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2009 CLASSIC CAR SHOW - SUNDAY 26 JANUARY, at TIMOUR HALL
An inspiring collection of more than 220 classic cars, a horde of motor bikes and numerous side-shows, spread across six fields at Timour Hall, made for a fantastic day's entertainment. The Hall is the H.Q. in Plumstead of the International Police Association and is the regular meeting venue of the Crankhandle Club, which played a major role in setting up the event.
Although there was no official MGCCCT representation, the MG flag was flown by some members with "dual nationality" i.e. Crankhandle Club membership as well as MG Club membership. Result - a strong showing, comprising :- 2 SAs, a VA, 4 TCs, a TD, a TF, a ZB, 5 MGAs, an MGB, and an MGBGT, not to mention an MGC lurking amongst the Austin Healeys.
Among some most welcome newcomers to the scene was David Ginsberg, with his 1938 VA Tickford coupe, happily undergoing refurbishment with the enthusiastic help of his young son Saul [one of our future generation of members ?]. The VA was flanked by the two SAs, with former Chairman Nigel Sedgwick's immaculate, newly-restored blue-and-silver Tickford coupé "on debut".
The occasion was also marked by the "return to the fold" of Aubrey Keller, with his former award-winning MGA 1500, coupled with a remarkable supercharged MGA 1600. This was fitted with numerous performance extras, mostly sourced from that centre of MG enthusiasm in California - no doubt vying for "Safety Faster" with Chris Champion's immaculate Twin Cam!
Other cars on display ranged in size from a diminutive 1929 Austin Chummy, through the MG-precursor of a bull-nose Morris, to the vast "extravaganzas" of Bob Johnston's 1921 RR Silver Ghost, Stuart Halsall's 1907 Nordenfelt and Count Labia's 1905 De Dietrich and his 1929 Fiat Tipo 525, with its fascinating history of restoration recently completed.
Entertainment was liberally provided by Stuart and by Len Ward, custodian of the De Dietrich, who both demonstrated their prowess with the crankhandle [ in true Crankhandle Club tradition! ], their knowledge of the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of ancient motor cars, and their abilities to tell tall stories to gullible pretty girls in their audience. Close behind in technical wizardry was Harvey Metcalf, demonstrating the chuff-chuff running of the oldest car "On Show", the 1901 Benz Ideal, nurtured by the CHC.
Entertainment of a different kind was offered by the Cape Stationery Engine Club, with their display of working engines, and by a remarkable Master of Meccano. He displayed and demonstrated working models of a carousel, ferris wheel, dockside crane and an ingenious but fiendishly complicated machine which automatically sorted rods by length.
He capped this with a bizarre device from which, after being started by curious passers-by, there emerged a mechanical hand to switch itself off... !!
Good weather, a wide variety of food and drink stalls, the camaraderie of exhibitors and the efficiency of the Crankhandle members and marshals, all combined with the sheer interest of such a wide variety of cars "On Show" to make driving the SA all the way from McGregor well worth the trip.
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