Norfolk NA7ter July 2017 Norfolk Austin Seven Club Officers and Committee In This Edition of the Chairman Dave Witton Tel: 01359 250374 email:[email protected] Norfolk NA7ter Secretary Paul Maulden Tel: 01986 872537 Page email:[email protected] News Treasurer John Wyett Tel: 01366 500165 Editorial 1 email:[email protected] Chairman's Chatter 2 Membership Rick Fryer Tel: 01362 696114 Secretary email:[email protected] Rubber B and and Downhill Racing 4 Events Dave Rix Tel: 01508 493419 Annual C lub “Drive It Night and BBQ” 7 Co-ordinator email:[email protected] New Members 8 Librarian John Hazell Tel: 01953 488219 Potential Member in Need of a Car 8 email: [email protected] Existing Member in Need of a Gearbox 8 Committee Michael Spinks Tel: 01603 737332 Runs & Rallies Members Phil Sharpe Tel: 01603 744981 Ufford – 1 April 10 email: [email protected] Drive It Day – 23April 13 Editor / Rick Fryer 38 Neatherd Road, Dereham, Bungay Lions Classic Vehicle R ally 16 Website Norfolk NR20 4AQ Tel: 01362 696114 Skeyton Goat Classic Car Rally 18 email:[email protected] A Saunter through the Saints 20 Euston Rural Pastimes 23 FBHVC News UK Legislation 25 Club Meetings DVLA 29 are held on the third Tuesday of each month What’s On 32 from 7.30 pm at And Finally... Inside back cover East Tuddenham Jubilee Hall Mattishall Road East Tuddenham Norfolk NR20 3LR On The Cover Club Website – www.na7c.co.uk Copyright © 2017 Norfolk Austin Seven Club The articles, photographs and views expressed and printed in the “NORFOLK NA7TER” are for the sole use of NA7C members and their readership and must not be printed or reproduced in any other way without the express written permission of the NA7C appointed representatives. The views expressed in the articles appearing in the 'NORFOLK NA7TER' are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the club, committee or editor. It maybe necessary to condense or alter some of the articles submitted for publication to suit the space available. The Editor apologises in advance if this is unavoidable. Spotted on Drive It Day and photographed by The NA7C is a member of the Austin Seven Clubs Association, the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs and Liz Maulden the Association of Norfolk Car Clubs. (see opposite) Norfolk NA7ter Editorial The rally season is with us again and We are pleased to report that a volun- this issue contains reports of events teer has come forward to take over the throughout Norfolk and beyond. duties of Treasure from John Wyett, who will be standing down in 2018. It is particularly gratifying to be able to John will work with them to get them report (page 13) on what was possibly up to speed and they will, hopefully, be the most successful Drive It Day ever. elected at the next AGM. This event has, over the past couple of years, been plagued with last-minute alterations and cancellations. The annual membership renewal mara- thon has finally drawn to a close. We This year’s trundle through the Nor- lost 15 members this time, which is folk countryside, organised by Dave rather a lot. However, since 1 April, Rix with the support of David and five new members have joined the club Lynne Wall, saw a bumper turn-out, (see page 6). with 22 cars involved. Our thanks to all who attended. We now have a membership of 88, plus 70 joint members, and updated Contact and Breakdown Lists have been sent While on the subject of Drive It Day, out. If by any chance you have not re- our cover picture is a departure from ceived yours, or you spot a mistake, the usual portrayal of a shiny, restored please let the Membership Secretary car. Taken by Liz Maulden, it shows a know – contact details opposite. Mk 2 Ruby languishing in a corner of David Wall’s garden. Liz entered it in her local photographic society’s com- Finally, the user name and password to petition, where it came second in the access the on-line, full-colour version Transport Class. Liz entitled it “The of this NA7ter are in the printed ver- End of the Road?” – we hope it isn’t. sion, distributed to members. Rick The next edition of the NA7ter will be published in October 2017 Please let the Editor have any contributions before 30 September Contact details are on the inside front cover July 2017 1 Chairman's Chatter Well, our Eurotour adventure to Aus- of course spotless. It is sadly noticea- tria is over and almost 2000 miles in 16 ble when returning to the UK how less days touring in an Austin Seven cer- tolerant drivers are in this country to tainly tests one’s enthusiasm. Molly, our old cars – it is almost obligatory for our ’32 tourer, didn’t miss a beat an Audi or BMW to be tailgating and despite some arduous climbs through itching to get past. the mountains. I can report that the roads in Belgium haven’t changed – One or two vehicles had to call upon they are still dreadful! And Germany the services of RH Insurance for recov- seemed so busy with traffic every- ery to the UK with mixed experiences where. France, by comparison, is a and causing some to wonder whether much more peaceful and welcoming this is in any way related to the recent place for vintage motoring. Austria is takeover of RH by Hiscox Insurance. Eurotour – A7s in the square at Kirchburg Photo courtesy Annie Alger 2 Norfolk NA7ter Hugh Barnes, Secretary to the A7CA, not a great lover of static shows, and is collating feedback and will report Karen will tell you that I am ever so further on his discussions with the slightly paranoid about sticky children insurers in due course. approaching my pride and joy. How- ever, this is the one event that is exclu- After over two weeks in an Austin I sive Austin 7, with plenty of freely admit I hesitated over Drive It autojumble and of course the trade Night. Rick sympathetically suggested stalls of our “cherished suppliers” of that I could always come over in a Austin spares. One could almost say it modern, but then, how can one not turn is “members only”. By that I mean that up in an Austin on Drive It Night? I it is a gathering of like-minded enthu- duly gave Karen’s Chummy, Matilda, siasts from all over the country and an some exercise and was glad I did for opportunity to renew acquaintances. what a great turn out of vehicles were The general public can access the event on display. It looked much more via the motor museum but they are impressive with our cars in a row along generally a minority. the fence. It was a rather gloomy drive home as, wouldn’t you know it, Mat- As this is the last Natter before our Pic- ilda’s dynamo packed up as soon as I nic in the Paddock in Bardwell, don’t entered Mattishall! Lights were there- forget to join us at Pelham House for a fore used sparingly until I reached a relaxing day of fun and frolics in the particularly dark stretch through wood- sunshine – I hope! Full details and how land. I turned the headlamps on and to find us are on the website (and was startled to see a pair of muntjack page 34) and lastly, but most impor- deer looking at me in equal surprise! tantly, bacon butties will be available from 10 am. The National Austin Seven Rally at Beaulieu is nearly upon us and is Whatever you do in your Austin, safe always an event I look forward to. I am and happy motoring. Dave Witton July 2017 3 News Rubber Band and Downhill Racing A depleted field, but a new record set The fifth running of the “Tuddenham Lots were drawn for the starting grid TT” took place at the April club night. and following scrutineering and the A depleted field of nine powered cars issue of rubber bands in the paddock, and five downhill racers compete for the competition began. First away was the three trophies – Concours prize for John Wyett, who achieved a distance the best-looking racer and furthest dis- of 12ft 3in – in true pre-war motoring tance run in each class. style, the “Clerk of The Course”, Paul Maulden, refuses to recognise metrica- There were entries in the powered class tion! John was followed by Paul’s from Paul Maulden, Dave Rix, Rick number one car, which performed well Fryer, John Wyett, John Lain, John and came close to breaking the record Newton and Charles Levien, the cur- with a run of 34ft 4in. rent record-holder, with a distance of 38ft 10in, set in 2014. Next up was Dave Rix, with another good try at the record – 30ft 4in. He 4 Norfolk NA7ter News Charles Levien prepares to re- ...while Henry launches Gran- lease his record-breaker..... dad’s downhill racer was followed by Charles Levien’s first Your Editor was next, with his modi- car, which achieved a disappointing – fied but untried car from last year, to him – distance of 26ft 7in. which suffered severe wheel spin and achieved a miserable 3ft 6in. John John Lain then took to the track with a Newton was last to run and recorded a distance of 22ft 5in before it was time distance of 25ft 2in. for Charles’ record-holding second car to perform.