RUMCars Forum
General Category => Microcar Events => Topic started by: super-se7en (Malc Dudley) on May 05, 2015, 04:40:44 PM
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Well its now May and here are the details of this years rally.
It will be held on the main rally field of Hatton Adventure World near Warwick (CV35 7LD) during 3rd to 6th September.
Hatton has many shops including Brantano, Edinburgh Mills, women's clothes and jewellery shops plus an old fashioned sweet shop.
It has a restaurant(which will serve breakfasts)and a café all of which is adjacent to the site.There is no entry fee to this area.
The site will be open from mid day on Thurday 3rd September. the costs will be as follows--
Rally entry fee will be £6 per car and will include a rally pack.
Camping will be £12 per unit per night irrespective of whether camping, caravan or motor-home.(same costs as last year)
Auto-jumble stands will be £10 per pitch
To help those with a few parts to sell, we will be offering a service of up to 4 items to be left(at the owners risk) at the control tent for our communal auto jumble, with a 10% commission.
There are no electric hook ups or showers but we have hired a luxury toilet trailer situated in the camping area to supplement the main toilet block which is adjacent to the field.
The main activities during the rally will be as follows.
THURSDAY. An evening get together in the control tent. with a few beers.
FRIDAY. A road run to the Coventry Transport museum (no entry fee) passing Kenilworth castle on the way.In the evening there will be Hot dogs and background music in Hatton's main marque.
SATURDAY. A road run around Warwickshire taking in Henley in Arden, Stratford-upon-Avon and Charlecote hall passing Anne Hathaway's cottage and May Arden's house on the way. That evening there will be live entertainment in the main marque with beer and wine (and maybe a little food) there will also be the the raffle.
SUNDAY. The main display day with presentations at 3pm. There will be hot "fast food" available on the rally field.
This years rally is organised by the members of the Frisky register and we are attempting a world record (held at 13) for the most Friskies attending a rally.Each Frisky will receive a commemorative plaque to mark this attempt.So if you have a Frisky whether it is running, a basket case or even part of one bring it along and join the party.
I have ordered the weather so please come along and enjoy all that is micro cars.
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Since the Frisky will not fit in a suitcase will a picture work? :D
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Looking forward to it!
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Looking at the possibility of getting two cars driving up, as Andrew is interested. Not that the Bianchina is proving at all co operative at the moment. I would hope to get a Schmitt running. Root was muttering about going with his field based car. SAdly Roger is ill, Tony under starters orders and others not been talked to as a lot to do here. But on that basis there could be a trip up with two running cars from Oxfordshire should anyone fancy it.
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Talking to Nick H last night he confirmed the run on Friday was ready. It is to be a slightly devious route ending at Coventry Transport Museum, as instructed. The Museum has arranged for parking outside, as they do with warning. I forget now whether he said it was 21, or 27 miles. Either way just a trot in the country, rather than plunging straight into some rather busy roads. So every reason to be there Friday.
Saturday's run is as stated above, as far as I know. Taking in the Stratty part of the area and Charlecote. Somewhat as was done all those years ago, when the event was based near Bidford. As I recall the run included a treasure hunt, I remember looking for a clue around the Stour villages in my Goggo. In the event I visited Ron Barnacle and viewed the Aurora - went to the Hammonds till recently, Goggo - sat not 12 mlies from me now in the same condition I originally saw it, next to said Aurora, likewise post Hammond, and an Isetta and Hienkel from memory, their whereabouts I do not know. All the lost Goggo parts have been collected together again thanks to the Barnacle family.
Be nice to find a similar stash while circulating some 30 years later!
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I have just finished the Saturday run to Stratford-upon-Avon. Stratford council have agreed to cordoned off area for our cars next to the river so we can enjoy a lunch break at an adjacent cafe. The route takes in pretty Henley in Arden (with its home made ice cream shop),
Wooton Hall, Mary Arden's house (Shakespeare's mother), Anne Hathaway's cottage (his wife), Stratford and Charlcote Manor.
Come and join us!
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Ah, so a Duck attack included on reserved pitch. Brilliant.
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The Friday run is 44 miles and returns back via Kenilworth castle. The Saturday run is just over 50 miles.Plenty of time to stop on route and enjoy the sights.
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Ah, I was only told about the outward element and assumed there was a race home. Kenilworth, break out your Sir Walter Scott. My trip would replicate the one in the book as part of the plot is in The Vale.
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Looking forward to the NMCR and the Saturday road rally and ice cream!
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Just one Cornock oh! Give him to me. I have imported, a Bond from Italy. The nut and bolted dream, Give me Cornock oh! hate me not, so bitterly. Mind the Duck.
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Matron to Mr. Hitchcock -again ;D ;D
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I understand both of Al's posts, should I worry? ;D
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im in on the sunday to nose about ;D
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I also understood them but the head of psychiatry asked me to remind matron to put the sherry down
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Well a week today at 12 noon we open the gates to the 2015 national.
The road runs have been printed and tested.
The beer and wine has been ordered and we hope to equal or beat the record for the most friskies at a rally.
It would be great if we could also beat the record for the most Bonds, trienkels, smitts, isettas and rum cars.
So all we need is you.
We will probably get a few thinks wrong but what we get right we hope will make an enjoyable weekend.
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What a fine welcome ! Hope it goes really well for everyone - including the organisers :)
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beer, wine & friskies. Is that people or cars? Sounds good to me. Have a great weekend.
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Hard to believe the Rally is only a week away! So looking forward to our trip to the UK and meeting all the Frisky owners and others here on Rumcars. Save a few beers for me!
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Is it a skip of Friskys? No, perhaps not.
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Have a great weekend - photos please
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A well attended rally, helped by the sunshine. Seems the full program was well received and I do not think I heard a negative word.
For myself I lay up Sat afternoon in the hope my leg would behave OK on Sunday. I arrived at the rally for 11 am but by 2 pm I had to give in and sit down. Steve Vine has now been struck down with the same thing. Thereafter it was a case of moving from chair to chair. But lots to see, and folk to talk too. Learned things I did not know, so well worth the visit for that alone.
So well done all and some of the new faces are getting more recognizable, which is a good thing. There is more support, needs to be tapped and this weekend will help.
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nice to see you alan and every1 else ...many thanks to mark green from America for badge and strips.....some very interesting vehicles at the venue with added auto jumble
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Cracking rally, will post some pictures soon.
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A huge, HUGE 'thank you' to Malcolm Dudley and the Frisky team for an excellent rally. Good weather always helps (and it was good, especially for the display on Sunday), but it was the thorough organisation which really shone through.
Well-thought road runs - to Coventry Transport Museum on the Friday, seemingly most of Warwickshire on the Saturday - had clear routes, carefully chosen good road surfaces (I'd even believe carefully arranged good surfaces???) and specially arranged parking: right outside the museum, then right alongside the river at Stratford.
A packed marquee in the evening - with large quantities of free food and drink.
Malcolm was to be seen busily organising, welcoming, encouraging at all times, throughout the weekend. He'll need to sleep for a week! (And should do so happy that he got it right.)
You've set the bar high for future organisers, Malcolm! Brilliantly well done.
(Pics from the rally will appear soon on national-microcar-rally.co.uk where you'll also find details of the rally review meeting, to be held on Sunday 25 October.)
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As a Messerschmitt owner I think I should complain that there were far to many Friskys present. Its well known that Messerschmitts are far more important. The number of relative marque entrants should be based on the proportion and importance of each marque. Since I, like many Schmitters, could not be arsed to bring my car I calculate that as 11/2 Friskys. Something should be done about this total exhibition of over enthusiasm.
Apologies to Chris Thomas, we got interrupted in talking and I may have left you with the wrong impression. Still got a huge amount to do here. But once I have things sorted out I will have more time to apply brains to information flows. To wit, I found the CC Zero stuff the other day.
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Dear Al
No apology needed
I was suffering from a bad cold (Man flue) and was not firing on all cylinders so was not very communicative.
I have to thank Stuart for bringing along his Norsjo for the Rumcar Stand and helping me pack up, to Alan Bud and Malcolm Parker who helped man the stand, to Malcolm Dudley for reserving us a prime spot next to the entrance, to everybody who purchased a subscription to Rumcar News, and everybody who came to chat (or was it just to get in the shade)
Malcolm Dudley and all the National Microcar Rally Team must be congratulated for not only organising a great event but also for not stopping between Thursday morning to Sunday night. They were on overdrive. I know from talking to many of the overseas visitors that they feel very welcome, which encourages them to come again. That is a measure of how friendly the atmosphere was, which can not be faked.
As Dave said, The bar has been raised. Congratulations to the Frisky Register team.
Back to be to catch up on my sleep
Chris Thomas
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Thank you all for your kind comments. I thought i would post a couple of pictures of the frisky line up as we beat the world record of 13 friskies when we lined up 15.
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I rather like this idea of a year special model for the more unusual, or rare marques. It could be included into the planning of future rallies, unless, like Peel, there is momentum to do their own event, of course.
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I saw mention of the new Gordon owner but not the car ? If so how did he make himself known - or was it obvious :)
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I saw mention of the new Gordon owner but not the car ? If so how did he make himself known - or was it obvious :)
Yes, Dave Leach was present for the weekend. As an old hand on the microcar scene, he had already done plenty of networking prior to the NMCR and had attended a few other events as well as visiting the legendary Gordon Fitzgerald.
Oh, yes and as the only person wearing a Gordon T- Shirt he made sure he stood out from the crowds ;)
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Ah yes he told me he was enjoying a holiday in the North . Didn't think Gordon would still have his as it was advertised in RUM mag ;)
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Dear Richard
Dave has taken out a Rumcar News Subscription and promises to purchase all the back issues of your articles and also the Rob Dobie rebuild.
Nice man. He obviously needs a challenge, and says he expects to have it on the road before you do.
Chris Thomas
Rumcar News
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Nice man. He obviously needs a challenge, and says he expects to have it on the road before you do.
Chris Thomas
Rumcar News
Now there is a challenge for the Forum 'arm chair users' ;D. I am sure Dave will get cracking with the Gordon over the winter and could well have the first road legal Gordon in the world........
Didn't think Gordon would still have his as it was advertised in RUM mag ;)
rarity does not always mean valuable or even desirable ;)
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Well I for one would take a trip to Dorset just for a run out in one . I wonder when a Gordon was last on the road ? 30 or 40 years ago ?
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There was a light green Bond c/d parked on the side of the road with the bonnet up when we came back from Dorset Sunday evening between Westbury and Cirencester?
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There was a light green Bond c/d parked on the side of the road with the bonnet up when we came back from Dorset Sunday evening between Westbury and Cirencester?
That'd be me on my way home, filling up the tank or fiddling with the fuel line!
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Yes lights were on and you were under the bonnet I said you had driven it to the national but my wife did not believe me!
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Am I missing something ? You drove PAST a vintage micro with the bonnet up
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Well I for one would take a trip to Dorset just for a run out in one . I wonder when a Gordon was last on the road ? 30 or 40 years ago ?
I thought Gordon F had his on a run. Mind you that could have been 30 years ago.
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The only time I have ever seen Gordon's car was at a National , stationary I think . Not saying it wasn't running at the time that may have 1988/89 , 27 years ago ? If it was running was it actually on the road . Certainly not heard of one since
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Might be film of it!
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Lots of photos now posted on the national micro car rally website. If you have some of the road runs please send them to Dave Miller.
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The last time I remember seeing Gordon's Gordon being driven was in 1983 at the National held at Sudeley Castle that year, the year we caused chaos by getting all the microcars driving around the arena nose to tale. There is a video of that somewhere. Jean
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The best national ever. Very friendly, positive atmosphere over the 4 days and lots to do. The evening entertainment, food and refreshments (and all FREEEEEEEE) ensured that 99% were encouraged out of the mobile homes. That said there were still a good number of tenters present.
The sun came out on Sunday and the line up of cars was most impressive. 15 Friskys was an impressive sight as you entered the rally field.
A big thank you to all the Frisky organisers, you did a grand job.
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Hi Jean ( I just love saying that ; ) ) 1983 okay so 32 years ago and that's a long time but was it driven on the field or road ?
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Richard,
The last time Gordon's Gordon made a public appearance was in 1993 at Hatton. Had rather hoped that it might make a guest appearance at Hatton again this year, but sadly not.
The only Gordon I have seen that was driven was the blue and yellow one that Gordon Gunter used to own. However I doubt it was road legal.
The last time I remember seeing Gordon's Gordon being driven was in 1983 at the National held at Sudeley Castle that year, the year we caused chaos by getting all the microcars driving around the arena nose to tale. There is a video of that somewhere. Jean
Looked for the footage Jean and yes, your memory is spot on !!. Absolute chaos and clearly before 'public liability' insurance was needed !!. The Gordon is trailered but is driven around the arena, however the Allard Clipper is driven to the event......
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Great we have Gordon Fitzgeralds Gordon driven at Sudeley and Gordon Gunters driven at Hatton but still no idea if either were driven on the road . So let's pose the question , has anyone in the world driven a Gordon on the road post 1960 say ?
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I used to take out an old mate called Anthony Gordon for a drive in my car sometimes in the 1980s. Does this count? ;D
Great to see pictures of Bob's Bobbette (Tourette) at the National. Takes me back to 1976 when I had my Tourette on the road, all legal too.
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This weeks classic car buyers weekly has a full page spread of the national plus a three page feature on micro cars in general.
It shows a good selection of cars and a favourable report on the rally.
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Thanks Malcolm
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Now that I am back home I must Thank Malcolm and the Frisky Gang for an amazing time and a job well done at the 2015 National Rally! They went well above my expectations on our recent visit and put on a fantastic event. Everyone I talked with was wonderful and friendly and someday I hope to return. To see so many different micro cars in one place was a dream come true and I must tip my hat to all and say Thank You!
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Hey Malc, what issue number or date of Classic car buyer are you are talking about?
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It came out today. Issue 297
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As opposed to the more glossy and arrogant Classic Car Bias Weekly, complete with Ben Heath's Contempt section, which has featured a few Microcars, as well as Invalid Carriages, over the years.
National - Now hearing about the additional work created by the on site eccentricities. Like locking the access gate at 8 pm so a micro guard had to be on hand to get folk in, for instance. Its this hidden running about behind the scenes that tends to sap the energy of our dear organisers.
Other comment was the unacceptably low Messerschmitt turnout, again. Now I happen to know there is a bit of a Schmitty gang not far to the north of that area. So there should have been a core group of them, supported by more far flung cars. I met quite a few of them, but they had not bought their cars along. Several could have pushed them there! There seems to be a mental block between Schmitters and the National Rally, unfortunately. The MEC historically did much to combat that, but since their hibernation, and the lack of a whipper in, things have drifted back to disappointingly low attendance. But then several Micronauts suggested they were happy that there were not to many Schmitters there, as they found them 'unfriendly', for want of a better term. Oh dear, the fression continues.
Discussion turned to the number of rare cars present. Disappointment was expressed, but then mitigated, as the very success of a massed rank of Friskys put them out of mind as rare. It is probably the case that a good half of the Frisky owners could have bought some other rarity along, instead. So there was not a shortage of rare cars, it happened that quite a few were the same sort of car. If anything the shortage of rare cars is possible due to the underlying fact that rather than a lot of people owning one or two rare cars, a fewer number of people now own a lot of rare cars. The same might be said of the main types, but many more have been restored. So I am not sure.
Such was the busy nature of the day I met no one who had counted up the cars. It looked like over a 100 to me, and there will have been some turnover of cars during the weekend, due to other commitments. But then an event is not just judged on the number of cars. We remember some previous Nationals for the numbers of cars, but others for that much sought inflaming of enthusiasm that can happen, when the many gather to celebrate a thing they have a passion for. If it were easy to light that touchpaper, then every event would be brilliant. Clearly the news coming back is that this last National was meeting those credentials, and would seem to have sent folk home with some enthusiasm to get out into the garage and get some work done.
This is, or was, an event to build on. My belief is that its in the right area, The Cotswold, the old stamping ground, is now considered South. Not least with the South West not attending in any numbers, confused by the availability of Beaulieu, Dorset Steam Fair and the new dominant feature down the coast, Goodwood, pressing the dates foreword from mid September into the August Bank Holiday. If these events are on the same weekend then being 'South' is not the attraction that will gain extra cars. I fear a National v Beaulieu clash is going to become a common and unavoidable situation. Therefore the centre of gravity shifts North, and Hatton becomes effectively about as South, as perhaps, one wants to go.
For me the venue was good. But I was not present for a weekend, which is really the test. But I heard no complaints other than another on site eccentricity of closing the Toilet block at, 10 pm, I believe. Quite bizarre and while unhelpful to the ladies, an inducement for chaps to take to the hedge. Is that really a sensible policy on Hatton's behalf? Makes the venue edges a bit, eer, tacky! If I had kids I would be rather put off going for any event there!
A note on Beaulieu. As had been expected there was a shortfall of stall holders. This was resolved by offering Irish jumblers a discounted trip over. The PR trumpet well claim all sorts of nonsense, as a result. So the friends of friends who were down there were a bit miffed to have paid in full, only to see preferential treatment offered to a fair few 'newbies'. Also the quality threshold dropped, and there was more 'car boot'/ephemera stalls to car parts stalls, than ever. The telling comment was it is now possible to walk the jumble in a day, as you can discount so many stalls as not selling car parts. That would have been impossible during its heyday. Like the Veterama, you needed a weekend to know you had been in every box. Goodwood has attracted the top end and professional stalls to its international event. It seems to be dictating the weekend booking in the year as the premier attraction around that time, not Beaulieu any more. Most of those who attended Beaulieu reported finding little they wanted. But I bet the attraction, and tradition, of going means many will continue to go, come what may.
All food for thought
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Regarding autojumbles, I guess at the end of the day, there is only so many old parts to go around, and once they're sold and either used or stashed away, the pickings become smaller.
Internet sites like ebay, gumtree etc. also make it easier to sell parts and often for better rates than you would achieve at a jumble.
Cars built in the 70's and 80's are now old enough to be considered possible classics, but not many mass produced vehicles seem to really fire people up from those decades, and i suspect most people interested in the classic car movement are old enough to remember those cars when new, and merely now regard them as old bangers.
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Dear Al
If you leave out the Ford Consul Classic and the other non microcars at the event, I counted 108 cars on display at the national on Sunday.
Chris Thomas
Rumcar News
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Al
I would like to correct you regarding your statement on toilets.
The main toilet block was open 24 hours and lit at night.
The luxury toilet block we provided was in use from 7am to 11pm and left open all night although the generator feeding it shut off at 11pm so not to keep the campers awake.
I am surprised that you herd such complaints. this reinforces the statement that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
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Is the lack of rare microcars a problem?
It is, after all, a "microcar", rather than "rare microcar", rally.
The early days celebrated the large numbers of "usual" microcars, which were then the remnants of the popular models used regularly for transport, as a family's only car.
Nowadays, the cars are kept as a hobby, and the public seem to particularly enjoy seeing the models which they remember.
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Andy, I tend to agree, except when your dealing with large or heavy stuff, as the Jumble avoids the need to use couriers.
I think it also suits folk who trade in untraceable cash, spending or buying. The on line resource sites for selling have begun to coral persistent sellers into being trade, this does not fit with the experience some people want, or will trade in. I have dropped right out of doing eBay selling, for instance, though there are other reasons too. So the trade and enthusiast still like jumbling. But you need a reason to go, most times.
Thanks Chris, I would have thought it was more, so there you go. A good mood increases perceived car numbers! My fav was a Gilbern 1800GT hiding in the public car park. I want one of those.
Malcolm - Well that is interesting. We had a similar prob at Weston Park. No lights in the toilets. A lot of folk treated this as that the block was not usable. They are either frightened of the dark, or in all those years from birth they have yet to discover the geography of their bodies. Do you really need the light on to releave yourself? But clearly folk were disincentivesed at Hatton, including a chum who is a particular bog specialist, well he seems to be in there every hour, on the hour!
I would not class the re-telling as a complaint, but more of an observation, as clearly a solution was found. I just hope it was the main facilities mentioned!
While talking about lights in loos. At Toddington we had a loo block on loan. We rigged up an on demand generator, so that it only lit if someone broke the sensor beam. It gave them 5 minutes to complete there needful activities. Saturday afternoon enter Mr Pratt, who insists on creating a none existent campervan plot next to this unit, despite our attempting to get him to set up elsewhere, leaving the area around the block where, clearly, there was going to be a noise free to park with our service vehicles as a wall, as it was on Friday. This got to the point of abuse to Bob, the main man that year. So it was that those sat up to 3 am around the fire, including myself on late gate duty catching those attempting to sneak in the site for free, continued to trip the generator every tenth minute it was not tripped by natural need. Mr Pratt got more annoyed, so once again it was suggested he moved, and we would willingly help him, somewhat lubricated by then, admittedly. His pride was to great to loose face, so swearing at us, he continued to have a rotten night, as we paid some youngsters to keep up the treatment. I had my protagey (how the hell is that spelt) of the time with me (he has had various trikes, but cannot afford a Microcar sadly), for one. I think the other was Chopper Charlie's lad. Anyway, I was up early to take on pre breakfast duty, and the organisers associates continued the treatment. No doubt some of you will think I am a member of the nasty bastards, no mates club, but I have suffered at the hands of these sort of people before, not least at Weston Park where I would have happily thumped one guy. Anyway Bob condoned it as the guy was an arse, I was happy to join in.
So yes the noise of a generator is an irritant. Its amazing how often toilets are the cause of complaints, or unrest. I have observed it is often those who have bought a kharsi with them in a camper/caravan that used to make most issue. Which begs the question as to why, if they are so bad, do they not use their private facilities? Well, I think its because they prefer to export. The tent equipped tend to just be happy there is a handy clean facility, and get on with it. You got to laugh!
Dave, I do not know if its a problem. Some go to see rare cars, I think. For them there are probably never enough. The owners go as its an excuse to meet up, which is probably the most important thing to them. I hope so. Your observation is correct.
I was attempting to point out this years event actually had not got a shortage of rare cars. The Friskys excelled themselves into commonality. I really enjoyed that, while being no great fan of the Frisky, myself. You never stop learning and it was busy in that line.
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There were quite a few other classics that passed through over the saturday/sunday and the Swallow Doretti was my favourite. From the camping (rather than campervan) perspective, yes - Hatton clearly had quite limited facilities, but the situation with the toilets was set out quite plainly on the very first page of the rally booklet with times, maps etc. To counter that really very nominal hardship we had everything else that has already been mentioned several times over and a splendid array of cars both rare, common or garden and of the Messerschmitt variety. Thank you to anyone and everyone who took part and who had a hand in putting it all together. I don't think there is any magic formula to bring out those who didn't or who wouldn't attend - they missed out and we didn't! Clearly Beaulieu and Goodwood need to change their dates so they don't clash with events of greater significance.
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Clearly Beaulieu and Goodwood need to change their dates so they don't clash with events of greater significance.
Well put Rusty Chrome. Yes, those who did not attend ultimately missed out.
Big Al, what microcar did you bring on the Sunday then ?
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Well spotted. I am a Schmitter at heart, so I did not take a microcar up behind my 'classic'. Though I was instrumental in providing the Norsja Shopper, Stuart did the work.
Indeed I was only semi well and had Andrew not wanted to go up, might not have bothered. As it was just walking the field from 11 to about 5 resulted in two days with my leg up to recover. Beaulieu would have been an impossibility.
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The Shopper certainly provoked a great deal of interest, I was quite suprised by the number of micronauts who'd never heard of it despite the very recent feature in Rumcar news. It was great to see Scootacar's back on the field again this year along with some very shiny Reliants. I've never seen a Kitten looking anything like that smart before. My personal favourite was the six-wheeled Monte-Carlo Frisky, the epitome of British Fifties bling!
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I always thought that later Reliants weren't strictly classified as micros as their engine capacity was too large?
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I'd include under the same umbrella as a Bond 875. There is no such thing as a "strict classification", we make it up to suit ourselves.
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(plas owner listening ??? )
having owned both , you could safely make a better one from the two .
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A report on the national now in Novembers edition of Classic and sports car.