Surrey Madhatters

April 2000

The Ticket

 

   Number 100 - April 2000

Sad News

Some of you in Madhatters and other clubs may have met our Dutch friends, Albert & Reet with the H-Van and an endless supply of coffee ! Well, Albert has died after complications in an operation to remove a large part of his lung. Bill & I will miss him a great deal. Barry Annells made a video of Albert saying ‘Hello’ from Greece. Barry had met him on several trips to Holland and Belgium. We always met every summer on a campsite in France but sadly not last year as we did not go to Greece.

Other people in Southern Clubs may have known Albert, so this is my way of passing on the news.

                                                Gill

Our hundredth issue (if we’ve all kept count accurately !) and the Madhatters are still hattering madly. Look out for the ones with the wild stares at the next meeting - they’re the ones trying to find volunteers to take over the offices they currently hold. If any of you would like to take on the magazine I’d be more than happy - perhaps you’ve a newer PC than us and would find pictures easier than the traditional cut-n-paste I use.

Several of us made another journey west to raid the SAD (or should that be MAD ?) Off Piste Ducks at the Hobby Horse Grand National (HHGN). Gill used the occasion to celebrate the reincarnation of James with John Rooney who was there equally celebrating the return of his restored pride and joy, GOT.

At the HHGN Dick told us of the new structure of the web pages that he’s created. The way in is now through www.citroen2cv.org.uk which has all the original favourites and more available as links. While we’re talking of web pages... Lynne spotted an article for http://perso.libertysurf.fr/bosch/ which includes a virtual 2CV where the author, Christian Bosch has created several fantasy cars. Unless you’re frightened that it’s in French I reckon that this site is worth a visit.

Sadly, due to a number of events beyond our control, Lynne & I have had to postpone the wine and crepes evening. We’ll do it later in the year.

Ham The Hobby Horse Grand National

Four cars from the Madhatters made our convoy from The Hog’s Back to The Newport where most of us indulged in some of their enormous (and cheap) sandwiches or ploughman’s lunches. Nicki and Jeff brought along six beautiful hobby horses and there were several late entries from amongst the visitors.

About 10 cars moved to Farley Mount for the event.  The Off Piste Ducks had everything organised. Tea, coffee, pancakes ... and the course ! There were several almost recognisable fences: Beecher’s Books (a pile of old school books, said to have belonged to Beecher), The Water (an inch of water in a bucket), The Chair (borrowed from Jeff’s workshop) and Tree Turn (not many canals at the mount !)

After a short spell of betting (Off Piste Ducks Loyalty points being the currency) we were off. Some 10 ‘runners’ set off under the watchful gaze of starter and referee, Adrienne. She kept a close watch on proceedings and a number of riders were warned for not keeping the stick between their legs, running round the fences etc.

Gill retired after one circuit because of dodgy knees but was not deemed injured enough to be shot ! One horse, (even though subsequently finishing in second place) lost its head completely, another was a faller at the first and broke its leg just above the wheel.

James (Macdonald - not Gill’s newly restored car !) was the winner and repaid his father’s confidence in risking several (well 2 actually) of his precious points.

After the prizes, tea, coffee, pancakes (expertly cooked by Roy), 2CV biscuits and cream filled any holes created by the exercise.

By this time John Rooney had arrived with his beloved, restored GOT so then John and Gill cut a 2CV cake to celebrate the return of two favourites ‘James’ and ‘GOT’. Thanks to Adrienne for the cake and biscuits and to Jeff and Nicki for organising a great afternoon.

                        Gill and Ham

Chat from the Chair

Another year has passed. Our club is still going strong but we could do with some new members. I think that we must all do our best to find new people to come. To this end a new ‘flyer’ will soon be available so we can ‘zap’ cars when we see them.

I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone who has helped organise or support (usually both !) the events and meetings of this year. If you want a particular event to happen please let us know and we will back you all the way.

This month is the AGM. All the offices are up for grabs so you can volunteer for any of them - Chairperson, Editor, Treasurer and the rest. No job is too onerous but I think the esteemed editor of the newsletter has the hardest task - any volunteers ?

                                    Gill

Last meeting - A fair crowd turned up and a good chat etc. Was had by all. The Management of the pub has changed so the rather less than pleasant Scottish barman will not be there. I have been assured that we are still very welcome in the pub. We had a great surprise as we were raided by The Thames Tortoises which really swelled our numbers - what’s more they won several raffle prizes !

Next meeting - April 11th - AGM. This may sound boring but it is soon over - then we get on with the rest of the chat, jokes, serious 2CV talk etc.

Southern Clubs Meeting - Mar 15th

We had a good attendance. Walton-on-Thames or W-O-T 2000? is well on its way. We have had a lot of volunteers for various events but we will need help on the gate on a rota basis - more people means less time spent there ! We would also like volunteers to set up the site on Friday from mid-day. Last time we marked out camping areas so there were ‘roadways’ for safety. Other volunteers will be asked to set up signs from the motorway exits i.e. M3, M25 and various signs on the campsite itself.

Flyers will soon be available for all clubs to use to publicise the event. It is now in the events list in 2CVGB.

So far : Friday  Fish & Chip convoy

                        Sat am  Children’s/Adults games/quiz

                        Sat pm Convoy to Windsor with free parking

                        Sat eve BBQ and Disco

                        Sun                  Communal breakfast

                                                Car concourse

                                                Children’s games

                                                Flea market

                        Sun Lunch        Year 2000 cake, competition results.

Dates for Your Diary

Apr 9   Air-cool day, Brooklands Museum.

Apr 9   Off-Piste Ducks - convoy to Le Blaireau, New Forest.

Apr 11 8.00 pm Club Meeting, The Talbot, Ripley.

Apr 14,15        Steam train festival, Noyelles-sur-Mer.

Apr 22,23        Camping in Calais with Les 62^ches du Calais.

Apr 23 Les Fils - Kite Flying & BBQ at West Wycombe.

Apr 28 -May 1 1st Belgian International at Beerse near Turnhout.

Apr 30 Wine & Crepes evening. Postponed - sorry !

May 14            Tortoises - Treasure Hunt

May 19-21       Puddleducks - Camp at Headley Park - £5/unit/night.

May 28            London to Brighton.

Jun 1-4 8th French National - Provence !

Jun 18  Father’s Day at Hollycombe Steam Fair.

Jun 18  Puddleducks - Duck Race

Jun 30-Jul 2      Registers Weekend, Peterborough

Jul 21-23          Southern Clubs - Walton-on-Thames camp.

Jul 25-30          DENTWORM (DEfinitely Not The WORld Meeting) Normandy.

Aug 25-28       2CVGB International, Stirling Rugby Club, Scotland.

Sep 2   Tortoises - Camp

Sep 9   Southern Clubs Picnic - Ashdown Forest - Pooh Bridge !

 

 

Who Does What ?

CHAIRWOMAN & SOCIAL EVENTS MAN      Tel 01784 453919

Gill & Bill, 18 St. Olaves Close, Staines TW18 1PL

TREASURER                                            Tel 0181 650 8213

David Farmar, 55 Cedars Road, Beckenham, BR3 4JG

EDITOR                                                   Tel 01483 235927

Ham, 15 Rosemary Crescent, Guildford GU2 6XL

 
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