Home Counties North West Midget and Sprite Club

2011-12-24T09:28:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas to all HCNW Members

Happy Christmas to you all. I hope you and your Spridget are enjoying the festive season. If you manage to get out and about this Christmas time take care and get those hoods down. Also, I hope your Christmas stockings contain that new tool or Spridget related item that you asked for!

Plans for the 2012 events calendar are taking shape nicely. Look out for details in the new year...

Best wishes Mark and Jen

The end of 2011 events

2011-10-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

So we have seen the back of the 2011 events calendar. We still have monthly pub nights at the Chequers Inn, Redbourn on the last Wednesday of the month (all welcome!), but that is it for regular runs.

However, if you fancy one last trip the Midget and Sprite Club AGM is on Sunday, 23rd October, at the Coventry Motor Museum. If you make the trip in your Midget or Sprite you can park up as part of a display of our cars, right outside the museum (if you bring a drip tray!).

So what shall we do next year? I am starting to think about next years events already. But it is your local area so what do you want to do? We always have some road runs to enjoy, why not think about organising one yourself. It can be as easy or as complicated route as you like. Or is there a specific place of interest you fancy going to that other like minded club members would enjoy? Let me know if there is.

I will also try and keep all our events updated on this site as they are about to come up. I will also try and keep the MASCOT diary up to date as well.

Time to get into the garage and sort out all those niggles now then!

Mark

2011-08-03T16:13:00.000-07:00

So August; what a busy month!

There are lots of activities going on this month for you and your Spridget to join in. If you are interested in more details give me a call or send me and e-mail;

2^nd Keith on behalf of the Harrow Car Club has invited us to join their ‘Bring ‘n’ Show’ evening at The Windmill in Chipperfield (WD4 9BU)> A pleasant evenng was had by all.

3^rd It’s ‘Classic on the Green’ from noon in Croxley Green (WD3 3HX), Park up have a look at the cars and light your BBQ. This is a mini Harpenden and much less formal. A good afternoon/evening if the sun shines and it did! Why weren't you there?

7^th Two choices! Pat and Zara are holding their Charity run again this year. Pat has sent out details but if you are interested contact me and I can let you have an application form or get in contact with Pat and Zara directly.

Alternatively a small number are attending a classic car and bike picnic at Bletchley Park (Bletchley Park's website) If you are interested in joining in please contact me for more details. We will be meeting somewhere close to Bletchley on the A5… exact location to be confirmed this week!

9^th The Ace Café. Traditionally there is a big Spridget presence at the Ace on the second Tuesday in August. Cars form a number of areas are likely to be coming down, but you will need to be there early, probably by 5.30 if you don’t want to park up the street! Just turn up on the night. Details are here; The Ace Cafe.

14^th Maurice and Sharon are hosting a BBQ at their house in Great Gaddesdon. Burgers and sausages will be provided just bring yourselves and some drinks… Maurice would like to confirm numbers at least a week before so please let me know if you would like to come along and I will let Maurice know.

21^st Tewin Classic Car & Craft Show 2011. The club has been along to this informal show in previous years and some members are attending again this year. Let me know if you would like to come along. We will confirm details nearer the time. Tewin village website

And finally… Bank Holiday Monday 29^th. A club stand will be booked for Knebworth Classic car show. Bookings need to be made 28 days in advance so if you can confirm your attendance by Tuesday 2^nd August I can book a £3 entry ticket in for you. You can just pay on the day, but it will be a little more than £3…

So that should keep you busy!

What is left for July?

2011-07-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

So next weekend (22nd - 24th July) is the Silvertone Classic and the Midget and Sprite Club will be there on all three days; Friday through to Sunday! On Saturday HCNW are planning to arrive at the circuit in a convoy from a meeting point in Winslow at around 830am, although some members will be making their own way to the circuit and plenty are going on the other two days as well. Let me know if you are planning to meet up with us on Saturday so we don't leave with out you! Lets hope for some brighter weather as it is always a good day out.

If you are going on Sunday the club has organised a celebration parade lap of the circuit at lunchtime to mark the 50th birthday of the Midget. Speak to Dave Dixon from East Anglia if you are there on Sunday for details.

Other member so of the HCNW area will be visiting the Chiltern Open Air Museum's Classic Car show on Sunday (Museum's site). If you fancy going along get in touch with Mike Gahan or contact me and I will pass details to Mike. Entrance is free if you are exhibiting, but you do need to book in. Mike needs to confirm final numbers by Thursday this week so if you are interested don; hang around! Joining the HCNW group will be four carrs with friends from the Hampshire Chapter who will be at Silverstone on the Saturday.

And finally this month; don't forget the pub night at the Chequers. From 6.30 on Wednesday 27th July. Look out for what we have planned in August which should be finalised in the next week or so!

April and May

2011-04-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

After our trip to Hampshire things are a bit quieter at the moment. Pub night is this coming Wednesday, 28th April from 6.30pm at the Chequers Inn, Redbourn.

We will be discussing the next few events; who is doing the Spirit of Dacorum run on 1st May and of course what is happening for Midget50 on the 12th June?

Hope to see you at the Chequers. And if the weather holds there are no excuses for not coming in your Spridget!

March/April 2011

2011-03-27T17:04:00.000-07:00

Following on from the first run of the year in March we have our next run planned for 17th April. We will be visiting the Hampshire Chapter (check out there website by following the links on the right) at their Open Day in Greywell. We will be organising a run down to Hampshire... probably starting in Amersham. Check back here for details or get in touch with Mark or Chris!

We also have our next pub night on Wednesday, March 30th at the newly refurbished Chequers Inn, Redbourn. Hope to see you there!

2011 Events

2010-12-26T07:12:00.000-08:00

So what have we got planned for 2011? Well you might ask?

The diary of events for 2011 is down to you! We are starting to pull together the calendar, but if you have any ideas of things the club could go to/join in with/organise or if you would like to organise a road run please let me or Chris know.

So far we have the following ideas;

National events: Midget 50 at Burghley House (http://www.midget50.com/) on 12th June maybe someone woudl like to organise a run to Burghley and maybe organise and overnight stop; the Silverstone Classic at Silverstone (http://www.silverstoneclassic.com/) on 22-24th July which this year is going to be a big MASC event with a bigger area using the clubs large gazebo and possibly a Midget procession on track to celebrate 50 years of the Midget!

Drive and trips: A visit to Hampshire's Drive It Day celebration on 17th April; Chiltern Open Air Museum Classic Vehicle Show, probably in July; a trip to Bletchley Park; Tewin Village Car Show; and a few trips to catch up with other areas. Plus trips to Knebworth Classic Car show in August and a few others during the year.

If there is anything that you have enjoyed in the past and would like to do again or if you have any new ideas please speak up. It would also be good if any of you fancy organising one of our monthly Sunday drives with a pub lunch. Any volunteers will be gratefully accepted; don't worry if you haven't organised a run before all you need to do is provide some simple instructions and arrange somewhere for lunch and everyone will be happy.... of course if you want to provide tulip diagrams or detailed route plans that is ok too!

Oh, and don't forget our monthly pub get together at the Chequers Inn Redbourn on the last Wednesday of each month. Any time from around 6.30. Some people eat and some just come for a drink and chat. Non members always welcome...and you don't even have to come in a Spridget, but it would be nice if you do!

See you in 2011!

Mark

October 2010

2010-09-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

October means another run for the Home Counties North West... Maurice is organising a run for us on the 17th October. Starting at the Bridgewater Arms in Little Gaddesdon, Berkhamsted (for sat navers and Googlers the postcode is HP4 1PD). The run will incorporate a pub lunch.

If you fancy coming along please e-mail Mark at the usual address.

And don't forget September's pub night on Wednesday 29th September at the Chequers in Redbourn. Hope you can make them both.
(The photo is from our run in September 2007 - seems like only yesterday!)

August and September...

2010-08-22T16:15:00.000-07:00

Well the Ace was a wet affair in August. Fewer than expected Midgets and Sprites turned up, but I don’t think anyone would complain that people stayed at home. My Frog was full of water by the time I got home.

So what next? Well the August pub night it is on Wednesday 25th August. See you at the Chequers from 6.30. Let’s hope the weather has improved enough for us all to visit in Spridgets.

Then we hit the end of August bank holiday weekend. Traditionally the HCNW have attended the Knebworth Classic car show. It is too late to apply for reduced rate tickets, but let me know if you are planning on going along and we can arrange to meet up inside and park together. The show is on for two days and we have usually attended on the Monday... it would be good to know if anyone is planning to attend.

September 2010 Events

Capel Manor Classic Car Show, held in the grounds and gardens of the college in Enfield, North London, is on Sunday 5^th September. If you fancy going along and parking up together please get in contact.

There are plans in hand to attend the Turweston Wings and Wheels event near Brackley. This is Turweston Aerodrome's annual festival of vintage and classic aircraft, cars, motorcycles, tractors, barn engines, and more. We need to complete an event application form. Please drop Mark an e-mail to confirm your interest if you haven’t already.

The weekend of 25^th and 26^th September is the Kop Hill Hillclimb event in Princes Roisborough. Some of you attended last year, but this year promises to be bigger and better than last year with more cars on show. Entries for climbing the Hill have now closed, but people can still go along as spectators and watch a real variety of cars of all ages attempting the Hill at varying speeds.

I understand on the Saturday the Ace Café are planning a ‘drive out’ event to Kop Hill leaving the Ace Café at 9am (Ace Cafe Event details). So if the Ace is nearer to you than Princes Risborough you might fancy joining in with this. Entry fee is £5 and you will need to be ready to leave the Ace at 9am. So get there early for a decent breakfast and make a day of it. Mike Gahan is probably going to be there so speak to him if you fancy joining in.

And finally…We have been invited to tea and homemade cakes by Sharon and Paul Woolmer at their home near Colmworth, just north of Bedford. This is for Sunday September 26^th. Paul is much involved in racing and has a several very nippy and interesting vehicles. They live on a farm with a number of old farm buildings which now house his collection.

Chris is organising us for the day and may arrange a run for the morning and then a visit to Sharon and Paul in the afternoon. If you are interested contact Chris or Mark.

That is all for now but keep an eye on the website and your e-mails for more information.

10th August Summer Night at The Ace

2010-08-08T16:09:00.000-07:00

During the summer months the London area have their monthly meet (and many of us go along from time to time as well!) at Ace Cafe on the North Circular (not far from Hangar Lane). The second Tuesday of the month is Classic Car Night featuring all sorts of classics, but it is also the club night for the Lotus 7, Jensen and Midget & Sprite club and this month a number of areas are hoping to go along; Hampshire and Birmingham/Warwickshire. Why not come along too? Last August plenty of us went along and I think we had a good night!

The event officially starts at 6.00, but in order to get a place in the car park it is recommended that you arrive by 5.00 5-30. Although if the parking area is full you are able to park along the road outside. The Ace has a considerable menu (chips feature rather heavily) at reasonable prices and the food is good. It is an interesting venue with a great atmosphere and well worth the effort. Hope to see you there?

July 2010 - What next?

2010-07-15T15:44:00.000-07:00

First up is a Thursday night trip to see our friends in the Hampshire Chapter. Last year a small group of us made the trip down to Hampshire for their regular pub night and a jolly evening was had by all. Keith is organising a trip next week, Thursday 22^nd July. If you fancy going along let Keith know so he is expecting you or get in contact with me. I believe the plan, as last year, is to meet up in Old Amersham (at Tesco of course!) ready to leave around 3pm. A couple of hours leisurely drive there along some good roads.

Then just after that we have the Silverstone Classic, 23^rd, 24^th and 25^th July, and I know there are plenty of us going along on the Saturday (the Midget and Sprite Club have a stand for all three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday). It has become a tradition that we meet up on route to Silverstone in the middle of Winslow and I am planning to do this again this year.

So, if you are coming along on Saturday and would like to meet up for a convoy drive for the last 10 miles or so please let me know. I will issue details of the meeting place in the middle of Winslow and the meeting time nearer the weekend. If you prefer to make your own way there that is fine too! There will plenty of MASC members at the circuit. I hope this rain and wind goes before then!

Unfortunately I can't load up a copy of the July MASCOT cover, but if you would like a good quality copy of the image to print out to show your friends or to frame to take pride of place in your hallway let me know and I will e-mail it to you.

30th June Pub Night

2010-06-22T16:04:00.000-07:00

After the successful "Byfords Run" in May (that is Mike and Diane in their Sprite in the photo)and trips out in June the next gathering is the June pub night. The original plan for June was to attend the Classics in the Walled Garden Event at Luton Hoo and some members are still attending, but for those of you who aren't the pub night at the Cheques Inn Redbourn, will go ahead as normal.

See you there form 6.30 if you can make it...

May 16th Road Run

2010-04-28T16:45:00.000-07:00

So we did 'drive it day' and now we move into May!

The May run is planned for the 16th and will start from Hatfield Tesco at 10am. If you are planning on coming along then please can you confirm, via e-mail, to Maggi at maggi.byford@btinternet.com. Depending on where Maggi books for lunch we may have to prebook our lunches but we will see how we get on.

Please let Maggi know as soon as possible and by Sunday 9th May at the latest.

Up and Coming

2010-04-07T15:04:00.001-07:00

So what have we got planned now? The next run is on Drive It Day, 25th April. Steve and Tracy are planning a trip starting at Princes Risborough. There is a Tesco in Princes Risborough so we should all feel at home, but no Tesco 99 Octane petrol on sale so you will have to fill up on the way or use the petrol station around the corner in Princes Risborough. More details will be available very soon.

Then in May, I can now confirm it will be the 16th, Maggi and Roger are planning a route that will start at Tesco in Hatfield. Again more details will follow nearer the time.

First Road Run of the Year

2010-03-29T22:30:00.000-07:00

March 21st saw the Home Counties North West inaugural road run for 2010. Good weather, good roads, good cars and good company.

The day was not uneventful with a number of early spring mishaps and misfires, but we all got home at the end of the day... not always under our own power!

Click here for a small selection of pictures. Want to share any of yours let me have a copy and I will upload them...

Pub Night Wednesday 31st March

2010-03-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

It's the end of March already! The clocks have gone forward (you must have worked it out by now!) and the evenings will be getting lighter... ok they are forecasting snow at the weekend, but it is spring. Soon there will be no excuses for not taking your Spridget to the Chequers on the last Wednesday of the month.

This month I think you may be able to get away without it though, rain and wind is the forecast, but I hope you can make it along to the Chequers on Wednesday night. I'll be there hope you can make it too from around 6.30pm at the Chequers Inn, Redbourn.

UPDATE... First Run of the Year... UPDATE

2010-01-25T15:22:00.000-08:00

So the first update to the site has arrived. We have a change of date for the first run of the year; it will take place on Sunday, 21st March. This should also be a reminder, for those that need one, that the previous date, the 14th, is Mothering Sunday.

All the other details remain the same, 10 am start at Tesco, Hatfield. Lunch at the Rising Sun and a fun day out in the fresh air. If you are planning on coming along please contact Chris or e-mail me at the address shown at the top of the right hand column.

By my calculation that gives you only another seven weekends to do all those little winter jobs you said you would do on your Spridget. Dare I attempt my carb re-build before the run?

Home Counties Christmas Lunch 2009

2010-01-10T09:34:00.000-08:00

It seems to have become the tradition in the Home Counties over the last few years that we have our Christmas lunch at the end of January. Well, this year is no exception. We are booked in to the Lilley Arms, Lilley, Nr Luton on Sunday 31st January.

Chris is organising the ‘do’ and will be contacting all those that have already signed up (there are over 30 of us confirmed for the day!) with menu and other organisational details. We will be eating in the Crooked Barn, the converted stable function room at the pub (very appropriate for a Christmas meal you could say!), as our lunchtime venue. Yes, I didn’t know it existed either…

So hopefully the weather will be better by then and you may even be able to come in your Spridget! I don’t think anyone will mind if you don’t though.

See you on the 31st.

First Run of the year 2010

2010-01-10T09:13:00.000-08:00

The first organised road run of 2010 will be on March 14th. Chris and Pat have offered to kick the year off for us and you will not be surprised to know that the meeting point will be Tesco in Hatfield. 10am is the start time.

Where are we going I hear you ask? Well, I can't tell you that but I know Chris and Pat are looking forward to lunch at the Rising Sun, Hall's Green, Nr Stevenage. I imagine we will be joining them. Those of you with good memories will remember that we have visited this pub before back in March last year (I only remember because Chris told me!) . If you don't believe me look at the photo - were you there?

Look out here for more details nearer the time. Oh, and of course we will e-mail you as well.

What are Home Counties North West doing in 2010?

2010-01-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

We are starting to get a full calendar of events for 2010 organised. The first run will be on 14th March as it says on this page and we already have a number of runs and outings agreed and Chris and I are very grateful to all of you have volunteered to arrange something.

Some highlight so far... Steve and Tracy are organising a run for the 25th April. The 25th is the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs' Drive It Day; so we should see plenty of other old cars out and about. In May, exact date to be confirmed Maggi and Roger have agreed to organise a run for us. In June Chris and Pat are arranging a 'multi-start' trip to Stowe Gardens.

Add this to the Silverstone Classic (23-25 July), Turweston Aerodrome Classic and Vintage car show, Capel Manor, Tewin Village Classic Car show, Maurice and Sharon's October Run, Pat and Zara's Annual Charity Run, a couple of Harrow Car Club events that Keith has extended an invite to, Classics on the Common, Classics on the Green, the list goes on and on!

However, if there is something not on the list you would like to go to or if you want to plan a run or a trip out please let me know. I will send out a list of events to all local members who's e-mail addresses I have. If you would like me to add you to the circulation list for the HCNW e-mail me at hcnwmasc@googlemail.com . Or to keep up with what is going on keep checking this site, I do intend to update it with details of the events as we go through the year.

If you haven't been along to the Chequers Inn or been out on a run please feel free to join us. We are a very relaxed area and you will be made welcome. If you want to know any thing more about our events please get in contact with me or Chris, we will be only too happy to talk.