I know we're still in September (just) and the title of this newsletter says October but I couldn't wait! There are some exciting things to tell you about in this issue and if I wait until October it will be too late! In this issue we report on the TR Lincs Tour of Northumberland and give you information on how to join the October TR Lincs Sunday run in forthcoming events. Unfortunately the run we had planned for the 26th of September has had to be postponed until next year but we still have a few events still on the cards for the end of this season.
See you soon
Adrian Lawton - Group Leader
Event Report - TR Lincs Tour of Northumberland, 12th to 17th September.
This is the trip we never thought would happen. Planning for this trip started in late 2019 with the intention to hold it in June 2020 but our spiky Covid friend soon put pay to that. Never mind a postponement to September 2020 will sort that out, no Covid lockdown 2 put the kibosh on it again. By now we are not on plan B but fast approaching plan Z, September 2021 will be the date, and so it was. The intrepid travellers assembled in two groups, the first gathering at Gainsborough and they would rendezvous with the second group assembling at Ferrybridge Services. A very pleasant route then took us north parallel with the A1 but never actually driving on it with a lunch stop on the A168 just south of Boroughbridge and a tea stop at Eggleston Hall just east of Middleton on Teesdale before a misty run over the Pennines into Northumberland and onto our Hotel at Slaley Hall near Hexham. Eleven cars arrived safely although Geoff Murray and Martin Ward disguised their poorly TRs as a 4.8L Morgan and a Volvo XC60! Over the following days a number of "runs" were arranged taking in Hadrian's Wall and Chester's Roman Fort, Rothbury and Cragside House, Alnwick and even a non-driving day where some experienced the delights of Newcastle via two mini buses from the hotel. No TR trip would be complete without a few TR related issues and indeed we were not disappointed. Apart from two TRs deciding that they didn't want to come north at all and being substituted we had a clutch problem, happily resolved by adding some fluid to the master cylinder, an indicator repeater bulb that decided to 'wink' only in one direction, Laurence Gray's TR4 trying to dump Jane on the roadside by opening the passenger door at random times (or so Laurence says!) and perhaps the most spectacular one was David Dawson's TR5 deciding to snap its near side training arm, all good TR fun. Our resident TR Lincs poet laureate, Margaret Harrison, captured the entire tour in a wonderful poem that you can read here.
Sadly Chris and Oenone Stoodley were unable to join us as planned due to the loss of Chris's father Robert "Bob" Stoodley who was on the first pathfinder plane to drop troops behind enemy lines during the Normandy landings in World War 2. You can read all about Bob by clicking here and here. We did honour his passing with a toast to him on our first night. The tour was hailed a great success by all that attended and if you would like to see more photographs then they are on the TRLincs Flikr album which you can view by clicking here.
Forthcoming Events
10th October 2021 - TR Lincs Autumn Leaves Run
Our autumn run, kindly organised by David McDonald will be on Sunday, 10th October. The route of around 55 miles will take in the general Trent valley area starting at The Apron cafe at Retford (Gamston) airport, Ollerton Road, Retford DN22 0QL. Please arrive in good time (10am) if you want refreshments or breakfast to allow a prompt departure at 11am. The route will head south and then head north for lunch at the Angel Inn, Blyth. If you wish to join the run then please let David know by email at david.mcdonald18@btopenworld.com or on 07769 600348 to help with determining numbers. As you know David is in the process of restoring his TR5, you can see the progress on his blogs by clicking here, so he will be leading the run in his trusty BMW Z3, well BMW do own the TR marque after all!
7th November 2021 - TR Lincs Bubble Car Museum Visit.
Our final run of the season, kindly organised by Tim Davies will be on Sunday, 7th November. Tim has agreed with the Bubble Car Museum in Langrick near Boston to have a guided tour with lunch and to be able to hold the long awaited photo competition whilst we are there.Some of you will have seen a Bubble Car from the Museum featured on Strictly Come Dancing this week and Antiques Roadshow filmed there very recently.In order to progress the arrangements we need to let the museum have the numbers attending.The current plan is to have a meeting point to the north of the County which Adrian will organise and a meeting point to the south which Tim will organise.We will arrive at the museum around 11:45 for a 12:00 tour, lunch + tea / coffee will be at 13:00 and the photo competition will start at 13:45. We should be heading home around 14:45.At this stage Tim just need numbers, details of meeting points, lunch and the photo competition rules will follow. What he can tell you is that the whole package will cost £10 per person and seems excellent value.So can you please email Tim at tim.davies@rhdhv.com with how many places you would like to be reserved. Off-road parking has been arranged at the Museum.
Early Notice 2022 Events
26th February 2022 - TR Lincs Annual Dinner
Our very own TR Lincs annual dinner will be held once again at the excellent Washingborough Hall on the outskirts of Lincoln on Saturday 26th February 2022. Those of you who have been before know how good an evening it is in an excellent venue with good food and of course company. I have secured a number of rooms at the hotel if you would like to stay over and enjoy the night fully. The room rate for B&B is £135 for two sharing. The cost of the meal has gone up slightly from 2020, the last time we were there, and will be £40 per head for 4 courses and represents excellent value for the meal you receive. If you would like to come along then send me an email and indicate if you wish to stay over as I will start to pull a provisional attendees list together.
12-14th April 2022 - TR Lincs Pennines Mid-Week Tour
How do you fancy an early run up into the Yorkshire Dales and out over the Pennines in the Spring air! I have arranged a short tour with a 2 night stay at the famous Fat Lamb Country Inn close to Kirkby Stephen in the heart of the Dales with an organised run on the second day out over the Pennines and visiting some interesting places along the way. I have secured all 12 rooms at the Inn so obviously numbers will be limited and is restricted to TR Lincs group members initially. If you would like to take part then please let me know by email, it will be on a "first come first served" basis. The cost for the twonights including a 3 course evening meal, Bed and Breakfast will be £260 per couple. Please note though that this is based on the current 5% VAT rate for hospitality. This is likely to go back to normal before April 2022 and therefore the expected cost may go up by around £10 per couple but we await the Chancellors announcements on that one.
