TR Action Report London Group presented for issue 273

Well let's face it 2014 got off to a very soggy start. Our only real January event was our monthly Pub Run which we run come hail or thunder, this January we got both! The plan for this our first Pub Run of 2014 was organised to go North West, to Shurlock. An area less travelled by the London Group so a new year a new location to explore and enjoy, unfortunately at the last minute it all had to be re-arranged. Luckily a final reconnaissance the day before not unsurprisingly found half the county flooded with either full road closures or small shallow streams coursing across the middle of the road, which in a modern Eurobox is acceptable but not in a low slung classic. So not to be daunted, a quick phone call to the Scarlett Arms, a Pub well known to us London Group members was made, a table for 10 booked and off over the well-drained Surrey hills we headed. We were joined for the first time on one of our runs by Andy Saville in his spectacular, bright yellow TR6 which I think (I may be totally wrong!) is featured at the top of page 49 Traction 272. Andy had recently returned from Euromeet 2013 Norway; he had nothing but praise for the organization of the run, the routes, and destination hotels and finally of course the incredible scenery, this being both natural and manmade. He described to us, travelling down a dual carriageway in a tunnel for a few miles, the noise must have been fantastic! Then he saw something ahead that looked really strange. It looked a bit like a flying saucer in the middle of the road with bright lights all around it. He only realised on travelling further that it was in fact the convergence of two underground dual carriages, an underground roundabout!!! He also praised the Trollstigen (TROLLS LADDER) road as featured in the full article in 272, saying it really was a test for both car and driver; it sure looks it reading the article! All in all a very impressive trip this only thing is I have a horrible feeling Andy said it was his first major TR trip - so nothing to live up to there then! Anyway The Scarlett Arms certainly looked after us very well; despite the late booking they served us a great meal which was enjoyed by all of us. Later in the month at our second monthly meeting Paul Phillips joined us for the first time, he has a Red Grinnall called Christine, named after the Stephen King book. I don't think I need to say any more, it was certainly an entertaining evening.

As mentioned in the last London Group report our plans for 2014 are well under way. The route to SPA has been arranged, crossings, chalet and camping all booked, along with our rather special return trip Hotel with its wonderful restaurant. The group of us travelling to Classic Le Mans has grown to 12 cars with 26 people, not actually the largest group but certainly up there. The dates for our entire monthly pub runs in 2014 have been set, the alternative 3rd Thursday of the month Club meet location continues, our joint London/Glavon camping weekend is all arranged, get those skittle arms toned! A number of us will be traveling to Bournemouth on the Wessex & New Forest run and as I write a small group of us has just returned from the first ever International MG & Triumph Stoneleigh Spares Day which in many ways marks the start of the TR Calendar. Certainly our future events page, on the Club web site has a lot more in it now.

So 2014 is really shaping up as a great TR year for London Group, come and join us for a noggin and a natter over a beer, you are most welcome. You can find us on the first Thursday of every month at the Rose of York in Richmond or on the third Thursday at an alternative venue (keep an eye on the web site) - both kick off at around 9.00pm.