Social Scene 338
TR Action Social Scene Report Submissions
Group name
Thames Valley Group
Magazine issue
338
Author of report name
David Goswell
Report content (up to 500 words inc. diary dates below)
Very busy recently with Drive it Day, at Chatham, featuring TS2 as the star, plus taking TS2 to Brooklands for a photo shoot, along with the London Group. Congratulations to Keith Cooper for getting his photo on the cover of TR Action.
When you plan a large trip, starting on Friday 13th, many people jokingly comment that “It’s doomed”, spoken in a Scottish accent, very apt as we brushed off any fears, as 5 TR’s headed for Scotland in May.
We followed parts of a route designed by Mike Heelis, Windsor Forest, headed through Yorkshire to Peebles, in the Scottish Borders, and on to Inverness. Number one problem, John & Erica Milward’s recently fitted metering unit was leaking fuel. Despite contacting Crown Classics, the wrong part was sent, and UPS took 48hrs to deliver it. Mervyn stayed an extra day to help but in the end John & Erica had to send the car home, along with themselves. Thanks to the Scottish team Stephen, Charlie and Roman.
Arrived in beautiful Bettyhill, and the following day Paul West has a nasty fall. Once Paramedics checked him over, he and Cathy were able to continue to holiday.
Stopping at Durness we experienced Scottish gusts, so strong that Roger’s passenger door was ripped out of Caroline’s hand and alas was stopped by Mervyns door.
Journey from Ullapool to Plockton was amazing, those of you who have followed the stories of my gearbox will be wondering how well it was running. Gearbox locked the wheels and remained stuck in 2nd gear, enabling me to drive the 7 miles to Plockton, and get it shipped home. The selector has probably come apart, thanks to a loose bolt. It wouldn’t be very PC, to name the person who restored it, suffice to say it will go to Hardy’s in Leatherhead if required. So, Janet and I managed to get a train to Inverness, picked up a hire car and re-joined the trip in Fort William.
Off we went to Isle of Mull, which was amazing, on the day of leaving the island the Oban ferry broke down which left us stranded. Luckily a nearby smaller ferry had us off the island without too much delay, so the team headed south, with Janet & I returning to Inverness. EasyJet cancelled our flight and left us in Inverness airport, all night!
So, the rest of the team made their way separately south, with Mervyn getting a puncture on the M1.
Perhaps Friday the 13th wasn’t such a good idea!
Our regular meetings are at the Stepping Stones pub in Westhumble, Dorking (RH5 6BS) on the third Wednesday of each month from 20:00 and our Sunday lunchtime meetings on the last Sunday of the month at the Surrey Oaks (RH5 5DZ), starting at 12:00.
Diary dates (list here any of your Group events coming up for up to 2 months post-publication)
Cranleigh Classic Car Show – August 14th
Captions "In better times"