Cornwall Austin Seven Club 

Event Reports
Short reports of events, holidays and shows enjoyed
by our members in the past four months.

Our members are always out and about with their 'Sevens'

The main aim of CA7C is to encourage members to drive their 'Sevens' whenever possible, even throughout the winter months when, surprisingly, quite a few members do enjoy being out and about on the colder winter-time runs.  However, we do draw the line on the very wettest of days as there is no point driving in bad weather with the non-optional water entry around the ill-fitting windows and doors!   Mostly we are able to enjoy warm, sunny days with Cornwall's splendid inland and coastal scenery at its best whatever the season of the year.

These edited reports were written by members and are taken from our monthly magazine, Seven Focus.

The suggested routes for some of our past runs are available on our Run Archive at www.dropbox.com  
When asked for sign in information use the following details: Username : ca7c.archive@gmail.com  and Password : runarchive.  Then click on the introduction or a route of your choice, and it will download and open automatically.

NB: You do NOT need to sign up; you do NOT need to download anything, just click 'Sign In' using these details.

More photos of each event may be found on our Facebook link.

 

Teach-in;  Steering Box - 16 November

Not everyone had brought a steering column which was a good thing with space being at a premium.  The presentation began by noting out that the play in the steering is lost motion in many parts of the entire system and removing the slack in the steering box may only be the start of the total sloppiness in the system.  Other joints in the steering mechanism if they are worn/out of adjustment will also contribute to the vagueness.  The individual components were shown, along with an explanation of how each can contribute to poor performance in this department.

Eliminating the free play in the 3 axes in the steering box was the first to be tackled.  The side-to-side play in the steering shaf; whilst the mesh of the worm and worm wheel is in many respects the most critical element to be tackled as 80+ years of operation have most likely worn both components.

End float on the column can also be adjusted by slackening the pinch bolt on the steering box casting with a ‘c’ wrench, and the locking screw on the side and screwing the column in or out.  You can’t unscrew the column without removing the locking screw.  With grease back in the steering boxes, and all lock tabs secured, the teach in concluded with the 16 participants having learned a great deal.

 

 

Dolgellau & Snowden trip - 21-28 September

 

 

 

 

 

The holiday trip to Dolgellau was taken by six Sevens and a good time was had by all.  Days out around the narrow lanes of Snowdonia, marvellous scenery from Machynlleth to the Menai Strait, local walks and a ride on the Tal-y-llyn railway.  Of interest was the hill-climb near Bwlch y Groes where the Austin Motor Co used to test their cars as depicted on the sign in the car park.

 

 

 

 

 

Bunker run - 22 September

The weather was fine, if a little chilly as a good number of Sevens arrived in the square at Probus, soon to head off towards Tregony and eventually the 'cold war' bunker at Nare Head.  As the lunch stop at Melinsey Mill was not too far distant, an offer of a cup of tea or coffee from the farm shop was gratefully accepted.  Fully refreshed and raring to go the convoy of cars set off.  In case anyone became separated there was a set of printed directions which had been handed out. 

Leaving Probus in the direction of St Austell the route passed over the mini roundabout and on to the main roundabout at the end of the bypass. Here the cars turned right then shortly left in the direction of Tregony and St Mawes.  A steep hill and a few twists and turns found the convoy on the A3078 heading towards St Mawes but not for long as soon a left turn led us towards Portloe and Portholland.  Ignoring the turn to Portloe the group entered Veryan then on past the church and the pub soon to turn left in the direction of Portscatho and at the bottom of the steep hill we turned left into the car park of Melinsey Mill.

Some folk went into the café at the mill for lunch and others sat in their cars to eat their picnic. The weather being still fine encouraged some folk to walk off their lunch around the lake and others to have a look at the crafts and curios in the mill.

Time to leave and the collection of Austins turned out of the mill and headed back in the direction of Veryan then away in the direction of Nare Head and the National Trust car park.   With the sun still shining the cars were left in the car park and everyone set off up the track for a twenty minute walk to the bunker.

We arrived to find several people already at the site to take the tour.   Our tour guide explained how the above ground, and below ground bunker had been used during WW2 and how, when the Cold War became a reality and nuclear war was a distinct possibility, the use of the bunker changed.   He then demonstrated the way to descend the vertical ladder, down the shaft and into the room below.  When everyone was safely down, the use of the various instruments was explained and how the personnel rota worked in practice and what would have happened had there been a nuclear event. 

Some while later we climbed the ladder and emerged into bright sunshine.  With dark clouds approaching from the west, our group quickly made our way back down the track to the car park.  As folk settled into their Sevens the clouds arrived and the rain started to fall.  Various members of the group set off in different directions for their run home.  The day was well planned and I'm sure much enjoyed by everyone so thanks go to those who were responsible for organizing it.  

 

 

Last evening run for 2019 - 19 September

A disappointing turn out of 'Sevens' arrived at the Cornish Arms, Frogpool for the last evening run of the year with only three Sevens and two moderns.  They enjoyed a short route before it got dark, along a few 'testing' lanes, some of which were covered in two directions; that, strangely isn't always as obvious as it may sound.  By the time we arrived back it was already beginning to get dark so after a few small bevies and a large amount of chat we all set off for home, using lights that don't get used very often.  The good thing about 6v lights is they can be used on full beam and other drivers don't even notice.  

 

 

Dartmoor Weekend - 6/8 September

Another great weekend on Dartmoor, although a little down on number of cars this year, it turned out a very successful weekend.  On the Friday afternoon we drove to Dartington village and stopped for ice cream and found many side roads and lovely villages along the way.  This year the trips out in the South of Dartmoor on Saturday covered around 50 miles starting from the campsite to go via Venford Dam onto Hexworthy and to Princetown. 

 

A picnic at lunch time beside a wooded area and a ford which no one was brave enough to try.  In the afternoon we drove through places like Welltown around Burrator Reservoir, Wotter, Cornwood and on to Bittaford where we experienced a very steep hill after turning under the viaduct to Wrangaton hill.   After passing through various other villages and enjoying more winding roads we returned to the campsite and the day was finished with a meal at a local pub.

On the Sunday we drove to Ashburton and on to Buckland in the Moor, and at Haytor for a walk to the top and a lunch stop.  After some excursions and picnic we found more lanes along a gated section with nice steep hills and lovely views.  Various other places and roads were used but far to many for me to remember.  The only mechanical problem over the weekend was when a Ruby Mk1 suffered distributor faults, however these were easily fixed.

 

 

 

Le Box sur la loire - A even in the Valley - 30 Aug to 8 Sept

You can’t call it a convoy when there’s just one of you.  So, I suppose, Archie, the 1934 RP Box Saloon, formed an envoy in the queue at Millbay to join the Friday night ferry to Roscoff, to spend the night amongst the fish Lorries so the deck crew only have one lot of mess to mop up in the morning.

Stupid o’clock the following morning, we’re on very familiar roads, with GPS Gladys confirming we’ve been this way before.  The usual route from Morlaix towards Nantes before striding eastwards towards Ancenis, in some very pleasant sunshine.  We made a brief coffee stop at Pays De Rennes only to bump into two excited Frenchmen in a Speedex, en route to some 750 Motor Club excitement.  By the day’s end, we’d made it down to La Marillais which was to be our base for the week.  A gîte specially selected for having a gravel drive so the oil spots don’t show!

Sunday morning, and madame navigator had obscured the windscreen with sheet 316, and excelled herself with the finest C class route along the south bank of the Loire to St Florent la Vieille.  Clipping the edge of the bridge, we follow on the byway and over a narrow girder bridge to head up the island chain in the middle of the Loire. The routes around Basse Isle and Chalais are just right for Sevens, and you tend to be the biggest vehicle on the road.

The routes continue along the banks, and we’re thoroughly enjoying the September sunshine.  As we head past the beaches at Ardenay, we get some proper hairpins and hill climbing, with much stirring of the vitesse stick.  Abruptly, Archie comes nose to nose with a delightful 1927 Citroen Camion, parked just outside the owner’s Tavern. You can guess how the day goes from here!   A couple of hours later, we’re back on the road, crossing the Loire at Behuard, before taking the gravel tracks and byways to St Georges.  By the day’s end, we’ve bumbled for 120km and driver and navigator are ready for a swim.

 

The following day is Chateau day, so Archie gets a quick slurp of 20-50 (still available in the supermarkets) and we head through Montjean to Chalonnes.  This gets a bit exciting as bridgeworks have pushed all the HGVs along this route too, and we’re mixing it with the big boys along the dragstrip known as the D723. Fortunately, Chateau Serrant isn’t too far in this mayhem and we do a grateful swerve into the carpark.  The usual tourist stuff and picnic occurs, and we lose sight of Archie under the weight of camera snapping tourists.  Occupational hazard I suppose. Top Tech Tip: France is now putting LOTS of ethanol to use, and ordinary “sans plomb” is now E85, which is 85% Ethanol and only 15% petrol. Fear not – super unleaded (98 octane) is E10 – which is only 10% ethanol, and the Seven’s seem to like that just fine. Another 100km and Archie hasn’t missed a beat.

Our next outing is one for the wheel wrestlers!  The riverside halt and pretty town at Champtoceaux isn’t all that far, but you are swapping cogs and heaving on the steering every fifty yards or so.  Seriously bendy, it is a blast seeing how far a Seven will roll on its axles. Not quite 2CV levels, but we arrive exhausted with big silly grins on our faces.  Plans to take a boat trip up the river seem to have been scuppered as the riverboat is out on a private hiring.  But we call in to the tourist office where a nice lady tells us to pop back tomorrow and she’ll take us out.  So friendly!

 

Our next plan is to pop, pop!; its about 200km round trip, to Saumur, a place we know well.  But our previous navigational bete noire, Angers, works its black magic again and it’s all I can do to get off the Autoroute towards Paris!  Saumur is very jolly, and we find ourselves entering from the north bank behind a council works van that is truly a 'deux cheveaux' - two horse power – in that the council carts are horse-drawn by a pair in hand.

Another Top Tip: Carparks. They are free over lunchtime, so having parked at 12:00, paying for two hours means we don’t have to leave till quarter past four… Our final touring day and we look for some altitude, so we can see some panoramas.  Simple – just head to a Moulin!   Nobody puts windmills in a valley, so up we go to see the heights. Very pretty along here, as the apple harvest is in full flow and there’s literally mile after mile of fruit orchards we can weave our way through.  As we get to lunchtime, we’re back along the quayside at St Florient, so it’s no surprise that Archie splutters to a halt by a restaurant on the riverbank.  Funny how that seems to happen…  

Finally it’s time to head back to Roscoff.  There’s way too much risk of missing the ferry to do this in one day, so our regular stop at Plouescat, that some of you will remember from previous visits, gives us an easy 20km to catch the Sunday ferry.  Archie hasn’t been out and about too much this year, but this trip he’s certainly made up for it.  Where next….   ?

 

The North Cornwall summer evening runs.

Ever since the clocks went forward an hour, the Unstoppables group have met at Lanivet Village Hall at 7pm.  Numbers have been variable this year for a number of reasons, and on only one evening has it been necessary to curtail the run. Even curtailing the run means we do a ‘token’ run from the Hall to the Innis Downs roundabout (about 1/2 mile) and back to the pub in the village.  Usually this has only involved the 2 or 3 ‘hard core’ participants who arrive in all weathers. 

The destination each evening is largely determined ‘on the night’, depending on who has turned up and from where. This can sometimes present the problem of who has the longest (and most difficult homeward journey), since we may have the situation where participants may live at two locations 60 miles apart!  It has become a little easier with more owners converting to LED headlights, which allows more confidence in night driving, and more Austins with 12 volt electrics turn up.  Wherever possible main roads are avoided and the back lanes are pleasantly quiet with frequently only horses and their riders for company.
 

We adopt ‘Convoy Rules’ on each occasion for several reasons.  As has been mentioned before, the destination is only decided by mutual agreement by those present, and because the overall number of cars is small (in single figures this year), a pre- prepared route sheet is inappropriate.  Furthermore, navigating without a passenger or partner is very difficult (and potentially dangerous).  It also encourages disciplined driving in groups, with no-one racing ahead out of sight, or dragging their feet, unless of course they are in trouble.

As mentioned, fewer people have participated this season, some for health reasons; others have suffered a variety of mechanical problems which have involved engine removal (multiple in one case).  Another problem that has arisen is that of spread of participants in a large area.  Currently we get people coming from as far afield as Bude, Truro or Gorran Haven and navigation is often done ’on the hoof’ as it were, but if both extremes are present, it becomes desirable to have an end point somewhere near the start point.  We try to make every run original, but sometimes routes or chunks of routes have to be repeated.     

 

 

 

 

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