North
East

Below you can find all the North East Social Scene reports submitted for the most recent TR Action, in full. If you have any problems with the content then please contact the office. Should you wish to find your nearest group then please use our postcode search facility or visit 'We're Only Hear for the Beer' for listings of all group details. Please use the links below to find your report:

• Cleveland
• East Riding
• Northumbria
• White Rose
• Vale of York

Cleveland

Helena Lowe

As November comes to an unseasonably warm and sunny close, I’m wondering how many are still grabbing the opportunity and getting out for a bit of top down motoring before the dreaded salt and grit arrive to spoil winter classic car motoring. We have had some glorious days.

It is also over a month since we caught up and reported that the birthday party for Chris was about to happen. I think the group did him proud… and Rick certainly did with the so apt birthday cake. As you can see in the pic, he chose to celebrate Chris’s aptitude for the downside of classic car ownership rather than choose which actual car to highlight. The AA van went down a treat. Carrying on from Chris’s 30th there is a rumour that we could have the excuse to celebrate three more decades next year with at least one of each of a 40th, 50th and 60th birthdays on the horizon. Anyone want to make a bid for any others?

We got a shock at the Blue Bell that night too, which was confirmed when we were there for the first November meeting... Dave Kinsella, our favourite landlord has taken the most unreasonable decision to retire on 1st March next year. Sadly, it doesn’t look like Cleveland Group can produce anyone to take over the lease, so we are crossing fingers, toes and car keys that he is able to wangle a suitably flexible replacement. It would be good to see another good turnout at the 7th February Meeting when we will say ‘Farewell’ with some sort of presentation.

The month before at the Blue Bell will see the AGM I think. Check your emails, newsletter and website for confirmation. Likewise for details of the annual winter Bowling Night.

The second November meeting saw us return to the Raby Arms at Hart Village. The usual warm welcome was given, and a change of ‘special’ nights means that we now share the pub with the Subaru Club – needless to say they will always outnumber us with cars in the car park, but at least it was too dark for them to notice ;-)

More Good News – communications have now been re-established with the Cleveland Webmaster and the local website is again getting regular ‘refreshments’ and so must I. I can hear the coffee machine calling; see y’all in the New Year, if I’m not replaced at the AGM!

East Riding

Ian Landen

Our EasTRiding Group’s AGM was held on the 7th November at our usual meeting place, the Light Dragoon, Etton. Mike Braddock withdrew as our long serving Treasurer. He felt that having now acquired a Mk II E-Type without having been caught with his hand in the till that he ought to get out whilst the going was good, and passed the financial opportunity on to Roger Myers. Seriously, Mike has served in a necessary office for many years and many thanks are due. Cheers Mike and Peta. Many thanks to Roger for stepping into the post.

13th November was our annual Remembrance Day Run. Roger and Anita Myers (new Treasurer) organized this one for us. On a dark grey day we had mist on the tops of the Wolds and in pockets in the Vale of York. The large group of TRs headed off through North Newbald, Holme on Spalding Moor, Everingham, and Bubwith. We drove an unsurfaced road across Skipwith Common, where we stopped for a short walk (along Bomb-Bay Walk) to a War Memorial in the form of a recovered propeller from a crashed aircraft. We continued on through Elvinigton, Sutton on Derwent and Bolton to lunch at the Fleece Inn, Bishop Wilton, where an exceedingly good repast was had by all. Many of the trees on the route were still golden with leaves and brown ferns were still standing. Janet Ash was heard to murmur that the mist patches added a thoroughly Autumnal touch; all very seasonal. Very good run Roger and Anita.

And it was Rog and I who were the sole EasTRiding representatives in Gaydon at the TR Register’s AGM on 27th November. You can all come along too, you know!

Forthcoming Events:

15th January: No run, but lunch at The Light Dragoon for 12.30
12th February: Snow Drops Walk: Meet at Deep Dale, A1079 for 10.30. Tel: 01482 872175 for details.
11th March: Paul & Janet’s Cobwebs Run. Blow the cobwebs out of your TRs. 10.30 at Deep Dale A1079, contact Paul and Janet Ash on 01482 679 807 for details.

Northumbria

Rob Murphy

Group Leader Update from Rob Murphy: As Northumbria Group members will know, I wrote to them all recently and invited them to a meeting to talk around how on earth we could fill the Group Leader shoes vacated by the highly estimable John Scarr. Additionally, my letter invited comment, suggestion or even candidates for this position. Happily the response and support was unanimous in favour of Sean Tindle, who had thrown his hat into the ring. The meeting was held at the Lakeside in late October, and was both extremely well attended and very positive. John Scarr himself was very publicly lauded for ten years of selfless hard work to bring the group to the successful state it currently enjoys, and typically, he was instrumental in appealing for the the level of support from all Northumbrians that he had enjoyed, to be transferred to Sean.

I feel Sean will make an excellent Group Leader, and I appeal to all those in the Group to step forward and help Sean continue the Northumbria TR success.

Sean Tindle writes: The regular members of Northumbria will be aware that I was elected as your new group leader at a meeting held at the Lakeside on 19th October, chaired by our North East Co-ordinator Rob Murphy. I would like to thank everyone who has given their support and encouragement. Taking up my new role as group leader has left the Web Authors post vacant, and I am also looking for support in the role of Social Secretary, so if any members would like to get further involved please get in touch. Barry Thomas and Tom Smith are happy to retain their posts as events co-ordinator and treasurer and between the committee we will continue to establish the group and lead by the example John Scarr set.

Since taking over the roll as gl I have collated 90 upto date email addresses for the 125 members within our group and would like to use this medium to keep all members informed with what we are doing, so if you have received recent emails from me then I have your details, if not and you would like to receive updates then please get in touch.

My first official roll was to attend the AGM at Gaydon which is a super venue and well worth a look at the cars in the museum if ever you are in the area. I was pleased to witness both Rob Murphy, and Jim Johnson from the Cleveland Group receive their awards for acknowledgment of their hard work and dedication in organising events at IWE 2011 Harrogate and sad to hear of Steve Redways resignation as editor of TRaction.

At the time of writing this article, in November, we have again two close runners for the Dave Wright trophy, (most attendance in their TR throughout the year). The trophy is to be presented at the Lakeside Christmas Meal.

Our events program for 2012 is still been planned so if you know of any events,good pubs in your local area for club nights or rides out please let Barry Thomas or myself know, we always welcome new venues and suggestions, so why not invite us to your local and help make 2012 a great TR adventure for the Northumbrians. Anyone wishing to go to the Classic Le Mans 2012, please let me know, the Register requires bookings by the end of January. More in the next issue on the new members who have joined our group recently and less of the formalities as in this issue.

Cheers for now.

White Rose

Peter Moffatt

After reading the article on overdrives in TR Action 249, I contacted Peter Eggington of Overdrive Services, Killamarsh, which is in our White Rose area, to ask if he would give a talk to our members on overdrives. Peter was very willing to accommodate us and arrangements were made to visit his headquarters on 24th September. Myself and eight other members arrived in our TRs at Peter’s company workshop at 10am and were greeted by Peter himself. After a short introduction, followed by a very welcome cup of tea, Peter started the programme by giving us a quick tour around his workshop and giving us a brief on his background. After leaving school he started an apprenticeship at the Laycocks factory based in Sheffield, joining his father who had also worked there many years. IN 1995 he left Laycocks to start his own business repairing and overhauling overdrives. Peter’s son Richard is also following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps.

We had a very enjoyable and fascinating time with Peter explaining the intricacies of both stripping down and rebuilding an ‘A’ type overdrive.

We would like to thank Peter for his time and effort, given to make this visit so very worthwhile.

I am sure you will not believe that the next port of call was to a local pub to have a couple of pints and bacon/cheese melt sandwich. All in all, a very good and satisfying few hours.

Vale of York

Keith Warren

Another increase in numbers for November’s meeting so the nights are worthwhile again but let’s not rest, we do need any local members to come down and join in! It was only last week when I was in the garden and could hear that unmistakable sound of a TR6; sure enough it was a “K” registration maroon one, so if you are a local person please get in touch with either Richard or me.

Discussions took place on what events we should either go to or organise for next year such as the drive a classic day and the local aero day. It was suggested that other local clubs had already planned their calendar for next year and joining in with them could be a boost in numbers for both groups - always good to see a convoy of Triumphs.

On the mechanical front yet another problem with my TR6, a slight miss fire and a loud tapping noise. Once the cover was removed one of the roller rockers had broken, with the roller, pin and a section of alloy missing. Having stripped the covers off I have now found all the missing bits so feel lucky that they did not get caught up with any rotating parts. But again it did cause a lot of talk on the evening - the majority outcome was the opinion that I should have left it standard, just like uncle Triumph made it. In this case maybe they are right.

We would like to wish all group members past and future a Happy Christmas and hope to see you all in the New Year.