November meeting

Hi,
Well attended meeting in November despite the cold.
Quite a few club cars outside, many more inside garages for many various reasons.

Nice to have first time attendees in a lovely GT6 and another in a Stag. Unfortunately no pictures as yet, not sure wether we got any.

Christmas party all sorted, entertainment, buffet etc...

Cost £5.00 per head, under 18s go free. Birtley Cattholic Club from 7:30 10th december.

Tickets available at the December meeting or by prior arrangement with me at the door.

Yours
Mark

North East Classic Motor Sport Events

Many thanks to Sam for the following information:

The first couple of weekends next month are particularly interesting for any enthusiasts of classic motorsport.

The R.A.C. Rally (2nd - 5th December 2011) 
Members ‘of a certain age’ may remember the RAC Rally of the 70’s and 80’s, where something like 250 cars and crews would spend 5 days (and nights!) competing over a course from the south of England into Wales and Scotland and back.  The competition was in the form of perhaps 70 timed special stages in the grounds of stately homes or forests, which were very slippery and even snowy, testing the car control of the drivers to the limit.  Why, you may even have turned out in the forests of Kielder or Hamsterley to watch.

Sadly, the present-day event is a shadow of its former self.  Now styled ‘Wales Rally GB’, it consist of 60 cars taking on a handful of stages in some obscure corner of South Wales, all done in office hours over a weekend.  But wait!  The RAC Rally lives on, in the form of the R.A.C. Rally!

The punctuation in this case is important, as R.A.C. stands for Roger Albert Clark, the full name of one of Britain’s most celebrated rally drivers of the 70’s and 80’s.  Although most of his exploits were behind the wheel of an Escort, Clark also competed in many other cars, including a Metro 6R4 and a Triumph TR7 V8.  The event is based on the style of the earlier rally, starting on a Friday and running over the weekend until Monday, although the crews do get overnight rest halts this time.  And the good news for us is that it’s all based in this region.

The rally starts at Duncome Park, a stately home near Helmsley, on Friday 2 December, and there are some stages there and also in the spectacular Dalby forest.  Restarting at Duncome Park on the Saturday, the event once more visits the Yorkshire forests, near Pickering and Whitby, before moving to Croft circuit for a service halt and a couple of stages, and then the forests of Hamsterley and Shepardshield before overnighting in Carlisle.  Sunday is all in the Scottish forests apart from some spectator stages in a quarry at Heathall, and the sting in the tail is in Kielder on the Monday, with a return to Carlisle for the declaration of results and the winner.  The entry in previous years has not featured many Triumphs and this year is no different, but for anybody who can remember the sight of a full-house Escort being driven sideways at impossible speeds on a narrow forest track, or the sight and sound of the fabulous Lancia Stratos, the R.A.C. Rally is not to be missed.  More information at http://www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org/

UPDATE: Spectator details are here: http://www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org/RAC_2011/2011_spectator_info.htm

The LeJog (10th - 13th December 2011) 

The following weekend sees the running of LeJog, which also passes through the region.  LeJog is a contraction of Lands End-John O’Groats, and I suppose in some ways is similar to Club Triumph’s biennial event, except that this one is competitive, with a mixture of timed tests on private ground, and road sections timed to regularity.  Whilst this might seem a bit tame, it is far from the case.  There is, for instance, in the early hours of Saturday morning, a 3 hour section on the roads of  Mid Wales which has a time control every 4 minutes, as used to be the case on championship road rallies of the 70’s and 80’s – believe me, that’s hard work!  In our area on the Sunday there is a brief halt at Tan Hill, and tests later in the day at Eastgate and at Derwent Reservoir, before an overnight halt at Gosforth Park which is where the cars can be seen close-up.  And what cars!  The entry list starts with a 1937 Riley Special, and goes on to include Morgans, MG’s, Jaguars, Alfa Romeos, Mercedes, Volvos, and Porsches.  Triumph is represented, at the minute, by 5 TR’s and a 2000 saloon.  The website for the event is at www.heroevents.eu

So, a fascinating couple of weekends for motorsports enthusiasts.  Might we see you out there?

Sam

Classic Le Mans update

Area trip to Classic Le Mans is now booked for those who paid deposits.
We have a passenger seat available in one of the cars.
Anyone interested?

The cost of the camping and general entry would be £125.91 for the camping share cost and general entry. Add in £12 for a paddock ticket, a must in my opinion, and a further £24 if you want to be able to access the grandstands during the day.

You'll need to let me know and stump up the cash as soon as possible.
No news on ferry costs as yet.
Expect around £150 per person based on 2 in a car.

Yours
Mark

End of Year Rally & Show. Ryhope Engine Museum

Thansk to Joe for some nice pictures of the Triumphs at the Sunderland & District Classic Vehicle Society Show. End of Year Rally & Show. Ryhope Engine Museum, Sunday October 30th.


Apparently the White Vitesse is from Washington.

Also Joe was approached by a bloke with an MG Midget who'd bought a hard-top, which turned out "to be for a Spitfire". It has opening quarterlights (in the rear, presumably?!), the seller reckons it's quite rare, needs paint, wants £150 ono. It's in Horden. Name & phone number, please contact Joe by email

Cheers
Aaron

Cars for sale

29.10.11 Quick update the 2 engines and towbar in Morpeth have now been sold but the vitesse project is still available. Cheers Aaron Hi all

A couple of cars are for sale at the moment;

First one:
Joe has found it local to Morpeth:

2-litre Mk2 Vitesse Convertible on a 'J' plate. PROJECT CAR in need of complete restoration.
Originally Damson, now mainly in red, but will need full paint.
Looks solid enough, 60% - 70% complete car, Engine turns by hand, gearbox, diff, hood all present but will need wiring loom, repairs to seats, etc.,   Photo's on request. Needs a trailer to transport.

Couple of engine's, described as "13/60 and possibly gearbox to go with it" and "Spitfire engine, possibly Mk3".

Tow bar fitting, to suit Herald or Vitesse;  uses a strengthening plate in the wheel well; the type where you don't need to cut the rear bumper section.

Any interest, let Joe know and he will pass details on to the seller.

Second one:
Another Vitesse has come up for sale, local to Middlesbrough:
2.0L Vitesse Saloon, F plate (1968), in Red, MOT has just expired, apparently needs some welding to the floor but panel come with car. 35,000 miles on the clock but i don't know if that is 135,000 or not. 

The car is based in Ormesby, Middlesbrough, I have not seen that car, but a friend has. 

I there is any interest let me know and i will pass on contact details.  

Regards
Aaron

CLM 2012 Update

Well,
Following the October meeting, we have 6 cars in total pledged to go, 10 people, so there is at least one passenger/co-driver seat going.

Get in touch if you're interested in one of the spaces.

Yours
Mark

Meeting and car for sale

At the meeting last night, Ian's 13/60 made its debut. I'm not sure the street lights do the colour justice as apprently its very bight yellow. Well done to Ian on getting this car back on the road in such a short time. He just need to needs to sort out the engine now and he will be laughing.     

Chris Fish has also let us know about a car that has come up for sale, as it appears to be a sound working car he is obviously not interested, details below: 

Herald 12/50 1966 Wedgwood Blue over Gunmetal two tone car.

Car is in standard unmodified condition and very original throughout. It has a good interior and recent new carpets. Mechanically sound with a replacement dynamo and a negative earth conversion (which could easily be put back). Exterior appears to be in original condition and not repainted, so has a few minor dings after 45 years. Door bottoms suffer the usual corrosion and need some attention, as do the edges of the sun
roof, however this is water tight. The car is currently taxed and MoT’d and has been used regularly through the summer. Tax due in October but will shortly be renewed. Mot runs until 31st July 2012. Chassis is sound and, although having had some limited welding in the past, is fully undersealed. There is a history file containing various receipts and many MoTs to support possible genuine mileage of approximately 88,000
miles. Car is garaged in Fenham and can be viewed at most times.

Price : £1800 Contact : David (contact number in area email)

Regards
Aaron