Classic Car Outings 2022

Using a tulip route originally planned for 2021 but cancelled thanks to Covid, we met for a chilly 9.00 start from Dereham Market place. The 50 mile run took in Swanton Morley and the old runway at Deopham Green (usually a good road for some foot down driving but today unfortunately curtailed due to a lady and her horse), then continued along the A11 to Spooner Row, before taking a circular route around Old Buckenham for some Triumph spotting. It finally crossed a ford just before arriving at Peter Beales Roses. Yet again the restaurant did us proud with lovely food and great service as the staff coped brilliantly with our group of 28. 

Three Triumph clubs were represented with 14 classics including three big Triumphs, a Vitesse, a Herald, three TR4s, a TR3 and an MGB. Most popular was the TR7/8 with four.

Well that was a busy one! Our third Scatter Treasure Hunt saw Norfolk swarmed with classic cars. Every classic in seemed to be on the road for Drive It Day. While great for those taking part it did make the counting of points at the end a lot more time consuming. With three points given fo every classic car photographed and five points if they were snapped on the move (by the navigator obviously) there was a lot of photographs to look through. But many thanks for all those who took part and took the time to send me so many. The winners were Mark and Mike (Spitfire) with 233 points. Next time I’m thinking we might restrict it to just Triumphs’s! Many thanks also for the positive comments, it would appear that you all had a great time.

Another good showing of Triumphs for our annual run to Cromer for Fish and Chips. With four starting at the Easton layby and a further four joining us at Dereham. A good run up to the coast, the dark clouds looking ominous at times but not actually dropping anything. Arriving at Cromer around 7.30pm where there were a few more Triumphs waiting making a total of 11 on the cliff top. A walk down to the chippie and then back to the car park for a good natter.

This was to be our first real test of the Herald and Viking combo. A 150 mile drive to a campsite near to the Triumph Picnic in Wellesbourne, Warwickshire. We did this last year in the Triumph 2000 towing the Sprite and ended up on the back of a trailer. This time we were hoping for a better outcome. 

The campsite ended up to be a field at a farm. Nothing wrong with that, it was cheep enough although the toilet needed a really good clean. 

Sunday morning saw us re hitch and head off to the picnic. There wasn’t a need to worry about what sort of reception we would get the TSSC made us feel more than welcome. After a bit of toing and  froing we were in position. A very pleasant day was had with plenty of interest in our big trip and some money collected too. 

As always we seemed to be one of the last to leave with a very pleasant journey home. Caravan towed well. The only breakage was a window catch. We’re almost ready for the big one. 

This was something new for the TSSC Norfolk Area, but the response was great, and we ended up with 12 Triumphs on display, including a Herald 1200, Vitesses, 1300, Mk1 and Mk2 big Triumphs and an almost complete set of Spitfires to help celebrate 60 years of the Spitty. This was despite the forecast for heavy rain and strong winds, but as it was, the weather was nowhere near as bad as predicted, and although not as warm as the previous few days it stayed fairly dry. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part, provided gazebos and dressed in ’60s attire. We even managed to get ourselves on the cover of Classic Car Weekly!

An invite from one of our caravan friends who works at North Norfolk Railway led us to set up our caravan at Weybourne for their 60s weekend. 

Arriving on the Friday afternoon with two others to make a small campsite alongside the railway track. A run out for fish n chips gave us dinner for the evening. 

Saturday saw us dressed up in our best 60s attire to welcome the crowds. There wasn’t an awful lot happening at Weybourne, a few classic cars and a Shadows cover band. The general feeling was it that it was just as well we were there. 

Sunday was a bit more interesting with a bunch of scooters turning up and a different band doing 60s covers. The steam train was in use a bit more although only going a few yards out of the station. But it did give some amazing photo opportunities. I just wished I’d remembered I’d taken my camera. 

All in all a very busy weekend with lots of people interested in the caravans. Plenty of questions, the most popular being “Do you sleep in it?” It’s amazing how tiring it can be talking to members of the public all weekend. Great fun all the same. 

TSSC Norfolk members were extremely lucky to get the only non-RAF invitation to put on a display at RAF Honington’s Family Fun Day last Thursday. An event not open to the general public. As well as the Triumphs on show there was a Typhoon doing aerobatics, a parachute and Chinook helicopter display while on the ground there was an Apache helicopter to clamber over as well as a selection of game and food stalls. 

A great day and a great example of one of the many benefits being a TSSC member can bring. Many thanks to Victoria and RAF Honington for such a memorable day and to Justine for organising the photos.

 

 

The TSSC were invited to join the Stag Owners Club at the end of their run near Long Stratton for a BBQ. This was followed by a very informative tour of Peter’s sheds. These contained a wide selection of Triumphs in various states of disrepair. They included almost a full set of the Dolomite/Toledo range, Triumph 2000 prototype and two Stag prototypes. Peter also have a fascinating talk on Harry Webster, Triumphs Chief Technical Director, responsible for the development of Triumphs through the 1960s and 1970s. A great day even though it rained for the first time in months.

 

 

Always one of our favourite weekends away and one we try not to miss. Great company (I think we’re almost getting known), excellent BBQ and interesting run outs. A nice traffic free run up to the campsite, pre-cooked chilli for the evening meal and a get together in the bar for a music quiz (where we actually managed to get some points. Nowhere near the winners of course but all the same something to be pleased about).

A scatter treasure hunt on the Saturday saw us looking for clues in various villages, popping back to the campsite for some lunch before finishing.

Saturday afternoon was the show and shine, and we came away with the Area Choice Best in Show award which was a nice surprise. BBQ and get together in the evening.

Sunday saw us convoying to Melton to park up in the high street for a classic car display. This meant we were a bit late in leaving the campsite but still managed to make it back to Swaffham for some fish and chips on the way home.