Monthly Centre News
August 2011
Ripley, Painshill & Elstead Mill
The Ripley Event and Vintage and Classic Car Show attracted a huge array of cars and we Austins put on a good show.It was lovely to see such a wide range of Austin in the arena much enjoyed by the public.
The next day a few of us drove to Painshill Park in Cobham for a Charity meet and car show. For a small donation to local and Cancer charities we were allowed to stroll around the Park which is full of folly and interest. Painshill was the creation of Hon. Charles Hamilton in the 18thC and has been carefully restored to it's original glory. If you haven't been there it is well worth a visit on a fine day. On returning from our walk we were entertained by an excellent Jazz band Hopefully it will carry on as a regular event.
This Sunday Brooklands met at the Elstead Mill for a lunchtime concours. After an excellent lunch at the Mill we asked a very handsome young man to judge the array of cars( see how we look after you girls in the club). He chose the immaculate Austin Ruby Cabriolet owned by Jim and Sue Robinson. Apart from it being the fastest Austin in the club and sounding like a sewing machine it is beautifully maintained and very worthy of the prize which was a grope in Rogers carrier bag full of tools and a couple of the now famous Brooklands mugs. See picture of the winners.
Judy
January 2011
Film Night & Christmas Dinner
Our November Club night at Merrow was well attended. It was Film Night and we were shown film of the Le Mans Classic 2010 and an old film of Brooklands Centre 21st birthday. This was fascinating for those of us not members then. We saw Robin with hair, Jane a sweet young thing "yes she still is" they cried and young Jim Robinson even then sporting a very natty beard. Many other very young looking friends dancing to a Jazz band and having a fine old time. It was especially nice to see our friend Marion showing them how it should be done and looking a million dollars.
We then watched a very shocking piece of film showing Stephen Lloyd doing wholly inappropriate things in Hastings including removing his clothes.
Our Christmas Dinner at the Burhill Golf Club went with a swing. The meal was excellent and was followed by the usual Horsfield Raffle. Judy Noakes received the famous Bum Kit which has been in the raffle for many years. Well done to whoever disguised it. We were pleased to have the company of Jean and Aiden Smith and a new Trophy was announced which will be called the Bob Smith Memorial Trophy and will be awarded annually at the Buttercup Bounce, one of Bob’s favourite events.
The John Oliver Trophy and the Out and About Trophy were awarded to Sue Perkins (who certainly does put herself out and about)
The Newcomer award was awarded to Mervyn and Carla Rogers for their attendance at Club Nights and we hope to see a lot of them in 2011.
Clubman of the year was awarded to Stephen Lloyd (fully clothed this time) for his contribution to events in 2010.
Judy
April 2010
Chatham Historic Dockyard and Surrey University
We spent a cold day at Chatham Historic Dockyard this month. It was Steam Day and very enjoyable despite the weather. Lots of steam obviously and vintage motorbikes, dogs pulling carts and all sizes of owls. A great selection of interesting displays. We were also lucky enough to be shown round the Commissioner's house where Bill and Traudl Higgins (members of Brooklands), once lived. It was very beautiful and 'haunted' apparently, although we were sadly disappointed not to be 'visited'. A very interesting Museum if you haven't been and well worth a visit.
Last night a group of our members went to Surrey University where we were shown around S.S.T.L. Surrey Satellite and Technology Ltd. Andy Currie who is Launch Manager gave a presentation on the work they do and showed us around the lab site, clean rooms, etc. The group enjoyed the visit very much and we all learnt a lot about the subject (a change from car stuff!)
We are all looking forward now to our summer trips and holidays. All booked up by now but contact Committee if you have queries regarding this or any other subject.
Our website has been updated now so have a look and hopefully now with the help we are receiving it will be more interesting to view.
Judy
March 2010
Quiz Night and a washed-out Winter Walk
Unfortunately our Winter Walk was a washout. We had a lovely lunch at the Abinger Hatch but the rain didn't stop so we all gave up on the walk.
February Clubnight was Quiz night and Nigel produced an interesting set of mostly motoring questions. The winner was Roger Horsfield, 2nd the Owens and joint 3rd Southcott and Nelson.
If you haven't entered for Cobham Trial please contact Nigel ASAP and if you would like to volunteer to help as a marshal ditto Nigel. We need all the help we can get and it is really good fun in a splendid venue.
The arranging of the trips so far has proved a bit muddly so please see date change for Suffolk trip and get in touch with Judy or Robin if you wish to go on that or the Menorca trip in September.
We hope to have a bigger turnout this year at the AGM. Please support your committee by attending. A lot of work goes into organising events and we need your input.
January 2010
Christmas Dinner and snowy Austins
Our Christmas Dinner was superb. It was held at The Burhill Golf Club in Walton on Thames, a beautiful house in, I understand, beautiful grounds (a pity it was so dark and so wet that we couldn't see them). The event was well supported as always and the food excellent. Thanks to Jane and Roger for organising the raffle. I left before it started, unwell; unfortunately winning the prize I had donated. That will teach me not to leave early.
The John Oliver Trophy was awarded to Jim Robinson
The Out and About to Paul Noakes
Newcomer Award to Colin and Sue Shaw
Clubman of the Year to Graham Currie
On New Year's Day which proved sunny but very cold, a crowd gathered at Newlands Corner and set off on a very enjoyable run through the Surrey lanes finishing at Elstead Mill for a roast dinner. Len and I thoroughly enjoyed the run which was very well instructed by David and Rosemary, so thanks to them for a splendid day.
The committee has worked out a Calendar of events for 2010 but if anyone has an idea to put forward please contact one of us.
14th Feb Valentine Winter Walk following pub lunch TBA
24th Feb Wednesday Club night Quiz at the king William IV West Horsley
28th March Sunday Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre Arundel visit
31st March Wednesday Noggin and Natter King William IV
25th April Sunday Cobham Trial Production car trial for any Austin 7
28th April Wed AGM at St. Johns Hall Merrow 8pm
23rd May Sunday Buttercup Bounce fun and games in a field after lunchtime BBQ
The snowy photos in the gallery and on the home page show what we already knew: that Austins can get to places other cars can't reach!
Nigel Coulter wrote about the photographs:
"The recent snow was as bad here as it was in 1963 and we couldn't get the modern out for a week (this Tuesday) and then got snowed-in again when it snowed that night. Skanky [the Chummy in the pictures – ed.] was our saviour because I had it out the first morning of the freeze after digging the snow away from the garage. I found it perfect for getting around and Wendy and I used it to get feed and hay to Wendy's horse – no other vehicle, apart from a well prepared and driven 4x4 could have reached the field the horse was in. The pictures show us delivering the feed. I drove Wendy to Farnham the following day – 10 miles over deserted snow-covered roads, skirting round fallen trees and abandoned cars to collect some essential papers so she could work from home. On the way we caught up with a Landrover going very slowly and they eventually pulled in to let us pass so we could then get into top gear. On the way back we seemed to romp up the hills that were seemingly very challenging to other road users. I've attached a third picture of Skanky in Grayshott – note all the other cars snowed in."
November 2009
Winter Walkies and more
Not much to say now that year is nearly over. Our Winter walk was very jolly. After a pub lunch we walked on Whitedown, a beautiful wooded walk in Surrey. Our walks are very popular and attract large numbers. This year we were very pleased to welcome Harvey and Lesley Russell.
Our members did the usual marshalling at the London to Brighton in November and were pleased to say that they did it in the dry before the heavens opened on the poor entrants. What a pity it was such terrible weather for them.
Please click here for next year's calendar. I will give out calendars at the Xmas Dinner and afterwards at the January club night. If anyone gets missed please contact Judy. We hope our members are pleased with the plans for next year but if anyone has an idea for an event please contact the committee so that we can try to include the idea.
The committee of Brooklands Centre wish all our members and our club friends a very Happy Christmas.
June 2009
Brooklands Centre Holiday to Switzerland June 2009
We set off from Calais early on the 5th June with a few members unfortunately missing due to illness. Their places had been filled by friends of friends who could leave with very little notice and they were most welcome.
We drove to Cambrai for a quick look round and then towards the Ardennes for a fabulous Hotel stop in the largest occupied medieval fortress in Europe. A wonderful place to stay with an unfortunately unmarked drain gully in the courtyard. Stephen Lloyd drove over it at very sedate pace and broke the bracket off his spare wheel carrier. Much tinkering followed and a temporary repair with wire was carried out.
Off to Verdun the next morning and a short visit to the memorial and a picnic lunch in the car with roof up. Next stop Wangenbourg for two nights so a chance to relax and walk a little. We walked for an hour to a waterfall which we couldn't find but on the way out the next morning drove past the viewing place. ARGHHHH!!
Through the Forest of Haslach to Molsheim, home of Bugatti, so a good place for visits to Museums etc. Then a pleasant meander through the rolling Alsace hills into Switzerland. We were now heading for Basal and Luzern so had to make the decision "To buy a motorway permit or not". We decided we could just about avoid them by some diversions onto minor roads, but this caused extra miles and extra time, so in hindsight I wish we had paid up and skipped on and off the Motorways.
The hotel on the Lakeside at Winkel-Kastanienbaum was very pleasant, so a pity we had to move on the next day. Beautiful views of the lake and the weather was improving. But the wine prices were so high we all drank water and moaned a lot. Isn't it awful when you can't afford to buy a round of drinks for your friends!!
The next day was another "avoid the Motorway day" but took us through some beautiful countryside along the side of the Brienzer See to Interlaken and a stay in a very pleasant Hotel at Neuhaus. On the way there Len and I visited Meiringen and the Waterfall at Reichenbach where Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes fell to their deaths only to cause a public outcry and be miraculously saved. The museum there is just wonderful for anyone interested.
Sherlock Norman at Reichenbach Falls
At this point Len, Bev. and I collapsed in a heap and decided to spend a wimpish day on a boat going round the Thuner See and a visit to Spiez which was wonderful. The others hared about in their cars up mountain railways and on cable cars etc. All exciting stuff.
The journey continued to Gstaad and Lake Geneva and up into the Jura Mountains to a Logis at Les Molunes. Although we arrived at 8pm utterly exhausted it was a place we will definitely return to.
Onwards to Blois in the Loire, another long day but a day off to explore. We were very lucky to be met by Christine a friend of the 750 Motor Club who took us on a tour of her home town. A super day so a BIG thank you to her.
We ended our holiday here with a lovely dinner and great thanks to Robin who organised the holiday.
Points remembered:
- One car had to come home early with head gasket problems, so commiserations to the owners.
- A few had minor problems but with lots of help continued their journey.
- Great company and lots of laughs.
- One car that shall be nameless spread approx. 3 gallons of oil around France and Switzerland.
- Robin kept "Flashing intermittently". I do wish he wouldn't.
- And the star of the trip was "DAISY" no, not a car, but a very young baby who was perfectly behaved at all times and a joy.
Judy
P.S Please, we beg forgiveness. Due to the mileage and the mountains this trip was done by us all in faster and more modern "Classics" than our Austin 7's.
May 2009
The Virginia Water Anniversary Run organized by Brooklands Centre was a fantastic day out with weather to match. Over 50 cars assembled at Savill Gardens and followed a route through the Surrey lanes stopping at Manor House School in Bookham for coffee and biscuits. Many thanks to Stephen Lloyd and to the school staff for laying on this very welcome break. One hiccup, a wrong turn led us into Pirbright Army Camp where we were greeted by an armed guard who beckoned to us to approach. It appeared that I was not the first Austin he had seen that morning and unfortunately there was a stream of Austins behind me so he was kept busy turning us all around. A little light relief from his usual duties perhaps. We then made our way to Brooklands Museum where we assembled on the famous banking for a photo call.
We were then addressed by Nigel Coulter the organizer of this first class event and Ken Cooke who acknowledged the success of the Run and welcomed the entrants who had come from far and wide to take part. Thank you Nigel for a day to remember.
Please check out our Forthcoming Events page.
