Classic Car Outings 2024

Originally started during Covid as a way of getting Triumphs out for a drive but without mixing in groups, and now in its third year, TSSC Norfolk Drive It Day Scatter Treasure Hunt keeps growing in popularity. 

The hunt started between 10 and 10.30 with a choice of seven locations to choose from. The rest of the stops could be done in any order. Each stop had 3–5 questions with points given for correct answers. Although the big scores were from taking photos of other Triumphs out and about. 

This year we introduced a lunchtime get-together at Old Buckenham Country Park with reserved parking overlooking the pond and café. We had 16 Triumphs parked up at various times, including a few that weren’t doing the quiz and just came along for the social. 

Other stops included Forncett Steam Museum. Who were having a fettling day but were happy to open up for us. Wymondham Abbey, a village green (Banham), town centre (Attleborough). As well as a church ruin and Bressingham Steam Museum. 

Having just about finished the revamp of the inside of the Sprite, which had been on the back burner for a few years, we decided to take that along with the S estate for the weekend. 

The drive to Nottingham on Friday took 4 1/2 hours. An hour longer than it should, due to traffic jams caused by roadworks and accidents. On a positive note, the estate seemed to cope with it well. It would seem that my problem with the car’s overheating can be put down to the dial reading too hot, as there wasn’t a hint of overheating despite the dial almost going to a maximum at one point. She ran well for the whole journey. 

The camping field was a tad squelchy but we managed to slide around until we found a spot to un-hitch, thankful that we hadn’t needed the help of the tractor that was on standby and had been used by others. 

We had a quiet evening on Friday as we got over the drive and readied ourselves for the Saturday night party. And what a party it was. Well done to Nigel and Di.

Sunday morning saw us packing up and setting off for the journey home. Thankfully the ground had dried out and getting off the field wasn’t a problem, and, again, thankfully the drive home was without problems and only took 3 1/2 hours.

Another weekend, another celebration. This time we took the Herald combo and decided we’d have a couple of extra nights away before Tracey’s big birthday celebration on the Saturday night. 

A much easier drive which only took a couple of hours. We stayed at a very pretty site at Wyton resplendent with fishing lakes. Plenty of walking and bus rides to both St Ives and Huntingdon for a wander around the shops.

Then it was onto Wellingborough for the party, camping up with several other motorhomes and caravans in an overflow car park at the sports centre. Not quite as pretty as the previous nights, but it served its purpose. Another great time was had, getting back to the caravan around midnight.

Again another good journey home taking around 2 1/2 hours which is about as long as my bi=um can take sitting on the Herald seats.

We seemed to be alternating combos with us taking the big Triumph/Sprite combo to the Triumph 2000 Register National. A Triumph event that was actually in Norfolk and just an hour or so away. 

As it was at Searles holiday park in Hunstanton with lots of things to entertain kids, we decided to take our grandson, Kai, with us too for a bit of retro camping. 

Arriving at Searles just after two, we got set up and had a walk around the site before the drizzle started. 

The evening saw us meeting up with Trevor and Clair for a pint and a bit of kiddies entertainment in one of the bars. 

Thursday was our only full day at the event and we were on the beach, dodging (or not) the waves coming in at 8.30am. 

This was followed by a stroll up to the centre of Hunstanton for some lunchtime fish and chips. The afternoon was spent in the pool, followed by a dip and slide in the kiddies pool. 

We went back up to the bar for our second evening with a long-overdue catch-up with Andrew and Catherine among others. 

We had to head home on the Thursday to get ready for Christina’s birthday party on the Saturday. Kai and I went big Triumph spotting with the camera while Christina started packing away. 

Goodbyes were had, and we set off for a good drive home. Although there was a smell of fuel on the way home, which turned out to be from the front carb. When we were nearly home, I could see a cloud of smoke behind us which looked like the caravan brakes had bonded. Fixed by a good tap on the brakes. So, a couple of things to sort out before the combo goes out again. 

We now have a two-week break until the next trip away to Malvern, where we should be taking the Herald/Viking combo. 

The TSSC annual Fish and Chip Run to Cromer with five of us leaving Dereham to convoy up to the clifftop car park where we were met by a further seven Triumphs and a Morris Minor (and a “Love Bus”). Once parked we had our usual walk down to No1 for fish and chips and then back up to the cars for a bit of a natter as the sun set. It was great to welcome some new members too.

One of our favourite shows. The past few years we’ve taken the caravan and stayed over. This year, though, we decided to have a Triumph area. We had 13 Triumphs booked in, with a nice area reserved for us. Unfortunately, the heavy rainfall in the days leading up to the event meant that the field was deemed too damp to hold the car show on. So cars ended up being parked wherever there was a space, which was a great shame, but, with the reduced train fairs and nice weather, the day was still enjoyed by those that attended.

Our third trip up to North Norfolk in four weeks. This one with the caravan pitching up alongside the railway for their 60s weekend. We arrived on Friday afternoon and after getting things set up, including our “Carry On” shower and sign, headed up to the pub with two other couples for a very nice meal and a couple of pints. Both days were scorchers, and it was great to spend the weekend sitting in thevan talking to visitors. Numbers were down from previous weekends, which did make it more of a rest. Sunday saw the arrival of a few scooters, always a bonus for me.