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Club member Steve Nash has offered a tour of Classic Team Lotus at their works/display area in Hethel, however spaces are limitted to c 20 so first come first served as they say.

It is arranged that we meet at CTL for the tour at 10:30 the tour takes approx 2.5hrs and includes tea/coffee.

Visitors will need to book in ‘paid for’ version at entry.

The site is near Wymondham off the A11 and approx 50+ miles from Cambridge:

Classic Team Lotus

Potash Lane

Hethel

NR14 8EY

Those travelling from Cambridge direction will meet up at 08:45 at Tesco Milton car park if you wish to travel in convoy.

It is proposed to have a meal afterwards for those interested at a local pub The Bird In The Hand  nearby at Wreningham, which has a long association with Lotus.

This is a great oportunity to see this great place of motor racing history and innovation together with vehicles which are still in the Chapman family ownership.

Please email me prior to Thursday 1st august to book spaces as this is somewhat a one off by arrangement with Steve, it would also be helpful to know numbers wishing to eat at The Bird In The Hand pub afterwards, for obvious catering reasons.

Looking forward to the event and meeting all.

Graham Kirkup      gramag.kirkup@ntlworld.com

ps. planned events: Rally of Ely Sat Aug 3    – Higham Ferrers Sunday Aug4

 

 

Reply to Graham Kirkup | Jul 18,2019 |

Hi all,

Hope to see you at Ken’s Fen End Organic Farm CB24 4UP Sunday 7 July midday or Tesco Milton 10:45  fo car run to Ken’s farm.

Tuesday 9 July  re-run Ace Cafe, meet at Nenovo Hotel slip Rd off Stevenage south r-a-b off A1 leading to Nebworth.(subject to weather)

Thursday 11 July club meet at The Swan Conington 8pm + pick up wrist bands for Kimbolton for those who have ordered  them.                              Note: some of us will meet up at Eltisley green to leave in convoy at 09:15 for Kimbolton entry at 10am.

Hope to see you at some of these meets.

Cheers

Graham

 

 

Reply to Graham Kirkup | Jul 03,2019 |

Hi all, Ken has kindly invited us to his organic farm for a barbeque (bring your own vituals) he has fashioned a new oil drum for the occasion, if not he has a rotisserie that can cater for ‘frogs’

He would like us there from about midday, so either go direct, or I am arranging a local run of about 25 – 30 miles starting at Milton Tesco CB24 6AY car park at10:45

Ken’s address:

Fen End Organic Farm                                                                                         Oxholme Drove                                                                                                   Cottenham CB24 4UP                                                                                      Directions: From Cambridge B1049 thru’ Cottenham past the church, in 0.5 M turn left at sharp righthand bend Lockspit Hall Drove, staight on to Oxholme Drove, farm on left is approx 1M from main road.

Last time we visited, a few years ago, his racing frogeye was a basket case, he also has an airstrip!!! what can we expect? good weather maybe.

Hope to see you there or at  Mr Tesco’s.

Graham Kirkup 01223 511835

ps

Ace cafe re-arranged for Tuesday July 9

then Kimbolton Castle Sunday July 14

Reply to Graham Kirkup | Jun 18,2019 |

Alas the weather has beaten us, and we have cancelled our run to the Ace cafe planned for tomorrow night as 90% chance of rain with heavy rain here a 5pm.

Lets hope for better weather next month – Tuesday July 9th same time same place.

It is so anoying – wanting rain for a week or two as a part time gardener and it turns up as we want to enjoy our great cars.

Cheers

Graham Kirkup

Reply to Graham Kirkup | Jun 10,2019 |

Hi all,

We plan a visit to Ace Cafe next Tuesday to meet up with other area members and a varied collection of motors at this iconic location on the north circular.

Subject to weather conditions, we will meet up at 5pm at Stevenage south roundabout junction 8 on the A1, this is the junction to Nebworth and we meet on the slip road serving the Novotel site.

Join us if you can and have ‘pie-mash’ and a pint and natter.

We have had quite a busy month involving a fun run to Jordan’s Mill Bedfordshire then on to ‘The sheds’ at Cardington with 8 of our cars attending in glorious conditions, ending up at The Swan for dinner.

Next it was ‘Drive it day’ a tulip rally into Essex, then Chris and I attended the extensive Enfield Pageant of Motoring – a first for me. Following on from this we travelled to Earsham Hall picking up Norfolk member Steve Nash en route in his Sebring Sprite for more tyre kicking.

At our last club meeting two very fine midgets were brought along by Chris Waters from Bedford and Bob Butterworth, with new member Bob Langley telling us about his newly aquired frogeye.

Read all about the above with shots of our trips in the imminent June diary.

Our next club meeting at The Swan is Thursday June 13 – all welcome.

Graham Kirkup

 

Reply to Graham Kirkup | Jun 04,2019 |

We have a spare ticket for a car and occupants to visit the above on this Sunday 5th May, leaving Tesco Milton car park at 08:30.

Contact me for the ticket by email gramag.kirkup@ntlworld.com first  come first served basis.

Alas our weather clearly put off participants from our ‘Drive It Day’ event On Sunday 28th April, the bold few drove using back roads with tulip diagram route instructions for the first time to Finchingfield for a pint and natter and a coffee stop at historic Thaxted. Well done those novice navigators.

Happy Motoring

Graham Kirkup

Reply to Graham Kirkup | Apr 30,2019 |

Hi all,

First of all, join us for a fun run on ‘drive it day’ this Sunday April 28 from Melbourne Village College The Moor SG8 6EF at 11:00 to the Beautiful setting of Finchingfield maybe for lunch, via Thaxted for a coffee option and site seeing. You can test your navigator with a tulip diagram route direction sheet or simply follow a small convoy on the quiet back roads planned.There is no time restriction on this 30 mile fun run. A £5 donation to Cherryhomes Trust is requested, enjoy as the weather looks promising.

On Saturday in glorious sunshine eight of our cars kicked off from Cambourne heading for Jordan’s Mill near Biggleswade, getting our tyres wet in a ford then whetting our whistle in a truly classic pub en route.

The eighty odd mile drive took in Cardington hangers of R100+R101 rigid airship fame and Danish Camp by the Great Ouse river in Willington, then on to our favorite location for dinner The white Swan at Conington.

Thanks go mostly to Chris Flinders and Mary for organising a varied and interesting run.

Graham Kirkup

gramag.kirkup@ntlworld.com

Reply to Graham Kirkup | Apr 23,2019 |

Hi area members,

just a note that there is a meeting as above starting at usual time of 8pm, and a welcome in particular to new members.

Thanks to Chris Flinders we have done a recce of the Jordan’s Mill run to be held on Easter Saturday April 20 starting at Morrison’s car park 10:30, and members are to pre book the midday meal in response to his email, noting we intend to eat after the run, at The White Swan.

The fun run on Sunday April 28th from Melbourne Village College at 11:00 noting there will be toilet and vending machines available at the sports centre behind the main block. A nominal £5/car donation to Cherry homes Trust is required. Please contact me if you are interested 01223 511835  or gramag.kirkup@ntlworld.com for further details, we will use a tulip diagram passing thru’ Thaxted on to Finchinfield stopping at leisure to view places of interest en route.if not familiar with tulip diagram then some can go in convoy,

Hoping to catch up with you at these events.

Graham Kirkup

 

 

Reply to Graham Kirkup | Apr 09,2019 |

It’s rather late I’m afraid which is down to me, but Steve Keil’s 2019 Calendar for the North West members is now available to down load. Please click this link

https://www.midgetandspriteclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Calendar2019.pdf

Cheers

Mike

Reply to Mike Bennett | Apr 04,2019 |

Hi All,

Our club meeting last Thursday 14th whilst lacking in numbers was high on content, apart from discussing future motoring events electrical matters were a topic. Having a limited understanding  together with a great respect of electrics since you cannot smell it or see it, but it can kill you is enough for me and I steer clear of working on it and its effects even on cars, maybe reinforced by an article in ‘enjoying MG’ a while ago where rubber bumpered MGBGT.s would misteriously start up  and if in gear drive on with calamitus effect. This was found to be an electrical fault asociated hand brake warning light wired through the ignition.

Gordon Higgs and Chris Flinders both recalled odd electrical incidents and problems, Higgsie in particular referred to the Aston Martin Lagonda of the 80’s which used cathode ray tubes to operate dashboard screens, with their inherently lethally high currents if one had to carry out work in those areas.

EVENTS:

April 6-7 Snetterton- Peter Chase has highlighted this ‘proper’ classic car racing event, he is going along and wondered if anyone of us was also going to inform him via myself.

Easter Saturday April 20th Fun Run starting at Morrisons car park Cambourne 10:30 then on to Jordan’s Mill near Gamligay all via minor roads calling at various places of interest en route for an early evening meal c 6:30pm at The White Swan Conington – contact myself or Chris Flinders (maryflinders@outlook.com) if interested.

Sunday April 28th ‘Drive it day’ charity fun run starting from Melbourn Village College The Moor Melbourn SG8 6EP at 11am. £5/car donation to Cherryhomes Trust for help to physically disabled people in the Cambridge area.(www.cherryhomes.org.uk). The easy run (with tulip diagrams provided) will visit Thaxted and finish at Finchingfield (approx 28miles) with optional lunch stops. This is not a speed event and takes in minor roads most suitable for our cars as an enjoyable run.

Sunday May 5th Earsham Hall classic vehicle and country fayre. Organised by The Bungay Area Lions Club contact: michaelgardiner@hotmail.com

Sunday July 14th Kimbolton classic cars and country fayre.Please let Chris or myself know asap for entry passes. We will be alloted our own area, this has something for everyone.

Sunday August 4th Higham Ferrers classic car and country fayre, this is a super event, also smaller in scale than Kimbolton thus limited space.

We intend to organise another tenpin bowling event but at Pidley sports venue thanks to Nigel/Diane Fenn, watch this space.

We will be planning other events and look forward to some good weather to make them more enjoyable, otherwise catch up with you at our next meeting Thursday April 11th at The White Swan.

Graham Kirkup frogeye TVS 664

 

 

Reply to Graham Kirkup | Mar 22,2019 |