No apologies in advance for perceived commercial overtones - because there
aren't any.
I am pleased to announce the emergence of OIL LEAK CCA into choking clouds of
'rich mixture,' skid marks and sticky patches on the ground. OIL LEAK is
heavily 'old car activity' oriented and concentrates on Road Runs along the
lines of those I initiated two years ago at The Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon.
Supporting features in the form of good beer, interesting food and stimulating
conversation are also essential aspects. For 2003, we will be getting off to a
gentle start to re-prove concepts and hopefully avoid later tinkering for fine
tuning.
The start/finish point for most of the Road Runs is The Charlecote Pheasant
near Stratford upon Avon. Enthusiasts from distant lands who will be in the UK
on the dates shown below (but without their cars) will hopefully be pleased to
learn they can hire a British classiic from a firm located very close at hand
to the start. Costs to participate in these events are aimed essentially at
cost recovery as OIL LEAK is run more for pleasure than profit.
Feel free to forward this post to any individual, club or magazine you feel
may be interested to learn of our existence.
Yours in grease
John Macartney (Jonmac)
THE 2003 ROAD RUNS PROGRAMME
23rd May THE STANDARD TRIUMPH CENTENARY RUN 95 miles-#20.00 for two.
CHARLECOTE START & FINISH. This event celebrates the Centenary of The Standard
Motor Company and the 50th Anniversary of Ken Richardson's 124.8mph dash in a
TR2 at Jabbeke in Belgium. Restricted only to Standard and Triumph cars-with a
special place for overseas visitors, this event will follow the 'Test Hills'
route. Optional Carvery Supper on your return
24th Aug THE 'TEST HILLS' RUN 95 miles - #20.00 for two. CHARLECOTE START &
FINISH. Pre-war, many cars were judged on their hill-climbing and hill-restart
ability while also demonstrating an unwillingness to boil their coolant in the
process! What's more, it's wise to remember that whatever goes up, also has to
come down, so it was a test of brakes as well! This Run visits some of those
famous test hills used by all the Coventry manufacturers - not forgetting
those based at Abingdon, Birmingham and Oxford too. Just in case you think
this event will use roads that are long out of use-be assured they are in very
common use, though undoubtedly widened and re-graded over the last seventy
years. Optional Carvery Supper on your return.
6th & 7th Sep 'TIMBO 2' CHARITY RUN 650 miles / 24 hours - #20.00 per car.
SOUTH DERBYSHIRE START & FINISH. In May 2002, fourteen cars on The Timbo Run
raised #5100 for The British Kidney Patient Association. This sum enabled 21
children with chronic kidney failure between 8 & 15 years to have a week's
holiday at one of two adventure centres-with GUARANTEED dialysis to keep them
alive! We were badly let down by too many allegedly 'committed enthusiasts,'
who dropped out at the last minute. This prevented at least an additional TEN
children having the holiday they'd been promised-but the charity made good the
shortfall! In an attempt to show the charity that 'classic' enthusiasts
really are genuine people, the event is being run again to provide holidays in
2004. We'll be visiting ruined Abbeys and the route will follow this general
outline: Start, then to Selby, York, Yorkshire Moors, Northumbria, Kielder,
Scotland border, Carlisle (mandatory 4 hour layover) double crossing of Lake
District, Yorkshire Dales, Peak District - Finish at the starting point. This
event is open to any classic car of any origin-and we won't be too fussy about
its age as long as each car raises at least #250 each. Hopefully this won't be
difficult, as the average in 2002 was #364 per car!
19th Oct THE 'WOOL CHURCH' RUN 110 miles - #20.00 for two. CHARLECOTE START &
FINISH. In the Middle Ages, wool produced by Cotswold sheep was the best in
Europe. Some of the profits from fleeces sold in the various market towns of
this hill region, paid for the construction of impressive churches. This Run
visits several of the most well-known 'Cotswold Wool Churches.' (See GDBA note
below) Optional Fork Supper on your return
*GDBA Note: "WOOL CHURCHES" Run has a further ingredient. With the active and
willing support of Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (GDBA) we are
appealing to all 'classic' owners to give a registered blind person (without
Guide Dog) a day out in their 'Classic' - providing the person "earns the
seat" as the principal navigator and seeks sponsors to raise money for the
Charity. Visually impaired navigators will be meeting all their own entry
costs and the GDBA is promoting this event via the local press and TV. It's
also providing an additional Road Book in Braille for the purpose. We really
are anxious for owners to come forward in offering a seat in their cars. Too
often, we take good eyesight for granted, so please help us to give someone
less fortunate than ourselves a very special experience in a 'classic' on this
date.
Bookings and further enquiries for all events should be made to me at:
"OIL LEAK" Classic Car Activities Tel: 01608 662970 Email:
jonmac@ndirect.co.uk
We regret we are unable to accept credit cards in payment. The catering
facilities offered by the hotels and pubs used for all these events, allied to
the preparation of rallyboards and Road Books means we must also insist all
participants PRE-BOOK at least one week in advance in order to take part in
any event. We would be delighted if you included details of these events in
your magazine.
OTHER OIL LEAK 'DRIPS' FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
THE GHOSTS OF MOTOR CITY - A walking tour of the pre-war Coventry car
manufacturer sites. Those who are frightened of the dark will be given a free
Lucas candle. This will be the Super de-luxe version with a wick. A box of
matches is extra.
MUSEUM TOURS - Bespoke tours of British Car Museums, linking in wherever
possible to sights and shopping for the ladies.
COVENTRY FACTORY PUB CRAWL - Ever wondered what caused the term "a Friday
car"? See and sample some of the beers and pubs where assembly personnel got
'piddled' at lunchtime - and you should have the answer!
A SHARP INTAKE OF BREATH - Stories the British Leyland PR people would never
admit to and the Historians who commit themselves in print, don't know. Ideal
for aiding the digestion at Club functions in the winter.
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