September 2002
Austin Healey Club
Thames Valley Centre

Top Marque

LATE SUMMER GREETINGS

I hope many of you were able to join in the 50th Anniversary celebrations at the beginning of August. The week-long event which began at Wokefield Park (near Reading) on 28th July was very well subscribed by our overseas visitors while, for the most part, our UK members chose to attend the events in the earlier part of the week on a day-visit basis. These included the Concours and Golf day on the Monday and our day out to Prescott Hillclimb on Wednesday. Both these events were very well subscribed and proved to be a great success. They also witnessed the extremes of British summer weather: gloriously hot and sunny on Monday to a torrential downpour on Wednesday.
The event gathered pace as the week progressed and culminated in a splendid two-day festival at Thruxton on Friday and Saturday. I'm sure everyone who went was gratified by the numbers attending (over 600 Healeys on Friday) and by the quality and variety of the exhibits, not to mention the racing. I don't suppose the likes of you or I will see the like again during our lifetime. A full report will be published in 'RevCounter' in the near future. However, if you couldn't make it along to the event but would still like a copy of the special Souvenir Programme which contains many interesting articles about Austin Healeys, please give me a call at home on 0118 958 9180, or drop me an email.

Nigel Unsworth

CALENDAR OF EVENTS for AUTUMN 2002

ABINGDON WORKS CAR SHOW,
Abingdon-on-Thames

Monday 26th August

[Photos HERE]

Our good friends at the MG Car Club have kindly invited the Austin Healey Club to join them on Bank Holiday Monday for the Abingdon Works Car Show. The show is directed at all cars built at the former Abingdon works, including MGs, Austin Healeys and Rileys. We always manage to get a turnout of Healeys for this event, but it would be great to see a larger gathering in celebration of our 50th Anniversary.
An advance booking form is available HERE, but you'll have to be very quick if you want to use it. Advance entry buys you a rally plate and a planned drive of your choice to get you to Abingdon, as well as entry to the show itself. Alternatively, just come along on the day and pay at the gate. The show is held by the river side close to the town centre. Just follow the signs or the hoards of MGs!

The programme for the day includes:

  • Official opening by Donald Morley (gates open 10 am)
  • Parade of cars (including Healeys provided we get enough!)
  • Gymkhana (for cars!)
  • Various other activities and displays including the North Berks motorcycle trials stunt riding team, the Wallingford dog team, helicopter rides, morris dancing, juggling, trade stands, etc.
  • On-site refreshments. Or you can bring a picnic or wander into the town where there are many cafes and pubs.

QUIZ NIGHT at the 'Queens Oak',
Finchampstead, near Wokingham

Tuesday 1st October, 8.45 pm

Our regular monthly meeting at the 'Queens Oak' will feature a Quiz Night on Tuesday 1st October, courtesy of our own tame quizmaster, Rob Fenton. These meetings are a great way to 'break the ice' if you haven't been along to a club meeting before, and quiz night makes it even easier. We shall be happy to provide you with a free drink to enable you to concentrate all your resources on the quiz itself. There will be prizes for winners and losers!
Start time will be 8.45 pm prompt in the no-smoking bar to the left of the front door. If you wish to get there early and make an evening of it, the Queens Oak has an excellent dinner menu to tempt you, all at very reasonable prices.

SUNDAY LUNCHTIME MEETING
at the ACE CAFÉ, London

Sunday 13th October, noon - 2.30 pm

[See Centre Events page for preview photos]

Those familiar with the London scene back in the 1950s and 1960s may remember the Ace Café on London's North Circular Road near Park Royal; it achieved notoriety as a biker's haven in those rock 'n' roll days before it fell into decline and eventually closed in 1969. Yet somehow the original buildings survived and even endured the construction of a new multi-lane underpass to carry the North Circular past the old site. Survival against such odds deserved a reward, and thanks to the dedication of die-hard fans Mark and Linda, the Ace Café has been lovingly rebuilt and re-launched as an up-to-date café venue for bike enthusiasts and all petrolheads; indeed, you may have seen a recent feature in Classic Cars magazine which recounted the story.
So, what better way to mark the actual month of our 50th Anniversary than to pay a return visit to London to lunch at the revived shrine to the era that begat the Austin Healey. We hope very much to see you there, especially if you are one of our many London members.
To find the Ace Café, take the first exit off the North Circular Road after the Hangar Lane junction. This will take you up on to the old road, and the Café will be found on the left hand side just before the railway bridges.

GOLDEN JUBILEE DINNER,
Honiley Court Hotel, near Warwick (Midlands Centre)

Saturday 26th October, evening

Here's an invitation to join Midlands Centre and their guests at this very special event to celebrate the launch of the Healey Hundred at the Earls Court Motor Show in October 1952. Special guest will be Roger Menadue, Donald's life-time friend and colleague, who contributed so much to the Healey story.
Tickets may be purchased from Mell Ward, 66 Glascote Lane, Wilnecote, Tamworth, Staffs, B76 2PH at £25 per person. However I recommend you telephone first (01827 260644) to confirm availability because demand has been high and places are limited.

THAMES VALLEY CENTRE AGM,
'Queens Oak', Finchampstead, near Wokingham

Tuesday 5th November, 8.45 pm.

It's that time of year again - the Annual General meeting for your local centre. Please come along and help us to review the past year and to look ahead to 2003 and beyond. Your committee is reputedly willing to stand for re-election, so there's nothing to fear! However, we always have room for more volunteers to join the team.

PAST EVENTS

Sunday 28th April. Sunday Lunchtime Meeting at the 'Rowbarge Inn', Woolhampton, near Reading. We had a small turnout for this meeting, but it was especially pleasing to see some new faces.

Sunday 15th May. Treasure Hunt. This event started from the 'Fox & Goose' at Greywell, near Odiham, and organiser Norman Truscott was particularly pleased to have so many entrants. A good time was had by all.

Sunday 23rd June. Another Sunday lunchtime meeting, this time at the 'Golden Ball', Lower Assendon, near Henley, which was attended by several members.

Thursday 1st August. International Go-Kart Challenge at Thruxton. Thames Valley took 8th place out of 15 teams in this 2 hour endurance race held as part of the 50th Anniversary celebrations. Congratulations to team members Gerald Westcott (captain), Keith Petit, Mick Dwyer, Rob Fenton, Brian Anthill and James Westcott.

EMAIL PLEA - REGISTER TODAY !!

Email offers a very convenient and inexpensive way for the Centre to contact its members, and it would be especially useful for last-minute reminders for up-coming events such as next week's MG Show at Abingdon. Please help us to serve you by sending your email address to our webmaster, Alan Cross, at alanx@proaxis.demon.co.uk. Alan has volunteered to maintain the register which will be used for legitimate club purposes only - no spam! As an incentive, all submissions received by Sunday 8th September will be entered into a prize draw and the winner (announced at the AGM in November) will receive one year's free AHC membership for next year worth over £30. Contact Alan now, stating your full name and postal address.
And, of course, please remember to keep Alan advised of any email address changes in future.

Nigel Unsworth (Chairman)

© Austin Healey Club Thames Valley Centre