Brunel Newsletter No 191 - August 2017
Group Leader Ramblings
I'm really getting the hang of this short newsletter thing, aided this month by a shortage of social reporting.
Before I go on, anyone following the gazebo saga will be pleased to know it is still going on.At the last meeting the combined wisdom of Roddy, Derek Roberts, and myself failed to spot we had given Derek the side screen for one of the gazebos we are keeping.Anyway Derek is bringing them back on Wednesday.You can't get Group Leaders like you used to, sorry.
Just for the record, Elf handed over the three Brunel Group Photo Albums at the last meeting.Roddy has one and I have the other two.It will be some time, maybe a very long time before I can scan them in, so I'll photograph the pages over the coming months so we can eventually share them ensure we have them for posterity.Sample as below:
Social Reports of Recent Events
Silverstone Classic
If there are any photos I can put the photos on the website if you can let me have them.
South Gloucester Show
If anyone went I can put the photos on the website if you can let me have them.
Camerton Gathering – Norton Radstock
I had planned to go to this but I changed my coolant hoses last week and TRs being TRs, the indicators packed up!More tales on the Technical Talk page.
Again, if anyone went I can put the photos on the website if you can let me have them.
TR Register International Weekend - more
Just showing off really, but I had a pleasant surprise through the post.Fastest 6 cylinder TR at the IWE Autosolo.
Brunel Events
Picnic
Derek Roberts has volunteered to organise a Brunel Day Out with Picnic on Sunday 20 August.Details are:
- Visit to Berkeley Castle, meet up at 10:00, park on the Grassy Knoll,have a coffee, then a guided tour of the Castle (£8:50 pp if we have 25 or more attending, otherwise £11.00) at 11:15, then all go back to the cars, with our picnics, (no BBQ!!!!).
- Then drive up the A38 bypass Gloucester, around the dual carriage way to the A48 (Chepstow Rd) drive to a pub by the estuary and park up for 1/2 hour or so.
- Then drive down the A48 to Lydney, where there is a place called Taurus Crafts where the ladies might like to look around the craft centres, garden centre, good coffee/tea shop etc.
- Then a drive back through Chepstow and take the hyperspace bypass over the old Severn bridge (free of course) and disperse.
Christmas Dinner
Yes, it's that time again.If you haven't already let Elf know how many places you want, and any room requirements to stop over, could you please do so as soon as you can.
Details are:
- Christmas Dinner/Party at The Walton Park Hotel Clevedon on Sat 9 Dec.
- Cost...£29.95 which includes the disco...(as before Elf will ask if we can sit as far away from disco as possible!)
- Overnight accommodation is offered on a B & B basis....the breakfasts are superb!!
- Cost£67.50 for a Double or Twin room
- £47.50 for aSingle room
- We have been here a few times before and always enjoyed it - it's very festive and great to be able to stay overnight at a reasonable price.
- Also --- we often go for a walk on the Sun am!
Barbeque 2018
Rob Lovell has kindly offered to host a Brunel Barbeque for us next year.At this stage we just need to find the best date for all that doesn't clash with other events.We thought somewhere early to mid-July would be good.In the past they have been held on a Sunday afternoon starting around mid-day.There were no proxy votes so we will have a vote at the 16 August meeting to select the 1st, 8th, or 15th July.
Other Classic Car Events
Redhill Classic Car Meet – 16 August
Classic car and motorcycle enthusiasts are welcome to park up for a chat and meet like-minded people. Come along and enjoy the vehicles on show, held on the Recreation Field at Redhill Village Hall & Club this is a very well attended B.B.Q Evening Gathering from 7 pm, advice is to get there early.
Tetbury Classic Car Show – 3 September
Another popular event with Brunel Group members along with the Glavon Group.
Jersey Trip – 10 to 17 September
The Brunel International Event of the Year 2017 is a trip to Jersey.
Autumn Classic – 7 October
Brunel Group will be going to the Autumn Classic at Castle Combe again this year.
Last year we had a good turnout despite some appalling weather!We will just be watching the legendary cars and spectacular racing this time as far as I know, Tim and Dave are not taking to the track for this one!
Please let me know if you want to display your car, I need to give Castle Combe the number of spaces we want, and after last years' experience I will bid for some gazebo space as well.
TR Track Days
Kev Bryant has reached an agreement with MGs On Track that will give us access to their track days.I went to Brands Hatch with them last year and it was great fun.Events this year are at Donington Park - 2nd October, Anglesey - 13 October,
Goodwood – 31 October, and Brands Hatch - 4 December.
Classic Le Mans 2018
2018 is another Classic Le Mans year.Maybe a few of the group might like to group up to drive over for this one.
It will be held 6, 7 and 8 July 2018 on the Grand Circuit 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2016, more than 123.000 spectators saw nearly 550 race cars on the track and 8.500 cars in the general enclosure specially designed to accommodate 180 clubs representing 60 brands!
For 2018, several innovations are scheduled starting with the presence of the Group C field which was a huge success in 2016. In addition, modifications will be made at the circuit to improve the flow of cars and spectators. Several anniversaries will also be celebrated including in particular, the 40th anniversary of Alpine's victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours as well as the 70th anniversary of the birth of the Porsche 356 and the 50th of the 908!
Technical Talk
Coolant Hoses
Despite all the wisdom on the TR websites saying fit silicon hoses and they will be there for life I have fitted a nice new set of hoses – made of rubber.OK, I know I'll have to do it again in 10 years but the thought of fitting shiny fly off hoses just goes against the grain in my mind and the rubber ones look pretty authentic to me, not that I'm in any way a purist.
So why didn't the indicators work afterwards?As anyone who has enjoyed the experience of changing the two heater hoses inside the car will know, they were designed by the same person who placed the distributor in front of spark plug no5.After much wiggling and squidging, and knocking off various instrument lamps and spade connectors they eventually went on.More waggling and jiggling the next day and they worked again, then after a few other jobs the car is good to go again, with an experimental arrangement of the hotter BPR5ES plugs in cylinders 4, 5, and 6 instead of BPR6ES plugs to see if they run cleaner.
For Sale
TR3 for sale by Andy Spencer
All is revealed.Andy Spencer hasn't been driving his TR3 much in recent times and has decided to sell it.Full details are on the TR Register website under Cars for Sale.Brief details are:
White, non-overdrive. Genuine right hand drive UK car, first registered in North Wales. Fully restored thirty years ago on a new Racestorations chassis.
Rebuilt as near to original specification as possible to a high standard with all steel panels. Drives well with a solid feel.
Currently on steel wheels but a set of painted wire wheels are included c/w adaptors, spacers and spinners. Each with tyres with plenty of tread but would suggest an inspection to check due to age.
Contact Andy – 07765 116590
TR3A for sale by Ken Banks
A similar story from Ken Banks currently living in Spain, but transporting it back to England should be quite straightforward.It is a 1961, only one previous owner, registered in Exeter.
The engine has been totally rebuilt to include nitride harden crank and micro polish, lightened flywheel and fully balanced including diaphram and clutch. And much more.
The suspension fully poly bushed.
O/D gearbox, bodywork in excellent condition, leather seats, hood, sidescreens, tonneau covers all new, with clear windows.
The price is £22,500, and there should be no problem getting the original registration number back.
Dave Lewis knows all about the car.
Contact Ken at lesley.banks68@googlemail.com
Wire Wheels
Elf has some 4J wire wheels that are surplus to requirements and wishes to sell them.Please call Elf on 07969 191168.
Wants
Sidescreen TR
David Radford is looking for a sidescreen TR, if you are looking to sell I will put you in touch.
TR8
One of the group is considering buying a TR8, preferably one of the original UK ones, but I think he will consider a good conversion.I don't know of one in the group but if anyone has one to sell please let me know and I'll put you in touch.
Dave
Brunel's officers and contact details
Group Leader/Webmaster
Dave Green
mobile: 07772 330220
tel: 01934 811711
email : david@bruneltrs.co.uk
Treasurer
Roddy Halliwell
mobile:07768 322982
email: crhalliwell@aol.co.uk
Social Committee Co-ordinator
Elf Harris
tel: 0117 9082155
mobile: 07969 191168
email: elfdendom@hotmail.com
Membership Secretary
Bob Sackley
tel: 01934 862672
email: sackers@tesco.net