New Year's Day meetings - did you go?

[lowdrag]

With a friend we went to the White Buck at Burley in the New Forest, myself in the XKSS and he in his 340 Mk 2. Despite there usually being a big attendance we saw - I think - but seven cars and the rest in their moderns tin boxes. The car is now back here in France in the open garage to dry out, but I don't really regret going, despite the filthy weather. We classic people are supposed to be made of sterner stuff than that. So, did you get your car out?

Edit: just got the spare wheel out to try and get to the floor inside. Wooden ply floor swollen and jammed in, lifted it slightly and shone torch in. Looks like about three litres at least of water in the boot floor. Squeezed towels into the gap to absorb, ran out of towels and the rest will have to take its time. The joys of classic ownership!

Edited by lowdrag on Monday 6th January 15:43

[LordBretSinclair]

I have to admit we did not make it out on New Years Day.

Montrachet was the cause though not the weather

We're doing this in April - have you ever attended ??

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[itiejim]

I had a great drive in the rain (roof down) to the Shelsley Walsh breakfast club held at their historic hill climb. Took my vastly modified 1967 Spitfire and enjoyed slippery roads and not another car on the road.

When I looked out of the window I really didn't know whether to brave the shocking weather but it was definitely worth it. Great cooked breakfast when I got there too!

[Riley Blue]

On New year's Day we had six hours of non-stop rain and high winds so our 'Drive 'n' Dine' day was postponed and we settled for just the 'Dine', having a good lunch at a previous Derbyshire Pub of the Year.

[ClassicMotorNut]

We took our Midget down to Brooklands which is about an hour's drive away. The attendance was pretty good despite the weather, although nothing like what it has been.

[TonyBrooks]

I went to the Phoenix Inn, Hartley Witney - terrible weather but still very enjoyable - I am in the Talisman

[davepen]

lowdrag said:

seven cars and the rest in their moderns tin boxes.

It was about twice that, about 8 pre war and a similar number of post war, but as you say well down on numbers; unless of course you are counting MkII's Jags as Modern Tin Boxes...

We were in one of the A7.

[alolympic]

TonyBrooks said:

I went to the Phoenix Inn, Hartley Witney - terrible weather but still very enjoyable - I am in the Talisman

Oooh, lovely. Would be very interested in reading more about your car, looks very nice and seems to have a wider track than normal, just different wheels or is there more going on?

[williredale]

I didn't take my MG out but that was due to a family lunch down the M4. A bit of rain doesn't stop me.

[occrj]

We had a decent turnout at the local VSCC pub gathering, despite the lousy weather.






http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/...

RJ

[Le Mans Visitor]

Was great to see you Tony. The way you had to climb out of the XKSS was a sight that will stay with me for some time!!

Dave

[lowdrag]

Ah, head over the tunnel, belly down, extricate feet from the foot well, slide feet out and let body follow. Not the most elegant style, but with the high D-type sill and a letter box opening up to the hood, the only way. We are agreed that this car will now only be used in dry weather where possible because it is so claustrophobic inside with the hood up, and the hood is a logistical disaster to erect. The seats are drying gently in the spare room, the foot wells have been mopped dry, the car is in the lean-to so air can circulate and the doors propped open and there were three litres of water in the rear under the spare wheel. I'm leaving the hood up so that hopefully it will stretch and the piano wires in the headrail will stretch so it'll be easier to clip down in future, and it won't come down now until the spring. The joys of classic motoring!

Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 8th January 03:05

[lotus72]

I popped in to Brooklands, a smaller crowd this year for obvious reasons...

[lotus72]

[SilverWraith]

I felt really bad about it but, after having told people I would be there, I wimped out of going to the Stony Stratford New Year's Day meet on the basis that it was dreadful weather (and the window seals on the Silver Wraith don't seal!) and I couldn't get moving after the party the night before! I applaud those who could get up and did venture into the storms.

[Fane]

TonyBrooks said:

I went to the Phoenix Inn, Hartley Witney - terrible weather but still very enjoyable - I am in the Talisman

The spiritual home of the VSCC and not one Vintage car in that shot. I'm not being a car snob, just stating a fact.

I was at OCCRJ's bash in Cheshire, and had a fine time, even though the weather was a bit rubbish.

[lowdrag]

The VSCC quit the Phoenix about 20 years ago IIRC, not liking (and it's got worse and worse) just any old car turning up at 9am and bagging the pole position in the car park. Yes, that sounds snobbish, but I know meetings where the car park is reserved for rather special cars and where just anything (which would include my XKSS by the way) would be asked to park outside. I fully agree with that attitude, and prefer to see an Austin 7 in the car park to an Austin Se7en. I stopped going about five years back.