Archives August 2015

The New Forest Centre supported the show this year, which was in aid of the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, which supports cancer patients in many ways.

Phyllis Tuckwell (www.pth.org.uk) is the only Hospice Care service for adult patients, and their families, affected by cancer or other serious progressive illnesses (such as heart, lung or neurological diseases). All of West Surrey and part of North East Hampshire covering 550,000 residents, both at the Hospice, at the Beacon Centre and in the community are catered for.

This was the 10th Year of the show, and around 400 vehicles/bikes came along to what was a superb day both in weather and atmosphere.

The New Forest Centre had been allocated a good space at the top of the field next to a large tree, which gave us some welcome shade from the very hot afternoon sun. We were situated next to ‘Bill Rawles Classic Cars’ stand, who was the main sponsor of the show. Our display of 7 cars was a good spread of the Austin Healey models, and received a lot of interest from the crowds.

Entries for the show were divided into 13 classes for cars and 12 for motor bikes. Apparently it started as a bike show, and grew over the years. There were many stalls displayed around the field selling a variety of items – we also had a tombola and a ‘ring the bell’ among the many other attractions. As always with these events there were many food and drink stalls and of course cake stalls, so plenty of opportunities to indulge. Music was provided by a tribute ‘Elvis’ act which seemed to prove popular.

Most of the Healey club had taken a picnic and we were able to enjoy this either in the sun or in the shade of our ‘personal’ tree. Membership forms and old Rev-Counters were on offer, and we passed out a few through the day.

Unbeknown to Jan & I, the judges had been round and placed a ‘2nd in Class 17 Pre 1960 Sports Car’ class on our BN1. This created a fair bit of leg pulling, but all in good humour. At 4pm we duly collected our plaque and lapel badge, and packed up to leave with the others.

Out of interest I checked out the winner of the class and discovered it was a ‘Riley Special’, and boy was it special. The owner Jim Rose, had built it himself being a car builder by trade.

He showed me a photographic record of the build, and advised that he had built cars for F1 Ron Dennis, and also owned a Ferrari in the USA where he spent a lot of his time.

I had no trouble bowing to the quality of the Riley, and it was a great pleasure to meet and shake the hand of the man who had built it.

Find the show at:-
www.whitedoveevents.org.uk

Our Healeys cast a spell wherever they go! Driving down a road in foreign lands or at car shows they turn heads and give pleasure to onlookers.

A small group of Healey enthusiasts joined together to go to the Lymington Spectacular Summer Show on Sunday 2 August which was superbly organised by Lymington Rotary .We parked up and the more experienced members (old hands at the Show) went in search of the Lymington Girl Guides’ BBQ stand where they cook the best bacon butties – lashings of thick bacon and for me, brown sauce, washed down with a strong cup of tea. What more do you need to start the day I ask?

The main sponsor was Colton Care Nursing Homes of Lymington and considering the average age of the classic car owners it was probably a good marketing move!

We had three Healeys on the Wessex Vehicle Preservation Club Stand, one of whom had only found out about the show at the Fox and Hounds NFC Natter and Noggins the Thursday before. On the Friday he (Nigel) high tailed it round to the organiser in Lymington to book in to the show and was only accepted because they had had a cancelation that day. Now he was very lucky but other members including Nick Dean had to park in the main classic car area. A 100S replica by Orchard Restorations joined the general display area and, after being approached by yours truly and the other members, the owner felt that it might be a good idea to join the Austin Healey Club, so we may yet have a new member sign up.

Alas, the auto jumble offered up no delights for the Healey connoisseurs present but in the boot of the Healey of one of our group was a very nice picture frame, released from the car boot sale after some hard bargaining by the new owners of it.

You must have guessed by now that there is a reason for all this preamble! The piece de résistance of the day was the prize giving and when it came to Best Car of the Show the Colton Nursing Trophy went to our members Nick and Jo Jenkins in their beautiful John Chatham BJ8 Rally replica. It has been rumoured that the sponsor of the award, Colton Care Nursing Homes, had included a discount voucher with the trophy for the winner’s future use!!!!!!

What a weekend it was. It started on Friday with a classic car auction at South Western Auctions in Poole where NUE855 AUSTIN HEALEY 100 – 2660cc, a pre-production car, build number 19 blue 16 July 1953 13,484 miles sold for £164,300! Yes you have read that correctly, and you could hear the champagne corks popping for miles!!!!!

OK so we now start dusting down all hidden Healeys to get them to the auction before the confetti money dries up!!!!