Northumbria Social Scene - May 2016

Vic Bygrave writes

Early spring in the north east has been generally cool and cloudy and not very encouraging for going out in our cars with their tops down. Conversely as I write it is a glorious sunny day so fingers crossed it will have been the same for the end of the week for Drive It Day.

As in previous years we will have joined Cleveland Group for their organised run to Scampston Hall. It will be interesting to hear how the rather special walled garden and parkland have stood up to the wet winter as the hall had already signalled that a lot of the ground was waterlogged.

By the time this article appears we will be well into our evening runs programme so do come out and join us. Bryan Archer has already laid claims to hold on to the Dave Wright Trophy by turning out in his TR4A even in the cold and dark.

Several members have undertaken serious upgrades over the past few months and it will be especially interesting to see Paul Heritage's reworking of his rally replica TR4. Paul has owned several fast TR7s and his modifications including brakes, roll cage and new Weber carburettors are intended to bring the TR4 up to the level he can use for track days and sprints. The photograph shows the much modified contents of the engine bay including new aluminium oil catch tank and radiator reservoir. No doubt we will be coming back to this later in the season when Paul has taken the car for some fast runs and decided on whether he is going to completely rebuild the engine for more power and reliability.