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.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a week - four days of Seven action

On Wednesday 20th June two of our members took their RP and Ruby Sevens to Three Bridges Education Centre, a school for autistic children, and picked up a student and his support worker as he is fascinated by vintage cars and took him for a drive around Mount Hawke and Portreath.  

           

Then on Thursday 21st June, it was the evening for a run from the Plume of Feathers in Scorrier and finishing up at the Chiverton Arms.  The weather was beautiful and sunny giving us a fantastic ride around Portreath, Porthtowan, Illogan and Mount Hawke.  

 

 

 

 

 

Then on Friday 22nd June, a member was asked if he could take a friend’s daughter and her friend to their prom night at the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay, so the RP and Ruby were again in use and picked them up from Redruth School.  The girls were delighted.

 

 

 

Then it was  the CA7C  Annual Rally on Sunday 24th June

This year’s theme was Gymnastics.  The activities were much enjoyedl with everyone having fun, whether they were driving the cars around the obstacle course, which required precision driving, or watching.  There were Pasty’s for lunch for all who attended. 

With fantastic weather all the cars shone as they balanced on the parallel bars and then over the see saw before stopping to have a funny looking contraption fixed to bonnets consisting of hanging balls which they had to swing through gates or use to knock off balls on a pole.  If that wasn’t enough they then had a ball on either side to balance as they did the course in reverse swing the side ball back through the gates to the finish line.  

 

 

Change & Chat -  2 June

As a frequently solo driver, the Change and Chat runs represent a welcome change from being forced into a convoy situation to follow a route to one where I could potential dawdle to admire the scenery, pause for petrol or stop for a comfort break.  Having a planned route with a navigator following it turns it into a journey rather than a pure driving exercise.  Being prepared to navigate for someone else, also allows me to compare the workings of a different car with my own and helps solve some of those long-held questions:  Is my car noisier than the rest?  Is it just me who crunches gears? Should the ride be so bouncy?  Do all Austins wander?  Do other cars have better brakes? *  A vital diagnostic tool for reporting possible issues or deciding that after all each is a non-issue.  I was therefore looking forward to Saturday’s run and had dressed with the thought that I might end up navigating in an open car which the weather made very tempting!

Initially I was to be very disappointed as only three cars assembled at the Waitrose start, an RP Saloon, a MK2 Ruby and a lovely 1928 R saloon with his navigator Bodie, was determined, handsome but not up to the job as his paws might struggle with holding the route!  With just the three cars, the change aspect of the run was dropped.

The route was very easy to follow and extremely clear but an early uncertainty led to a discussion, a map and some local knowledge suggesting that a turning would still lead us correctly to St. Erme, even if it wasn’t the correct one.  Not a fault of router or navigator, just a signpost that had lost its arms and therefore may, or may not, have been the one we were seeking.  Despite having done the route before we couldn’t remember and pleaded the dire weather of January as the excuse.  Retrospectively thinking, we were probably too hasty as all the other instructions matched exactly. Anyway, once into St. Erme, we were able to pick up the route properly again, despite the changed colour of the mentioned dog-poo-bin!

Some of the hills were challenging, a very nice hairpin in Treworgan and a little bit of the route termed ‘windy with blind corners’ which made me think of baked beans rather than the ‘long and winding road’ if you get my reference!   Caffeine levels needed topping up as we spotted the armless windmill near Healey’s Cyder Farm (the planned coffee break), although we seemed to more or less circle it before arriving. Cruel!

A coffee/tea/wine-tasting break ensued and Bodie much admired once mor, and managed biscuits, before we set off again.  Now we had reached some of the Tuesday/Thursday night evening run territory as our route went through Mithian and passed the pasty shop in Wheal Rose before navigating past the Scorrier Estate and their festival goers, up to Pink Moors and then on to Morrish’s Fish restaurant in Redruth.  Bodie and his driver decided fish and chips didn’t appeal, the RP crew back-tracked to get pasties, leaving the Ruby pairing to get a take-away.

A lovely run, but not the Change and Chat planned.

*the answers being: yes, no thank goodness, depends, sometimes, no.  

 

 

West Cornwall Evening Run - 17 May

Following the closure of our usual venue, the Fox & Hounds at Scorrier due to refurbishment, for the Thursday evening runs it seemed easiest to move just around the corner to the Plume of Feathers, Scorrier.   Having published the details in Focus it came as a shock and a blow to discover that the pub we had just advertised had also closed, without warning or signs. 

 

 

 

Anyway, thinking around the problem a route was devised to end at another nearby pub the Cornish Arms, Frogpool.   Hopefully the curse of the CA7C doesn’t now strike it as well.  Eight cars assembled including two from the Tuesday-night, North & MId-county group.  In the bright evening sunshine we set out following a route, or the car in front for solo drivers, for some driving along very familiar roads but perhaps several were unfamiliar to most, including one of the dusty rutted local byways, and a short drive brought us to Frogpool for refreshment and a chat.

 

 

Hay on Wye - 8 to 16 May

Three of our erstwhile members enjoy trips away throughout the year; April in France and a trip to Wales in May but our reporter does not have too much leave from work ......

Those of us of an employed persuasion weren’t able to take the slow route up to Hay on Wye, so we joined the advance party with our 1934 RP Box on a trailer.  We had just the weekend of 12/13 May to explore the Black Mountains, which were looking particularly park like in the sunshine.  So much so that at times we were expecting to come across some country manor and perhaps a coach and four.

Saturday saw us climbing up the east side of Lord Hereford’s Knob on the open moorland and narrow unfenced roads. We timed it to perfection: the 800 strong contingent of fell walkers had already parked up for the day so traffic was at a minimum.  Just as well considering the steepness and narrowness of the tracks.  First and Second gear saw an awful lot of usage as we made our way from Hay Bluff to Gospel Pass, stopping occasionally for woolly roadblocks and photo opportunities.

 

A coffee stop beckoned at Llanthony Priory, a hotel and café in a 12th Century priory ruin; one of those that Henry 8th left behind.  At first we couldn’t figure out why there were so many 4x4s and pickups about – literally hundreds of them. It turns out we’d blundered into the starting point for the Black Mountain Challenge!

We carried on down the Valley following the River Honddu all the way to Llanvihangel.  It’s approaching lunchtime so it’s time for a refreshing history lesson in Wales’ oldest pub – the Skirrid Mountain Inn.  It’s been there since Norman times, but the welcome was as fresh as the spring weather.  The way back took us back into England, (close to the border, here) via Michaelchurch Escley and Dorstone.  Rather than nip back to base along the B road, we kept to the white roads for a detour to King Arthur’s Stone, (yes, another one!) which is the remains of a long barrow very similar to Trethevy Quoit.  Here we were interrogated on our “Model Ts” by a confused tourist – apparently they must be model Ts as they have starting handles….  

We left the Stone and headed back down the 1:4 to the route to Clifford, accompanied by the strong whiff of hot brakes. Fortunately nothing was coming the other way as we’d all max’ed out on our braking ability and caused considerable stress to the right foot! From there a triumphant run back into Hay and our base camp at the Swan.

Sunday we decided to explore the other side of His Lordship’s Appendage, and set off onto the common.  Leaving the bigger of the white roads at Llanigon, we headed uphill. A gated road took us up in the sunshine to the merry grinding of gears, (first mainly) teeth (every time we missed a change) and the shredding of OS maps.  A promising detour to a waterfall at Pwll Y Wrach nature reserve beckoned, as marked on the OS map.  However, the SatNav denied the presence of an actual road, and it proved to be correct. 

We rounded a bend only to land up in the Black Mountain Gliding Club, where the road had been transformed into the runway.  You couldn’t wish to meet a more friendly and hospitable bunch.  We were welcomed with coffee in the clubhouse and chairs in the viewing area, as we watched the elderly crop duster hauling the gliders into the crystal blue sky.  The Club very generously allowed us to continue the route across the airstrip, keeping a very open eye out for incoming aircraft.  So we continued our way down to Talgarth.

 

 

 

After lunch, where we swelled the clientele of the pub by a factor of 6, it was a quick refuel before heading along cycle path No 8 via Llanfilo to Llangorse lake and a well-earned ice cream.  The theme of narrow lanes and first gear continued, as we crossed the main road at Pengenffordd and took once more to the hillside on our return journey.

 

We didn’t manage a vast distance, just about 100 miles over the two days, but seeing as how we rarely left second gear, it certainly felt like a lot more.  

 

Flambards Foray - 4 May

It was a Friday event and only six cars met at the Premier Inn at Carnon Downs, well most of us did, one couple insisted on going to the Garden Centre at Carnon Downs (you know who you are).  Coffee was taken by some before receiving a brief and route sheets.  Then we were off, through Carnon Downs (Sleeping Policeman City) and on through Perranwell and onwards and upwards through Stithians.

         

Keeping to the back roads, we slipped through Carnkie, on to Porkellis and past the Poldark Mine at Trenear. Then it was a straight run on the B3297 into Helston and Flambards car park.  A keen observer of the scene noted the fact that our six Austin Sevens outnumbered the other cars in the customers car park by one.  

         

Flambards has changed since it was an Aeropark attraction over 40 years ago and we enjoyed the visit to the Victorian Village and other attractions inside, (Flambards wisely refused to open the Funfair on the day of the visit).  After emptying the café of bacon rolls and tea and coffee it was back into the exhibitions again to try and see everything before the 3 p.m. deadline.   A very enjoyable day out.

 

 

 

 

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