TR Action London Group report for issue 344
Soc.Sec.David Boucher writes: I was going to start this report eulogising how spring has sprung but I awoke to a snowy garden this morning! - once more, the roads are being furiously salted and our beloved TRs will be confined to quarters again. This is particularly frustrating to the writer as the re-build of my BBQ-ed TR3A (following the track-day fire last May at Castle Combe) is complete and ready for collection! More of that anon.
It’s not a particularly well known fact that TR-LG members are a romantic bunch! - and so it was the 15 of us with partners gathered in Teddington for a Valentines Day curry, taking over one end of the Prem restaurant. Much merriment and story telling meant that the evening was great success and passed by all too quickly. Our ever thoughtful Leader, Mark Bulford, had even gone so far as to provide a red rose for all the ladies present that night, thus bailing out the more forgetful male members!
Apart from out regular Group meetings, the focus then turned to the up and coming London Classic Car Show at Olympia towards the end of February. This event has been traditionally ‘manned’ by the London Group for several years now and so it was again. Mark Bulford planned it all meticulously with teams of our members turning up on Thursday afternoon to help arrange the display and deliver display cars, and covering the opening hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (between 6 & 7 of us each day). Thankfully, the Register had made arrangements for the actual stand construction, decorating and de-constructing so our job was made a little easier. The stand arrangement was for 4 TR derivatives and one ‘genuine’ TR - in this case a TR3A in the centre with a Doretti, a Peerless, TS2 and an Italia 2000 as period derivatives. They were all magnificent examples of their marque and drew enormous attention on the day as you would imagine. At this point I return to my BBQ-ed TR3A as this had been selected as the centre-piece of the display, partly as all the others were derived from it’s running gear and/or chassis, and partly because it had a story to tell from the Castle Combe fire through its re-build to completion, complete with photos pre-fire, during fire and after fire. The re-build has been a great success at Crown Classics and I was very excited to have it at the show except ……. as is often the way after an almost complete refurbishment, it developed a snag at the last moment and Plan B had to be brought into action. Another red TR3A was duly delivered and looked equally magnificent on the stand. I somehow managed not to kick the car’s tyres in frustration every time I walked by it, and discuss it glowingly with the visiting public. For us guys on the stand, the display made it easy for us to engage with visitors and it was busy on all three days until well into the afternoon. The derivatives were so interesting with so much to talk about, that people often stayed on the stand for some time asking questions and taking pictures All four cars were greatly admired and the event was considered a great success. We have in the past won the ‘Best Club Stand’ several times but there didn’t seem to be any awards being dished out this time, much to our disappointment. So in no time at all, it was time to pack up, remove the cars, and try to get home by public transport seemingly ravaged by track works and strikes. We’re looking forward to next time already!
Finally the London Group is as healthy and friendly as ever so come and join us for a noggin and a natter over a beer - you are most welcome. You can find us on the third Thursday of every month at the Star Inn, Malden Rushett KT22 0DP or on the 1st Thursday of the month at The Winning Post, Twickenham TW2 6LS - please keep an eye on your phone messages and emails or on the web site http://www.tr-register.co.uk/g... - both start from about 7.15pm
UPCOMING EVENTS:-
Saturday 8th April - Brooklands Easter Classic Gathering
Friday 14th April - Clay Pigeon Shoot
Sunday 16th April - Pub Run
Sunday 23rd April - Drive-It Day