THE GROUP OPERATES AS AN APPROVED CENTRE OF THE AUSTIN SEVEN OWNERS CLUB (LONDON), AND WELCOMES ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN AUSTIN PRODUCTS.
THERE IS ANNUAL GROUP SUBSCRIPTION OF £15.
Throughout the year we attend events and rallies, both on the Island and Mainland. In the past the group have even taken some of their cars over to France for a short break. In June we organise our own 'Austin Weekend' which attracts many cars from the Mainland.
In November 2005, the Group were featured in the 'Antiques Roadshow' programme that was recorded on the Island earlier in that year.
Our ladies actively support these activities and are an essential part of our success.
WE NOW HAVE 70 MEMBERS, SOME OF WHOM OWN MORE THAN ONE AUSTIN.
VIV ORCHARD HAS IDENTIFIED 88 PRE-WAR AUSTINS ON THE ISLAND, 61 SEVENS, 2 BIG SEVENS,19 TENS, 3 HEAVY TWELVES AND 3 SIXTEEN SIXES. SADLY, SOME OF THESE ARE NOT ON THE ROAD YET.
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FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER SUMMARY
AUSTENTATIOUS RAMBLINGS
Please remember that your £15 subscription is due on March 1st. There is another reminder inside! Failure to renew before the end of March could result in your not receiving the April Newsletter!
Recently, Geoff Clarke lent me his copy of Clive Ball's book, ‘Seven Years with Samantha’ to read. Samantha being an A7 ‘Widedoor’ saloon, similar to the car that Geoff owns. By coincidence, during the month, I received an e-mail copy of ‘Baby Torque’, the Magazine of the Austin Seven Club of Western Australia. In it there is mention of the fact that Clive and Samantha are now on the road again after 21 years. The Editor kindly sent me this photograph of the happy pair!
For some time now I have wanted to put together an article about how IOWA started and evolved and this I have now done, as you will see later. One thing that the 'project' highlighted for me was that I wished I had kept a Diary in which I had noted when significant happenings occurred. One who does keep such a diary is Viv Orchard and he has been able to let me have some invaluable information about when certain things took place. Early Newsletters have also provided me with some really useful information, as have several members who have racked their brains to recollect those early days!
In addition to the Mainland Austin Seven 90th Anniversary celebrations, we are planning one on the Island which will take place on Sunday, June 10th, at Chestnut Farm, near Godshill, where the Lewingtons have kindly offered to host us. More information will be given in the March Newsletter and it is hoped that, on the day, we will have the biggest turnout ever of Island based Austin Sevens.
After a spell on the Mainland, we welcome Dave Barry back to the Island.
On the car front, Peter Youles has now sold his A12/4 Clifton to somebody in Dorset. Talking of cars, Viv Orchard tells me that 2 A12/4 Harleys have been spotted at Central Garage, Newport.
With regard to the future of MoT tests for older vehicles, some of you might well have been on the FBHVC website and indicated your preferred option. RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) have responded to the Department of Transport's Consultation Paper is as follows, 'If the government does decide to exempt some historic vehicles from the MoT requirement, RoSPA would prefer Option 2, to exempt all pre-1945 manufactured vehicles from the statutory MoT test. Under this option, vehicles manufactured between 1945 and 1959 would still be subject to statutory MoT test.' It will be interesting to see what Option the Government goes for.
Finally, Fran Shelley has kindly offered to look after our Sunday morning visits programme.
Please help her by letting her know the places that you like going to, not only for morning refreshments, but for lunches as well. She is also thinking about putting together a 'Ladies Page' for the Newsletter. Watch this space!
Sunday Morning Meetings
January 1st. The New Year dawned with a wet morning and this affected the turnout of the 'real' cars. However, 3 Austins did brave the elements and there were quite a lot of moderns! It was a case of retreating to the nearby Old Smithy Café for our refreshments. I counted 26 members in the Café and all were having a jolly good natter about Christmas, motoring matters etc. Just as we were about to leave, some of us met up with Malcolm (A7OC Membership Secretary) and Frances Day who were spending the New Year weekend on the Island.
January 8th. After the strong gales and rain of last week it was a pleasure to get out in our cars. Although cloudy it was relatively warm for our meeting at Godshill as we chatted around our cars. Lined up were 16 Austins, a Rolls Royce Phantom I, a Standard 9, a Vauxhall 14 and a 1925 Ner-a-car Motorcycle. The latter belongs to Tony Dymott, who also owns a 1930 A7 Chummy, which is currently in bits. He had brought along the fuel tank which is in need of some repairs. Later we moved off to take refreshments in the Café at Thompsons Garden Centre. It was very quiet there so the 36 of us provided some good business for the Café and some were seen buying other items. We left in glorious sunshine for a very pleasant trip home.
January 15th. A sunny but very cold morning – ideal for open top motoring! Having said that several cars did arrive with their hoods down showing just what a hardy lot we have on the Island. In the Godshill car park there was a variety of marques including 15 Austins, a Morris Minor Traveller, a Hillman Minx, a Vauxhall Cresta PB, an Alvis, a Rover 8 and a 1935 Morris 10/4 (pictured). The latter belongs to Peter Youles, who purchased it 2 months ago, and now becomes a stablemate for the 3 Austins he owns. Being so cold, most of the ladies quickly retired to the nearby Old Smithy shop. Whilst at Godshill I met a couple who had travelled down from Essex for the day! They so like the Island that they often come down for the day on a Sunday and always make the effort to get to Godshill. Our morning run took us to the Rosemary Vineyard, near Ryde. They had opened up especially for us and I think we made it worthwhile for them as over 30 of us enjoyed refreshments there.
January 22nd. Another bright cool morning! Once again there was a good variety of cars at Godshill – 8 Austins, a Vauxhall Cresta, a Hillman Minx, a Morris 10, a Morris Oxford pick-up truck and a RR Phantom 1. For a change, there were no coaches in the car park, so there were not as many people as usual to admire our cars. After taking refreshments in the Old Smithy Café, many motored over to the Sun Inn at Hulverstone for lunch. Already at Hulverstone were 3 Austins from the West Wight.
January 29th. A very cold, dull, morning resulted in some using their moderns to get to Godshill. However there was a good selection of 'oldies' in the car park - 9 Austins, an Alvis, a Hillman Minx, a Morris 10, a Morris Minor Traveeller, a Riley and a Ner-a-car motorcycle. Many retreated to the warmth of the nearby Café before we all moved off to the ‘Dairyman’s Daughter’, Arreton, where 40 of us were to enjoy more refreshments. Whilst at Godshill I met Rory Monck, whose father drove an Austin 7 across middle Australia in 1929. But more about that in the next Newsletter.
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