EVENTS



*Many of our members submit short reports and pictures of our club outings which are reproduced here.*

LLANERCHINDDA FARM 11th to 14th August 2023 This year saw the Club s ninth visit to Llanerchindda Farm overlooking the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons. The group of ten in five cars were all regular attendees, having amassed a total of thirty five visits, with Jim & Rosemary having been on all nine trips. On Friday, we travelled independently and met up at Llanerchindda for afternoon tea, before gathering for the welcome drinks reception prior to dinner. We woke every morning to torrential rain but by the time we set off on the day s run the rain had stopped, by lunchtime the sun came out and we were able to enjoy top down motoring back to Llanerchindda before more rain set in. Saturday s run took us to Aberporth on the Cardigan coast, where we took a break for lunch, returning on a different route. On Sunday we set off over the Epynt Ranges en route to Aberglasney Gardens, where we were given dedicated parking on the lawn by the Gatehouse. Everyone enjoyed lunch on the tearooms terrace overlooking the Pool Garden, before wandering around the gardens. The drive back took us primarily along B roads. John Bish , who had been on all eight previous visits was missed but not forgotten and the Hadley family gave Ron & Val a couple of bottles of John s favourite tipple to pass on when they next visit him. Our thanks go to Ron for organising the trip over the last four years.


Member alongside their cars and no sign of rain!

MONTHLY COFFEE MORNING Thursday 3rd August 2023 This month's Club Coffee Morning, hosted by Graham & Vicki Charles, was very well attended with a record 25 members enjoying a good natter, tea, coffee and cakes, in the very pleasant surroundings of Ulverscroft Grange Tea Rooms. A delightful venue set in glorious countryside. The good weather on this occasion drew many members to bring their classics along. Several members enjoyed one of the many picturesque walks and spending their hard earned cash in the charity and second hand bookshop.

Some early arrivals at Ulverscroft Grange

CLUB FISH & CHIP RUN Wednesday 26th July 2023 The annual Club fish and chip night started with a short run from our Club HQ at Beedles Lake Golf Course to Thrussington Village Hall. The weather can only be described as torrential rain, but 32 members braved the elements and enjoyed the run and excellent fish and chips, provided by a local award winning mobile catering company. All had a thoroughly enjoyable evening with lots of praise for the ample portions and quality of the food. Many of our members also enjoyed a fish & chip supper at the Normanton Village Hall on 16th August 2022.

CLUB FISH & CHIP RUN Thursday 5th July 2018 Over 20 of our members also enjoyed a fish & chip supper on the Great Central Railway in July 2019. Instead of our more usual runs with breakfast at the beginning or lunch at the end, our Events Co-ordinators dreamt up this new type of club outing involving the consumption of food. Twenty-four club cars met up at Quorn & Woodhouse Great Central Railway Station at around 6 pm, leaving at 6:30 for a 24-mile drive to Thrussington, a village north of Leiceter, just off the old Roman road from Ratae Corieltauvorum (Leicester) to Lindum Colonia (Lincoln), now rebranded as the A46. On our arrival, we parked at the village hall, where we were joined by a pre-booked Fish & Chip van. An orderly queue quickly formed for club members to collect their scrumptious cod and chips, which were taken back for consumption to a variety of folding tables and chairs which had appeared from the boots of the MGs. The evening was a great success, and we were blessed with fine weather, so we did not need to take up our option of eating the deeped-fried delicacies inside the village hall.

A few of the two dozen club MGs which took part, ready for the off

After the 24-mile drive, there was a rush for the chip van when it arrived

STONELEIGH MG & TRIUMPH SPARES DAY Sunday 11th February 2018 We also had a club stand at Stoneleigh in 2017 (see below), 2019 and 2020. For the first time since our formation, we decided to have a stand at this annual event held at Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry. Quite a few of our members usually go along to the show anyway, so it was relatively easy to recruit a team to help set up and man the stand. We joined a dozen other MG club and model-register stands, three of which were local area clubs (Oxfordshire, Bromsgrove and South Leicester). Three club cars were featured to attract show-goers, along with information about the club and its activities. It seems to have worked quite well, with the stand "greeters" kept busy talking to visitors, and signing up quite a few entrants to our annual Charnwood Caper Run. This is on Sunday May 13th 2018 and will be supporting the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance. It was a great success thanks to Dave, Vi, Ashley, Colin, Helen, Baz and Graham (and anyone else involved) for booking the stand, setting it all up, playing host to the visitors on the day and bringing their cars along to be displayed on the stand.

The three cars on display: MGB Roadster, MG Midget and MG YB Saloon

Part of the display: show prizes, rally-style plaques, Charnwood Caper information

CLUB LUNCH RUN Thursday 31st August 2017 We organise several short runs for members each year, either in midweek or on Sundays. Generally, the end venue is a a pub for lunch, but occasionally we start with breakfast and then go for the drive. One of these runs is a re-run of the first half of our popular, nationally-advertised Charnwood Caper Run (see below). A dozen or so club cars met up at Quorn & Woodhouse Great Central station for this 30-mile run to Wymondham windmill. Organised by Di and John, the run took us across the valleys of the rivers Soar and Wreake towards Melton Mowbray and Rutland. Besides the Wymondham Windmill Restaurant, where we enjoyed a very pleasant, pre-booked lunch, the end venue had a couple of shops and also, of course, the windmill. This is gradually being restored to its former glory, and on the day of our visit, the onion-dome cap was on the ground waiting for a calm spell to allow the use of a crane to re-fit it.

We had to liaise directly with the crossing keeper to get these railway crossing gates opened for us.

WHITBY WEEKEND Friday 4th August to Monday 7th August 2017 *A weekend in Whitby became extablished as an annual event for several years. It has since evolved into a coast-to-coast run across the Pennines.* Around twenty club cars went on what has become one of our regular weekends away. Once again, we stayed at the Penny Hedge Hotel, which provided great accomodation and dedicated parking. Whilst there, we did two 70-mile runs. Saturday's run took us southwards, and included Grosmont, Egton and Pickering. On the way back three of our members did a detour in order to experience driving round the Oliver's Mount motorcycle racing circuit, which is based on public roads just outside of Scarborough. It has been likened to a miniature TT circuit, and is just over two miles per lap. The run on Sunday was mainly around the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. The routes for both runs were meticulously planned and converted to "Tulip" guides by Dave Hemstock and Colin Readwin.

Three club cars tackled the Oliver's Mount circuit

BEAUMANOR HALL NOSTALGIA SHOW Sunday 30th July 2017 Once again, we booked a stand with space for 30 cars at this popular annual show in the village of Woodhouse, near Loughborough. A good mix of club MGs turned out, with examples from every decade since the 1950s. This year, our theme was "A Teddy Bears' Picnic", and each car had at least one such furry occupant. Most of them were picnicking, or just draped over the cars' bonnets enjoying the sunshine, but one or two had aspirations of becoming auto-technicians, busying themselves with tasks such as changing a wheel. We picked up two trophies at the show: one for "Best Club Stand", and another for "Best Club Car", a 1952 MG TD.

Once again, the club stand featured a good selection of club MGs

Two of the attendant teddy bears attempt to remove the wheel from the MGF owned by one of our Events Co-ordinators

NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM Sunday 23rd April 2017 The run was organised to coincide with this year's classic car "Drive It" day. Sixteen club cars set off from Sileby at around 8:15 am, on a 40 -mile route which took them through Leicestershire into Staffordshire, with a final destination at the National Memorial Arboretum, just off the A38, midway between Lichfield and Burton-on-Trent, near Alrewas. The visit allowed one of our members to see a commemorative plaque and tree honouring his uncle, who was awarded a VC, amongst several other medals, whilst serving as a stretcher bearer during WWI.

The club cars at the National Memorial Arboretum

DAFFODIL RUN Sunday 2nd April 2017 Once again, our fellow MG enthusiasts at the South Leicester MG Club invited us to join them on this annual run, which is organised by them. Over a dozen cars from the "North" met up at the southbound Leicester services on the M1. Leaving the motorway at the earliest opportunity, we drove to Lutterworth where we met up wth the "South" contingent. Following the "Tulip" guide provided, the 50-mile run took us into Warwickshire, to fiinish up at Newnham Paddox, the country estate of the Earl and Countess of Denbigh. Once there, we were able to enjoy the many stalls and displays, the vast array of classic and and vintage cars, and the walks amongst the titular daffodils, which were just coming into bloom.

Some of our club members enloy a picnic at Newnham Paddox

STONELEIGH MG & TRIUMPH SPARES DAY Sunday 19th February 2017 Half a dozen members made the short journey across into Warwickshire for the annual MG & Triumph Spares Day at Stoneleigh. Amongst the various stands, they found our club chairman's MGB on display, but it wasn't for sale and, in any case, they didn't have enough cash with them to buy it. Instead, they spent their money on the usual mixed bag of bits and pieces which they all absolutely knew might come in handy at some unspecified time in the future, when they were tinkering with their MGs.

Bob, Vi and Dave (on the right of the picture) admire our chairman's MGB LE on the JULE (Jubilee and Limited Edition) stand, but it wasn't for sale

"HALF-CAPER" LUNCH RUN Sunday 25th September 2016 Just one of several Lunch Runs which we organise each year. Twenty club cars gathered at Quorn & Woodhouse Station, on the Great Central heritage railway, to do what was effectively a re-run of the first half of our 2016 Charnwood Caper Classic & Sports Car run. After coffee at the station's Butler-Henderson cafe, the first car set off for the 42-mile drive to the Caper's half-way stop at Barton Turns Marina. Coincidentally, on the Sunday chosen for the run, there just happened to be a craft market at the marina, so there was something else to do besides going for a stroll by the waterside. Lunch had been organised by two of our members, Sue and Peter, at The Golden Cup in nearby Yoxall, where the thirty-four participants in the run tucked into a very enjoyable, three-course, Sunday lunch.

Club cars at the start of the run in front of the Butler-Henderson Cafe at Quorn & Woodhouse GCR station

STAMFORD ROUND TABLE CAR SHOW Sunday 28th August 2016 Several cars from the club, once again, met up in Barrow upon Soar, to travel down to Stamford for this annual motorfest. As they arrived in convoy, they were able to be placed together in the Sports Car section of the showground. Clubs with more than five cars in attendance can pre-book a dedicated club stand if they wish. Depite having space for around 500 vehicles, the Stamford Town Meadows site is usually booked up to capacity well in advance of the event date. Entrants can also take part in a pre-show run around the lanes of Lincolnshire, arriving at the showground to take up their reserved spaces.

North Leicester MG Club cars at the Stamford Classic Car Show

SNOWDON MG RUN Sunday 21st August 2016 Thirteen cars from our club, crewed by twenty-five of our members, made the 140-mile trip to Llandudno, to join around 200 other MGs on the promenade at the start of this annual run. In previous years, we have only fielded about three cars at this event, so this year's turnout will be hard for us to beat next time. After a drive around the Great Orme, the run followed a 40-mile route to Glan-y-Gors Karting Track for a half-way break. The second part of the run was just over 50 miles, finishing at the Community Field in Betws-y-Coed. Both halves took in the magnificent scenery and the variety of roads that this part of North Wales offers. Most of us stayed at the Lawton Court Hotel for two or three nights, where the service, food and accomodation were all excellent. The hotel is on the sea front, opposite the pier, and was thus very convenient for the start of the run on Sunday.

Some of the run's 200 MGs at the half way rest stop. The MG RV8 nearest to the camera was one of ten examples of the model present, and one of two from our club.

BEAUMANOR HALL CLASSIC CAR SHOW Sunday 31st July 2016 This year, our stand was our biggest ever, with thirty cars on show. The stand featured MGs from every decade since the 1950s, with a dozen different models on display. Following last year's turn out of twenty cars (which was also a record for us at the time) our Events Co-ordinator, Ian Cox, anticipated a larger turn out this year, and booked more space. The increased allocation was soon snapped up by our members. Thanks to some good planning and co-ordinated graphics for each car, the stand was judged to be (once again) the "Best Club Stand" at the show.

CLUB LUNCH RUN Thursday 27th May 2016 A dozen club cars met up at the Gate Hangs Well, a hostelry on the old Roman Fosse Way, now by-passed. Following Janice Coltman's carefully-prepared "Tulip" route instructions, the twelve MGs travelled 25 miles around the lanes of east Leicestershire, finishing up at the Langton Garden Centre's Greenhouse Cafe for a superb lunch. Those who had a feeling of "deja-vue" were reminded that they had visited the same eatery a few weeks earlier when taking part in the South Leicester MG Club's Daffodil Run. Nobody took a wrong turning, except a certain RV8 driver, who managed to overshoot the lunch venue entrance, despite his navigator's clear instructions and the beautifully-drawn picture of a railway bridge on the penultimate route instruction diagram. We returned to the "Gate" to round the afternoon off, before going our separate ways.
			Club MGs ready for the off in the car park of "The Gate Hangs Well"

BRECON BEACONS WEEKEND 20th - 23rd MAY 2016 Llanerchindda Farm is one of our favourite club holiday destinations, and we have been back there in 2017, 2018 and 2019. This was the third visit we have made to Llanerchindda Farm, which is well known amongst classic car enthusiasts for its well-organised runs around the mountains and valleys of this part of Wales. Two runs were organised for our nine club cars. The first was a circular route of around 100 miles to the south, which took in the Epynt Military Ranges, the Brecon Beacons and some of the resevoirs of the area. The second run, which was about 60 miles long, visited the Brechfa Forest, the Towey Valley and the National Botanical Gardens of Wales. An option was an extension of 24 miles, through the Black Mountains.

The nine club cars and their crews at Llanerchindda Farm

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