The Treasurer's Trails Run - 9 May 2005 ........ That was the night that was ............!
Fourteen Austin Sevens turned out to enjoy Hugh Wright's splendid little Spring Evening run at the last Club night. Hugh had prepared marked maps for everyone, for a route up around the countryside north of the Old Forge. The weather had been threatening all day, but was only 'bleak' for the hour that we spent inspecting the local lanes. to our usual reliability standards (no fault of Hugh's), since we lost two on the run , and another on the way home! Trevor Wilde was the first to suffer when he experienced what the late Sammy Davis used to refer to as 'Expensive Noises'. Having stopped to investigate he then had the misfortune to drop his prop-shaft, which hardly seems fair in the circumstances. John Pike offered to tow Trevor back to the pub, I think from around Dundridge or Swanmore but I had lost the place on the map by then. Two hands are not sufficient to map-read, steer, and take photos. Suffice to say they made the trip back without event; that is until they pulled onto the pub forecourt. It was at this point that John lost all steering control - the Ruby's steering arm had broken - quelle horreur! Now it so happened that I had changed mine, last year, for one of the new super duper units that are now on offer. Would you believe that I had the old one in the glove locker and was able to let John have it as a get-you-home. So far as I know it is a sound unit, but it is bent and has not been crack tested. Thus I asked John, for safety's sake, to only use it carefully and short term. It is my belief that as a result of John's experience there will be several steering arms around the Club that will be changed in the next few months after this little episode. Perhaps Peter Hughes should stock a few! (For more information on this topic see Association magazine 2004B) Thank you Hugh for a very pleasant look at some good countryside, some splendid properties, and an interesting route. Having arrived back at the Forge we gathered for the usual Parish Business, and an informal natter and noggin. I left to drive back to Andover, and all went well until I was nearly at the Beeches, (the long straight Roman road, north of Winchester). All of a sudden the engine died, and I realised that I was running out of battery. Switched everything off and coasted into a lay-by, killed the master switch, and waited for ten minutes. I was then able to crank the engine back into life, and crept on my way with the aid of a pen torch held out of the side. I had to turn on the lights whenever another vehicle came near. I proceed like this, in second gear to keep the revs up, for about five miles when the battery cried enough and we came to a halt again. This time there was to be no restart, and I had to begin searching for plan B. Where I had come to rest was in a gate way on the last upgrade before the Mercedes Garage. The gate to the field was padlocked so there was to be no hiding the car in there ' til first light. So out with the mobile phone and ring Christine who set out at once to my rescue. One kind soul had already stopped to offer help but I was able to say that all was in hand and to thank him. Then another vehicle went passed, stopped, and then reversed back into the gateway in front of me. Appropriately it had the registration A7 BRG. Well, imagine my surprise when the driver got out and greeted me by name. Mr. Knights-Whittome isn't it? - my name is Bernard Griffiths. Bernard, to those who read the front page of the Association magazine is the Events Coordinator of the Association. He lives in the next village to me but I had never previously met him. Turned out that he had been at our meeting, but, and fortunately for me, had come in his modern car. Even more fortunate was the fact that I had a tow rope and he had a ball hitch. Well you can guess the rest. Christine turned up shortly after, and as we were unable to find the tow eye for the Focus (another story) Bernard very kindly gave me a very smooth tow home with Christine acting as rear guard as I had no lights. He came in for a coffee, and we talked through to about a quarter to one. By the way, what ever happened to Convoy Rules ?!?!?! - Despite Hugh's handout at the start. Mike Whittome
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