Members Stories 2011 Season

HAMOC’s H2H (Huntingdon to Hunstanton Run) 2011.

We had to leave at 7.00am on Easter Sunday to be at Huntingdon by 8.00am as requested by Holly and Michael (the organisers). We actually overtook one vehicle in the Woody on the 48 mile trip, but it was a Berlingo with a very, very old driver at the wheel!

Everybody left Huntingdon in convoy at just after 8.30 for the 80 mile and hopefully 2 hour trip to Hunstanton, along a route very similar to last year and lots of people waving at the 140 or so classic Minis on the journey. Everything went well until we were about 7 miles from the parking place and Easter Sunday took it’s toll with long tail backs at traffic lights and roundabouts. We took about an hour to do the last few miles and I would have worried had the Woody actually got a temperature gauge!

We parked up at 11.30 and checked out the other cars, some of which had been on the Suffolk Run. There was the usual gathering of Honda Ztec modified Clubmen as well as a chain driven Zcar.

The draw was well supported as the entry fee for the run was only £5. There were some good prizes but unfortunately only a mini model and coaster for us.

We all had to vote for car of the day and the winner is pictured below. The Woody doesn’t have a look in when there are no other club members there!

The sun came out and although it was a bit chilly with the wind off the sea, it was a good day out, apart from the inevitable traffic jams going the other way at the end of Sunday.

Some pics below.

SOUTH SUFFOLK SHOW, AMPTON, SUNDAY 8th MAY 2011.

With all the weather forecasts saying it would be raining, some could have been reluctant to get the cars on the road for the West Suffolk Motor Club’s South Suffolk Classic. But we all know that weather men are like politicians - you can’t believe a word they say. So after a few drops of rain Sue, the Woody and I made our way to Rougham airfield for the obligatory bacon buttie (£3 each!) and 70 mile run through the Suffolk and Norfolk countryside, stopping at the site of the Fersfield race track and the Roudham whisky distillery (£40 a bottle!!) on the way. We ended up at Ampton and the South Suffolk show, a very busy show with lots to look at. We had pour parade at 3.30pm and the problem was not the rain but the dust. A couple of snaps below of the line up and one of a bunch of kids trying to pull a tractor along - why?!

If you get the chance to go along next year, try to do so, something for everybody.    

Norfolk Mini Owners Club Day: 29th May.

Well, at least it didn’t rain this year and there was a good turn out of Minis and MINIs. A good show and a lot of interest again and 13 of us made the journey to Fakenham and some of us put our cars in for the show and shine.

This seemed to be a bit more concours-like this year and I’m afraid that cleaning horse s_ _ t out of the treads of my tyres with a toothbrush is taking things a bit too far. Sticking a cloth up the exhaust pipe is another activity that passes me by and for judges to complain that I have actually undersealed the Woody so I can use it on the road - how terrible is that!!

That aside, I think we all enjoyed the show and Paul, Debbie, Kevin, Les and myself all won prizes in our classes. It was a bit cold on the day and a few people left before the end as the prize giving and draw were brought forward an hour or so. Still, well done to NMOC as usual for providing a great local show.

There was a photographer on site and various pictures of the day can be found on his website www.macdonaldimages.co.uk.

I have put a few below, including the car of the day, a worthy winner indeed.