We hadn’t intended to attend since we had free sponsor tickets to the BTCC at Thruxton, which included pit tours and hospitality (and I am a sucker for any free food / drink).
Sadly, Mrs Sevenman is a bit under the weather, so that was off and I took Seventoddler to Shelsley instead. Because I was doing solo toddler-care, this write-up is a bit more child focused than others.
Nice day for it, a little cloudy but that kept the temperature pleasant. My usual route in via Lower Broadheath had a long section of loose gravel where the road had undergone ‘surface dressing’, so I decided to take the longer route back via Knightwick (as I will mention later, that was a mistake).
As is his way, the little chap fell asleep on the way over, and was still sleeping when we arrived at 8:45. A short wait while traffic filtered in and I managed to get the penultimate space in the TVR block.
He had another 10 minutes of snoozing, and I didn’t want to wake him and have a grumpy toddler, so I watched cars arrive for a bit.
After he woke up, we decided not to join the queue for breakfast since there is no way he would have stayed still for long enough so, but I managed to control him for the short queue to buy a bacon roll (£3) and pain au chocolat (£1.20). I think the £6.50 Shelsley Breakfast including coffee is better and better value, but we had to make do.
Having watching a tree being felled, we had a look at the little Shelsley church. On mentioning this to a friend later, he asked “what church?”, and I pointed to the prominent building that we could see clearly from the entrance to the paddock where we were stood, which must have been hiding on his many previous visits.
After a highlight of 4 Tamoras back in March, there was one new Tamora this month I hadn’t seen before.
I had a very quick chat with the owner, Dave, who has had the car for 3 weeks and is enjoying it, but I had to dash off since the toddler had other ideas of where he wanted to be.
Nice car, I like the seat backs, it was in very tidy condition and had an interesting exhaust.
While cars are interesting, if you are a toddler, climbing around on posts and their bases is much more fun.
There were plenty of Ferraris present, but only one Vauxhall Monaro.
Stanced VWs seem to be attending in greater numbers, but I didn’t take any photos of them. Since getting the Tamora I have been gradually increasing the ride height to improve the handling (it is improved). Excessive lowering doesn’t do it for me, but each to their own.
There were a couple of Ultimas present which both looked rather quick. Some pics of one of them. It was hard to take many pics while either holding a toddler or chasing him.
Car of the meeting goes to a proper Saab – Should have had pride of place in the car park.
In advance of a possible work trip in the car I needed a fill-up since I was down to ~ 10 litres. In the years that I have used Optimax / V-Power, Shell have been closing the stations near Worcester, so I thought about going to Tesco for some of their 99 Octane fuel, but when I saw the queue on the bypass, and also the queue towards Malvern (3 Counties Spring Garden Show?) I looped-round a roundabout and took a longer route into Malvern for some BP Ultimate.
Not my favoured fuel as it is only 97 Octane, and also not favoured for the price difference, 15p / litre more than their regular unleaded. I think that is excessive.
But overall it was a good morning out, and the TVR is tucked away again, possibly to come out tomorrow if my work trip goes ahead (family health permitting).
A grey and then rainy March Sunday saw a record numbers of TVRs at the Shelsley Walsh Breakfast Club, including 4 Tamoras. Before last month I hadn’t seen another Tamora there, so to get 4 and chat with the owners was great. From this Pistonheads thread, which also has some pictures, I knew we were expecting a few.
I think the TVRs covered S-series, Wedge, Chim, Griff, Tamora, T350, Tuscan and Sagaris, which is a pretty complete set for a non-TVR event.
There was also a Sporting Trial going on, so something extra to watch.
Since I expected it to be busy, I set off extra early (with the roof off, which was cold) and following a traffic-free drive was one of the first to arrive at 08:15. It was nice to be offered a place in the central parking area but, as the roof was off with rain expected (and the car a bit grubby), I declined and took my usual garage in the TVR area.
As I parked up Keith and Jamie parked next to me in a Wedge and following a quick chat we decided to get breakfast before the queue built up, which was a good idea.
After breakfast we saw the rest of the TVR parking fill up before a second convoy of TVRs arrived including Bobhon’s Tamora (pictured last month).
While talking TVRs I saw a 3rd arrive with an interesting exhaust note and the sound of squeaky racing brakes.
Wandering over for a chat I met SteveSPG and the reason for the different exhaust note became obvious. 7 litres of LS7 V8 power in a very tidy install. (extra pic).
Wandering around the paddock a new convoy of TVRs arrived and I met Nick, the 4th Tamora owner of the day. These TVRs had driven all the way from West London, which is a fair run for a Sunday morning. I failed to get a photo of the cars.
There were many other interesting cars around but, by that time the rest of the family had arrived and I was looking after a toddler so only took a few photos.
Centre lock wheels and in the overflow. Sporting trial in the background.
I then did a bit more toddler chasing while the family queued for breakfast, by 11:15 the queue was only just out of the door rather than in the paddock. We visited the water mill which was running and is interesting.
Our very late breakfast finished just before 12, and by now it was rather wet and a lot of people had left.
The TVR was nice and dry in its garage, so I put the roof on ready for the drive, stopping to use it for its best role as a shopping car on the way home. It is starting to look a bit grimy and it might be time for a wash soon, although it is only 17 months since the last wash, so that seems a bit hasty. Looking forward to next month – although it seems likely it will get even busier as the weather improves.
The TVR had about 6 weeks in the garage over Christmas and January, so Sunday 8th Feb was a good time to head out to a Shelsley Walsh Breakfast Club, with dry but cold conditions.
Tyre pressures all round were topped up and then, having been on the trickle charger, the car started fine after turning over a little longer than if just left for a few days, but then settled into a happy idle before we drove straight off. I don’t believe in letting a car sit at idle to warm up as a few people do, better to start driving which seems to be the consensus. And all that idling wastes fuel that could be spent driving!
The drive over was fine and quiet, I didn’t see any other cars headed that way but then, arriving at 09:10, it was very busy indeed. I was directed up the track to turn round and park, which I did. Initially trying to turn at the triangle before deciding I didn’t want a long excursion on the grass, reversing out, and then heading up to where the recovery truck parks to turn.
The TVR was parked with some rather expensive metal, a BMW i8 and a couple of Ferrari 458s in front.
While waiting for family to arrive, I had a wander around the paddock. I had missed out on the TVR parking, but there was another Tamora there which is I think the first time 2 have been at the event together (unlike those common 458s).
After a bit of wandering and bumping into some friends the rest of the family + a niece joined us who had traveled separately and were parked in the overflow field. Not long ago the turnout was such that everybody could park in the paddock from exotica to barges, which is no longer the case. Having spoken to one of the chaps marshalling cars they were expecting a record turnout, which is quite something for February, and it was certainly as busy as I have ever seen it.
The queue for breakfast was tremendous, back into the paddock, so after a bit of looking at cars we decided to walk the hill.
Heading up the hill pushing a toddler in a buggy reminded me just how steep it is. As we climbed we rose out of the misty conditions at the lower level into sunshine.
On returning to the bottom, the queue for breakfast was now at the restaurant door (and this was ~ 11:00), so after looking at a couple of the more interesting cars, we joined it.
A coffee bar had been opened the far side of the courtyard, but demand was significant for breakfasts and it took a little while to get the food, with me chasing a toddler around the courtyard while the others queued.
By this time of the late morning it was nice to sit outside in the sun for breakfast, so there were advantages to walking the hill first.
After a bit more toddler chasing around the courtyard it was time to head home. Next Breakfast Club – Sunday 8th March.
Before Christmas the TVR was used for a couple of nursery runs on days when I wasn’t going in to work.
With the new car seat, Seventoddler fits in with the roof up or down quite easily.
He still likes riding in the car, and I think he can see a bit more than when he is in the back as for our other cars.
On Sunday we went to our first Pistonheads Sunday Service, which was held at the Morgan factory in Malvern.
Morgan is only a 4 mile drive for us. Before we moved house last year it was only a 2 mile drive.
We dropped Seventoddler off with his Grandparents and took the TVR out. After a month in the garage it took a few seconds to catch and then idled a bit low as seems to be the case after it has had a long time off.
Tyre pressures, oil and water were all fine, so with the roof off we drove over the hills to Morgan.
As we approached we saw a few other interesting cars heading in the right direction and, after a quick check of our names against a list of attendees, we were in and parked up in a big field that forms part of the Morgan factory grounds since they bought what was the Civil Service Sports Club buildings and fields (these had been getting as bit tired and membership was dwindling with changes to employment and social activities in the town). This purchase of adjoining land was good for Morgan since it gives them a lot of space, far more parking, and has allowed them to convert the buildings to a visitors centre, cafe, showroom and museum.
We had a little wander and then headed to reception to get (free) tickets for a factory tour. After quesing for a while we were told that the queue was for passenger rides in a Morgan and there was no queue for the free factory tour tickets. My wife still queued for a ride and, since the 3-wheelers were sold out, booked a ride in a Morgan Roadster (classic design, 280bhp 3.7 litre Ford V6 and apparently only 950kg) in return for a £10 donation to the Marfan Trust.
Each of the following photos can be clicked on to load a larger version, and a full set of photos are here.
With 30 minutes until the tour we wandered around the parked cars to see was interesting. Another Tamora was present (rare to see one, although 29 were at Burghley that day).
We assembled for the tour, which was being squeezed into 30 minutes rather than the usual 2 hours, and we were taken around as a group of 20.
It started with an assembly of cars that were on their way to customers and covered much of the model range. Morgan have 10 standard paint colours, 40,000 option colours, and will also match the colour of anything you want. Every Morgan is highly customisable in terms of paint and trim, some with better taste than others (IMHO of course).
At the top of the factory is a room with some of their race cars, including 3 endurance race / Le Mans cars.
We then moved into the room where the mechanicals are assembled onto the chassis (classic cars) or bonded aluminium tub (Aero cars).
Then followed the bodywork shop where all the panels are made by hand. They normally work a 4.5 day week, but had brought people in on a Sunday to show what normally goes on.
Then followed the wood shop where the ash frames are made.
Skipping the paint section we then went across to the trim room where the interiors and hoods are created. Again, very customisable.
And after peering into the pre-delivery inspection area where cars were being fettled / polished, we went to the 3-wheeler assembly room.
The tour then finished in the museum which had examples of Morgans through the ages, and two of the early JAP (J.A. Prestwich) engines which came in 4 hp single or 8 hp twin variants. For the time, a V-twin in a light 3-wheeler was a rapid car.
Having completed the tour we had some refrsehments and saw the artist’s work taking form as a pair of racing 3-wheelers.
We then did a little more looking at cars before Naomi had her ride in a Roadster, enthusiastically driven by the head of design. While she was out I had a wander and a chat to some chaps who were looking at the Tamora.
We were finished by about 12:20, by which time things were quietening down and a lot of cars had gone. We took a very non-direct route home which gave us a chance to exercise the TVR and enjoy the lovely day.