Members present

John & Margaret Martin - Dagenham Dustbin

Martin & Sue Faulkner & Joyce (Sue’s Mum) - Passat

Andy & Jennie Holyoak - Triumph 2000 Estate

Anthony & Ruth Richards - TR6

John & Chris Day - ??? (presume they didn’t walk?!!)

Dick Goodey - Ford

Mick Forey - Ford

Sam & Scott Blakey - TR7 (“at last - yippee!!”)

James Inder - French Fat Box (love it!! ed)

Roger Corbitt - TR6

Derek Bramford - Volvo

Ray Mills - TR6

Steve Lambley - TR - “custard coloured PI”

Andy & Claire Moltu - TR6

John Edwards - TR6

Colin & Ann Skinner - TR6

Tim & Kathryn Sharp - MX5

David Guzzetta - TR5

Allan Westbury - Ollie

Reg Bowler - TR4A

Meeting notes

“The Best TR Group in the UK”

Looks like this is to be Martin W’s regular opening to LTRG meetings.

And what better way to open we ask!!

Mid-month meeting:

Weds 12^th September

Harborough Hotel, Melton Mowbray, LE13 1AF (near the railway bridge)

Sam & Scott Blakey have booked the above for a mid-month meeting. Scott’s friend owns the pub and he has agreed we can take over his restaurant. Apparently he serves great grub. Sounds like a good night to us J

IMPORTANT: Please phone Andy (asap please) on 07725 056653 to say if you’ll be going along.

Note: Andy & Jennie’s home phone is out of action so mobiles only for the time being please!

New venue required ??!!

It’s that time again chaps! Yet again, we have a change of landlord at our meeting place and our needs and interests have been, shall we leave it at … ‘not considered’.

Actually, no, I won’t leave it at that. Having had to resort to a nearly cold and pretty disgusting Macdonald’s for our dinner that evening on the way home (nearly 10.30pm), we were quite justifiably annoyed.

The interim staff at Tilton quite unceremoniously shoved us into the top half of the lounge area of the pub and told we couldn’t have our usual room. There were mutterings among the pub staff saying “well, they don’t pay for the room anyway so I don’t know what they’re on about”. The fact that our meeting brings in £300-£400 minimum each month seemed to have not crossed their radar - but Jennie lost no time in pointing out that to them, along with their total lack of consideration at not contacting us to let us know of the change of circumstances.

The staff told Martin W that they didn’t have any contact numbers. Oh yes they did.

Jennie asked the young man at the bar if they were serving any food at all, maybe a bowl of chips, and just got a very terse “no” spat at her. Ooh er missus! Whatever happened to “the customer is always right”?

The notice outside said the new landlord starts in October. Do we give them a chance or do we start looking for a suitable alternative straight away? The general consensus was to give them a chance. Fingers crossed!

The “Alternative International” BBQ

We realised we’d not said a heartfelt thanks to the chefs for the fabulous food so here we go …

THANKS LOADS CHAPS … you’re hired!! J

International (proper one!)

(Upton-on-Severn a couple of days after the International)

Lost income

Chris Cunnington sent an email out to the Group Leaders who duly forwarded it to their group members.

Basically, Chris said that some members had kindly donated the amount of their entry fee had they attended the International so the Register didn’t lose out as badly as feared. We don’t know how many members have done this but it’s heart-warming to know that good deeds like that are being done.

If anyone else wishes to do the same, please contact the Register office in Didcot.

Regalia

Another way to remember the International that didn’t happen as expected is to purchase a teeshirt. To make them more fun, the Register have had them overprinted with “I almost made it”. Again, contact the Register if you’d like one.

Raid

August’s raid was to Derby Dales on 8^th August and eight cars went.

LTRG Summer BBQ

David & Dawn Guzzetta hosted this year’s Summer BBQ.

They’d laid out their bottom lawn with two gazebos housing the barbeques in case it rained. Mind you, I should perhaps point out that the tables for the people were out on the lawn totally unprotected! But we’re a hardy lot us TRers! Fortunately we didn’t have to try out our hardiness as the elements were kind to us. Phew!!

The food prepared by Dawn was excellent and all credit to the chef. It went down extremely well and was absolutely delicious. Specially the puddings … yummmmm JJ

At the previous meeting, several members decided it would be good fund to meet up at Reg and Irene’s and go over in convoy.

Unfortunately best laid plans and all that … they all had to break into song only a mile or two away from Reg’s … “one wheel on my wagon….” Martin W’s wheel fell off (or nearly). He managed to salvage some kind of security for its mountings and limp home, complete with entourage. Hence, he turned up at the BBQ in his Eurobox. Oh dear L

There did seem to be some kind of pagan sun worshipping going on in the early evening which involved strangely dressed beings standing in a line sipping what looked like blood from a freshly sacrificed pig. (Oh sorry, Andy tells me they were dressed in winter gear cos it was cold, were drinking red wine, and were eating pork sausages!)

I think everyone who went would agree that the highlight of the event was David’s gorgeous little grandson, Oliver. He started off sitting as good as gold on the speaker with his granddad while David played guitar with one of his sons. But he reached dizzy heights of gorgeousness when David was playing the keyboard. Again, he sat right beside David and clapped and clapped and clapped. He was a real treat.

All in all, a fantastic evening and thanks to the hosts.

I believe we’re now looking for next year’s hosts. The main criteria seems to be having a huge garden so that puts several of us out of the running but those of you who do have one ………. Oh, and neighbours who don’t mind being smoked like kippers for an evening!

Shropshire weekend

Several members went to this weekend (which started on a Thursday) and said they had a fantastic time and very highly recommended it for us all to consider another year.

Irene said the local pub was great and the food was excellent - and cheap.

I believe Terry & Sue Pruce, Reg & Irene Bowler, and Paul & Sue Newby (honorary members J) went from LTRG.

Would someone please remember this when we’re discussing next year’s calendar.

Tatton Park

Can’t remember the date of this event but Terry & Sue and Colin & Ann were going along. I think it was the 20^th but it’s definitely in the past so it’s not desperately important!

Photo caption competition

As you all know, we had quite a lot of pics taken of TS2 when it visited LTRG way back on a dismally rainy evening at Stoney Cove.

One tongue-in-cheek (at the time) picture ended up being almost prophetic. It was of Mick Forey driving it down the slipway into the watery depths of the Cove.

TS2 was only saved from a watery death during the International Weekend by Andy Canning dashing over to his daughter’s garage, where it was languishing, to put it up on bricks.

With this in mind, and trying to make something light out of what was a pretty grim International Weekend, Martin W printed the picture off and asked us for suitable captions. He said he was going to send it off to the Register for inclusion in TR Action.

I came up with one myself of “Practice run for the International” and heard at least two others of a similar nature being suggested and laughed at by other members!

What do you think? Answers to Martin W please. (Photo at the end of TRipe)

Scarecrows

No, not a reference to someone’s hair - it’s a reminder that the Lubenham Scarecrow Weekend and Classic Car Display is being held on Sunday 9^th September.

This is something which John & Margaret Martin are involved in. Lubenham is a very sociable village and Jennie & Andy went last year and it was great fun. There was some very cleverly made scarecrows to be seen (and the burgers were pretty good too).

The “instructions” for the event are:

“Arrive at the village green at 10am to display your classic car, then join the parade for a tour of the village at 12 noon. Return to the green if you wish, to park, participate in the other events or eat. Food also available at the village hall or Coach & Horses (excellent pub and food!, Jennie).

Tractor/trailer rides around the village to view the scarecrows for those not keen on walking.

Entrance free - if you arrive in a classic car.”

The Fox Trail

The Fox Inn, Wilbarston (Jennie & Andy’s local), has a new landlord and landlady who are keen to get their business off the ground by organising lots of things to interest a wide range of people.

They asked Andy to come up with a driving route starting and finishing at The Fox, where food will be available for the hungry travellers. He agreed and has come up with a fantastic route of around 70 miles travelling through three counties - Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.

It won’t be a treasure hunt, or one of those horrid tulip rallies. Everyone will be given a suitably marked map and a set of useful instructions.

There seemed to be quite a lot of interest. The rally will take place on Sunday 14^th October with a £2 per car entry fee (towards LTRG funds) plus a £3 per head deposit (towards grub), payable at the next meeting. For those who are going to Italy/Greece don’t worry, just let Andy and Jennie know you’d like to join in and we’ll book you a place and grab the entry fee and deposit off you when you return.

The food will be a cold buffet and we’ve been led to believe there’ll be lots of it.

Andy has already got interest from the Stag Club and a couple from the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, plus several from the village.

Please let us know asap by email (or snail mail if no email) if you are definitely coming along.

Classic Le Mans 2008

TR7/8 turbo racing hopefully. Alec Pringle sent request to LTRG for us to organise a working party to clean it up and spray the engine bay.

There were several murmurings in the room - I don’t know if any of these were definite expressions of interest, though!

Mind you, we did have Scott Blakey with us and he says he’s an expert at doing just that. Well volunteered Scott! J

There were some reminiscences of the last time something like this happened. It involved massive amounts of beer and a couple of aerosols of cleaning agent!

September meeting

There will be a large number of LTRGers away in Italy/Greece for the September meeting but, after lots of discussion, it was decided we should hold the meeting at the same time at the same venue. Ruth will be chairing the meeting.

Skiing

Paul Bowler has booked the same skiing place as last time, at the same price. It’s for 8^th March 2008. If you’re interested then please contact Paul direct.