Bill Target Rally ............ Bill Targett Rally A number of members went to Colden Common to attend the Bill Targett Memorial Steam Rally on Sunday 15 May. The event is very well staged by the Eastleigh Vintage Machinery Preservation Society, and by this year's standards was blessed with a reasonable day's weather. Ray West was present with his Wallace and Stevens Roller, now sporting a very good roof which increases the appeal of the roller by quite a bit. The Burrows twins had a couple of vintage motorcycles; Shane, an Ivy model M of 1926 vintage, and Race with his1922 Triumph model H. Also on parade was Graham Smith with his (much used these days) MG TC dating from immediately after the last war. Frank, Juliet, and Mike upheld the Longbridge flag with their usual mounts. There was some good autojumble to be had, and once again your scribe found that he had a depleted wallet on return to base. But, of course, the gems of the day were the Rollers and Traction Engines - some thirty units in all. The paddock area was alive first thing, and the smell and the smoke had to be experienced to be appreciated. The were on the move around the place most of the day, when once they had raised steam, and it was indeed a pleasure to be amongst them. Their parade in the arena was most impressive. Additionally there was good selection of models, at various scales, all in steam and being demonstrated. Other attractions included a fine set of Gallopers, a multitude of military vehicles, a feast of fire engines, a multiplicity of monkey bikes, a dazzling display of delightful dogs, a traunch of tractors. All in all a very good day
'Spanner' May 2005 |
