Once again I am sat in the office looking out longingly at the sun but I know you are all eager to read my monthly offering, well that’s what I tell myself. The club has been pretty active with events and meetings so much so that at this rate given the average age of a lot of us we may be needing a “little something” to keep us going, after all we have had 18 months of not a lot happening and it comes as a bit of a shock.
We finally managed to have an AGM with real people all in the same room and a good turnout it was too, some new faces and some regular ones, so much appreciated. After the usual appraisal of the previous year by the various officers it was then down to electing new ones. I have managed to step down as Chair, I took the job on in December of 2020 from Pete Cooper who had done sterling work as chair but as previously mentioned he was exceptionally busy with work and something had to give. As I said at the time my being in the chair was only to be temporary and now Joe Caudle has stepped up and will take over the reins. The full list of officers/committee members are as follows.
President: Robin Moore. Vice President:- L Connett J Caudle:- Chair. J Turner:- Vice chair / Newsletter . M Wevill:- Competition Secretary, P Wevill:- Treasurer . R Simpson:- Motorcycle secretary, N Cowling:- Social secretary, S Oates :-Membership secretary, A Prosser :-General Secretary Lisa Gregory:- Facebook,
J Kelly:- data and Website manager. ACTC:- P Cooper.
Committee members : W Kelly, P Gomm, S Riddle, J Cooper, A Rippon,
L Rippon, A Murton, D Ruby.
Junior members:- Ashley Ruby, Zac Ruby. Uncle Tom Cobley has stood down.
Chairman’s contribution.
As your new Chairman I am reprising the role I had about 20 years ago. Since then we have had a few new people join the committee but most of those are familiar faces, some I have known since I joined the club 40 years ago. During that time I have enjoyed officiating and competing in Our events and have also been, at various times, Competition Secretary, Newsletter Editor, Public Relations Officer and Vice Chairman. I am currently also the Club Safeguarding Officer.
Our last event, the Testing Trial, was a great success and it was wonderful to see a good entry and in some cases 3 generations of families in attendance with many of the youngest competing. It would appear that there are many new and younger members now. Very positive for the future of our club.
However these events need organisation. Clerk of Course Nigel and his team did a great job laying out sections etc. There were just enough marshals on the day and all ran smoothly.
The part of the running of the club and such events that is less obvious but enormously important is dealing with the bureaucracy. Mike Wevill is our Competition Secretary who ensures permits are in place and all Motorsports UK and AMCA requirements are met. For the Testing Trial he was also Secretary of the meeting, dealing with the online entries, those who needed to complete entry paperwork on the day and also ensuring signing on of competitors and marshals (thank you Lisa for your help) was all in order.
Mike has been Competition Secretary for many years and we now need someone to learn from him with a view to taking over next year so he can have a well earned retirement from the job. Without a Competition Secretary the Club cannot function. Whether you are currently on the committee or a member who would be able to take on this job please let us know. It would be great to know the future of the club is secure.
I look forward to our next events in September – the David Ayers Trial and the opening of the ‘pop up museum display that will run to the end of November.
Joe Caudle
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Now over to our club President Robin Moore.
The Ramblings of RHTM . Part 5 of the Graham Paige story.
I re-called in part 4, the weekend away in the Graham when I drove to VSCC Silverstone for the race meeting, and didn’t return home to Trefrew before driving down to Sherfield English (Romsey) until 48 hours later, having covered 455 miles in this 32 year old vintage car. But to me that’s nothing new, I’ve never purchased a new car , nor have I been inclined to do so, in spite of having a hundred or so motor cars over my lifetime, and at least 15 different marques. It reminded me of the heading to a C & D (Cornish & Devon newspaper) press report of 60 years ago stating, “32 year old car wins again”. It referred to Wolseley Hornet MV 2718 that I was campaigning with some success at the time.
It was June 1966 when Dave Hilliard, ( Camel Vale President at the time) decided to sell the Singer Le Mans LM9, which he had purchased in 1946 whilst still serving in the RAF. Dave offered me first refusal as promised, and I was keen to purchase JB 4387. I decided something needed to go, and as Derek Adams of Okehampton Motors had expressed interest in the Graham it seemed the opportune moment to part company. I had met Derek Adams previously when he and his father owned the garage at the top of the rise leading to the town on the old A30. It is no longer there, having been developed into a housing estate some years ago. I remember calling there when it was a garage and filling station, at the time they had a Wolseley Hornet for sale, which I didn’t purchase.
Derek Adams came to Trefrew to have a look at the Graham. I remember he had a friend with him who owned a 1929 Hillman 14 at the time. Derek agreed my price for the Graham but wanted me to take a Mk 1 Ford Zodiac in part exchange, to which I agreed as I already had someone who would be pleased to take the Zodiac off my hands, and which balanced the books. Everything was “on the button” and a week later I drove the Graham to Derek Adams home at Octon House, in Station Road and changed mounts to return in the Ford. This was the one and only Ford Zodiac that I had experience of, but I must say it drove well, and would be much sought after today.
I have recorded a little of this story many years ago when I was writing under the title “Did You Know” for the Reluctant Publishing Company. I doubt there are many who recall Derek Adams and the garage he ran with his father, but Derek was well known for having a very large collection of Suede shoes.I’ll conclude this Graham Paige story next month, but you will recall that I mentioned in part 4 of the VSCC Welsh Trial and the famous section “The Snatcher” . This hill rises off the A44 just outside New Radnor.
The photograph below was taken by myself near the foot or the hill on one such occasion when the last competitor had tackled the hill. I couldn’t resist taking this snap of Bill Body, editor of Motor Sport Magazine , together with his wife Winifred, and “Jenks” , seated, his famous “Continental Correspondent”. You know the rest.
RHTM to be continued.
Centenary event. 7th of August saw a very good display of cars and bikes take over the square in Launceston, the weather wasn’t exactly on our side but everyone turned up and helped put on a display which did our club proud. There was quite a bit of interest from the public some of whom looked a little surprised but enjoyed the variety of vehicles on display, special thanks to David Uglow for driving the HRG from Callington in poor weather. At 90 David is still competing and enjoying the car!
The “Pop Up” museum is due to open in a couple of weeks time, all being well the date is set for the15th of September it will be situated just off the square in the High Street opposite the Coop store. The club display will be on show until the end of November with posters depicting each decade from the 1920’s up to present day, also on display will be artefacts, trophies etc belonging to the club. Well worth a visit but check the museum website for opening times. https://lawrencehousemuseum.org.uk/
Testing Trial & Taster event Sunday the 22nd of August saw a very good turn out of both cars and bikes for this event, in total we had 30 competitors for the main event and 4 people signed up for the “taster”, this time the weather was definitely on our side so the factor 50 sun cream was a necessity. We had 8 in the junior event on motorcycles and they were loving it. To watch these youngsters, one was only 6 years old, bobbing across the field and doing their very best to be competitive was great, even if parents and family members were all at strategic points of each test to make sure no one got lost, it was fun and it gave them a taste of what can be done if clubs like ours make the effort to include them.
Some of the tests were quite complicated so it meant being focused or getting lost, yes some people did the latter but in general it wasn’t a problem. Well done Nigel for laying out a good course, which I think I can say was enjoyed by all, even if there was a couple of “dishonourable dismounts”.
Forthcoming Events
Sunday the 12th of September is the date of the David Ayers Sporting Trial at Trevilla Farm, Marshgate by kind permission of Mr David Langley. This is a round of the BTRDA and ASWMC championship, we are hopeful of a good entry and as always marshals will be needed, this is a chance to see some of the top sporting trials drivers in action so please give it your support.
Sunday the 17th of October we hold our Tamar Classic Road Trial covering West Devon and North Cornwall, I’m told there is a completely new route this year so should be a very good event, yes once again we need marshals. This is a round of the ASWMC and ACTC championship drawing competitors from far and wide with the usual eclectic mix of machinery on 2,3 & 4 wheels.
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Well once again I have somehow managed to come up with a reasonable size newsletter for your indulgence, especially if like me you are a slow reader. A word of warning, if I don’t have sufficient content for next month’s epistle I shall tell you all about my 180 mile Lambretta ride around the lanes of Cornwall & Devon, photos too !
All for this month J.T.
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