meetings dates clash with the major shows could I shift our meeting a week forward instead of pushing it back a week? No problems there although because some will already have the May 9th meeting already in their diaries and also it would only be a couple of weeks before the next meeting, this time I will leave it as it is. However, next year I will schedule the meetings for the week before a major show instead of after. I hope this is ok with members. By holding the meeting on the second weekend of the month, it clashes with the Northants meeting and also the East Anglia Area meeting should anyone wanted to go to either of them, or if anyone from those areas wanted to come to see us, which they have done in the past.
What is it with men and engines? Off comes the bonnet and they gather like flies round meat!!
The raffle did well with people again digging deep to raise funds for the Association of Air Ambulances. Thank you for the donations of prizes, the less I pay for prizes the more goes to the charity.
Stephen’s beard has developed well over the last month, looking very good now.
Chris has filled all the places for the Le Mans Classic which he has been organising again.
Attendees:
Mike Gouldsborough, John & Jane, Chris Brown, Graham Coles, Stephen & Lesley, Paul & Kevin, Chris (Mal’s westy), Ian Harrison & son, Peter Bell, Ced, Kev + 1, Simon, Chris Shilton, Chris & Robyn MR-2, John, Helen& Abby MX-5, Greg Butterworth & Son (westfield)
Tin tops
Bob & Sheila, Mike & Shannon
Thanks to those who came
Apologies from John Hamilton-Smith, Bob & Carol
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Monthly meeting Sunday 7th March 2010
What a difference a little sunshine makes, even if the temperature still seemed to be in the minus numbers.
Today’s meet was the first Herts/Beds/Bucks RHOCaR meeting; hopefully this will bring a few new faces to the meetings. Jerry and Bridget Fox (owners of a S7) came along from Leighton Buzzard to say hello and Graham brought along a friend, Paul, who is looking to buy a Robin Hood soon. We hope they felt ‘at home’ and will come back again.
We had a very special guest today. Phil Shelton (no he wasn’t the special guest although he had driven a long way to see us) came to see us from the Leicestershire area and brought with him Hoody the Bear. Many of you will by now know that Hoody is doing a round the UK trip visiting as many sites, shows, monthly meetings etc as possible and in the process raising much needed money for the Association of Air Ambulances. We were honoured to have him come to our meeting as one of his first outings.
 
We have decided to return to the raffle system of raising money to run the club and at the same time donating as much of the profit from the raffles as possible to Hoody the Bear’s cause. A little bit of politics next: many of us can’t understand why such an important and also life saving service is left without government funding with the responsibility to raise funds being dependent upon public donations. I am sure there will be lots of you who agree. Off my soap box now. So, the good news is that we raised £22 for the charity. If you wish to make a donation of your own, please go to the home page and click on the link to Hoody’s home page where you will be able to make your donation; make sure you tick ‘Gift Aid’ which increases the amount of money the charity receives. Thank you in advance for your support, we never know when we might need such a service! I will keep you posted as to how much money SG7s raises. One last thing about the raffles, the more donated prizes we have the more money goes to the charity so if you have anything suitable that you do not want, please bring it along to a meeting. Even the foot pump was won this time by Peter Bell (you might remember no one wanted to take it last meeting so it was returned into the prize pot). What is more, Peter actually said he would like to win the foot pump since his was broken! So someone’s unwanted item is often much desired by another. Ah! John just told me that when Peter looked at the pump and realised it was for an airbed, he changed his mind, he doesn't want it. Bet it turns up next month....
Back to the meeting, Alan and Eve Whale arrived in their newly acquired Tiger looking very nice in British Racing Green. Good to see them back on the road after Alan’s unfortunate accident last year.
Stephen Altwasser had told me earlier in the morning that he had something to show me that I would like...... that had me wondering! As soon as he drove into the car park I spotted what it was, he has grown a beard, well a bit of a beard. Suits him but then I am biased (never seen John without his beard!).
It was a good meeting with plenty of chatter, laughs, exchanges of very useful information and welcome hot drinks. Look forward to seeing you all again in April. Since Easter is over the first weekend of April and the Detling National Kit Car Show is on Sunday and Monday, the next meeting will be the following Sunday (11th April). Hope to see you either at the show or the next meeting.
Look out for Hoody Bear on your travels and visit his facebook page on:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=379120208081#!/group.php?gid=379120208081
If you would like to find out more about the Air Ambulance Association click on the link below:
http://www.airambulanceassociation.co.uk/index.php
Attendees:
Phil Shelton & Hoody Bear, Stephen & Lesley, Peter Bell, Dennis, Bob & Carol, Simon Kirby & Samantha, Ian Brooker, Mike Bloomfield, John & Jane, Alan & Eve, Ricky Crafford, Chris Shilton, John
Tintops
Jerry & Bridget Fox, Graham Coles, Kevin Sydes, Paul, Bob & Sheila, Ian Harrison, Nigel Cady, Helen
Apologies: Chris Brown, Paul Brown, John Hamilton-Smith
13 cars & 29 people
And finally: Dave and Lesley from Clapham Classic Events have organised 3 shows for this year with three different themes open to pre 1980 style
convertibles at the Roadster show or any pre 1980 style kit car to the Twinwood Get Together.
The Events are:
July 4th UK Roadster Nationals Twinwood Airfield, Clapham, Bedfordshire www.claphamclassicevents.co.uk
August 15th UK Pick-Up and Van Nationals Twinwood Airfield, Clapham, Bedfordshire www.claphamclassicevents.co.uk
September 5th Twinwood End of Season Get Together Twinwood Airfield, Clapham, Bedfordshire www.claphamclassicevents.co.uk
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Not a good day weather wise, dull, drizzle, fog and chilly as well so this was again to be an in-pub gathering. Despite the weather we still had a few venture out in their kit cars, six in all. The rest of us were less brave and chose the tintop option.
We had a newcomer today, Rick Crafford came along with his Luego which recently passed the IVA at the second attempt. The only thing it failed for at the first test was the handbrake so he has lots to be proud of. We look forward to seeing him at future meetings and hopefully he will bring some sunshine next time!
We had the usual raffle, Yvonne Whale picked the first ticket out of the pot and it was her own number; was it fixed? Then Alan, her husband, won the second prize, which seemed to be rather a booby prize which we couldn’t give away so it stays with us until next time. I thought a foot pump would be useful but we all seem to have one somewhere so it will make an appearance next time.
John found a good use for the foot pump:
Not seen Vera since the camping trip to Littleport!
Thanks to Mike for the donation of a bottle of Cava which will go in the raffle in March.
We are sticking to a ‘pay as you attend’ system, which seems to work well rather than having membership fees. Another new ‘member’ today was Kate Smith (6), we like to start them young. I promised Kate that I would put her photo on the website:
The camping trip is to be in June this year. If you would like to join us for the weekend or just for the trip to the museum/coast on the Saturday, please get in touch for further details.
Attendees
John Hamilton-Smith, Richard Larman, Ian Brooker, Bob & Carol, Rick Crafford and Mike Gouldsbrough
Tintops
Dave Smith & Kate, Alan & Eve Whale, Bob & Sheila, John and Helen
Next meeting: Sunday 7th March
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Happy New Year!
Can’t believe I am writing this again, but John and I wish you all a happy New Year and all the best in 2010. Our first meeting was just really a get together in the pub to have a drink and a chat, well away from all the goings on of the last few months building up to Christmas and then the big day itself. Hopefully, everyone had a good time and ate, drank and laughed too much.
So, to the club and its first meet of the year. I am still the area secretary for RHOCaR.
I have decided to carry on with the post for a while, at least whilst John still has his Westfield. My MX-5 will no doubt enjoy the meetings again as it did before only now my loud ‘Rage’ exhaust has bitten the dust following a hole in the pipe and more stringent MOT rules (a production car has to sound like another production car of the same make; not many MX-5s that sounded like mine. So now it is purrs quietly along like any other ordinary car. It was a sad day, made me feel like I am finally growing up! I will soon have to start wearing polyester!
It was good to see those who braved the cold; funnily enough there were no kits to be seen in the car park. We did take the VW camper to give it a run out; told our neighbours we were off for a week away in it…. Mind you, John and Yvonne Hamilton-Smith went to the Peak District in their motor home for the New Year and they didn’t quite have a heat wave as you will see from the photos below.
photos provided by John Hamilton-Smith
 
The man himself
 
Those readers for whom I have an email contact address should by now have received a note of diary dates. I will get the dates into the diary section; please mark up any dates in your diary that you might be interested in.
We are hoping to go camping again this year. At the moment we are looking at early June in the hope that it will be a little warmer than when we have been in May. Cromer springs to mind when it was extra cold. It was freezing as many of those who joined us will well remember (my mistake thinking it would be nice to have a sea view – bad choice, we should have sought shelter from the hedgerow, I have learnt an important lesson! We are looking for somewhere interesting to go and will let people know what we decide.
So, again, back to the meeting. The inside pub meets are always good. I suppose we are all sitting closer together and share more conversations.
Attendees all in tintops:
Jon & Jill
Richard Caroline
Andy & Emily
Mike & Shannon
Richard Larman
Chris Brown
John & Helen
Apologies received from: Peter Bell, Bob & Carol, Mike Gouldsborough
We wish you all happy and safe motoring in 2010, hope the snow isn’t causing too much trouble for you.
Helen
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