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.

 

Kilkhampton weekend - 19/21 October

There is an annual tradition of a club holiday at the end of the season. It is a great chance to get away for a weekend and enjoy the company of fellow Austineers before the clocks change. The priorities are somewhere for everyone to stay, somewhere close by to eat together and hopefully some good weather. This year took us to Tamar Lakes Farm Campsite near Kilkhampton, and we were blessed with all three elements. 

 

 

A bright sunny morning showed that 12 cars had made the journey up to Kilkhampton and we were joined by another 6 cars from the eastern side of the county – we made a splendid sight taking to the Atlantic Highway towards Poundstock and Bangors. 

 

The Saturday itinerary was a run along the coast road down to Widemouth Bay for coffee, then continuing further along the coast to Duckpool for lunch. The weather did us proud and it felt like a spring run as we gathered on the beach at lunch time for a picnic before strolling down to the cove.  After idling by the sea we reloaded to make our way to Morwenstow for the compulsory ice cream before heading back towards the campsite for afternoon tea.  You may be getting the picture that although we cover a fair distance during the day, plenty of time is spent in good company with a mug or glass in hand.

The Sunday route took us across county to the award winning Lizzy’s Larder at Milton Damerel, and then out to the Merry Harrier’s Garden Centre at Bideford for lunch.  A number of us missed the odd turning here and there; knowing we were supposed to be heading inland, we knew something was wrong when we saw the sea!   But we all caught up in time to share a carvery at lunch time and were able to discuss the various routes we had taken to get there!

After lunch we said our farewells as the group separated to make our various ways home.   A great few days in good company.

 

 

 

‘Not going to Widecombe’ run - 8 September

A small group met at Goonhavern Garden Centre for coffee and chat, with the usual interest in our Sevens from the public.  Leaving in a small convoy taking the first left turn, we headed in the direction of Fiddler’s Green and St Newlyn East and from there on into Mitchell where the convoy became eight when it was joined by another member in an ARQ.

 

 

Leaving Mitchell the route took us towards Ladock and after several crossroads in the direction of Tresillian where we emerged, briefly, on to the very busy A390 for a couple of hundred yards before taking a right, in front of the gate house, and headed away towards St Michael Penkivel, Lamorran and Ruan Lanihorne to eventually and briefly join the A3078 towards St Mawes, shortly turning left in the direction of Portloe then soon left again into the car park of Melinsey Mill for a pre-arranged lunch break. The food on offer was excellent and enjoyed by everyone sitting at various tables beside the lake in the sunshine.

 

 

All too soon it was time to set off again but unfortunately, shortly after passing through the little village of Portloe, a 1933 RP began experiencing problems, missing and lacking power.  Several remedies were tried but with no improvement so it was decided it would be wise to head directly for Veryan and homeward as the plucky little motor kept valiantly going, albeit in first gear when a rise presented itself.

 

 

 

It was a very enjoyable and well planned outing.  There being so many ‘Ruan's’, especially on the Roseland, Iapparently the most probable explanation for the word is, yes, you've guessed it, a Cornish Saint: Saint Ruan In Roseland in the fourteenth century. Ruan also has an Irish connection so could this be another Irish Saint, who came to sort out the Cornish!

 

 

 

Remembering and commemorating  - 15 August and 2 September
On the 15/16 August 1952, the night of the Lynton/Lynmouth disaster, I travelled with my parents on the overnight Cornish Riviera Express from Paddington to Cornwall. On the Saturday morning we alighted from the mainline at Gwinnear Road and crossed the small platform to board the ‘Helston Flyer’ for the slow, winding journey into Helston station. From there we continued our journey on the Western National bus destined for The Lizard, but leaving it in Ruan Minor to walk the last mile from Treleague cross-roads up to Kugger.  Hence, my interest in two local events.

 

That bus service to ‘extend the railway’ into the Lizard area commenced on 17 August 1903 and for many years the CVVS has commemorated the event with a run from Helston to Lizard on August bank-holiday Sunday. In past years several CA7C members have been amongst the 100 or more cars, with several tractors, commercial vehicles, buses and up to twenty m/cs, and the event had afternoon entertainment by the St Keverne Junior Band. In recent years the entry has gradually fallen with no entertainment and now just the CVVS and RNLI stalls. This year, for the 40th event on 26 August, the entry was very small and with the poor weather forecast only 29 cars, 3 coaches and 2 m/cs made the run, there being no tractors or commercials and only the one CA7C entry. There was some interest from visitors but the showery weather came in after lunch and several cars departed.

 

The following weekend the Helston Railway Preservation Society held a Heritage Transport Day on Sunday 2nd September. CVVS members had a run from Helston to visit most of the points of the original railway line accessible on the local lanes before arriving at Trevarno Farm, Prospidnick. Others went there direct including three memebrs with a Box Saloon, a 1937 ex-London Taxi and a ‘Forlite’ amongst some 40 cars displayed for the few visitors who appeared. We were each given a token for free tea or coffee and so we wandered down to sample the café in an old diesel electric coach, view the gift shop and take a quick look at the single coach and small engine operating on the

 

 

WESES Steam & Country Fair - 17/19 August

The three day event attracted fewer entries for tractors, cars and m/cs this year and some of those did not attend.  The weather was fine on the Fri & Sat but a  little inclement on the Sunday but our display averaged 14 Sevens on each of the days with the usual interest from visitors asking about spares, needing leaded fuel, can we drive them and 'my father/grandfather had one of these - it was a Morris.'

                  

 

 

At a couple of shows      

The two-day St Buryan Rally on 28/29 July is a bit too far west for most of our members.  This was the 40th year and the experience gained over those years showed in the organisation.  The immaculate traction/steam engines, some with a living van, sparkled, their smell and hisses filled the air around.  Tractors and commercials were well set out in groups according to manufacturer and the cars were positioned in marked straight lines with adequate space all around for mobility vehicles and prams, let alone the rogue rucksack carelessly carried.  The craft tent allowed some very skilled artisans to show the originality of their work.

Two heavy showers did not spoil the day as they came when it was time to sit in the car and enjoy lunch and later, a mug of tea.  Sadly, there wasn't any real entertainment with musicians etc, but 'The Flying Bonsors' had a novel display in the ring of their 'RAF' style land-rovers, each with a chap seated in the back, wearing a white overall and leather helmet, waving wands as though to bring an aircraft on stand.  The usual parades of tractors, cars etc followed during the day. A one day visit was enough - now been there done that, but glad to have gone, even as the only CA7C member present.

 

The Grade Ruan Rally on 5 August, is now a reasonable sized, well organised village show after 32 years, not too big nor too small and well supported with tractors and cars parked without any guidance, plus a group of m/cs.  Music wafted across the field, stands were interesting with inexpensive craft stalls and bric-a-brac, and a good flower stall found one customer!   There was the usual dog show and entertainment in the ring was sessions of carriage driving and heavy horses resplendent in their livery; then later the tractors, m/cs and cars.

At both shows 'Whistling Billy', the racing 'White' Steam Car.  Rather puzzling though is the notion that entertainment at most summer shows is now the parades in the ring of all the various vehicles when folk have already had hours wandering around looking at them and talking to the owners.  But then, many of us can recall the days of motorcycle demonstrations, the Cornish Caledonian Pipe Band, the local brass/silver band and choirs, a sheep dog rounding up ducks and even circus acts - but these all cost money?

 

Sevens on display - 8 and 22 July

Is there a better way to enjoy a sunny day than displaying your Seven at a local show or rally and help to promote the history of British motoring? 

 

The Godolphin Village Fete on 8 July was held, courtesy of the National Trust, at Godolphin House, with the house being open but only ‘free’ to members. The display of cars was made up of five ‘Sevens’, an RP,a Ruby MK1, a Forlite and two independents with a Sixlite and an AEB Nippy, accompanied by a few vintage tractors and some military vehicles, including one from the WW2 Russian army. The mostly craft stands were sited around the lawn with the National Trust tent offering food and ice cream, and a plant stall inevitably visited by our two keen gardeners. 

 

 

Hayle Rotary’s ‘Hayle Commemoration Day’, on 22 July at the town’s Recreation Ground, was a re-incarnation of the event previously held at the Rugby Club.  Amongst the 30 or so cars, many being various MGs, were five of our members; an RP two Ruby MK1's, a Forlite and an Opal.

Unfortunately most of the cars were parked very haphazardly by the Event Marshall, rather than in neat rows with space between, so we were too close on all sides for the visitors to view them properly, and this resulted in a long bag scuff on the n/s of the Forlite late in the day, which was very hard to remove. 

A trailered steam car, manufactured by the White Motor Co, of Cleveland, Ohio, set apart from the rest, was displayed ‘in steam’ and taken for a short run. Most of the stands were running a tombola to raise funds but there was an absence of plants and very few books; children had a football kick-about area and you could try your hand (or arm?) at archery in one of the tennis courts.  The mid-morning bacon rolls were good, whilst the excellent entertainment was a day-long programme of music from the Hayle Town Band; the strings of the Celtic Fiddlers; some singers; another group and a rock band to stir the memories and end the day.  

Both events were not too big, well supported, and for us, they were pleasant, convivial, days as we sat in the shade of the trees.  

 

Porthcurno Telegraph Museum Revisited - 7 July

Nine assorted Sevens pulled out of Lanner Farm Nursery soon after 10.45.  Route sheets had been distributed and as more than half of the cars had just a driver it was decided to shoehorn the 'singles' between the 'doubles' to better keep an eye on them!  The route led towards Lanner Square where the cars turned left by the Lanner Inn and headed away under the old tramway tunnel and up Rough Street eventually leading to the main Redruth/Helston road where the group turned right then shortly left towards the village of Carnkie. 

Taking a further left opposite the Methodist Church the route continued on and into Four Lanes. Turning right at the cross roads led eventually to a further right turn on to the B3280 and on into Praze-An-Beeble.  Here a few paused to nip into the pasty shop to buy lunch!   Leedstown came and went as did Townshend then exiting Goldsithney we slowed to collect another member.

 

 

Soon the cars rolled through Marazion, collecting smiles and waves as they made their way through the narrow main street then away towards Penzance and keeping to the coast road the cross road at Newlyn was reached.  Straight ahead led up the very steep Chywoon Hill where apparently a woman decided to do a three point turn, stopping one of the Sevens whose driver was definitely 'not amused'.  Certainly not a hill to get stopped on!!!  Luckily, he was able to get going again but not without difficulty.  The rest of the route was straightforward but very narrow in places and several of the seven drivers had heart in mouth upon meeting large, agricultural vehicles that weren't really keen to stop, let alone slow down!

Fortunately everyone made it unscathed to the car park of the Telegraph Museum where, pay and display dues paid, some made their way to the gardens and the picnic tables for an al fresco lunch whilst others made their way to either the pub or the beach.  Lunch over, nine folk met at the museum entrance where a ten per cent 'party' discount was advanced.  A very knowledgeable member of staff gave an interesting talk and demonstration of the history of cable communication at Porthcurno.  Then it was time to look around at the various exhibits in the museum.  The wartime tunnels had recently been opened to the public and also the emergency escape stairs to the top of the hill above the museum. 

 

A few crazy folk took the 120+ stairs to the top where the view was magnificent and where stood the sign post pointing to distant places the cables connected.  All too soon it was nearing the time for the museum to close so folks made their way back to the cars and taking various routs headed homewards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visit our Home Page

Copyright  © Cornwall Austin Seven Club 2009.  Created using Microsoft Expression Web 4, and managed in-house.