The rest of 2015...

In May we made a trip to William Morris/Lord Nuffield's home. Unfortunately the start in Amersham was wet and our trip to the house was in  pretty heavy rain! May in the UK!! However, the weather did improve and we had a good day learning what an incredibly wealthy man Nuffield was (he earned around £100,000 a day in today's money!) and how much he did for others with his money- despite recent revelations about him. 

In September we made another rainy trip, this time to the Classic Car and Steam event at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton. Unfortunately the rain kept nearly everyone else away. We may visit again in 2016 when more than 25 of the 150-200 cars expected should be there. We had a good if damp time  and the trains were running.  

There isn't a very long line of track that they run steam on, but we all had a go on the trains that were running. There is a lot of static rolling stock to look around and an engine under restoration, which made a Spridget restoration look very simple and very very cheap!

 Eventually we managed to go somewhere in the sunshine!! In October on a lovely early Autumn morning we met at the pub in Redbourn for a trip to Jordans Mill. This is the original mill of the Jordan food company - you have probably eaten one of their breakfast cereals or their wholesome cereal bars. 

We had a really nice run out to the mill via Ireland (a tiny hamlet were we stopped to pose by the signpost). The mill has a very nice modern visitor centre and function venue that serves food and drink that we were all able to enjoy before looking around the gardens or the mill and heading off home.


 

Lets hope 2016 has more of these sunny events! Why not join us?

17 May 2015

Chiltern Hills Vintage Vehicle Rally 2015 

This year's Chiltern Hills Rally was bigger than ever, lots more Midget and Sprites made it along and the field was fuller than ever!

After another great start from Mike and Lorna's in Aylesbury, tea and coffee croissant and Danish set us all up for the day, we made our way in convoy to the site! Managing to all keep together on the main road thanks to a Stag that let all fie of us out. When we arrived at the event we met up with Matthew in his 1275 who had come the short distance from his home to join us. And very soon we were joined by a couple of other cars that joined us for the first time.

It was also the first outing for the newly delivered Home Counties Midget and Sprite club banner! The only problem is we were right in the middle of all the clubs and our banner was swamped by all the others around us! I suppose it is like our cars - small and perfectly formed.

A good day was had by all!

18 May 2014

Chiltern Hills Vintage

Vehicle Rally - New Venue

A cracking day in the sunshine at the new venue for the Chiltern Hills Vintage Vehicle Rally. The event has been held in Aston Clinton for the last 20 odd years, but this year the new venue on the other side of Aylesbury, on the Weedon Road was chosen. Better access and much more space being the biggest advantages. The sunshine was a bonus.

We returned the Best Club Stand cup from last year and didn't even park in straight lines this year so no chance of winning! Plus our 'stand' had a 911 and a Lotus on it. However Steve and Elaine's dog, Ruby, won a rosette in the dog show despite getting an oil patch in the middle of her back before her big moment!

A great fun day and some red cheeks on the way home!

First Trip of the year!
On Sunday 13^th April the HCNW area are taking a trip and would like to invite you to join in a nice Sunday outing to the country.  The theme of the day will be an opportunity to give our lovely cars a taste of spring air in the sunshine (which has been booked in advance) around the picturesque villages, have a social day out with a visit to the wonderful little Cotswold Motoring Museum in Bourton on the Water. http://www.cotswoldmotoringmuseum.co.uk/

The plan is as follows:

10:00 – Meeting up at the Pear Tree services just off the A34 Oxford Ring Road (postcode for sat nav OX2 8JZ). Setting off at 10.20 for coffee at the Burford Garden Centre. And then on to Bourton on the Water.

Mike Pope has arranged everything including parking at the museum forecourt. You have the chance for a stroll around the museum, or if you would prefer a stroll around the nice shops.

After lunch in one of the many eating places in Bourton we will set of for the lovely NT village of Bibury. This gives us a chance for a nice stroll through Bibury with a chance to enjoy an ice cream in the sunshine!

The mileage for the round trip is about 70 miles.So not too hard a trip for the first outing of the year. Hope you can join us - contact through the usual ways. Please let me know if you are coming so we know who to expect.

Home Counties North West - what is happening in 2014?

As always at this time of year thoughts turn to the next year of Spridget activities. I am just starting to think about events we can attend and runs that we can go on. So far some ideas that have been suggested are trips to the Chiltern Hills Rally in Aston Clinton, Chorleywood Classics and Milton Keynes Museum Transport Day. Plus offers to organise runs out to Bourton-on-the-Water and maybe to the MGCC Museum at Abingdon or Henley on Thames Bus and Motor Museum.

So there should be something for everyone. Don't forget the monthly pub meetings on the last Wednesday of the month as well. This year we may vary our venue and even incorporate a drive out... Watch this space!

HCNW Events in June 2013

Fresh from our winning stand (!) at the Chiltern Hills Vintage Car Rally we are now planning two events in June.

 

Sunday 23rd, we will be taking a trip to the Duxford Imperial War Museum. A meet at Tesco in Hatfield for those that live this way (other rendezvous can be arranged!). Please get in contact at the usual address if you are interested in joining us.

 

The second will be a trip to the History on Wheels Museum – Motors, Militaria & memories - at Eton Wick, near Windsor on Sunday 30th June. Meeting up details are yet to be finalised but get in touch if you would like to join us.

 

Hope to see you soon...

Chiltern Hills Vintage Vehicle Rally - Sunday 19th May


After a slow start to the year HCNW will be at the Chiltern Hills Vintage Vehicle Rally this coming Sunday. Now the weather might not be as good as the picture but it is forecast to be warm and dry.

If you are at the show come and find us in the club area and say hello. If you can not make this event then we will be joining the Harrow Car Club for their evening Concours event on Tuesday 4th June at the Windmill Pub in Chipperfield.

We also have a trip to Duxford Air Museum and the History on Wheels Museum near Windsor planned for later in June. Watch this space for more details.

The 2013 Events Calendar is Imminent!

I am just finalising the 2013 Events Calendar. Check back soon for details or get in contact with me if you want more information or have some ideas for events. Why not plan a road run for us...?

Join MASC at the Ace Cafe on Tuesday 14th August...

Every summer the massed throngs of the MASC descend on the Ace Cafe in North London. this year is no different.

Why not come along to an evening of classic cars, chat, beer or tea or coffee and a good cheap meal at the Ace Cafe. Various area groups form around the country will be coming down (and up!) to the Ace.

It is advisable to get there early, especially if it it stays sunny. Before 6pm and you have a chance of parking in the car park any later and you will be in the road.  If you want more information get in touch. Details of the Ace Cafe are here on their website;  http://www.ace-cafe-london.com/

Mark

Home Counties Activities in July and August

Is the summer here yet? Well this weekend sees the Silverstone Classic, where the Midget and Sprite Club have a club display for all three days, and the Chiltern Open Air Museum Classic Car weekend; these normally happen in the summer!

Various members from the HCNW will be at Silverstone on Saturday and Sunday and on Sunday there will be members at the Chiltern Open Air Museum, alongside members from the Hampshire Chapter. The weather forecast is good for a change, so we may get a weekend of top down Spridget driving weather!


Now if you can not make these events (or even if you can!) the next road run event is being organised by Keith and Ann and will take place on Sunday 5th August. Starting at the Chequers in Redbourn at 10am, with a meeting point on the A5,  the run will take us to the Glenn Miller Museum and the Twinwood Aviation museum in Bedford.

The Glenn Miller Museum is open from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm and the admission charge is £4.00.  Admission to the Twinwood Aviation Museum, which is on the same site, is included in the price and they will stay open until 5.00 pm if visitors are still on site.

No hot food is served but you are able to purchase hot drinks.  Meal options are therefore either to bring a picnic or have lunch in one of the pubs in Clapham Village – food served from 12.00-3.00pm at the Horse & Groom in the High Street.  The Fox & Hounds also serves food but this is a “sports” pub and might prove more noisy – the choice is yours!
Please get in contact with me or Keith if you fancy coming along.