Regions - Herts and North London

July has been a very busy month for members of the region.

Steve and Cliff with Rog the Hat travelled to Longbridge on the 9^th with the Minisprint GT and the Mark 3 S to take part in the Austin Centenary celebrations. It was a long hot day with a lot to see as a great number of cars have been produced in the factory. There were a number of other Mini clubs present and we all parked together. The autojumble was well patronised with a few Mini bits about. Latest news suggests that Longbridge will become a Chinese takeaway – I hope I don’t get any more free post through my letterbox. Maybe they will use Longbridge cars to deliver the takeaways!

The weather held for our July club night on 13^th and Andy and his family put on a fantastic BBQ for members of the region. Peter Barratt, on behalf of the Committee, presented the Regional Cup to Roger. There was plenty to eat and I understand talking went on past midnight. Thanks Andy. Back to the Robin Hood until end of 2005.

On 17^th July I took my Mark 3 S on the Classic & Sports Car Magazine’s first readers’ run. Linda guided me from the Jaguar works in Brown’s Lane to the Transport Museum in Coventry. We made our way to Studeley Castle for our lunch stop; they had a Victorian day. After lunch we made our way to Gaydon via Knowshill Lavender fields. Dave and Sam Richards also took part in their Cooper. It was a very nostalgic day with a number of very beautiful cars taking part. We travelled for quite a way following a Chevrolet Tourer, which was a fantastic experience, like being in a bygone age. Overall a very good event organised on behalf of the Magazine by Greenwood events. Oh yes, the club event at Gaydon on the day was Smart cars and I am now the owner of very fetching fluorescent orange Smart car wrist bands!!!!

The next weekend Roger and I took my Enduro prepared car to BMC 50 at Silverstone to assist Andy Carter put on a display on behalf of the club. Although we were parked beyond the MG’s it was a fantastic display with a large number of Ex works cars on display. We spent Friday evening listening to Graham Robson control the reminiscences of at least 7 BMC competition department members - Willy Cave, Bill Price, Brian Culcheth, Paddy Hopkirk, Tony Fall, Mike Wood and John Rhodes. Saturday was a lovely day; I have never seen so many MG’s in one place. Sunday however was a bit of a wash out, weather-wise, after the display run of a great number of MGAs with back up from a variety of ex works BMC cars, Austins, Healey 3000s, Minis, MGAs & MGBs and a black BMC transporter. This narrative is brief as a full report would take up the whole magazine, but I cannot finish without a comment about the organisation. Andy Carter worked hard to put together a display on behalf of the MCR but yet again everything was at the last minute. BMC50 should have been a major event for the MCR. (It would have been had we had more notice from the organisers of the event – Editor.) Paddy’s 8 EMO was in the auction as the star attraction – did it sell at £75,000? We don’t think so. It was great to talk to members during the weekend not all of whom were static. Paul Clark was competing in his Mini Miglia car in a race on Sunday (using one of the headlamp covers supplied to me by John Kelly after an incident on Friday).

By the time of Classics on the Common in Harpenden on 29^th July, the school holidays had begun and the weather had broken but it did not deter Steve Burkinshaw and Basil Wales from taking their cars to the event. It is the first time I have been and despite the rain I will be there next year. Rog the Hat guided us to a fish and chip supper in the town. As we were leaving a very nice Innocenti arrived and parked up.

To complete a very busy month Roger and Steve took the Minisprint GT to Sandown Park for the MiniWorld event. I went with Peter Barratt on the Saturday. For me it was not a very good show. No autojumble, few traders and the majority of owners were not by their cars. We did go to the Paddy Hopkirk interview with Peter Barker, which was very good although it would have been nice if Bill Price had been allowed a few words. Peter had put together a very good slide presentation with a Pathe news video clip from the 1964 Monte.

August should be holiday time but the major events for us will be The Hop Farm and the Rally Super Car Day at Castle Combe, where Chas is putting together an impressive display of cars.

Looking forward to next year we are hoping to attend a number of events as a group and are putting together a list of local Classic events, such as Enfield Pageant, Classics on the Common in Harpenden, in addition to London to Brighton, Beaulieu and Mini in the Park. We may also venture out on our monthly club nights to sample different venues, perhaps with tulip diagram instructions on how to get there. If you do not usually attend our club night and live in the region and fancy a run out on a summer’s evening please get in touch. I am hoping to continue with the eating together as a group during the winter months. Watch this column or better still the MCR website for latest information.

Cliff Porter

Cliff Porter is the regional organiser you may e-mail him on mcrherts@cliffdporter.co.uk phone 0208 989 1755 (before 21.30) and you are sure to get a warm welcome.