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| Recollections from 2007 | ||
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| This was a bit of a milestone for CranMog, we don't usually get involved in motor sport events at the centre level, some members do race on their own and we cheer them on if we're there, but ever since Joyce Smith joined the centre she has been dropping hints about PCTs and hill climbs and regales us with stories of past glories in the Mog. Eventually Joyce took the hint and decided to organise an event herself. |
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 Now there's a view of Joyce you don't often get... |
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We had to choose an autumn date because CranMog's summer calendar was very full, but as it turned out we had a lovely warm sunny day at the end of September. The venue was Greenend Farm, Kensworth, which is near Whipsnade Zoo and Dunstable Downs. We had a great field to drive in, gently sloping so beginners didn't have too much trouble, but there was a bit of a hazard with the newly cut hay which was still laying around on the ground waiting to dry out so it could be gathered and bailed. During the event this grass rolled up under the cars and did cause some problems, not least of all Jim Bar ham's +8 got clogged with the stuff and started making nasty noises. In fact, Philip Bell's car and my car all played up during the afternoon and had to be rescued and/or nursed home by John Sharpe in his Land Rover. |
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The event itself comprised 6 section each with 12 gates which were strategically place to give the most fun or trouble, whichever your point of view. Each section had three marshals so that required 18 CranMoggers just to man the course, other marshals being needed to control the footpath, parking etc., but we did change over after lunch to give others a chance to watch or drive or whatever. I chose to drive and had great fun on round 1, until the engine conked out. Overall we had nearly 20 cars competing, some from CranMog and some from other centres, we learned a lot just watching others. Thank heavens we had the expertise of Tony & Mary Oliver to guide us through all the official regulations and do's and don'ts, there's quite a lot to it really. |
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One or two of the sections involved tight corners on gradients, up & down; there was a stop box and hill start but over all it was just right for us beginners, challenging but not too difficult. Eventually we had 5 runs at all six sections and a run off for non-Morgan winners between Ross Nuten & Tony Christy; Full Results prises were awarded as follows: Overall Winner in a four wheeled Morgan car, The Allon White Trophy was awarded to Haydn Lightfoot, and Sarah Lightfoot took the Ladies trophy!!!!!!!!! First place in each class Class A Series 1 4/4: No Entrants Class B 4/4: Ann Albert Class C +4: Jim Mountain Class D +8: Tracy Gateson Class E Morgan Three Wheelers: No Entrants Class F Aero 8: No Entrants Class G Non Morgan Vehicles: First: Donald Stringer in his Austin Ruby Second: Ross Nuten and Tony Christy in a Dellow Medals were also awarded to runners up in each class. |
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The event was a great success and many thanks go to those who did all the work building and setting up the course and marshalling during the day. Special thanks go to other officials of the meeting who gave up their time, in particular: Clerk of the Course Tony Oliver Secretary of the Meeting Joyce Smith Club Steward Vanessa Barham Chief Marshal Mary Oliver Scrutineers Peter Chapman and Ken Davis Recorders Michelle Chapman Everybody said that now we have fledged our wings on this PCT we should make it an annual event, so expect to see it in the Diary again. Pictures curtesy of Vanessa. | |
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| Just some of the many photos at the Wolds weekend (6th – 8th July), all taken by John Barry. This write-up is "lifted", that is plagiarized nay stolen from Vanessa's Newsletter so if anybody would like to contribute an alternative version or an addition please sent it in to me. Haydn reported at the July open meeting that there were 30 Morgans from seven different Centres and both the Chairman, Peter Johnson and Vice Chairman, Brian Lee of the MSCC (CranMog members!) taking part in the weekend. All gathered on Friday afternoon at the excellent Branston Hall Hotel and before dinner took part in an entertaining “Call My Bluff” which tested and knowledge of, and taste for, wines. This was organised by Frank who is the restaurant manager at the hotel and was won by Malcolm and Avril MacArthur who happily received a bottle of champagne for their efforts. On Saturday morning we went off on a scenic run which took us on lots of “Red Routes” (roads where many accidents had occurred) and long straight roads with very sharp bends at the end of them. Many motor cyclists seemed to think they had to prove something to us and raced past at excessive speeds! |
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Click on the thumbnail picture to enlarge |
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After an interesting lunch where the pub had an unusual attitude toward their customers we each went our own way. Some went shopping in Market Rasen, some went back to the bar in hotel, but most went to the Winterton show which had many stalls and attractions as well as the very sophisticated stand of Phil Ledgerwood. - He was not only showing off the latest Aero 8 but also had many other Morgans on display. He made us most welcome with offerings of wine and cheese. Before dinner we all lined up in our DJ’s and Party Frocks for a photoshoot with the Morgans which had been lined up in front of the hotel. | |
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Dinner was an amazing affair with an International flavour and wines selected and described by Frank for each of the five courses. On Sunday morning most unusually Haydn and Sarah were first down to breakfast, some say this was because Haydn was determined to get some sausages which he missed out on the previous day, but in reality their clock was one hour wrong! We had another scenic run through the Wolds and ended for coffee, which was served in an old red double decker bus, at a Bubble Car museum. This was most interesting, especially as most of us could remember these cars and some of us had owned one. Back to the hotel for lunch, another very good meal, after which we made our farewells and set off home determined that we would not eat for the next few days to make up for the excesses of the Weekend. Again our thanks to Laurie and Cecile and we all look forward to WW IV. | |
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| As usual we have a great day a Kimbolton loadsa teddies, loadsa sunshine and picnics galore in the CranMog area anyway. Last year of course we won a glass plaque/plate thingy for the club who were doing it properly", so this year we did the same thing on the premise that we go it right last year. No prize of course, that's fairly shared around the clubs and it was someone else's turn this year. | |
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Photos by Chris Waters |
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Anyway, great beer (real ale) in the beer tent, live music as well and a genuine Indian curry out side. So there is was, Andrew heaven, sunshine, girls in summer clothes, good ale and a curry and we were in the Morgan. We wandered around, talked to the exhibitors, Toby & Lottie had great fun on the various fairground rides and we enjoyed watching the Lindy dancing and the band. It couldn't last of course, around about 3pm it got dark, clouded over, started to drizzle, then the heavens opened. Amazingly, CranMog were trying to all squash into a Gazebo, but the inevitable overflow were huddled under a great tree hoping the rain would not penetrate through the leaves, some hope. I'd put the hood up by then, just to protect those thumping great big teddies the kids insisted on bringing along. Sarah commented on the fact that the teddies were nice and dry in the car whilst the Culpins were soggy wet outside. Eventually I saw the light and we all piled into the car and drove straight home. I didn't think John Bellenger would want my wet muddy kids and teddies at the tea party he so kindly put on after the show. |
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Gerard D'Gier's 25 Years |
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35 CranMog members travelled to Holland on 30th May to celebrate Gerard de Gier's 25 years of Morganeering. Events started with Haydn and Sarah Lightfoot having an unfortunate incident prior to meeting the overnight ferry which the fellow travellers have dubbed `chilli-gate' owing to an unsuccessful evening meal. They ordered two variations on a chilli meal which when it came was mostly baked beans. The chef took exception to their complaint of this fact and they were requested not to visit that establishment again! Still the ferry Harwich to the Hook of Holland provided ample refreshment for all concerned! The intrepid members arrived the following afternoon at a delightful hotel in Eernewoude in Friesland on the banks of a river having traveled by diverse routes to get there - including over the dam enclosing what was the Zuiderzee, now the Ijssellmeer. Welcoming drinks were held in the sun on the patio watching boats, wildlife, herons and of course Holland's cranes (midges were numerous as well). | |
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Click on the thumbnail picture to enlarge |
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The tour started with Jim and Vanessa Barham sourcing a fan belt for their +8 having driven 30 miles with it disintegrating as they arrived, damaging the water pump as well, however the nearby town of Drachten had a British Motor Cars garage who were extremely helpful!. The rest of the group drove through Friesland admiring the flat polder landscape and visiting charming ancient villages and a crypt in Wiewert which held naturally mummified bodies of special interest. The tour of Friesland wound through several villages surrounded by water and seemingly populated by horses and foals with a lunch stop at De Elk in Rijs and visit to Holland's only cliffs! Back to the hotel for a half hour boat trip to dinner at a restaurant on another lake. This was the only cold day for the whole of our trip. For the next sunny and hot day was a visit (without the cars) to Marian's island of Schiermonnikoog (the island is a national park) arriving at the island's hotel for coffee with `gevulde koeken' (sticky filled Danish pastry type cake) then walking to Marian's home for a champagne reception in her garden/Gerard's office. We then had a tour of this historic village with its special houses which, to Sarah Lightfoot and Jim Barham's surprise, were not constructed in the same fashion as the British and were most confusing!
 A typical Dutch lunch - called Hollandse koffietafel - in the island's hotel was followed by varied afternoon activities, from sunbathing to shopping. Some briskly walked off into the wilderness following Gerard for a visit to the remains of a German war village and an impressive war cemetery. Others took advantage of the chance to try out the weird Dutch `sit up and beg' bikes - however we won't mention the bike ride round the island where Vanessa fell off. Her kind companions having satisfied their hysterical laughter insisted she remained where she was until they had taken sufficient photographic evidence! She recovered over dinner at the restaurant and with the relaxing ferry and bus ride back to the hotel! Whilst some celebrated the hot weather with a restful Saturday, the sailors amongst the group had a day on a Dutch sailing boat traveling along the waterways through the polders to a village called Grou for lunch, returning for a `Frysk' evening meal in the hotel. On Sunday Gerard celebrated 25 years by offering a splendid lunch in the village of Echteld where we were joined by some Dutch Morgan Owners. (Many thanks to Gerard for this delicious meal). CranMog was delighted to present Gerard with an individual badge celebrating his achievement from all his friends in the Club. A depleted but determined group then went on to Haarlem deftly following their sat.navs. to get them into the city, and to the city centre hotel right by the cathedral. A few cars, (Centre Secretary included) ended up right outside the hotel - only problem was it had been pedestrianised all around for a month and rising bollards were in place! However, not fazed, the Barhams unloaded the luggage and then fought their way out on a two mile trip to cover the further 50 yards to the entrance to the car park to avoid being speared by bollards. A trip to Amsterdam was arranged by Gerard for the next day, terminating with a meet in a very old café in a street where the farmers of Amsterdam lived (extremely close to the Red Light District?!) called Wijnand Fockink Proeflokaal - Mr Bell has the drinking glasses to prove it! - where we drank Geneva in many different varieties! All totally non-alcoholic of course. The skill in the pourer to get the level to the meniscus layer is only equaled by that of the drinker not to lose a drop! The tour of the red light district followed then back to the café, but the gentlemen where unsure if they had seen everything so went back to the red light district for another look and Jim Barham kindly shared a special `cake' with Simon Heaton as a cure for his aches and pains, with some success I understand! Although Jim says Simon obviously had the best bit! The ladies patiently awaited their return in the café! Gerard led us to a special restaurant for a fabulous farewell dinner of numerous traditional Dutch dishes which was most appreciated by all concerned - especially as Phillip Bell kindly didn't notice when his credit card was charged for the total bill for all 20! The end of a really enjoyable trip to Holland. |
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Slide show of the trip to Holland for Gerard de Gier's 25 years Morganeering and the subsequent trip on to Koblenz in Germany and then the Morgan Owners Germany MOG 07 celebrations. |
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Slide show photos taken by John Barry |
Mouseover to Pause Photography by John Barry |
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