Surrey Madhatters

January 99

The Ticket

Number 85 - January 1999

Happy New Year !

Who Does What ?

  • CHAIRWOMAN CHAIRWOMAN Gill, Tel 01784 453919
  • SOCIAL EVENTS Bill, Tel 01784 453919 & Colin Jenkins Tel 01420 472231 TREASURER David Farmar, Tel 0181 650 8213 EDITOR Ham, Tel 01483 235927
  • TECHNICAL ADVISOR Barry Annells

Chat from the Chair

I hope you have all had a good Christmas and New Year.Thank you all for coming to our Christmas meeting (those who could). It was a lovely evening, especially as we really did surprise Lynne & Ham for their Silver Wedding. It was lovely to see their faces !! The room really was full and it even included John who seems to spend his life in Estonia. He says there are not too many 2CVs out there but he loves the place in spite of that.My Christmas was largely unplanned because of the imminent arrival of a new grandchild. Thank heaven he arrived on 20th December so we could have our usual celebration in our house.

Tim from Alsace visited us for a few days prior to taking his father back to France for the festive season and a bit longer. He was buying all the traditional fare unobtainable in France e.g. mincemeat, crackers and good strong English Cheddar !

Christmas Common was a good outing in spite of the weather forecast (more later). So let’s look forward to the New Year with the Madhatters and Southern Clubs. See you in January !

Gill

Lead Replacement Petrol

I have been raiding the newsletter of Les Fils again. The following article is from Trevor Higgs, Trevor, as many will know, is a well respected RAC engineer with many years of trade and 2CV experience."As many National and local 2CV club members will be aware leaded fuel will be phased out during 1999 and will not be available beyond January 1st 2000. This has caused a lot of concern with regard to the problem of valve seat recession and the possible cures. I would like to pass on some information I have been given which will, hopefully, put everyone’s mind at rest.

Leaded fuels will be phased out probably from June to October 1999 and it will be legally banned from January 1st 2000. Alternatives will be available in the form of Lead Replacement Petrol (LRP) from most forecourts through the existing Leaded (red) pump nozzles. LRPs will contain one or more of the following chemicals to replace the lead content - Sodium, Manganese, Potassium and Phosphorus. LRPs will be 97 octane unleaded fuel with one (or a combination) of these chemicals added. Most vehicles that are designed to run on leaded fuel should be able to use the LRPs with little or no adjustment."

New Year’s Barbecue 1999

As in 1998, New Year’s Day dawned bright and sunny. The Macdonalds (well 4 of us - Firstborn was still celebrating somewhere !) made our way to join the Fils de Vitesse convoy from Farnham to Hayling Island. After the traditional round of greetings and salutations a convoy of some 9 cars and a van set out from the garden centre car park. Lynne and Heather discovered a disadvantage with the new, green Madhatters’ sweatshirts - they were approached by a customer looking for Christmas lights ! Forest Lodge staff wear shirts of a very similar green ! The Madhatters were also represented by Andrew, Dave Shove and the GillanBill (closely related to the BillanGill I believe).

Where 1999 departed from last year was in that the weather just seemed to get better and better ! By the time we arrived at the car park by the seaside there was hardly a cloud in the sky. The waves were splashing up over the sea wall but not over the beach huts !

Unfortunately the lack of WEATHER means that there is nothing to moan about. Soon there were two good hot barbecues available and Tony provided an endless supply of hot water for tea and coffee. At one stage we counted 25 cars with many of the local clubs represented.

Thanks again to Tony and Les Fils for organising a good way to blow away some of those Christmassy cobwebs.

Ham

Escargots Winter Treasure Hunt

On the day after last month’s newsletter went into the post box I received the latest edition of the Escargots’ Snail Trail. Included with this was a letter inviting the Madhatters to the above Treasure Hunt on January 24th . The start will be in Horsham and at the time of writing is expected to be at 11am. It will finish at the Escargots’ regular meeting place, The Queen’s Head in Bolney where the kitchen will be available for people to heat up or cook food.

The aim is for this event to be covered by the local press to gain publicity for the Escargots and other participating local clubs.

I will have complete details ready for our next meeting on 12th January but be sure to mark the date in the diary now.

Ham

The Caption Competition

Another item on the agenda at the December meeting was the delayed caption competition. Embarrassing to say that Lynne and I won that as well ! Ranged below are as many of the entries as I could find - I think I got them all.

  • "We’ve just cobbled this lot together !"
  • "The build quality just isn’t what it used to be ... since Barry left Shalford Green Garage ..."
  • "Atishooo !"
  • "Sir we left the convertible in the garage"
  • "And another fine mess you’ve got me into Pierre"
  • "All I need now is a couple of chevrons & I’ve got a complete 2CV"
  • "I suppose I’ll have to take the Rolls now !"
  • "I must find out what causes that backfire !!"
  • "Lend us a fiver Dad"
  • "I knew I shouldn’t have tried a re-chassis job by myself"
  • "Better have the boot sale here !!"
  • "I told you they would get you at Dover Customs !!!"
  • "Well, Barry had to clear out the garage last week ..."

Ham

Mid-Hants Railway - Fathers’ Day 1999

The Southern Clubs of 2CVGB are holding a one-day event at Ropley Station on the Mid-Hants Railway. This is in conjunction with the Railway’s Fathers’ Day event on Sunday 20th June 1999.

We need a display of 40 cars to make good use the space allocated to us but there are no camping facilities. A local alternative camp site is being sought at present.

There are no plans to organise other car events as there is plenty of interest at the Railway.

Ropley is on the A31 8 miles east of Winchester and 7 miles Southwest of Alton.

For more information contact : Andrew Jack on 01276 678888 or John Rooney on 0411 186128

Christmas Common

Well the weather forecast was not good ... We set out in the van and found a yellow & black Charleston (Alex and his family from Beckenham) and Bob’s blue van from Thames Tortoises waiting. Soon Tony White, Ray and Dick & Yvette arrived. We waited for more intrepid travellers but they did not materialise.

We set off - it was great having 2 vans and an Ami in the convoy. The roads were not busy but it was raining just a little. Bill’s windscreen wipers were a law unto themselves. They did not always stop when he turned them off - just when they fancied. We were on the lookout for 2CVs on the way but found none - however when we arrived at the car park there was one car and another arrived soon after. It was very muddy and slippery but we were well prepared. It was not raining so we had a good walk. Bill had not been feeling great and the fresh air did us all good. Back at the car park we cleaned up our boots etc. and whizzed down the hill to the Carriers Arms at Watlington. This is a superb pub with excellent food. Dick & Yvette’s £1 portion of chips was huge and our filled baguettes were a meal in themselves. There is always a great atmosphere in there and they are very welcoming. Suitably warmed we returned home much refreshed by the walk and fresh country air.

Anyone who has bought this years’ 2CV calendar will note that December’s picture is from our first ever trip to Christmas Common, so this year’s outing is the 5th and it is still as enjoyable.

Gill

A New Club In Alsace

Tim (Gentle) and some 2CV friends have formed a new 2CV club "Centre Alsace". It has all been formalised by French bureaucracy and the larger Club Alsace. They have had their first meetings and would like a formal ‘Twinning’ with the Madhatters and through them with the Southern Clubs. I know Alsace is a long way (7-10 hours from Calais depending on the weather !) but I think it would be good. Tim says that on one of his visits he will bring the Chairman (Tim is the Vice-Chairman) and we could have a celebration. He is thinking too of trying to organise a meeting in 2000 for Europe. This is ambitious but Alsace is on the German border so maybe it will attract quite a few French and German clubs. This is only an idea at present, but who knows ?

Editorial

Happy New Year ! and did we have a good time at the Hayling Island barbecue or what ?! More of that elsewhere.

I would again like to ensure that you’ve spotted other pages of the letter. Two events deserve particular mention today. The items in question are the Fathers’ Day display with the Mid-Hants Railway and the Escargots’ Treasure Hunt.

And now many thanks to every involved in making the last meeting, just one week before our 25th wedding anniversary, a very special occasion. Lynne and I were indeed truly surprised and delighted by our cake and presents ! The wine glasses are already helping to fill our 2CV souvenir shelf. If you ask very nicely we’ll bore you with photos of our long weekend in Florence.

1998 and the 50th Birthday celebration was quite a year for 2CV outings - and we didn’t manage them all by a long way. We thoroughly enjoyed the Paris meeting, the Southern Clubs ‘do’ in Walton and the New Forest camp. Equally enthusiastic reports came from the London to Brighton run, the International in Worcester, the Lempdes party and others.

With the dawning of 1999 it’s time to start planning for this year’s 2CV events. The Macs are almost definitely going to Le Mans. With this in mind I thought I’d remind you of the, Puddleducks organised, discount available from P&O Stena on the Portsmouth/Cherbourg and Portsmouth/Le Havre routes. This gives 15% off all brochure fares including accommodation to 2CV club members. Call P&O reservations on 0990 980 555 and quote 2CV. Includes H-vans but remember to book as such due to height restrictions.

More clubs on the move - The French Ticklers now meet at the Red Lion in Hooe - second Thursday in the month.

Ham

Dates for Your Diary

Jan 12 8.00 pm Post Christmas Club Meeting - The Anchor, Ripley. Bring all those unwanted Christmas presents for the raffle !

Jan 20 Southern Clubs meeting to plan 1999 events. 8.00 pm - The Anchor, Ripley.

Jan 24 Escargots - Winter Treasure Hunt - Horsham to Bolney. More details on another page. Full details at January club meeting.

Jan 30 New Year ‘Do’ - Eurostar to Paris - see separate ad. for more information but you must bring your money to the January meeting.

Feb 9 8.00 pm Club Meeting - The Anchor, Ripley.

Feb 14 Puddleducks - Valentines convoy.

Feb 21 Treasure Hunt/Country Convoy to pub and lunch - details later.

Feb 21 Ducks - Visit Haynes Motor Museum - Sparkford.

Mar 9 8.00 pm Club Meeting - The Anchor, Ripley.

May 13-16 Le Mans - 7th Rencontre des Amis de la 2CV.

May 30 Escargots - London to Brighton run.

Jun 20 Southern Clubs - Fathers’ Day on the Mid-Hants Railway - Ropley, Hants.

July 27-31 Greece - 13th International Meeting of 2CV Friends.
  • Aug 27-30 Devon - 2CVGB International.

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