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Well here we go again, spring has sprung like rusty old leaf springs and now, like a good coil over almost bounced off into the distant past, A dodgy couple of months have elapsed with some nice interregnums delivering us lots of wet then dry here, there and everywhere…. somebody needs to write a song around that line .
Fortunately, as a blessed car club we have been lucky on our spring event days/runs so far, and have enjoyed the pre-ordered sunny days! With summer nipping at our heels and only a few days away, the long summer days and evenings are beckoning, with eagerly anticipated weeks of warm periods forecast (BCCC weathergirls .com ) giving us even more time to fiddle/fettle our 4-wheeled best friends….well mostly 4-wheeled! To quote the words of the great Robert Louis Stephenson – who obviously didn’t have a classic car in his
stable but may have had an Imp …
“In winter I get up at night
and dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.
I have to go to bed and see
the birds still hopping on the tree,
or hear the grown-up people’s feet
still going past me in the street.
And does it not seem hard to you,
when all the sky is clear and blue,
and I should like so much to play,
to have to go to bed by day?”
To digress a little with the never-ending wonders of the new summer emerging, I include the BCCC:Spring Watch Special. For the past three years, I have been glued to the Ealing Wildlife Group’s live Falcon Webcam located on the roof of Ealing Hospital . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhUlfWwcA6U
This obsession started when the works I had to deliver for LBE with CCTV radio systems on the roof of the hospital were stopped early in March 2023 by the Hospital Estates Dept due to the arrival of their now resident Peregrine Falcons. The Airbnb nest being booked and occupied, the roof became a total no go area for the next 7 months whilst the pair settled in, redecorated, nested, and fledged successfully a brood of chicks. So my works
were put on hold indefinitely to allow the pair the space to get on with life, the universe, and everything.

The Ealing Hospitals Estates Dept. look forward in anticipation every year to the arrival of the birds, as this natural awesome pigeon control/exterminator team saves them countless £££,s and time in pest control as well as much local interest and good will. This year the same birds have returned at last, the rather well-used and dilapidated (in need of some
works – ideal for an enthusiast – now where have I heard that before?!) nesting box from the last few years has been replaced over winter with a new deluxe penthouse apartment complete with a fine shingle flooring and user friendly access ramps on either side!
The first few days/week or so, the pair of Peregrines spent time begrudgingly rearranging the stones in the nest, not very well or convincingly I would say, and they very soon got bored with all this Feng Shui stuff. After a period though, they settled down and a single egg was laid, however they were not the best at sitting around twiddling their talons and would clear off down the pub/Ikea or wherever for hours leaving this egg uncovered, so in the end the egg failed. Eventually though they got down to the serious business of nesting and laid a further two eggs, which they sat on for the allotted period, successfully hatched, and now there are rather large chicks with full PF plumage showing through. It will not be long before they take their first flight.

From hatching the chicks have grown rapidly and being well fed with the plentiful supply of locally sourced pigeons and the occasional greens – parakeets! The feeding times are somewhat gory and might be distressing for some, as the parents bring in half pigeons or whatever and proceed to rip them up with superb efficiency, nothing gets wasted!
Needless to say, the nest gets rather messy, with no one even bothering to tidy up or clean occasionally.

Both chicks have now been ringed via a rather precarious leaning over the edge of the building! and grabbing them in turn, however they didn’t seem to be fussed though.
As they grow in confidence, the chicks, still x 2, are stretching out their horizons and now regularly wandering off out of the nest down the ramps and promenading along the building ledge.

Hopefully this year’s pair will stay safe and continue to grow into healthy young adults. Within the next few weeks, with their ever-increasing strength and confidence, they will continue to stretch and exercise their wings and soon enough will stand on the edge of the nest box or ledge, wobbling precariously in preparation for that first leap off into the unknown. This whole period of development is wonderful and also scary to watch as you are drawn into the birds’ future and fast approaching new world. When they finally take the leap ( as last year ) it is usually not far and they end up very close, but out of the nest with the parents continuing to feed them until late summer comes along, and sadly it is time to shut up the penthouse and migrate back to better climes for winter. An amazing and life affirming spectacle to watch these magnificent birds go about their daily lives and strive to bring another one or two into the greatly persecuted world of raptors. A must watch so log on now and you will become as hooked as I have!! The webcam is live with HF video and audio 24/7.

To segway this ornithological flight of fantasy swiftly back to car related topics/interests I have managed to find a number of great vehicles named after birds of prey such as: Riley Kestrel, AMC Eagle, Humber Hawk, Ford Falcon, Escort Harrier, MG Speckled Hen (stretching it here!). Any others you can think of, answers please send via pigeon post to the great John James Audubon, c/o New York City, USA although he may not read them as he last flapped his wings in 1851 !
With the classic car scene all over the UK in full swing now, the BCCC are well into our planned events for 2024 with lots more to come. Below are some updates on recent gatherings and what we are planning for this year so let’s look forward to the roasting hot summer of fun!

NATIONAL DRIVE IT DAY, SUNDAY 21st APRIL 2024
This year on Sunday 21st April, the national drive it day event took place UK wide, whereby all are encouraged to get their classics out on the road and drive them anywhere they choose. The BCCC run this year was a trip out to the magnificent Prae Wood Arms on the Redbourne Rd just west of St Albans. This lovely late Georgian style/early Victorian building dates back to approx.1838 when it was built as an escape from Mayfair by Lady Frances Cooke–Grimston for a princely sum of £4139.00. The area surrounding the pub has been known as the Pre or Prae for thousands of years and is believed to be derived from the nearby Roman Praetorian Gate to Verulamium. In the 1930s until around 1950 it was also used as a training base for MI6 not so secret service and then following was let as a hotel until the present owners took on the neglected building and renovated it to
the splendid building it is now.
So, starting out from the Barnet Odeon (its proper name) around 10.30am we headed north through a non-motorway route via Borehamwood and Shenley, crossing the M25 by London Colney and following the North Orbital Road and Watling Street circumventing the busy St Albans town centre to arrive at the pub venue around 45 minutes later. The pub staff were really accommodating and pleased to have us visit. They kindly set aside an area
within for us to mingle and laid on free unlimited tea and coffee. We also had the opportunity to have a photo shoot outside the front for both of our benefits. A great response to this run with some 30+cars taking part and all were blessed with a really beautiful sunny day although a tad cool for those in seriously air conditioned open-top cars! Some of our members also booked to dine at the pub, and from what I could see from checking the menu, this was a wise choice with all reports were that it was a very enjoyable meal. A venue definitely worth visiting again. Thanks To Chris Frost for organising the run out and selecting a venue and to all for taking part.

BCCC ANNUAL SHOW, SUNDAY 19th MAY 2024
This being our 9th Annual show we were determined to make it the best yet, drawing from our experience and lessons learned from previous years. I think we certainly achieved that goal. Months of regular planning meetings with delegation of tasks and some project management resulted in the successful and enjoyable show that we and hundreds of visitors enjoyed on the day.

The final details and preparations were briefed at a site induction meeting in the Spires Car Park where all the volunteer marshals met on Saturday, 18th. This essential planning meeting was to review the site layout, the parking plans for the following day and the safety procedures and contingencies for the show. This may sound a bit serious, but it is an essential requirement for any safe event, and ensures that all are fully appraised as to the show plans. “Fail to plan, plan to fail” as the old saying goes! With only one more sleep to go, Sunday morning soon arrived! All of the team were on site around 8am to set up the BCCC gazebo, the Bull Theatre tea tent and the live band’s pyramid stage…sorry gazebo!, and all the myriad of signs and stuff needed to get the show area prepared.
The weather started off looking a bit iffy, however by 9.30am all had changed and the sun and spirits lifted! Meanwhile, down at the Odeon, cars had started to assemble for the parade due to commence at 10.30am, with approx. 60 cars scheduled to rumble. This area was also under our marshalls’ control to ensure a safe and orderly departure for the cars taking part.
Back up in the Spires, the early non parade cars had started to arrive in numbers at the allotted time and got parked up ready for the rest to arrive. For the show ‘theme’ this year we chose Lotus Cars and the Barnet connection with the brilliant Colin Chapman. He had lived in New Barnet for a number of years in a cottage on Clifford Road. In that very house, as the story goes, one Sunday afternoon, following lunch (and some fine Bordeaux) with his chief engineer the sketches for the famous Lotus 7 were penned and the concept was duly created. Within a week the first car had been built in the Hornsey factory and the rest is history! So to mark this connection, a special display area was set aside for the Lotus marque fronted by two original Lotus 7 cars and a magnificent early 60’s Lotus Elite T14 along with a further eight different types of Lotus displaying!
It was not long to wait for the arrival of the parade cars and the logistical operation from the road outside into the show and up the car park ramps ran as smoothly as a straight six, with no issues reported or noted. Within a short space of time all were parked up in their pre-planned areas. With some 120 cars and bikes parked on the top floor, the area was a vision of wonderful vehicles from all years, dating from the 1930s to the 1990s.
The show officially started from 11am and continued through to 3pm with hundreds of visitors in the lovely weather, all enjoying the spectacle and chatting to the ever-enthusiastic owners. Teas, coffee and cakes were available and served cheerfully by the Bull Theatre Players top vending team and the music from the band, Katie Oldham and Paul Davis (Down 2 Earth) was a great mix of classic tunes beautifully played and sung, and as enjoyable as always. Amongst the cars on display were a handful of extremely rare models, with a magnificent 1931 Rolls Royce 40/50 Landaulette by Hooper, a huge car in all respects, manoeuvring this up the ramps took considerable toing and froing, but it got there with no problem! There was also an extremely rare, almost extinct Ford RS200, with only around 200 built and only a handful of road cars, this was a rarity indeed. The cars were designed specifically for the short-lived Group B rally class and built at Fords AVO unit at Boreham in Essex with the fibreglass/plastic bodies being built by another famous British manufacturer, Reliant in Tamworth. This mid engine beast was stunning in all respects – I have never seen one before. Also present was a rare late 80s BMW Z1 two seater, around 8000 built with only 150 made for the UK market. Some example pictures of these cars are shown below:

The event finished around 3pm and after an hour or so of teardown we vacated the Spires for another year in the confident knowledge that this was a successful event free show and the best show we had arranged so far. A huge thank you to all who volunteered on the day and all the committee members who worked for months to get this all up and running. A special thanks to Derrick Haggerty for his meticulous planning and management of the event, and to Chris Martin for his sheep herding skills in pulling in so many Lotus cars and the even harder task rustling up and managing the numerous attendees! and of course the
biggest and warmest thanks to all the members and car owners who came along to exhibit on the day and make the show the success it was. Some photos from the show:

The main purpose of the events is to meet up and enjoy our vehicles with like minded friends and club members, and share the experience with visitors and any one interested. However, we have also committed ourselves as a club to support and donate specific and surplus funds raised to our ‘adopted’ charity, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice . To this end, this year’s show exceeded all expectations and we raised the incredible sum of £2800 which
will be a major donation to the charity. So with huge thanks to all who happily paid the car entry fee, and further generously donated in the collection buckets we had on the BCCC event gazebo.

FURTHER EVENTS PLANNED FOR 2024
We will commit to the following shows during the year, but we also want to include places of interest to visit like the Shuttleworth Collection now set for July 13th – check the club forum for details. This will make a full calendar for the year finishing off with the Treasure Hunt in September. Shows in summer where we will have club stand are as follows: Capel Manor, Tewin, East Barnet Show on the Sunday.

THE 45th ENFIELD PAGEANT, MAY 25th/26th 2024
Well, another successful and enjoyable show has been and gone! This year we had a great club pitch and again a good turn out of some 25 cars on the Saturday and a tad less on the Sunday! As always, a show’s ultimate success is hand in hand with good weather, and once again we pulled that off with great weather on the Saturday matched with great classic cars – what’s not to like! We were well received by the crowds as our club cars paraded round the central arena. Our very own Tiff Needell (aka Chris Martin,) took the stage as MC and provided an insight into the club with a very informative talk/rap over the PA system. There was even an award-winning MG in the arena which must have escaped from the MG stand!😊 Sunday reverted back to the seemingly normal intermittent showery weather, but still a good day out was had for those attending.

EAST BARNET FESTIVAL CARS IN THE PARK, SUNDAY JUNE 30th 2024
This great local event is back on this year a no show last year due to costs and lack of volunteer support. This just underlines the importance of helping out whenever we can! The organisers are asking if we could maybe provide some help with the marshalling in the car arena on the day, so if you can please contact Chris Matin or myself and we will do the liaison. We had a great display area in 2022 and will hopefully be able to get the same space again. Entry is for pre-1990 classic cars, supercars and associated car clubs. Entry is from 10am (car clubs may be asked to arrive earlier). This year there will be a sadly necessary charge of £10 per car (passengers free) to cover costs. No pre-booking, pay on the day, cash or card, pay at the gazebo when parked up. The costs to run this weekend festival is huge and with very little LBB support the organisers really need all local support to control the costs to keep the festival alive. The whole festival, funfair, music stage, stalls and food outlets will be open to all as usual. The event is limited to the main field this year so early entry is advisable. Exit is after 4pm following the prize giving due to council conditions.

TEWIN CAR SHOW, SUNDAY 18th AUGUST 2024
Tickets are now available so if individuals who are attending get their ticket, we will arrange a meeting point as last year to drive in together. The organsiers have been contacted and are aware we will be attending as a club with geazebo, etc.

CAPEL MANOR SHOW, SUNDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 2024
Again we will attend as a club and need a minimum of x 10 cars on the day to secure a stand area. Tickets are available and when purchasing if you enter as attending a club area (BCCC) then that will help with direction on the day, More details will be released closer to the event.

AUTUMN TREASURE HUNT, DATE TBA

CLUB SOCIAL MEET UPS
These are held on the 2nd Saturday each Month starting in February – see ‘Calendar’ pages for future dates, from 2pm onwards for a drink and chat. We have now had 5 x meetings this year so far and with good attendance at each. The February meeting of over 20 persons and a triumphant handful of classics, including a trio of Stags ! For the May meeting we went abroad to the Farmers Boy in Brickendon in the wilds of Hertfordshire!
A very tidy and lovely country pub with the hospitality you would expect. An area of parking was coned off for us and we squeezed some 30 cars in the well-placed car park. With the outside seating adjacent and the weather exceptional on the day (we could get used to this) and good food offered within the pub, again what was not to like! Another must visit again venue.

As mentioned, before we will change the meeting point from time to time to mix it up a bit and to enable a longer run out for our cars. However, the positive friendly reception and welcome from the staff at the Woodman Inn is hard to beat so we are still happy using this venue as our base meeting point. The Club Christmas meal will be on the December Saturday meeting date of 14/12/2024.

CLUB REGALIA
We now have available for your delectation and purchase the finest haute couture available to persons! All adorned with the with BCCC logo.

• Caps fit all head sizes – big heads or normal
• Polo Shirts a range of sizes available from normal to mahoosive
• Fleeces a range of sizes as above
• Windscreen stickers – one size fits all

So if you need an instant pressie then please contact Marty who will happily relieve you of your finest English pounds…

BCCC COMMITTEE
At our regular monthly meetings we continue with discussions regarding the future plans and direction for the club, and the consensus still, as now, is to keep matters as simple as possible maintaining the friendly all welcome ethos, but also to continue to enhance our visible profile by utilising current media platforms for information dissemination/exchange.
Eg: https://www.facebook.com/groups/922544478743138/?locale=en_GB
Don’t forget we also have our own website: https://barnetclassiccar.club/
CLUB FUNDS: to keep our ongoing tradition for a free club we will seek to raise any funds we may need through voluntary contributions at events, or sometimes via mandatory small contributions if necessary.
THIRD PARTY INSURANCE: as we now are organising ‘official’ BCCC club attendances at various events we are required to have PL insurance in place, this is one of the annual recurring costs that we need to cover.
CLIUB GAZEBO: We have purchased our gazebo and a fine unit it is! This will be put up at all the shows we attend as a club.
ORGANISED EVENTS: at large events such as the annual show that we run entirely, as part of our risk assessments we now arrange for the attendance of medical first aiders, So, at the show this year we paid St John’s Ambulance service to attend for the 4 hours. The team was based in our gazebo but made regular walkabouts so all could see they were there and ready for any emergency that may have arisen.

Looking forward to meeting all at future events !!! James Beeton

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MARCH 2024 NEWSLETTER

Hi All,
2023 now seems a distant memory, but on reflection, what a successful year we had with our rapidly developing car club. A number of great local shows were attended and well supported by club members and the annual BCCC show was the best yet. The events year triumphantly ending in the hugely successful and fun treasure hunt and finally the enjoyable Xmas get together.
So to 2024, time to dust down the state of the art typewriter thingy, give it an oil change and here we go!

Well… spring has sprung, alas with some dodgy weather to bring in the season! As always though, great to have the days getting longer and longer, and eventually warmer and warmer! This year, being a leap year, means we have an extra 24 hours to tinker and twiddle with our favourite money pits, so no excuses for poor turnouts later on! If you happen to have been born on Feb 29th you will be amongst an exclusive group of around 5 million worldwide “Leapling’s” with the odds of being born on Feb 29th consistently around 1 in 1461 ! So why,,.. in the Almighty’s garage, do we need this leap year? Well…if we didn’t eventually, we would be eating our Xmas turkey in summer and Easter eggs whenever!
As the earth doesn’t orbit the sun in exactly 365 days (365.2422), a day is added every four years to make up for the extra pesky quarters – this is called “quadrennially”, otherwise the seasons as we know them would slip well out of sync in time, and our annual car show would be in December or whenever! Back in the bad old days – some may well remember them – I don’t (!), the Egyptians realised this annoying anomaly and added extra days at the end of their years to compensate, following on, the Romans, who were never ever really sure of the length of a year, stuck in a couple of extra months or so when it suited them. This was by edict of Mr J Caesar, and whilst about it, they changed the length of months to odd numbers as even were numbers were deemed unlucky! By the 16th century the errors were mounting up , this meant important festival dates were drifting all over the place so Pope Gregory X111 ( of Gregorian Calendar fame) and his frocked team corrected the dodgy Roman maths, dropping 10 days in 1582, and replaced the Julius Caesar double February feature with a 29th day instead. Thus coming up with the system we now basically have. This corrected, for example, the previous shifting spring equinox so that Easter came around at the correct time every year, so happy days for the sellers of Easter eggs and the like! Incidentally, Greece was the last European country to adopt this fully in 1923!

So… back to the real world, we in BCCC have also firmly accepted the “modern” calendar of old Greg and will use that in whatever form it appears on our mobile devices for our events. So, no need to ever worry about the actual 44 minutes extra the 29th of Feb makes each year! With the classic car scene starting to pick up after the winter slumbers, the BCCC are starting to plan some of the great run outs, and also events we will attend as a car club.
Below are some updates on what we are planning for this year so let’s look forward to a great 2024 !

NATIONAL DRIVE IT DAY, SUNDAY, 21st APRIL
This year on Sunday 21st April, the national drive it day event will take place, whereby all are encouraged to get their classics out on the road and drive them – somewhere, anywhere! We are looking to plan a run out on that day, details tba.

BCCC ANNUAL CLASSIC CAR SHOW, SUNDAY, 19th MAY
We have now got the go-ahead from the Spires car park management company and so this year the show will again be held on the upper level of the Spires car park in High Barnet on May 19th 2024 from 11am to 3pm.
Organisation of the show is well under way, but to assist us in planning, an early booking to bring your classic to the show would be appreciated, especially if you wish to join the High Street parade of vehicles. All vehicles not taking part in the parade will need to be in place on the top level of the car park by 10.30am as the show opens to the public at 11.00am.
There is a small non-refundable display fee of £5.00 this year, and this is payable on booking via an online link which will be emailed out to all. A printable windscreen pass will be emailed to you after receipt of booking and payment. Note that only vehicles with a displayed windscreen pass will be allowed into the show .
A limited number of vehicles will be able to join the pre-show parade through Barnet High Street on the morning of the show. These cars will need to assemble at a pre-arranged location by 10.00am. If you would like to be considered to take part in the parade, please make this choice when pre booking. Allocation will be on a first come, first served basis so please book early. Once all spaces for the show have been allocated, no further entries can be accepted. Entry cut off will be 30th April. Final assembly location for the High Street Parade and ALL timings will be confirmed in early May.
Note that for public safety, minimal car movement during the show is essential so all vehicles attending are kindly requested to stay in place until 3.00pm, when the stewards will commence with controlled exit.
All show profits, after costs, will be in aid of The Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet, as before. We look forward to your support this year to make it yet again the best show ever.
Note that volunteers for traffic control /parking management in the car park and assembly point would be appreciated so please get in touch with Chris Martin, or any committee member, or myself. Further details will be messaged out closer to the event.

FURTHER EVENTS PLANNED FOR 2024
We will commit to the following shows during the year, but also we want to include places of interest to visit like the Shuttleworth collection, maybe Barnard’s Farm again, and others yet to be agreed. This will make a full calendar for the year finishing off with the Treasure Hunt in September. Shows that we will have club stand at are as follows:

ENFIELD PAGEANT: 25th/26thMAY

EAST BARNET SHOW: 30th JUNE

TEWIN: 18th AUGUST

CAPEL MANOR: 1st SEPTEMBER

THE 45th ENFIELD PAGEANT, 25th/26th MAY
A little way off yet but the club will again have a stand at this year’s Enfield Pageant. Last year we filled the stand to overflowing so we have boldly opted for a larger area this year. We need your help to fill it on both days though so if you plan to go to the show on one or both days then please book a place through us and enjoy the company of other Barnet Classic Car Club members. Tickets are only a fiver for the weekend when purchased through our club and this includes one vehicle, driver and one passenger. If you would like to join us, you need to register your intention and pay the fiver to Barnet Classic Car Club along with your vehicle registration number by April 14th at the VERY latest so to be sure best get your order in by 7th April!

EAST BARNET FESTIVAL, 30th JUNE This great local event is back on this year after a no show last year due to lack of volunteer support. This just underlines the importance of helping out whenever we can!! We had a great display area in 2022 and will hopefully negotiate the same space this year. Details tba.

OTHER LOCAL EVENTS to attend individually as usual:
Harpenden Classics on the Common, 24th July
Knebworth House, 25th / 26thAugust
Plus many others
Also not forgetting the ever popular Goat Inn Hertford Heath – first Sunday every month, all cars welcome.

BCCC SOCIAL MEET UPS
These are held on the 2nd Saturday in each month, starting in January, from 2pm onwards for a drink and chat. Future dates are: • 09/03/24 • 13/04/24 • 11/05/24 • 08/06/24 • 13/07/24 • 10/08/24 • 14/09/24 • 12/10/24 • 09/11/24 • 14/12/24
We have now had two meetings this year so far at the Woodman Inn, Warrengate Rd, Water End AL9 7TT . With a good attendance at each, the February meeting having over 20 persons and a triumphant handful of classics, including a trio of Stags !
We will change this meeting point from time to time to mix it up a bit and to enable a longer run out for our cars. However, the positive friendly reception and welcome from the staff at the Woodman is hard to beat so we are happy using this venue as our base meeting point. The Club’s Christmas meal will be on the December Saturday meeting date of 14/12/2024, with details later in the year.

CLUB REGALIA
We are looking at sourcing zip-up fleece tops to add to the polo shirts now currently available, all with the club logo. The final pricing is to be confirmed . If anyone would like screen stickers and/or a Club polo shirt (in green with Club Logo) then contact Derrick, Paul, Chris or myself, or ask via the Groups.io forum, and supply can be arranged. Note that polo shirts will be subject to a minimum club order from the supplier.

BCCC COMMITTEE
At our regular monthly meetings, we continue with discussions regarding the future plans and direction for the club The consensus still, as now, is to keep matters as simple as possible, maintaining the friendly all welcome ethos, but also to continue to enhance our visible profile by utilising current media platforms for information dissemination/exchange.
Eg : Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/922544478743138/
We also have our own website : https://barnetclassiccar.club/ which is worth checking out.

CLUB FUNDS: To keep our ongoing tradition of a free club, we will seek to raise any funds we may need through voluntary contributions at events, or sometimes via mandatory small contributions, if necessary. We have arranged third party insurance as we now are organising “official” BCCC club attendances at various events. We are required to have public liability insurance in place, this being one of the annual recurring costs that we need to cover
CLUB GAZEBO: Another must have for club events will be a small gazebo. This will ultimately be purchased from donations/sponsorship etc already collected. It will appear at our shows this year.

BEST WISHES AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A BUSY AND FUN CAR YEAR,

James Beeton

_________________________________________________________

DECEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER

Well, here we are again at the end of another amazing year for the BCCC, starting off with the excellent annual car show in the Spires car park back in May and ending up with the hugely successful and enjoyable treasure hunt at the end of September, and now the festive season well under way!

 Ho Ho Ho!

With most of our beloved four-wheel friends now tucked up for the winter we can draw a hopefully non too frosty breath and catch up on the final shows and outings we have enjoyed this autumn. With some fun outings and successful events organised and attended throughout the year, we can happily put the proverbial feet up, grab a glass of sherry, munch a mince pie and chill!!

CAPEL MANOR SHOW, SUNDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER

Another successful  club day out at this lovely local event. Not only do you get to view the hundreds of cars on display, you can listen to and even bust a move and dance to the great live music! The entry allows you to view the 30+  acre grounds and 40 beautiful set out gardens of this fabulous grade 2 Georgian mansion . Now in full use as the Enfield College campus Horticultural and  Environmental training college,it is a lovely place to visit car show or not! Another sunny late summer day was ordered and provided – we could get used to this and the turn out of club members and cars for our display area was excellent with some 14 cars in attendance. We had decent club area provided which gave easy access to view the many displays and allowed all passers by to drop in and and view our cars, with many of their besotted owners at hand to eulogize to their hearts content!   Again the organisation was excellent and we thank Marty Collins for putting in all the legwork to arrange the space and herd all the cars into place. Below are some photos from the event :

AUTUMN TREASURE HUNT, SUNDAY 23d SEPTEMBER

With many unfortunate but necessary delays, and almost there arranged dates, we finally got this off the ground and a totally fun day was had by all who attended. The organisation and logistics of the event were considerable and not to be underestimated, a huge effort was put in by Derrick and Chris Skinner over many months to make this event as enjoyable and also run as smoothly as …….well a Tr***ph straight six….!

We started off the day at our regular meeting point, the Woodman, where Jana the lovely landlady and host arranged for us to use the side dining area for the day, She had placed out coffee, tea and biccies to help us get our heads into gear and kick us off.  For the first part of the event, in the pub, a cryptic questionnaire related to the route was completed by all before departing. After much head scratching and pencil chewing, this was handed in for scrutiny by the feared judges! We then set off on the circular route, with suitably timed gaps between departures, and headed out into the lovely wilds and backwaters of Hertfordshire travelling as far east as Cuffley and then just west of Hertford, ending up coming through Welham Green and back into the Woodman.  On return, the 2^nd part run directions and quiz sheets were handed in to the analogue totalisers😊, and for all the intrepid teams, after a period of recovery and some quick running repairs, a choice of excellent hot and cold food/light bites  was served up by Jana and her lovely team.

The scores from the run direction and quiz sheets were duly added up by the organising scrutineers, ie Derrick and Chris, and after a short period were finally added to the scores on the door board! Time for the results to be announced – a nail biting top ten count down in true competition style! With the final and number 1 winning team “The Doyle Crew” then being presented with the awesome highly desirable and coveted cup!! However…. that was not quite the end of the story as later that very same day there was a steward’s enquiry and recount, due to some well dodgy mathematics from the organisers first time round! With assistance of VAR it was found Team Lotus were short changed by a whole 3 points and so sadly (hehe) Team Ford were stripped of their second place and ignominiously slid down to 3^rd, whilst TL could finally bask in the glory of 2^nd place,  with only a couple of points away from that coveted cup!😊 A really fun event and day out playing with our cars, a must to be repeated next year… Not the same route I hasten to add for all those who kept their crib sheets!  Again, a massive thanks to Derrick and Chris for the huge effort here.

LONDON TO BRIGHTON VETERAN CAR RUN, NOVEMBER 2023

Our very own illustrious and honourable committee member Howard Pryor took part in this event once again. It was a long day with a very early start in Hyde Park to head of south to sunny Brighton. Here he is seen at the wheel with his motley/loyal support crew and an early Cadillac MPV! It must be one to carry that quantity of people!

CLUB SOCIAL MEET UPS

As all are now aware, we now have regular monthly meet ups . These are on the 2^nd Saturday each month – see below for future dates, from 2pm onwards for a drink and chat.

For the June meet up we descended on the Woodman at Wild Hill, a lovely day and another good turnout of cars and members at this quaint country pub, which serves simple but tasty food and an excellent range of beers and drinks.

The July meet up saw us at yet another Hertfordshire pub, the Candlesticks not far from the Woodman and just north west of Essendon, This again is a lovely very rural pub  and we were made very welcome. Unfortunately, the weather was a bit changeable on the day so not so many classics made the trip although still a good few members came along for the company.

The August meet up was cancelled due to the trip to Barnard’s Farm.

The September meet up combined with the Treasure Hunt day and we reverted back to the Woodman Inn in Waters End.

The October meet up was a return visit to the newly refurbished Candlesticks near Essendon. There was a good turnout of cars and a warm welcome in the pub, with some great grub available.

The November meet up reverted back to the Woodman Inn and despite all of the rain and horrid weather of the previous weeks we had a lovely clear and sunny day. So again, an excellent turn out of cars with their owners.

DECEMBER MEET UP, WOODMAN IN, 9th DECEMBER

The final club meet up of this year will incorporate the Club Christmas meal and, as last year, it will be at the Woodman Inn. Chris “Santa Claus” Martin is making arrangements so please let him know if you wish to attend. As always, still come along for a drink and chat even if you are not dining on the day. Further details to be released nearer the date.   

2024 MEET UP DATES FOR DIARIES

13th January, 10th February, 9th March, 13th April, 11th May, 8th June, 13th July, 10th August, 14th September, 12th October, 9th November, 14th December. Also note: Goat Inn, Hertford Heath, first Sunday every month, all cars welcome, ongoing event. Coach & Horses, Tewin, third Saturday every month from 1pm to 2.30pm, all cars and bikes welcome.

BARNET XMAS FAYRE, SUNDAY 3rd DECEMBER

Once again, we were invited to attend this annual event. The High Street was as usual closed off for the day so becoming a safe pedestrian area. There were loads of stalls from one end to the other ranging from some yummy food, stalls of Xmassy goodies, fairground rides and plenty of delightful tat. Our display area allocated as previous years was outside St Johns Church at the end of the High Street.  Here we were able to place our gazebo and run the legendary “Dream Cars” charity raffle, raising funds for our adopted charity, Noah’s Ark Hospice. Nine cars attended (plus owners!) even though it was a freezing cold day and at times miserably wet, Not ideal, but we are a resilient bunch if nothing else! Fortunately, we had the Church behind us which provided a welcome refuge throughout the day. Within, there was not only excellent choral music and entertainment of the celestial festive variety, but also welcome cups of tea, coffee, soup and fab cakes, plus a rather generous cup of very welcome hot mulled wine which certainly hit the spot !  A very successful day again for the BCCC. A huge thanks is due to all club members who brought their cars, and dutifully stuck it out all day, also to the extra volunteers who helped during the day and with a special mention to Kevin Steel for generously doing the tea and coffee rounds when feet were failing ! We managed to raise an amazing £665 through the raffle, buckets, and some very generous personal donations from our very own club members 😊

CLUB REGALIA

We are currently updating the club regalia and stock holding, and have now chosen a new supplier for the polo shirts, the logo has been revamped for these and a batch will be ordered in a range of sizes. Details will be advised at Xmas lunch – just in time for Xmas!!

BCCC COMMITTEE UPDATE

At our regular meetings we continue with general discussions regarding the future and direction for the club, and the consensus still, as now, is to keep matters as simple as possible within the club but to continue to enhance our profile by utilising current media platforms for information exchange.  As you know there is a Facebook page  for BCCC:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/922544478743138/?ref=share_group_link and also the Club’s website: https://www.barnetclassiccar.club

 CLUB FUNDS: To keep our tradition for a free club going as long as possible we will seek to raise any funds we may need for the Club through voluntary contributions at events, or sometimes via suggested small contributions – such as were made at the annual Car Show, and we are grateful for all who contribute.

CLUB GAZEBO: Another must have for our club events will be a small gazebo. This will ultimately be purchased from donations/sponsorship etc collected during the summer events. The gazebo is still to be purchased, but with the winter  season upon us there are likely to be some good deals to be had!  

NOAH’S ARK

We received a personal card (see below) from the Noah’s Ark team thanking us for all our support and contributions over the year. It is so nice to get a handwritten thank-you these days and we are very proud to support this charity and look forward to helping in 2024.

NEWS FROM OUR FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT

The lovely pub, the Crooked Billet at Colney Heath, that we used for many years for our occasional social meetings, had a nasty surprise one afternoon a couple of months ago. A TM support vehicle decided to crash into the front bar with fortunately no mention of any person seriously injured.  We wish the owners all our best wishes and hope that the building will have been repaired successfully so that business can continue as usual at this cracking pub.  A venue for a future return visit maybe….

AND FINALLY, IT IS FESTIVE COMPETITION TIME!!!!! NOW THEN ALL YOU SANTA’S HELPERS, ELVES, REINDEER, OR WHATEVER, WORK THIS ONE OUT: WHO IN BCCC’S MEMBER’S GARAGE OWNED THIS TASTY COLLECTION OVER THE YEARS???

Norman 200, Lambretta SX, Austin A40 Farina, Ford Consul Cortina, Healey Frogeye Sprite,  Triumph 1300TC, Simca 1000 Rallye ,  Ford Escort Mexico, VW Beetle 1303S, Triumph GT6 , Mini Cooper 998, MGB GT, Triumph TR6 , Yamaha DT175 , Lotus S130 Elan  , Mini Cooper 1275 S MkI1 Rallye Car, Mini Cooper 1275 S Mk1, Alfa Romeo 1600 GT Junior, Vauxhall Cavalier, Rover 216SE, Ford GLS Sapphire, Peugeot 405, s 406,s, 407,s Wood & Picket Mini Clubman GT, MG Metro , Alfa Romeo Sports Wagon, Alfa GT, Mini Marcos Mk4 , Mini Marcos Mk3 full race/sprint car, Cooper S Mk3 …… and now with a handful of well recognisable cars !

All answers on a postcard please to: Horace Batchelor, Dept. One. Keynsham, spelt K-E=Y-N-S-H-A-M, Bristol. The lucky winner will have the honour of being able to purchase a refreshing cold drink, or two, for the anonymous member at a venue of their choice 😊. Ho Ho Ho !!!

HAPPY XMAS AND A ULEZ FREE NEWYEAR TO ALL, LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT NEW YEAR James Beeton 😇

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AUGUST 2023 NEWSLETTER

Hi All,

It seems like forever since my last sermon way back in June. Then, we were all looking forward to and planning our attendances at many of the summer classic car events whilst dreaming of the fab summer about to unfold like a big carpet before us! June was wonderful with some perfect hot sunny spells, and even the annual Glastonbury Festival survived without a dab of mud – much to my relief! July/ August sadly were pretty unreliable and not ideal for those cars with either zero weather protection or an unfortunate allergy to water! However, we did get a chance to gather on a few occasions so the many stockpiles of “buy one get one free” polish did eventually get used up! With official summertime now nearly departed and autumn knocking on the door we have the last few of our planned /organised meets coming up, but there is still scope for some more for autumn events so keep any suggestions coming in.

Below is a catch up on some of the events enjoyed by Club members and others over the last couple of months.

ACE CAFÉ CLASSIC CAR NIGHT, 24^th JULY 2023

This iconic venue has been popular for decades now, starting originally in 1938 as a transport café open 24 hours. In later years it attracted many motorcycle fanatics as a great meeting point for racing up and down the North Circular or up through Park Royal and back. It was badly damaged in WW2 by a bomb nearby and subsequently rebuilt in 1949. It survived until 1969 when it finally had to close and pack away the greasy spoons ☹. However, following an Ace reunion some 25 years later a scheme was proposed to reopen and in 1997 part of the original site was reopened part time, with a full grand reopening in 2001. There is a great website detailing the history of the building and the business “Ace Café London” https://london.acecafe.com/

Some BCCC members attended the classic car night and stole away with the Oscars (!) with Paul and Derrick taking 1st and 2nd places in the concours judging!

HARPENDEN CLASSICS ON THE COMMON, 26th JULY, 2023
This long running and highly popular event was as usual well attended , with a fine selection of cars andbikes. This year there was a very impressive display of Bentley and Rolls-Royce cars which are usually present in smaller numbers , but this time in force! A nice change from the more modern exotica that have in recent years been growing in numbers.

ESSEX DAY OUT, 13th AUGUST, 2023
A BCCC Sunday school outing trip was made to Barnards Farm, West Horndon, Essex CM13 3FY. The venue was opened especially for our group to view the owner’s private vehicle and automobilia collection that spans several large buildings. The gardens and extensive grounds include the National Malus Collection and miniature railway were also available for us to enjoy along with the public. This is a fantastic venue which, I for one, never knew existed, and turned out to be a brilliant day out. There were some 30 cars turning up with a fine selection of Rileys in attendance (x7)
The day started a little overcast as we left Barnet, some in convoy from the Duke of York, some left earlier to clear the patch for the MGs and slower cars. The journey was only about 45mins and the M25 was behaving itself with light traffic and no hold ups. I travelled with Derrick in his beautiful 1955 Ford Popular, which was a first ! This was the oldest car I have ever had a ride in and it was definitely a life changing experience! The car batted along at a dizzying 45-50mph and soon we arrived. However, just before we got to the location the car started to misfire and so we crept in very quickly and parked up. There was water spraying out of the bonnet and all around the engine. On investigation, it turned out to be the top radiator hose leaking,. This was quickly fixed on site and the water topped up- nearly 2 litres so luckily we hadn’t gone on much further !
By around 10.30 am approx. 30 BCCC members and invited friends had turned up, parking in a lovely area within the beautiful grounds that was set aside for our use on the day. A great variety of cars were present with the Rileys dominating in numbers, although a few MGs including two C,s were present! Also parked up with us, the owner of the venue drove a fabulous Bentley Continental to join our display. This vehicle was stunningly restored inside and out and the hidden secret? – it had been converted to an electric vehicle (fit for any mayor of choice to travel in!) . Superb workmanship and one can only guess as to how much this cost, but it was well worth it as the end result was this lovely car.
As we had a pre-booked group attendance to see the private collection of cars, the garages were opened up for us to wander around and view. This superb collection of very early cars, bikes, push bikes and general motoring miscellanea was fascinating with probably the largest collection of De Dion Bouton cars ever
seen. Looking at these cars and all the tiny details was fascinating with some British companies obviously working and contributing parts at that early time – Lucas for instance in the headlamp production and some of the early tyre manufacturers. There were volunteers present to answer any questions we had and they were all extremely enthusiastic and well informed, obviously knowing the vehicles from inside out. The pictures below show the part of the garden that was reserved for us, followed by some pictures of museum grounds and collection.

After viewing we had an ideal opportunity to wander around the beautifully landscaped gardens and woods, and even take a ride on the miniature railway around the whole estate. By this time the weather had picked up as ordered and it became sunny and warm. Around 1pm, we gathered back at our cars for a group social picnic and chat, where finally those creepy old picnic baskets that everyone has at car shows all of a sudden came into use! A lovely few hours thus spent, before some started to head back home. This venue is highly recommended to all, and hopefully we can make a return visit next year.
For information, all the proceeds raised through attendance, public admittance, cafes and railway fares are shared out between many charities. This gets our approval and support immediately, with the philanthropic owner bearing all running costs of this estate …
Finally a big thanks to Chris Martin who liaised with the owner for us to be able to attend and view.

TEWIN CAR SHOW 20th AUGUST, 2023
This is another local and increasingly popular event. The show just gets better and better with a huge and varied selection of cars. Many local car groups attend with gazebos and BBQs so it is a very pleasant social event. There was, as usual, an area for traders vending items such as old treasures, old car stuff, plants and jewelry, etc. Also present were some very tasty and nice food outlets. BCCC members who attended initially met up in a car park on Waterside WGC, which just left a couple of miles run into Tewin. There were about twelve club cars so it was an excellent turn out. When we got to the car park there were already a dozen or so classics meeting up with more arriving as we left, so this is a popular meeting point for Tewin! We got to Tewin cricket field site in convoy so we were all able to park together and have a “Club” area to ourselves at a good location along the perimeter of the cricket field. The weather was absolutely perfect all day and once more we had an enjoyable BCCC group gathering . Thanks to all who came along to support the club outing and this great event!

CAPEL MANOR SHOW, SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 3rd
Tickets are still on sale, I believe- check the website:
https://www.capelmanorgardens.co.uk/event/classic-and-vintage-car-show-exhibitors/
We will be meeting close by, location TBC shortly and you will be advised just before the event so that we can again drive in and park together. On site timing is from 10am onwards.

GOAT INN, HERTFORD HEATH
First Sunday every month, all cars welcome – ongoing event.

COACH & HORSES IN TEWIN
Third Saturday of the month from 1pm to 2.30pm – all cars/bikes welcome.

BCCC SOCIAL MEET UPS
As advised before, we have increased the frequency of the meet ups. These are held on the 2nd Saturday each month – see below for future dates, from 2pm onwards for a drink and chat. For the June meet up we descended on the Woodman at Wild Hill, a lovely day and another good turnout of cars and members at this quaint country pub, which serves simple but tasty food and an excellent range of beers and drinks. The July meet up saw us at yet another Hertfordshire pub, The Candlesticks, not far from the Woodman and
just north west of Essendon. This again is a lovely rural and isolated pub and we were made very welcome. Unfortunately, the weather was a bit changeable on the day so not so many classics made the trip although still a good few members came along for the company. The August meet up was deferred due to the trip to Barnard’s Farm. The September meet up will coincide with the Treasure Hunt day and revert back to the Woodman at Waters End. The dates are as follows:

23/09/2023 – Woodman Waters End ( inc Treasure Hunt)

14/10/2023 – Woodman Waters End

11/11/2023 – Woodman Waters End

10/12/2023 – Woodman Waters End

BCCC CHRISTMAS MEAL The Club Christmas meal as last year will be at the Woodman, Waters End with details to be released nearer the date.

BCCC 2023 AUTUMN TREASURE HUNT With many delays and rearranged dates, we have finalised this event and have set the date for Saturday 23/9/23. For those wishing to attend, we will be departing from the Woodman at Waters End around 10- 10.30am for a circular route/drive of around 1.5 hours duration. On return there, will be some refreshments at the Woodman laid on by the lovely landlady. The cost for the event and the food will be advised shortly. Full details to be sent out in next couple of weeks. Many thanks to Derrick and Chris Skinner who have stuck with this, and Marty who is sweet talking the Woodman into a favourable deal.

CLUB REGALIA We have reviewed the Club regalia supply and stock, and have chosen a new supplier for the polo shirts. The logo is being revamped for these and we will announce when the new batch are available. From the samples obtained, the quality seems a lot better and we are trying to get a sewn on applique logo supplied as opposed to a printed version. Details will be advised shortly – just in time for Xmas!!

BARNET XMAS FAYRE, 3/12/23 As last year we have been invited to take part in this local event, with the first planning /confirmation meeting with the organisers soon. We have done very well in the last two years with our “dream ride” raffle at this event and with the subsequent donations to the Noah’s Ark Hospice. Again, details will be posted closer to the event.

BCCC COMMITTEE UPDATE At our regular meetings we continue with general discussions regarding the future and direction for the Club, and the consensus still, as now, is to keep matters as simple as possible within the club, but to continue to enhance our profile by utilising current media platforms for information exchange. To this end Chris Martin has set up a Facebook page for the BCCC see link below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/922544478743138/?ref=share_group_link

CLUB FUNDS As mentioned before, to keep our ongoing tradition of a free club we will seek to raise any funds we may need through voluntary contributions at events, or sometimes via suggested small contributions- such as were made at our annual car show, and we are grateful for all who contribute.

THIRD PARTY INSURANCE This has now been arranged and we are fully covered for any events/displays arranged under our club name .

CLUB GAZEBO Another must have for club events is a small gazebo. This will ultimately be purchased from donations/sponsorship etc. collected during the summer events. This is still to be purchased, but with the summer season drawing to an end there are likely to be some good deals to be had!
Best wishes to all and looking forward to meeting up at the remaining social events of the year.

James Beeton

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JUNE 2023 NEWSLETTER

Hi All,
With official summertime now started and the weather picking up nicely, the classic car scene is in full swing with numerous events over our region, from single manufacturer to traditional mixed vehicle shows. Lots of our beloved cars will be taking part in these events so I look forward to meeting up with old friends and making new as I attend some of the events over the summer. Remember “a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met”!
Below are some updates on our recent events and those planned later this summer, so get your T-Cut out and start the polishing!

2023 SPRING TREASURE HUNT/DRIVE IT DAY
As you will be aware, unfortunately due to inclement weather on the Saturday and the same forecast for Sunday, this event was cancelled at the very last minute. However, the prearranged meal at the pub went ahead and there was a solid turnout of 24 members, with a handful of cars making an appearance.
The food and service at the pub were excellent and all enjoyed the meal and the social gathering. A disappointment to have to cancel, but the route will not ‘go off’ so will be taken out of the freezer and rescheduled for later in summer or early autumn!

BCCC ANNUAL SHOW, 14th MAY 2023

For those newer members, a brief resume of how this show has evolved over the years…..This, our annual show, started initially to help support the survival of Barnet Market and encourage town centre shopping This year was our 8th organised event in Barnet. In previous years, we had displayed cars both outside Waitrose on the bandstand area and in a section of the old market site. Unfortunately, the arrangements relating to the display outside Waitrose started to get more complicated and onerous with the incumbent Spires m management . So if we were to continue with this increasingly popular event, a new display space became a priority to locate and secure. We thought we had this all sorted when, in 2018, we managed to negotiate and combine our show with the British Army Open Day on the St Albans Rd Royal Logistics Corp site. This event was hugely successful for both parties and all were pleased with the turnout, so we were hoping to repeat it year on year. However cuts in army budgets has unfortunately meant that their open days are now limited and not held at the St Albans Road location anymore. Negotiations /discussions then began with the owners of the Spires car park in Stapleton Rd., culminating in our first use of this space for a show. Again it was a successful and well attended event. Following changes to the car park ownership, discussions had to start all over again and a positive outcome was eventually achieved, and once more we have had use of the top floor parking area in its entirety!

So massive thanks must go out to our founder member, Chris Nightingale, for all the years of hard and sometimes frustrating discussions with the Spires and the various car park owners to get to where we are now. So for the foreseeable future, he/we may have secured this space for our yearly event.

Now onto the show…………
The forecast for the day was good and starting from an overcast cool morning, it turned out as such with a beautiful day, lovely wall to wall sunshine and no rain! The event organisation involving many committee and club members over the last few months was impeccable, and highly detailed plans were finally drawn up for the pre-show parking, the parade along the High St and the parking in the Spires car park. On the Saturday prior, a site briefing was arranged and the event plans issued to all marshals to inwardly digest for reference! A great turn out of volunteers offering to assist ensured on the day there were very few issues or unplanned occurrences to deal with.
From the start several vehicles were scheduled to arrive directly at the car park and this worked well with sufficient marshals on site to park them quickly in the pre-allotted spaces, whilst awaiting the arrival of the mass- assembly of vehicles at the Everyman Cinema which would form the parade.
As a result of the careful planning, the arrival and parking unfolded with no serious delays, and by 10.30am all attending registered vehicles were resting in their allotted spaces! There were over 100 classic cars and motor cycles participating and many hundreds of public/ onlookers, both for the parade along the High Street and for static display on the top deck of the car park. At the event this year we were very happy to have in attendance our first Arkley, the only car to have been made in quantity in the Borough of Barnet. Our ‘badge’ on the Club’s logo has an outline of an Arkley car. It was the brainchild of John Britten, an accomplished racing driver of the 1960s who eventually ran a TVR dealership in Barnet Rd ( now a car wash!). The car was based on old or damaged Austin-Healey Sprites or MG Midgets. It consisted of fitting new front and rear ends to the base chassis, and it is estimated that around 1,000 were made.
The top floor event space was split into different areas/ time periods for vehicles, with a special space reserved for the larger than life American cars attending! The pre-war cars included a magnificent 1920s Bentley and a Lagonda of the same period. The American cars included an immaculate Model A Ford. Cars from the post-war period, 60s and 70s MGs and TRs , Lotus etc. battled it out for supremacy in their numbers. OMG …..I wonder who triumphed?! (Oh no, they didn’t)
Once again, the music was excellent, and we are eternally grateful to Katie Oldham and her backing group who have played for us during 7 of our 8 shows. Katie is an incredibly talented local singer and with her excellent band many favourite songs were covered superbly and enjoyed by all. The tea and cakes stall was a very welcome inclusion and seriously fab cakes etc. with tea and coffee were delightfully served by the Bull Players who worked tirelessly, ensuring refreshments were available at very cost-conscious prices!

During the event there were representatives from our nominated charity attending – the Noah’s Ark Hospice. They were armed with collection buckets and had our full support to raise what they could. We also organised our own collection with a nominal sum for ‘car entry’ and buckets carried throughout the event, all in all, making approx. £1100. This, with the sponsorship we have, will assist with covering our costs whilst providing yet further donations to Noah’s Ark. Following are a few photos from the show …….

Now to the credits: so many were involved in willingly organising the event that I will not make any specific name checks, so as not to offend when I forget names (happens!). So, a huge thanks to all, the supporters who took part in the planning/organising/marshalling and also especially all those just turning up with the cars! A massive thanks to the Bull Players, Katie and her band and to Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents for their continued support . Also thank you to all local businesses that allowed us to put up posters advertising the
event. Finally, we should also gratefully thank the owners/operators of the Spires car park for their support and enthusiasm, and free use of the whole top deck of their car park!

ENFIELD PAGEANT – 27/28th MAY 2023
This marvelous event over the bank holiday weekend is one of the most popular two-day events in the area and is organised by the Whitewebbs Museum of Transport as a key fund raising event for them. Over the last few years with all that has gone on and with dodgy weather sometimes causing cancellations, it was essential that it was really succeeded this year. As it turned out, the sunny warm weather brought out the crowds and it was a successful year for the organisers. We had booked a club display area over the two days and attendance was excellent on both days with 13 cars on Saturday and 14 cars on Sunday. A parade in the display ring was arranged whereby members had the opportunity to chat and provide interesting information about their beloved vehicles. Some photos taken at the event are shown below…..

OTHER EVENTS 2023
Essex Day Out – Sunday 13th August 2023
Another local day trip has been suggested to visit Barnards Farm car collection in West Horndon, Essex, CM13 3FY/ Sunday 13th August is the preferred date. The motor museum will open for our group tour of the owner’s private vehicle collection that spans several large buildings. The extensive grounds include the National Malus Collection miniature railway which will
also be open to us. The railway cafe serves hot and cold drinks, cakes and ice creams. It would be nice to enjoy a group picnic lunch together in the Malus tree orchard so please come prepared. We can assemble somewhere locally and drive there together or just meet at the venue. Either way, we would suggest arrival around 11.00am for coffee and cake. The price is £10 per person payable on the day. I believe there is a small extra charge for the railway should you wish to take a ride. If you would like to attend, please let Chris Martin know through the forum so we can collate numbers.

Harpended Classics on the Common – Wed 26th July
https://www.classicsonthecommon.com/
Tickets on sale from 6th April. All to just buy individual tickets and nearer the event maybe BCCC attendees can group up before hand.
Tewin Car Show – Sunday August 20th
I have requested a space for a BCCC club gazebo and sent out the ticket application form. I have had email confirmation that this will be fine. Closer to the event, I will send out a reminder so we can gauge the likely turnout of cars. My ticket has already arrived!
Capel Manor -Sunday 3rd September
Tickets are now on sale. I suggest we buy individually and arrange a convenient meeting point so we can drive in together, more details will be sent out closer in to the event .
Goat Inn Hertford Heath
First Sunday every month, all cars welcome – ongoing event.
Club Social meet ups
As advised before, we have increased the frequency of the meet ups. They are on the second Saturday each month from 2pm onwards for a drink and chat. See the ‘Calendar’ page of the dates. For the 10th June meet up we cannot use the Woodman Inn on Warengate Rd as it has another event on so we are going to the Woodman pub, 45 Wild Hill, Hatfield AL9 6EA. Same name different location😊. The Club Christmas meal will be on Saturday 9th December with details to be released nearer the date.
Club Regalia
If anyone would like further screen stickers and/or a club polo shirt – in green with the club logo – then contact Paul Johnson via the club’s Groups.io forum and delivery can be arranged.
BCCC Committee Update
At our regular meetings we continue with general discussions regarding the future plans and direction for the club. The consensus is still, as now, to keep matters as simple as possible within the club, but to continue to enhance our profile by utilising current media platforms for information dissemination/exchange. To this end Chris Martin has set up a Facebook page for the BCCC – see link below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/922544478743138/?ref=share_group_link
Club Funds: as mentioned before, to keep our ongoing tradition of a free club we will seek to raise any funds we may need for through voluntary contributions at events, or sometimes via suggested small contributions – such as were made at the annual car show, and we are grateful for all who contribute.
Third Party Insurance: This has now been arranged and we are fully covered for any events/displays arranged under our club name .
Club Gazebo: Another must have for club events will be a small gazebo This will ultimately be purchased from donations/sponsorship etc. collected during the forthcoming events.

Finally, I have sad news to report that an esteemed BCCC member, Bill Waldron, passed away on 2/6/23 after a short period of illness. His involvement with classic cars started many years ago and with a passion for American muscle cars. He saw himself as Barnet’s Steve McQueen!. He would have slotted perfectly into a 1968 Mustang GT (see below- Bill admiring said GT at the Enfield Pageant.), although the cars would never have fitted the standard suburban garage at his home in Barnet! Bill was one of the loyal attendees at the 2022 Xmas display and despite the cold and crowds happily displayed the lovely Ford Zodiac.

He started off with a brown Rover P6. Although a beautiful example, it was a bit trilby hat for Bill! His passion lay more with rock and roll and teddy boys. The Rover was eventually part exchanged for a 2.5 ltr, 1957 Ford Zodiac two tone blue that was more up Bill’s street. It also fitted the garage! Bill will be missed at the club meetings and our hearts and thoughts go out to Maureen, his wife, and family.

Best wishes to all and looking forward to meeting up and another busy year,
James Beeton

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MARCH 2023 NEWSLETTER

Hi All,
Well… spring has sprung, alas with some dodgy weather to greet the season! Great to have the longer days though as this always feels a positive change is happening. The incoming classic car scene will start to pick up quickly and all will be good in this best of possible worlds where every prospect is pleasing and only rust is vile! A lot of our beloved cars will still be in hibernation and awaiting the right moment to emerge, but I’m sure with all the ample tinkering over winter, they will be resplendent…. Below are some updates on what we are planning for this year so the moment is here!!

SPRING TREASURE HUNT

The planning for this has now been completed and we are going ahead with this event on National Drive It day on 23th April. See below for the flyer advertising the event . Please message Derrick Haggerty /Chris Skinner to advise of attendance as we need to let the Woodman Pub owners know of our arrangements. The pub does great food and there will be an opportunity after the run to have some food and a drink to recover! It may sound easy to organise an event such as this, but believe me there is considerable time taken in planning/organisation so thanks to Derrick and Chris Skinner for pulling this together.

The route plan will be issued on the day, this will be a circular run starting and ending (hopefully!) at the same location. We would ask, if at all possible, for each car to have a minimum of 2 occupants for safety and safe driving purposes. As mentioned on the flyer above, we will be seeking a small voluntary contribution from participants to cover the costs and to add to our donations to the club adopted charity – Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet. The Treasure Hunt should take no longer than 2 hrs and is about 30miles long, providing you don’t get lost! There are no fuel stops on the way, so please ensure you are well tanked up before you start and not when you leave the pub after lunch! The pub have kindly agreed to open early so we can have our ‘event briefing’ indoors with a coffee and we will have full access to the toilets before you leave.
On Sundays the pub has a carvery lunch and as such is very busy so it is very important to let Derrick know if you wish to attend the lunch as they have offered to secure our normal meeting room if we have enough people staying on. Please drop Derrick an email/message as soon as possible to confirm if you will be attending the main event and /if you will be staying on for lunch.
Feel free just to attend the lunch if you do not want to participate in the main event, but we will need to know the numbers in advance.

BCCC ANNUAL SHOW 2023 UPDATE

Planning is well under way for the annual BCCC event at the Spires. This will take place on Sunday, May 14th – see flyer as below. We are meeting up at the Everyman Cinema no later than 10.30am for a controlled departure of cars to drive up Barnet Hill and along the High St for a classic car parade, starting from 11am onwards. The cars will then make their way to The Spires MSCP to park up on the top deck which has been reserved for our attendance.
We will need to control the number attending on the day and need to advise the car park operators of our VRM’s in advance in order to avoid having to pay or pick up a possible PCN. Please can you make contact with Chris Martin via Groups.IO or direct to book your attendance. More info will be released closer to the date so please keep an eye on the messaging on Groups.IO. To nominally help offset our carbon emissions ! we intend having a collection bucket waved around with all proceeds collected to help cover our costs and also donate to our adopted charity. Note that volunteers for traffic control /parking management in the car park would be appreciated so again please get in touch with Chris or myself. All vehicles not taking part in the parade will need to be in place on the top level of the car park by 10.30am at latest as the show will open to the public at 11.00am. and we need to limit the car movements for safety reasons. Admission will only be allowed by pre-booking as your vehicle registration number is required by the car park management in order to waive car parking charges. The route to the car park for those meeting at the Everyman Cinema prior to the parade is shown below.

OTHER EVENTS

Enfield Pageant May – 27/28th May 2023
Harpended Classics on the Common – 26th July with tickets on sale from 6th April
Tewin Car Show – 20th August
Capel Manor Show – September 3rd
Goat Inn Hertford Heath – first Sunday every month, all cars welcome.
Regarding the Enfield Pageant, I will be working with the MCR to try to secure a display area for MCR/BCCC. Traditionally the MCR attend en masse on the Sunday so we could use the space on the Saturday and on the Sunday too if spaces are available for smaller cars. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in attending.

CLUB SOCIAL MEET-UPS

As advised before we have increased the frequency of the meet-ups. They are on the 2nd Saturday of each month starting in February – see Calendar page for future dates. They start at 2pm for a drink and chat.

We have now had two meetings this year at the Woodman Inn, Warrengate Rd, Water End AL9 7TT with a good attendance at each. There were around 20 people and a handful of classics at the March event – see pictures below. We may change this meeting place from time to time to mix it up a bit and to enable a longer run out for our cars. However, the reception so far from the staff at the Woodman has been positive and car friendly so we are happy with this venue at the moment. The Club Christmas meal will be on Saturday,9th December, with details to be released nearer the date.

CLUB REGALIA

If anyone would like further screen stickers and/or a Club polo shirt – in green with Club Logo – then contact Paul Johnson via the Club Groups.io forum and delivery can be arranged.

BCCC COMMITTEE

At our most recent meeting (7/3/23), we continued with our discussions regarding the future plans and direction for the club. The consensus, as now, is to still keep matters as simple as possible, but to continue to enhance our profile by utilising current media platforms for information dissemination/exchange. To this end, Chris Martin has set up the Facebook page for BCCC see link below:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/922544478743138/?ref=share_group_link.
So please have a look, join and keep an eye out for club meetings and future events. Post some pictures of your cars and any interesting stories about them. Please also invite any of your friends who already have, or are are interested in, classic vehicles to join the group. We have almost completed the setting up of a no fee bank account with NatWest. We felt that this is now a necessity for holding funds, as we will have ongoing costs, some of which I detail below.
Club Funds: To keep our ongoing tradition of being a free club, we will seek to raise any funds we may need through voluntary contributions at events, or sometimes via mandatory small contributions. We currently do need to cover some annual and ongoing costs. As part of this we are looking at seeking some annual club sponsorship to hopefully cover most of our commitments. This is ongoing and to date we already have a commitment from the Hertford Motor Co. which is great news. As you know Martyn Gerrard provide advertising for the annual show on their sale boards and we will be looking for volunteers to have a sign outside their property for a short period leading up to the event. Please let Derrick, myself or Marty know if you are ok with this.
Third Party Insurance : as we are “organising” official BCCC events, no matter how small , or if we are attending as a club we need to have minimum PL insurance cover. This is being checked out currently and we will advise as soon as we know the costs of covering this liability.

Club Gazebo: Another must have for club events will be a small gazebo, this will ultimately be purchased from donations/sponsorship collected during the forthcoming events.
Advertising Posters / Banners etc: We have a number of banners that are used at strategic locations before the annual show and these need to be modified to reflect the 2023 dates so there are small costs applicable. These are getting past their ‘sell by’ date so new ones will be required next year. We also need to printout and laminate some A4 posters to band onto lighting columns and telegraph poles to advertise the show.

Looking forward to a busy year. Best wishes,

James Beeton

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JANUARY 2023 NEWSLETTER

Hi All,
Firstly a Happy New Year to all our members and supporters and I look forward to some great meet ups this year. Below is a quick update on recent events and some plans for 2023.

BARNET XMAS FAYRE
The annual Barnet Xmas Fayre took place on Sunday 4th December.
Following a meeting with the organisers, we were invited to attend again and provide a small display of vehicles as last year. We were luckily given the same space as 2021 which was an excellent location by St John’s Church on the High Street – this is the first section of the Fayre if arriving up the hill, or conversely the last when departing. This gave us easy access/egress for our vehicles, and the space also meant we could erect a club gazebo on the hardstanding beside the church car park. The day was very challenging weather wise as it was freezing cold and remained dull and overcast all day. However, it remained dry which was a bonus, and didn’t dampen our or our visitors’ enthusiasm. Having the pitch next to the church proved very advantageous as they had numerous events scheduled throughout the day, coupled with fab cake and tea stalls and even a pop up bar provided by Urban Alchemy – local Barnet brewers of choice – holy water of course😊. With the warmth and other necessary ‘facilities’ it was a welcome relief to pop in occasionally from the cold. Here are some of the photos taken on the day including a rather dodgy chap trying to borrow a Jag for a quick getaway😊.

We ran the successful “Dream Ride” raffle once more and this proved even more popular than last year. At one point we even ran out of tickets and an emergency supply was provided by Chris. At the final reckoning we raised a fantastic £570.00. Some of this will go towards funding a Club gazebo (for our organised events) with a further sum to be donated later this year to a local charity – the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice. BCCC Attendees: Bill /Zodiac, Derrick/Pop, Paul/MGC, George/Jag, Graham/Jag, Howard/Cadillac/Ferrari, Chris Martin/Austin with Andy from T&H, Clare, and myself, so a big thanks to all who organised / assisted so cheerfully and made the display and day another success.

XMAS MEAL AND MEET UP 10/12/22
The Xmas meal this year was held at the Woodman Inn at Water End. This was well attended by BCCC diners and a great festive feast was enjoyed by all. The December social meet up also coincided on the same afternoon at this new venue. The consensus amongst attendees was that the pub has the feel of a genuine local pub with extremely welcoming staff and a great atmosphere.
The draw for the Dream Ride 2023 took place after the meal and three lucky winners were plucked from the hat. They will be contacted by email and offered a selection of vehicles to choose from for their ride on a date to be mutually agreed with the owner/driver.

UPDATE ON 2023 BARNET CLASSIC CAR SHOW
Hopefully good news for 2023, Chris Nightingale has confirmed that the Spires NCP car park has been taken over by Britannia Parking and there seems to be a lot of good will regarding holding the annual show in the car park again! We will be talking to the management over the next few months and hopefully be able to strike a deal with them for use of part or all of the top floor. Looking at the diary ahead for 2023, May is our preferred month for the event and we are looking at provisionally the 14th May. (NOTE THAT SINCE THIS NEWSLETTER WAS WRITEN, WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION TO USE THE TOP FLOOR OF THE CAR PARK FOR OUR SHOW ON SUNDAY, 14th MAY)
To nominally help offset our carbon emissions😊! we intend having a collection bucket waved around with all proceeds ( suggest equivalent parking fee!) collected to go to our adopted charity – Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice

TREASURE HUNT
Unfortunately time ran out to get this event organised for 2022 so we had to defer this until 2023. We will email info out as and when we move this forward, as before current thinking still is of starting out from the Duke of York or Woodman and possibly returning there at the end of the run. The plan is to run the event on the annual ‘Drive it Day ‘taking place on April 23rd.

OTHER EVENTS
Enfield Pageant May – dates TBA
East Barnet Festival early July – date TBA
Harpendon Classics on the Common July -date TBA
Tewin Car Show August – date TBA
Capel Manor Show September – date TBA
Also we plan later in the year to do the odd trip out to The Goat Inn at Hertford Heath which has an ‘all welcome’ car gathering on the first Sunday of every month (see below).

CLUB SOCIAL MEET UPS

At our newly extended committee meeting on 28th December, it was unanimously agreed that we should increase the frequency of the social meet ups in 2023 to a monthly turn out. These would be on the 2nd Saturday each month starting in February from 2pm onwards for a drink and chat. (See CALENDAR page of this website for dates) We discussed the venue choice and this will now default initially to the Woodman Inn, Warrengate Rd, Water End AL9 7TT. However, we may change this from time to time to get a bit more variety and a longer run out for our metally friends😊!

CLUB REGALIA
If anyone would like further screen stickers andor a Club polo shirt (in green with Club logo) then contact Paul Johnson via the Club’s groups.io forum and delivery can be arranged.

BCCC COMMITTEE
During the successful Barnet Xmas Fayre we had a number of members volunteer to join the committee for 2023. This is great news as we can now spread the organising load more fairly from the core members who did all
the work in 2022. Another obvious benefit is that with greater membership there will be enhanced diversity of thoughts/ideas. At the meeting we agreed the adoption of monthly meet ups, and some key events where BCCC would have a club stand – these being East Barnet Festival, Tewin and Capel Manor (details as above). We discussed further the future direction of the Club and the consensus, as now, is to keep matters as simple as we possibly can, but to enhance our profile by utilising current media platforms for information/dissemination exchange. We also unanimously agreed that it would be good to include a purpose-led goal within our yearly activities and as such we have decided it would be great to support and adopt a local charity as our chosen cause. To this end we have decided on Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice. This is an incredible organisation devoted to the care and support of all placed in their care, who strive for children and families to make the most of the time they have together, creating memories that last a lifetime. As always funding is tight and any donations, no matter how large or small, are gratefully received. They were thrilled to receive our donation last year and thus we intend to repeat the same again this year, and keep this focus in our minds when we are all out having fun in our beloved vehicles.
For information to all, the committee now consists of 9 permanent members: Howard Pryor, Chris Nightingale, Derrick Haggerty, Paul Johnson, James Beeton, with new members being Chris Martin, Marty Collins, George Dimitriadis, Chris Frost, and of course not forgetting our honorary lifetime peer Owen Jones. So a huge thanks to all the new volunteers and looking forward to a successful 2023 …………..I can put my feet up now!

Best wishes, James Beeton

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NOVEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER

As all are aware for numerous reasons the annual BCCC show 2022 did not take place, a shame but we had no real option this year. However, hopefully good news for 2023, Chris Nightingale has reported that the Spires car park has been taken over by Britannia Parking and there seems to be a lot of good will regarding holding the annual show in the car park! We will be talking to the management over the next few months and hopefully be able to strike a deal with them. Looking at the diaries ahead for 2023, May is our preferred month for the event and we are looking provisionally at Sunday, 14th May – to be confirmed.

TREASURE HUNT
Unfortunately time ran out to get this event organised for this year so we will shelve it until next year now. I will email info out as and when we move this forward, as before, current thinking still is of starting out from the Duke of York and possibly returning there at the end of the run. Any other ideas regarding this would be gratefully received!

TEWIN CAR SHOW, SUNDAY 21/8/22
This great event went ahead as planned and the day was excellent, beautiful weather prevailed and a healthy turn-out of excellent cars. The field was full up! The catering on site and the music were all superb, a handful of stalls trading local goods and other items were present and provided further interest at the event. Keep in mind for next year as it is a not to miss show!

CAPEL MANOR SHOW, SUNDAY 4/9/22
Another great late summer event attended regularly by some BCCC Members.
As with Tewin, this turned out to be great day with the weather gods all aligned to once again allow an excellent day out. A full turn-out of clubs and cars this year, with a superb selection of veteran and pre-war cars on the coveted front lawn of the house ! The added bonus of this venue is that you can take full advantage of the wonderful garden.

CHARITY DONATION FROM XMAS FAYRE, 2021
For info, in late September we were invited to attend a small reception at the Noah’s Ark Hospice in Barnet. Howard, Derrick and Paul were able to attend and, on behalf of Barnet Classic Car Club, presented a cheque for £100 to their charity. We were shown around this magnificent building with fabulous facilities and dedicated staff. These funds were raised at last year’s Barnet Xmas Fayre where we displayed 5 classic cars in the High Street in Barnet. We sold raffle tickets for the winner(s) to have a “Dream Ride” ride in a classic car of their choice.

SOCIAL MEET-UP, 15/10/22
This was arranged for Saturday pm at our usual meet-up point, the Duke of York . A good turn-out again, with the library in the pub completely full with members and partners. We invited one of the winners (James) of the “Dream Ride” competition from last year’s Xmas Fayre. He went out in Paul’s E type and then had a bonus second ride in Derrick’s car. The actual ticket was originally won by a gentleman called Frank who kindly re-raffled it at his Welwyn Garden Golf Club Event, and James paid £80.00 for the experience! He absolutely loved the day and came and joined us all for a drink afterwards. It was good to see a young person showing so much interest in old cars. The other interesting thing was that he was 6’6’’ tall and still managed to get in the E Type(!). No problem in Derrick’s Ford Pop as his head still did not touch the headlining! This again proves one of the many well known facts and benefits of owning a Ford Pop, and that is it is one of the few cars you can drive whilst wearing a top hat! The other good thing about this story is that the money James paid was donated to charity which meant we now actually made £180 for charity on the back of the Xmas Fayre!

DE HAVILLAND AIRCRAFT MUSEUM VISIT, 4/11/22
As a final event for 2023, we arranged to attend the De Havilland Museum just outside Potters Bar and close to London Colney. This very interesting collection is the only museum dedicated to De Havilland aviation, which was based at Hatfield for many years. The collection consists of a great collection of De Havilland aircraft and material /info. There is also an active restoration workshop which is manned by skilled and enthusiastic volunteers. To get the guided tour option with reserved parking in front of the hangers, we had to get a minimum of 10 attendees, and in the end we had 12 members turn out for the tour. Unfortunately on the day the weather was not kind and only a few of our beloved cars made an appearance, so hats off to those owners who braved the elements! The tour started off around 10.30am with coffee/tea and bikkies, and then into the hangers from around 11am. We were expertly guided around by a very knowledgeable tour guide – Lawrence- through the various displays from early DH aircraft like the Hornet Moth, the bizarre Cierva Autogiro and the DH88 Racer, through to the display of later jets – Sea Venom and Vampire and the famous Comet 1a passenger jet. Then into the famous Mosquito Hanger displaying 3 magnificent examples of this iconic aircraft, including the only existing prototype. This amazing aircraft, built in traditional De Havilland style largely of wood and fabric, was used in many guises in the 2nd World War and was the fastest aircraft flying at the time, finally only just being pipped by the late ME262 jet aircraft at the end of the war! From this hanger we were taken through the fantastic restoration workshops where amongst others there was a cut-away Merlin Engine which was turned over on batteries to view the workings. Then out into the standing displays surrounding the Museum: DH121 Trident, BA146, Vampire, Heron, Dove etc. The larger passenger jets displays consist of fuselage sections and the flight decks. Ryan Air would have a fit if they saw the comfort and space in the cabins!! Interestingly, in the Comet there was no under-cabin baggage storage as found on modern craft, there was only a small room at the front where you could stow some small bags! As initially it was an expensive aircraft to fly on, the thought was that the well-heeled passengers would have sent their luggage on ahead!! The tour concluded around 2 pm, so took around 3 hours which made the entrance fee for this option excellent value. One of the key manufacturing advantages of the wood-framed aircraft built by DH was that the various parts of the planes could be made off site by any capable manufacturers in wood, such as chair manufacturers, furniture makers etc. In fact, one of our members, Lewis Green’s grandfather who was an umbrella stick maker by trade, worked for DH during the war period crafting component parts for the aircraft builds! Some photos from the visit are shown below.

Finally, a big thanks to Derrick Haggerty for arranging this attendance.

SOCIAL MEET-UPS
Below are proposed dates for bi-monthly meet-ups on Saturdays from 2pm onwards for a drink and chat. The default venue is the Duke of York, however we may change this from time to time to get a bit more of a run-out for our furry friends😊
 10/12/2022 – plus Xmas Meal see below for more info.
 11/02/2023
 8/04/2023
 10/06/2023

The Club Christmas meal will also be on Saturday,10th December, and we shall meet at, say 12.00pm, for sitting down at, say 12.45pm. For all those members who would like to attend, please contact Paul Johnson as soon as possible so that numbers can be established and a suitable space reserved. Note there may be a full contingent already but pleased make contact if interested.

ANNUAL BARNET XMAS FAYRE, 4/12/22

The annual Barnet Xmas Fayre will take place on 4th December. Following a meeting with the organisers, we have been asked to attend again and provide a display of vehicles as last year. We hope to occupy the same space and will run our “Dream Ride” raffle again as this proved very popular. From the meet- up at the D of Y on 15th October some further members have volunteered to marshal the cars at the event which is great news. More info will be emailed/forwarded closer to the event.

CLUB NEWS/REGALIA
If anyone would like further screen stickers and or a Club polo shirt , in green with the club logo, then contact Paul Johnson via the Club’s Groups.io forum and delivery can be arranged.
Finally to close, I would like again to ask if any other members would consider joining the “committee” to help out / proffer ideas with any organising or planning that we may conjure up! With full time long hours of work for current committee members, organising even simple events can take a lot of hard earned free time and we simply need some others to help out on a regular basis to maintain our club momentum. Nothing too onerous just a bit of time and effort needed to keep the wheels rolling! It really would make a massive difference if there was more willing help at hand. So please think about it, do it and put your hand up, you know it makes sense😊.
Best Wishes,

James Beeton

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AUGUST 2022 NEWSLETTER

BCCC ANNUAL SHOW UPDATE

A message was sent out on by Chris Nightingale – 9/9/22 – regarding the proposed annual show which for many unfortunate reasons will not happen this year. I have included the body of the message below, in case some may have missed the posting. This is a great shame as we have had many successful shows over recent years and that is indeed how many current members first met up with our club and have continued supporting ever since.
This is not through want of trying and very big thanks to Chris as always for his never giving up…

“Unfortunately, there will be no Barnet classic car show this year, but we will aim to make amends next year. It wasn’t for want of trying. If you want to read further about the sorry tale, a brief summary of the problems follows: (i) Our preferred venue of The Spires NCP car park has not been possible because NCP have refused to communicate with us or, for that matter, with the Spires management due to a dispute over the termination of their contract. (ii) With the Spires car park proving difficult, we looked to having the show as part of a Barnet Summer Fayre on the Sunday of the Platinum Jubilee weekend. We gave up after two months of trying to squeeze an answer from Barnet Council as to whether they would close the High Street as they do for the annual Christmas Fayre. Time had run out (iii) James Beeton’s query to Army Reserve Centre in St Albans Road did receive the courtesy of a quick response which was, regretfully, that they are not having an open day this year. (iv) As an alternative to the High Street for the Jubilee weekend, we looked to the old market site in St Albans Road where the first shows were held. This was not possible as the site was due to be sold around the start of June and the new owner’s name was not to be revealed until the sale was completed. Our attempt to use the site for September 18th ran into the same problem (!) because the earlier sale fell through and a new buyer has been found with a completion date of the end of this month. This would not give us sufficient time for all the necessary arrangements if permission was to be given. It is true that there are other sites, but one of the main aims of the show since its inception has been to add an attraction for Barnet residents and visitors to come to see that High Barnet town centre is a lively place to come to eat, drink and shop. Hence our preference for a site in or around The Spires.
Finally, it might seem that the world was against us having a car show in Barnet, but this is far from the truth. Many people are to be thanked for helping and backing us and there were only two villains, namely NCP and the council department responsible for road closures over the Jubilee.”

EAST BARNET FESTIVAL 3rd JULY

Another successful year for this great annual East Barnet event, with fab weather ensuring huge attendance on both days. There were many interesting trading stalls present and lots of great food stalls, with a well-run bar for the traditional refreshing cold drink!! The family run Travelling Fair, which has attended every year, was as exciting as always with some classic rides for all to risk life and limb such as dodgems, ghost train, swings etc., etc.
The music stages and tents had some great acts with some excellent performances from local musicians continuing into the lovely summer evening.
The free to attend car event held on the Sunday was probably the best turn out yet with hundreds of cars spread out over two areas within Oak Hill Park.
The Classics (as we know them!) were all gathered up on the main event field and the newer customised “pimped” cars on display were on the second field.
This worked really well for both sets of owners with plenty of interest and enthusiasm, and respect for the various vehicles shown from all owners.
We had an excellent turn out of club members as this was the first major event we have attended as a club get together, with some 28 cars on show. We had been allocated a great location backing onto the Pymmes Brook so plenty of safe clear access for all to view and to place out seating areas. So a big thanks to Derrick Haggerty for liaising with the event organisers and securing our Club area, and not to mention the small victory of winning car of the show – seen below blagging the prize from the Mayor 😊..
Some photos from the event:

TREASURE HUNT

As previously mentioned we are still hoping to run a “Treasure Hunt” circular drive out. If we can get this organised it will now be an early autumn run. The planning for this is in progress, but due to work commitments it is taking a lot longer than anticipated so as soon as we get clearer details, I will email info out. Current thinking still is of starting out from the Duke of York and possibly returning there at the end of the run.

TEWIN CAR SHOW SUNDAY 21/8/22

This ticketed event is taking place on Sunday 21/8/22 at the usual Upper Green cricket field. I have had a number of members asking if we can have a club area, to do this we would need to arrive at the event and park together.
Display cars need to be on the field before 12am and traditionally I have got on site around 11am with the MCR Club. A good meeting point is the car park on the B1000 -Waterside -Welyn Garden City as below- approx post code is AL7 1NG so if any members attending would like to group up then I would suggest meeting here around at 10.30 am to allow time to get on site by 11am.

CAPEL MANOR SHOW SUNDAY 4/9/22

Another great late summer event attended regularly by BCC Members.
As per Tewin if we want to gather as a club then meeting beforehand would be the way forward. Meeting point possibly as below. Again I think all cars need to be on site by 11am so 10.30am would be fine.

SOCIAL MEET UPS

We discussed this at our recent committee catch up/review and decided that maybe a regular bi-monthly meet up would be acceptable by all so below are proposed dates for meeting on a Saturday from 2pm onwards for a drink and chat. The venue will default to the Duke of York, however we may change this from time to time to get a bit more of a run out for our furry friends😊
 15/10/2022
 10/12/2022
 11/02/2023
 8/04/2023
 10/06/2023

CLUB NEWS/REGALIA

If anyone would like further screen stickers and or a Club Polo shirt – in green with Club Logo – then contact Paul Johnson via the Club Groups I/O forum and delivery can be arranged.
The Groups I/O forum has proven to be very successful for us stepping into the 21st century communications/social media, and we have approx. 85 BCCC members fully affiliated /signed on.
Moving forward we will need to be mindful, if we still agree this is a good facility and wish to keep the forum functioning that this is a free to use a cloud based forum and there is a limit to the number of subscribed users before the platform will require the inevitable subscription fees for continued use. Some way off as yet, but getting closer!
I was thinking maybe to add in to the newsletter a “Car of the Month” feature, so if anyone would like to forward a brief history /story of their loved one (car!) with a photo or two, I will look at adding this in future for interest…
Finally to close I would like again to ask if any other members would consider joining the “committee” to help out / proffer ideas with any organising or planning that we may conjure up! With full time long hours of work for current committee members organising even simple events can take a lot of hard earned free time and we simply need some others to help out on a regular basis to maintain our club momentum. Nothing too onerous just a bit of time and effort needed to keep the wheels rolling! It really would make a massive difference with more willing help at hand. So please think about it, do it and put your hand up, you know it makes sense😊

Best wishes, James Beeton

_________________________________________________

JUNE 2022 NEWSLETTER

PLANS FOR 2022

So to thoughts for events / meetings for 2022:
TREASURE HUNT
As previously mentioned we are hoping to run a “Treasure Hunt” circular drive out in spring/early summer. The planning for this is in progress, but due to work commitments it will a little longer than anticipated so as soon as we get clearer details, I will email info out. Current thinking is of starting out from the Duke of York and possibly returning there at the end of the run.
NATIONAL DRIVE IT DAY
On April on 24th we enjoyed a short run out on a beautifully sunny day, starting from the Duke of York and ending up at Whitewebbs Museum. Attendance was brilliant with some 15 members and cars taking part. We assembled at the DofY around 9.45am for a 10 am depart. The route chosen was through Barnet High St, down the Hill to East Barnet, then up Cat Hill ( a hill climb race track many years ago!) to Cockfosters , by Trent Park to Botany Bay and Crewes Hill ending up at the Whitewebbs Museum. En route we met other groups driving around for the same purpose so it was a fun drive it outing. There were other clubs and cars arriving at Whitewebbs so a very interesting display of vehicles. We had a discounted price for entry including a hot drink of choice which was well received. The Café was open for breakfast rolls etc, and the magical Cave of Auto Jumble parts was also open for all to search for that elusive nut and bolt or spanner!! This was also the unveiling of the BCCC Sail Flag, here anchored down by a Mini Moke😊. Below are some photos of the cars:

BCCC ANNUAL SHOW
We will of course be organising our annual car show in High Barnet later this year. We had hoped around June time at the Jubilee Weekend but the initial approaches to the Council for a joint town centre event with others and the use of the High St space has proven futile and a negative response so we have shelved that idea. NCP change of ownership/management has meant that the use of the top floor of the car park is unlikely to be made available for early June time however that may change by late summer. Another option was to revert to the disused old market site, this is being transitioned between one owner and another and the deal has been delayed so again this is unlikely to be available for our early use. So we have now decided to postpone this event to September 18th. This will give us more time to review our options and get a solid plan in place. Dates and location will be advised once confirmed.

EAST BARNET FESTIVAL 3rd JULY
For those who have never been this is a great local event with many entertainment tents, stalls, a couple of music stages and a funfair. The car show has grown over the past few years from the 10 -12 cars when I first attended to well over a hundred at last show and growing! The cars are split in category’s over two days so that all types have the opportunity to be shown, from classics as we know them, to modern classics, hot rods, and “pimped” rides! Make no mistake these are fantastic and the skills and work to create the unique cars is very impressive so well worth viewing, it is just great to see the enthusiastic owners and to chat to them.
We have contacted the organisers regarding reserving a space specifically designated for Barnet CCC members and they have agreed which is excellent news! Please can you respond back via groups I/O so we can get a feel for numbers wishing to attend.

TOTTERIDGE COMMON SHOW
On 21 May at the request of the organisers, we supported the Dorland Nature Reserve charity event on Totteridge Common. With the previous day’s horrible rainy weather it was a relief to roll out on the Saturday morning with the BBC’s forecast of a fair day, and by midday as promised the sun was out , the cars were out and a great day was had by all!

So once more a big thank you to all the members who had committed and came along. Being a smaller gathering there was more time to chat to fellow members about their cars and all sorts of pub stuff so most enjoyable! A few photo images from the event below😊

DUKE OF YORK MEET-UP
How about another social meet up at the Duke of York for early summer? Thinking of the date Saturday 18th June from 2pm onwards.

CLUB NEWS/REGALIA
At the East Barnet Festival 3rd July we are again likely to run the “Dream Rides “raffle. This was very successful at the 2021 Xmas Fair and I suspect it will be popular again! So volunteer cars would be appreciated. If anyone would like further screen stickers and or a Club Polo shirt – in green with Club Logo then contact Paul Johnson via the Club Groups I/O forum and we can bring some along.

2022:SOME DATES FOR EVENTS IN 2022
East Barnet Festival – 1/3rd July
Harpenden Classics on the Common -27th July- ticketed event
Tewin Show – 21st August – Ticketed event (but if space available you can turn up on day)
Capel Manor – 4th September – Ticketed event

As a note and partly due to due to the changes in the way we all handle money / purchases these days, a lot of events are now moving to pre booked tickets, this makes their charitable collections easier and with the increase in numbers attending shows makes for easier traffic management on the day, good old cash sometimes is not king! The Groups I/O forum has proven to be very successful for us stepping into the 21st century communications/social media, and we have approx. 80 BCCC members fully affiliated / signed on. Moving forward we will need to be mindful, if we still agree this is a good facility and wish to keep the forum functioning, as this is a free to use cloud based forum, there is a limit to the number of subscribed users before the platform will require the inevitable subscription fees for continued use. Some way off as yet! I was thinking maybe to add in to the newsletter a “car of the Month” feature, so if anyone would like to forward a brief history /story of their loved one(car!) with a photo or so I will look at adding this in future for interest… Finally to close I would like again to ask if any other members would consider joining the “committee” to help out / proffer ideas with any organising or planning that we may conjur up! We need some diversity in the cabinet, – parties are allowed now! Additionally volunteering to help out occasionally with organising events etc etc. Nothing to onerous just a bit of time and effort needed now and again. It really makes a massive difference with more willing help at hand.
Think about it you know it makes sense😊
Best Wishes.
James Beeton

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APRIL 2022 NEWSLETTER

Hi All, to catch up:
We had a small gathering / social meeting at the Duke of York on Saturday 2nd April. A small number of brave classic cars made it out of hibernation (with their owners!) for this informal gathering but bearing in mind the time of year and the unpredictable weather on the day most will remain snoozing for a few more weeks yet. As usual some useful interchange of valuable info and general chit chat was enjoyed by members attending. For the next social meet up, I would again suggest we meet on a Saturday pm at the Duke of York probably around mid-May, however as an alternative there may be renewed interest in meeting at the Crooked Billet in Colney Heath thus giving the cars a better chance to warm up! I will email out a date / venue in due course.

Plans for 2022

So to thoughts for events / meetings for 2022:
Treasure Hunt
As previously mentioned we are hoping to run a “Treasure Hunt” circular drive out in spring. The planning for this is in progress so as soon as we get clearer details, I will email info out. Currently we are thinking of starting out from the Duke of York and possibly returning there at the end of the run.
National Drive it Day
On April on 24th there will be the annual “Drive it Day” where lots of classic car owners can be seen out and about. So maybe we could gather as a group and have a short run out locally and end up at the open day at WhiteWebbs where we can park up in the Museum Grounds. If this is of interest, please respond on groups. io asap so we can get an idea of numbers likely to attend and make arrangements the short drive out.
Enfield Pageant
The Enfield Pageant will be returning to the calendar this year 28th/29th May. This is a great event with good car displays and dozens of auto jumble/ motoring accessories and general Junk ( the best!), trade stalls. In previous years the display cars were admitted FoC but I think this year there may be a small entry charge for club stands – understandable considering the loss of revenue over last couple of years.
BCCC Annual Show
We will of course be organising our annual car show in High Barnet later this year. We had hoped around June time at the Jubilee Weekend but the initial approaches to the Council for a joint Town centre event with others and the use of the High St space has proven futile and a negative response so we have shelved that idea. Turmoil at NCP has meant that the use of the top floor of the car park is unlikely to be made available for early June time however that may change by late summer. Another option was to revert to the disused old market site, this is being transitioned between one owner and another and the deal has been delayed so again this is unlikely to be available for our early use. I have communicated with the Army Centre on St Albans Rd to find out if they were going to have the Armed Forces Open Day this year and if they would consider accommodating us for this annual event. fRemember we had a very successful and enjoyable show there some 4 years ago. Sadly due to funding etc. they are cutting back on non-essential events and regretfully this option has now gone west. Not written off for the future though. So we have now decided to postpone this event to Sunday, 18th September. This will give us more time to review our options and get a solid plan in place. Times and location will be advised once confirmed.
East Barnet Festival
For those who have never been this is a great local event with many entertainment tents, stalls, a couple of music stages and a funfair. The car show has grown over the past few years from the 10 -12 cars when I first attended to well over a hundred at the last show and growing! The cars are split into categories over two days so that all types have the opportunity to be shown, from classics as we know them, to modern classics, hot rods, and “pimped” rides! Make no mistake these are fantastic and the skills and work to create the unique cars are very impressive so well worth viewing. It is just great to see the enthusiastic owners and to chat to them. We have contacted the organisers regarding reserving a space specifically designated for BCCC
members and they have agreed which is excellent news! Please can you respond back via groups.io so we can get a feel for numbers wishing to attend.
Totteridge Common Show
We have been asked if any members would be willing to bring a car along for a small display to support this local event on 21st May. The event is to help promote the running of the local Dorlands Nature Reserve as well as other local activities. They are looking for 6-8 classic cars (we must be able to rustle up some pristine examples) for display from around 11am till later pm.
If you are interested please make contact directly with myself via the Forum and let me know names and vehicles to be displayed. I will liaise with the organisers and advise in due course.

Club News/Regalia

At the East Barnet Festival we are again likely to run the “Dream Rides “raffle.
This was very successful at the Xmas Fair and I suspect it will be popular again! So volunteer cars would be appreciated. From the proceeds of this first attempt, we have:

+ Bought a fantastic 4m sail flag in BCCC colours with the club contact details etc. This will be displayed at all BCCC Official gatherings, the first will be the East Barnet Festival!

+ Made a donation to a local charity – Noah’s Ark

+ Procured another batch of BCCC screen stickers

So if anyone would like further screen stickers and or a club polo shirt – in green – with club Logo then contact Paul Johnson via the club’s groups.io forum

Further dates for 2022

Classic Boot Sale Granary Sq. Kings Cross – 23rd/24th April
Tewin Show – 21st August
Harpenden Classics on the Common -27th July
Enfield Pageant – 28/29th May
East Barnet Festival 1/3rd July
Glastonbury Festival of Music and Arts 21-27th June😊
Capel Manor 4th September
As a note and partly due to due to the changes in the way we all handle money/ purchases these days, a lot of events are now moving to pre-booked tickets. This makes their charitable collections easier and with the increase in numbers attending shows makes it for easier traffic management on the day, good old cash sometimes is not king!

Final thoughts

The groups.io forum has proven to be very successful for us stepping into the 21st century communications/social media, and we have approx. 75-80 BCCC members fully affiliated / signed on. Moving forward we will need to be mindful, if we still agree this is a good facility and wish to keep the forum functioning, that this is a free to use cloud-based forum, but there is a limit to the number of subscribed users before the platform will require the inevitable subscription fees for continued use. Some way off as yet!

I was thinking maybe to add in to the newsletter a “Car of the Month” feature, so if anyone would like to forward a brief history /story of their loved one (car!) with a photo or two, I will look at adding this in future for interest.
Finally to close I would like again to ask if any other members would consider joining the committee to help out / proffer ideas for any organising or planning that we may conjure up! We need some diversity in the cabinet!!
Additionally volunteering to help out occasionally with organising events etc. Nothing too onerous, just a bit of time and effort needed now and again. It really makes a massive difference when there is more willing help at hand.
Think about it you know it makes sense😊
Best Wishes,
James Beeton

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FEBRUARY 2022 NEWSLETTER

Hi All,
Now that the Festive Season is a dim and distant memory and the Covid Rules are being relaxed, or ignored as appropriate , it is time maybe to look forward to Classic Car events for the new year.
We had a very enjoyable meeting at the Duke of York on Saturday 29th Jan with a really good turn out of club members and friends. A small number of classic cars made it out of hibernation for this informal gathering but bearing in mind the time of year and salty, potholed roads etc most will remain snoozing for a few more weeks yet! It was great to see all who came along and to chat with members whom I have really not had a chance to before, we have a great bunch in this club.
For the next social meet up, again we will meet on a Saturday pm at the Duke of York probably around mid to end of March. I will email out a date in due course.

Barnet Xmas Fair 2021
As you know we were invited at short notice by the organisers to display a small number of cars at this annual event. This we did and members brought along some fantastic cars for the display so a big thank you for bringing out the fab cars in such inclement weather. We were located at the St Johns Church end of the High St so the cars were the first thing you came across when entering from the Southern High St /Wood St junction. We were allowed to put up a small Gazebo which proved to be a useful refuge in the rather damp weather that day!
There was great interest in the displayed cars throughout the day so we were kept very busy.
As part of the display Derick Haggerty had organised a “Dream Car” ride raffle.
This was a great last minute fundraising brainwave and proved very popular! At close of play we had raised approx. £250.00 of which we are going to make a donation to a local charity – Noahs Ark, with any remaining going towards funding a club Banner/ Sail flag that we can use at any of our Club gatherings/ events.
The winning tickets x 3 was drawn at the pre Xmas meet up at the Duke if York, They have all been emailed a list of cars they can book a 30min ride in, at a mutually agreeable time/date.
So a big thanks to Derrick and the volunteers who assisted in managing this during the Xmas show.

Plans for 2022
So to thoughts for events / meetings for 2022.
We are hoping to run a “Treasure Hunt” circular drive out in Spring. The planning for this is in progress so as soon as we get clearer details, I will email info out. Currently we are thinking of starting out from the Duke of York and possibly returning there at the end of the run.
On April on 24th there will be the annual “Drive it Day” where lots of classic car owners can be seen out and about. So maybe we could gather as a group and have a short run out locally and end up at the open day at WhiteWebbs where we can park up in the Museum Grounds. If this is of interest, please respond on Groups IO so we can get an idea of numbers likely to attend.
The Enfield Pageant will be returning to the calendar this year 28th/29th May. This is a great event with good car displays and dozens of auto jumble/ motoring accessories and general Junk( the best!), trade stalls .
In the past I have organised a club stand for the Mini Cooper Register and will probably do so again this year subject to the organisers confirming arrangements. This display area for around 10 cars is usually only populated on the Sunday by the MCR so the space could maybe be used by ourselves BCCC on the Saturday. Again, let us know if of interest.
In previous years the display cars were admitted FoC but I think this year there may be a small entry charge for club stands – understandable considering the loss of revenue over last couple of years.
We will of course be organising our annual car show in High Barnet around June time (possibly Jubilee Weekend) but dates yet to be confirmed. There have been some changes at NCP so use of the top deck of the car park may be in doubt, however we will be negotiating with them to confirm.
Another option might be the disused old market site, if we can trace the new owners and get permission.
We will also be speaking to the Army Centre on St Albans Rd to find out if they are going to have the British Army Open Day and if they would consider accommodating us for the annual show. We had a very successful and enjoyable show there some 4 years ago. The site is perfect as it is huge and could hold any number of vehicles as well as the army displays so would be a great option…
Finally as a BCCC club event we would like to book space at East Barnet Oakhill Park festival which is going ahead this year 1st – 3rd July.
For those who have never been this is a great local event with many entertainment tents, stalls, a couple of music stages and a funfair. The car show has grown over the past few years from the 10 -12 cars when I first attended to well over a hundred at last show and growing! The cars are split in category’s over two days so that all types have the opportunity to show from classics as we know then to modern classics, hot rods, and “pimped” rides! Make no mistake these are fantastic and the skills and work to create the unique cars is very impressive so well worth viewing, it is just great to see the enthusiastic owners and to chat to them.
This Sunday 6th Feb there is an Autojumble at Whitewebbs Museum which is well worth going to if you need to find that last part for your restorations or just like a good rummage around!

Below are some dates for events for 2022 :
Tewin Show – 21st August
Harpenden Classics on the Common -27th July
Enfield Pageant – 28/29th May
East Barnet festival 1/3rd July
Glastonbury Festival of Music and Arts 21-27th June

There are other local regular events however no dates released as yet.
As a note and partly due to due to the changes in the way we handle money / purchases these days a lot of events are now moving to pre booked tickets, this makes their charitable collections easier and with the increase in numbers attending shows makes for easier traffic management on the day… good old cash sometimes is not king!!
Finally to close I would like to ask if any other members would consider joining the “committee” to help out / proffer ideas with any organising or planning that we may conjur up! We need some diversity in the cabinet!! Also volunteering to help out occasionally with organising events etc etc. Nothing to onerous just a bit of time and effort needed now and again. It really makes a massive difference with more willing help at hand. Think about it you know it makes sense
Best Wishes.
James Beeton

Members who have already subscribed to the new ‘groups.io’ platform that Howard has introduced will know just what a flexible and versatile system this is. It is where the future of the club lies and will become the only channel of communication that we will continue to use We hope that you will want to continue as a member of the club which is easily done by emailing Howard using the address below to confirm this.
Howard Pryor: howard.pryor@icloud.com

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DECEMBER NEWSLETTER

XMAS MEETING SATURDAY 11th December 2021

Hi All,

A quick reminder to all we plan to meet up for our traditional pre Xmas get together at the Duke of York Pub on Saturday 11th December from 2pm till approx. 4pm. I know at this time of year a lot of our precious cars are deep into hibernation so there is no requirement to wake em up and drag them along!! So please just come along with or without for a social drink and a chat. This is aa ideal opportunity to proffer ideas for events/ attendances, shows etc the coming year.

Hopefully more of our favourite events will be able to take place in 2021 and as we now have an easier forum to pass on info then attending as a car club at some will be a lot easier to arrange… . As Derrick Haggerty has already advised we have been asked if we can display a small number of cars at the Barnet Xmas Fair on 5th December. This is the first time we have done this so again another opportunity to get involved with local events… .
To save owners having to remain with the vehicles for the whole period we are arranging a rota of “guards” to spend maybe an hour or so just ensuring the vehicles are safe , so if you are willing to help let Derrick know, as he may still need some volunteers…

Look forward to meeting on Saturday 11th .

Regards

James Beeton


PLEASE NOTE: Members who have already subscribed to the new ‘groups.io’ platform that Howard has introduced will know just what a flexible and versatile system this is. It is where the future of the club lies and will become the only channel of communication that we will continue to use We hope that you will want to continue as a member of the club which is easily done by emailing Howard
using the address below to confirm this.
Howard Pryor: howard.pryor@icloud.com

_________________________________________________

NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER

CLUB MEETING SATURDAY 30th October 2021

Hi All, just catching up,
A quick update on our meeting on Saturday 30th Oct.
The day started a bit wet and was looking not good, but by mid-day it was perfect for the planned afternoon meet up.
We had a good turn out for the afternoon and plenty of great cars to drool over! So thanks to all who came along.
The Library area at the Dof Y was kept clear for us although with such fine weather this was hardly used.
Below are some great photos taken on the day by Tom Skinner have a look –

FUTURE MEETINGS
Members who have already subscribed to the new ‘groups.io’ platform that Howard has introduced will know just what a flexible and versatile system this is. It is where the future of the club lies and will become the only channel of communication that we will continue to use We hope that you will want to continue as a member of the club which is easily done by emailing Howard using the address below to confirm this.
Howard Pryor: howard.pryor@icloud.com
07956 544 168
Paul Johnson has kindly organised a Xmas Lunch at the Duke of York on 4th December, so if you want to come along please contact him as soon as possible so a suitable area can be reserved.
Best Wishes James Beeton……

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OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

NEXT CLUB MEETING SATURDAY 30th OCTOBER 2021

To keep the club active I would like to suggest we try for another meeting before the Xmas meeting , this gathering is proposed for the The Duke of York EN5 4SG from 2pm to 4pm ish. I have spoken to the Pub and they will consider reserving the library area if they are not busy.

BARNET CLASSIC CAR SHOW SUNDAY 26th SEPTEMBER 2021
Firstly A big thank you to all who allowed Martyn Gerrard to put signs up, a shame they were missing the all-important event details but that’s another story! Also it goes without saying a massive thanks you to all who turned up on the day to display their treasured cars. We had circa 60 cars attending with a range spanning over 90 years of motoring.
This annual show takes some long term organising and negotiating with both the Spires and NCP and so it is thanks to Chris and Diane’s endeavours again that we managed to get the go ahead to use the upper deck of the NCP Car Park. This space proved ideal on the day. Sadly we could not organise a local mustering point as previous years so that we could set off in a parade for arrival via the High St, although a large number did do the run along the High St following Chris pre show email. Next year we will have something in place.
On to the show. This proved to be a huge success and, coupled with the excellent weather ( pre-arranged 😊) attracted a lot of visitors to enjoy the display and chat with owners about their cars. The live band fronted by Katie Oldham/ Down to Earth who have supported our event for a number of years were as usual excellent and played some great tunes beautifully on the day , so a musical treat was also enjoyed by all. Down at street level the New Barnet local micro Brewery – Urban Alchemy -were trading their wares from the bandstand as were a number of local independent street food vendors so excellent food and drinks were at hand!
The hosts – NCP were very happy with arrangements and the smooth running of the event as it did not cause them any issues, again this is down to the hard working and carefully briefed volunteer Marshalls on the day so a thanks to all who assisted here.
Below are some photos to give a feel for the event……..

This is a brief reminder of our next gathering which will be at The Crooked Billet Pub in Colney Heath from 3 to 5pm. The pub has the postcode AL4 0NP and phone number 01727 822 128. Detailed information of one route to the pub from Barnet can be found in the June 2021 newsletter No.2 and this is accessible on the club’s website:   barnetclassiccar.club 

FUTURE MEETINGS
Members who have already subscribed to the new ‘groups.io’ platform that Howard has introduced will know just what a flexible and versatile system this is. It is where the future of the club lies and will become the only channel of communication that we will use after the classic car show of the 26th September 2021. We so hope that you will want to continue as a member of the club which is easily done by emailing Howard using the address below to confirm this.
Howard Pryor: howard.pryor@icloud.com 07956 544 168
We will have our usual pre Xmas get together in Mid December at the Duke of York date TBA
Looking forward into 2022 we are planning to meet up more regularly- with or without our classics- but just for a quiet drink and a chat , this will enable me at least to remember names !
We are also looking at organising a “treasure Hunt” run out in mid Spring which may well be a circular route probably starting at the Dof Y and ending there, but all details will be forwarded once we get the plans in place.
The Annual Car show will move back to its May / Early June slot for 2022 with venue more than likely to remain as this year on the NCP carpark top deck.
It would be great if we could get a high street closure for a show ( as happens at Xmas) however nothing comes for free and costs would be prohibitive, so this will remain as a dormant seed for the moment.

OTHER NEWS
We are considering whether we should purchase a Club Feather Flag “ for placing when we attend shows in groups or host an event , costs are being sought however as always this will need to be funded somehow and we need to come up with a cunning plan if decision to go ahead! it wont be a lot but would be a useful sign to have.
We are also looking at printing off some screen stickers displaying the BCCC details and again more news on this when we know.
Finally as Owen has now relinquished his Newsletter duties and handed over the golden pen to myself, I would just like to say thank you from myself ,and I am sure all of the club members , for the news letters duly written and sent out over the years. I have always enjoyed reading these and they have been the glue that has kept the club very much alive.
I have no intention of trying to match these – how could I! but let’s see where we go..…
Best Wishes, James Beeton………..

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NEXT CLUB MEETING    SATURDAY 4^th SEPTEMBER 2021

This will be the last meeting of the year at our favourite country pub where Wally, the staff and local customers have always made us welcome, come rain, come shine.  It is always good to see families and friends at our meetings, with or without a classic car or motorbike. There is a play area for children in the garden.

BARNET CLASSIC CAR SHOW SUNDAY 26^th SEPTEMBER 2021 10.30am to 2.00pm

Chris and Diane are very grateful to the members who volunteered to have an agent’s board in the front of their properties advertising the show. They were put in place about a week ago but made no mention of when or where the show would be held. Happily, Chris had prepared an attractive poster with all the details of the show and these were printed out on A5 paper, put inside a waterproof plastic envelope and then stapled to the board’s wooden post. These gave more information to any interested passer-by than the board alone would have done.

Detailed arrangements for the show will be sent to the participating members during the week beginning Monday 13^th September. There is still time to let Chris know that you would like to be part of this event. It is always appreciated by the local folk and those who come to the town to see the High Street parade, look at the parked cars in the Spires and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Chris would appreciate a few more pre-WW2 cars. They are especially admired by the younger visitors as well as the older generations. Please let Chris know if you would like to be part of this special day for our town at:   cdnightingale@aol.com

FUTURE MEETINGS

Members who have already subscribed to the new ‘groups.io’ platform that Howard has introduced will know just what a flexible and versatile system this is. It is where the future of the club lies and will become the only channel of communication that we will use after the classic car show of the 26^th September 2021. We so hope that you will want to continue as a member of the club which is easily done by emailing Howard using the address below to confirm this.

Howard Pryor:    howard.pryor@icloud.com 07 956 544 168

Owen Jones:        owen.jones25@btinternet.com 020 8440 7550

                                                                             30 August 2021.

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Mike Jordan’s 1934 MG J2 with its 850 cc engine has an enduring, quintessentially British, charm. It was very good to see a number of members braving the threat of more heavy rain and we are indebted to Wally, the landlord, who unlocked the gate to the paddock, so avoiding crowding in the pub car park.

Barnet Classic Car Show Sunday 26th September

Chris would be grateful if at least 2 more members could offer to have the estate agents’ publicity boards in the front of their properties from about the end of this month until a few days after the show itself. This will bring the total on display to 20, a number that should make the agent’s investment in producing the boards worthwhile. Chris has to hand in the addresses of these properties to the agent next week so a prompt reply to the email address below would be much appreciated.
Members who have used the Spires top floor car park will know that it is a large area. Hopefully, our holiday plans will not be thwarted in any way but, if for any reason, you do find yourself free to be part of this most enjoyable few hours from 10.30 am to 2.00 pm, please let Chris know at: cdnightingale@aol.com

The parade of cars along the High Street followed by the display in the Spires is sure to be appreciated by the local folk as it has been at each show in the past. More information about the show and the estate agent’s boards are in the ‘Reminder’ and previous newsletters, following this report on the July meeting.

Herb Riches

Some very good news is that Herb, who came along to our meeting last Saturday at the Crooked Billet and the next day tested positive for Coronavirus, is making good progress after being very unwell initially. We wish Herb a speedy, full recovery.

Next Meeting

THIS WILL BE AT THE CROOKED BILLET PUB IN COLNEY HEATH ON SATURDAY
4th SEPTEMBER 2021 FROM 3.00pm to 5.00pm.

Details of how to travel to the pub from Barnet can be found in the last July 2021 newsletter on the club’s website: barnetclassiccar.club

FUTURE NEWSLETTERS (Message from Howard)

“Fantastic news – One Week after launching our new contact platform at groups.io which, by the way, is fully GDPR compliant, we now have 47 members registered. To allow us time to gain confidence in this new system, the next 2 newsletters will be sent out both to those on the original group email list and those on the new groups.io subscribers’ list. If you want to leave it a little longer before deciding whether to join, you can continue to follow the BCCC for a period as the newsletters will be available on the Club’s website: www.barnetclassiccar.club. However, this will rely on you remembering to check the website frequently and you will miss the other info. If you are on Owen’s list you probably have already been sent an invitation to join this new group but may have thought it spam but I can assure you it is not, it is our future As we get used to the system we will be able to contact you , you will be able to us and contact anybody in fact who is on the system and the best of it is , it is absolutely free You will in the future be able to place perhaps items for sale , pictures , items you need , where to go for a service for the car, an MOT perhaps or even to post that you are attending a car show that may be of interest to others. The sky is the limit , if you are still unsure please contact me at howard.pryor@icloud.com or phone 07956 544168 for more information or a further invitation to join the group.
From here it is entirely up to you. If you choose not to subscribe then you will receive no further information, but if you do subscribe and then decide you do not wish to continue to be a part of the Barnet Classic Car Club then within each and every email generated by groups.io is the very simple ability to leave the group at the push of a button.
~Also by going into the settings within the groups.io each member has the choice to receive emails as they are posted or they can be collected once per day and sent , grouped together and sent etc , etc. Please stay with us, we have a future.“

_____________________

Owen Jones email: owen.jones25@btinternet.com
Phone: 020 8440 7550. 8th August

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FOLLOWING ON FROM JULY NEWSLETTER

REMINDER OF CLUB MEETING 3pm to 5pm SATURDAY 31^st JULY 2021

We are heading for The Crooked Billet Pub in Colney Heath, as usual. All the details are in the previous 2 newsletters which may be found on our wonderful website:    barnetclassiccar.club        

This is the meeting that was postponed from Saturday 24^th July. The weather was nowhere near as bad as predicted by the forecasters but there was some rain and the prospect of more to come. The forecast for next Saturday is vastly better so let us hope they are right this time.

Since 19^th July, the pub has been operating very much as ‘normal’. This means that there is the familiar service where we order and pay for the drinks at the bar and wait for them to be served to us. Entry to the pub is by either door and the same for exiting. Face masks are optional and, at present, are worn by a minority, if any, of the customers. The pub seems to have relatively few customers at lunch-times and nobody was wearing a mask when I was there this Tuesday the 27^th from about 12.30pm to 1.15pm. Hopefully, there will be many more people there this coming Saturday afternoon, 31^st, and members may well prefer to wear masks inside the pub.

BARNET CLASSIC CAR SHOW   SUNDAY 26^th SEPTEMBER 2021

We are looking forward to our show going forward in the same unrestricted way it did in 2019 so that it will again be a most enjoyable time for ourselves, the band that performs at the display and all those who watch the High Street Parade and come along to the display on the top floor of the Spires car park.

Chris and Diane will welcome any more members who are now able to commit themselves to being part of this show. The details of the event can be found on the club website:    barnetclassiccar.club

 in the July newsletter and previous newsletters.  Just let Chris know with details of your car and a phone contact number in case the British weather has the last word that morning, although we so hope it will not, at     cdnightingale@aol.com

ESTATE AGENT’S PUBLICITY BOARDS

As we know, these are a highly effective way of publicising a local event such as a School Fete or a Church Fair and are guaranteed to attract readers. Chris has arranged with Martyn Gerrard, a local estate agent, to produce some of these boards to be positioned in the front of members’ properties. Again, details of what this will involve are in the July newsletter. Please let Chris know if you are able to have one of these boards for about 5 weeks this September at cdnightingale@aol.com

 CLUB ORGANISER

The very best item of news that we have had for a long while is that Howard Pryor has given a great deal of his time to sorting out a new base for our newsletters, emails and correspondence between members of the club. He has enrolled us into an established organisation called ‘groups.io’ and prepared a new list of members that can easily be modified as new members come along or move away. Howard will explain this flexible and efficient system to the members in a group email very soon. Members will recall how Howard has organised our displays at the RSPCA Animal Rescue Centre Open Days which involved liaising with the managers of the Centre and explaining the arrangements to ourselves. James Beeton has generously agreed to support Howard with this development, although James has a demanding day job.

Chris Nightingale is willing to continue maintaining our website, which he himself designed and built, as well as organising our classic car show on Sunday 26^th September. We are very grateful to Chris as these are both time-consuming tasks.

We do need someone to prepare and send out our newsletters. These do not have to feature any photographs initially, with their most important function being to let members know the dates and venues of forthcoming meetings. Howard may well be repeating this message in his group email.

Owen Jones   29 Sutton Crescent  Barnet  Herts EN5 2SW    Tel:  020 8440 7550

Mob: 07 903 277 485                                                                            28^th July 2021

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JULY 2021 NEWSLETTER

This is a brief reminder that our next meeting will be at:

THE CROOKED BILLET PUB IN COLNEY HEATH ON SATURDAY 24^th JULY 2021 FROM 3.00pm to 5.00pm. [POSTPONED TO 31/07/21 DUE TO BAD WEATHER]

 The pub has the postcode AL4 0NP with more details in the previous newsletter of 29^th June 2021. Thanks to Chris Nightingale, all our recent newsletters are on the club’s website:

                                       barnetclassiccar.club   

These are worrying times, with infections from the Delta variant rising at an alarming rate. We know that the remaining mandatory Covid restrictions will be lifted on Monday 19^th July. Wally, the landlord of the Crooked Billet, is anxious that customers will continue to wear face masks while in the pub ordering drinks and to be aware of other customer’s spaces, both inside and outside the pub. This is simply to reassure members that there will be no significant changes at the pub after 19^th July.

Barnet Classic Car Show   Sunday 26^th September 2021     10.30am to 2.00pm

This has always proved to be a most pleasant few hours, both for ourselves and the many people who watch the cars drive along the High Street then come along to the Spires car park to have a closer look at the classic vehicles on display. A number of activities will be going on in the Spires during this time, including live music and dancing and, hopefully, a refreshments stall. The local family who ran the refreshment stall at the show in recent years are not able to do the same this year. If you know of any local people who would be happy to do this on 26^th September, with the proceeds going to charity, then please let Chris know at the email address below.  The May newsletters have full details of the show and can be accessed on our website.

 Chris and Diane Nightingale are very grateful to all the members and supporters who have already agreed to be part of the show. The top floor of the Spires car park has the capacity to hold a large number of cars so if you have recently found yourself free for the three and a half hours that Sunday then please come along on the day. Let Chris know that you will be there with an email to:

                                     cdnightingale@aol.com

Publicising the Classic Car Show

We are familiar with the estate agent’s boards positioned by the boundary fences in local front gardens and driveways. Most of us feel compelled to have a closer look and see if the property is up for sale or rent or if it is advertising a school fete or similar activity. Chris has negotiated with local estate agents Martyn Gerrard for them to advertise our show on their boards, as has happened several times in previous years.

Chris will be very grateful if members who have suitable frontages to their properties would agree to these boards being positioned near to the road for about 4 weeks before the show on 26^th September. In past years, the boards have been fastened to separate posts secured in the garden by the agents so no damage was done to boundary fences or similar. The agents have taken the boards down within a week after the show date.

Please let Chris know if you are able to display a board for a total of about 5 weeks at the above email address.

Answer to Quiz Question

There are at least 2 totally reasonable answers to the quiz question in the last newsletter. This was to identify the origin of the section of the piston which Derrick Haggerty kindly brought along to the last meeting at The Crooked Billet on Saturday 29^th May:

One is that it is from the 24litre W12 Napier Lion engine (W as it had 3 banks of 4 cylinders) that powered Sir John Cobb’s Railton Napier racing car that set the lap record for the Brooklands circuit in 1935 of 143.44mph. This was suggested by a friend who lives in Carlisle and likes to read the newsletters, having once lived in Barnet, and appreciates classic cars and motorbikes.

The other is that it is from a 27litre V12 Rolls Royce Merlin engine that powered a large number of the Supermarine Spitfires in the Second World War.

For a newsletter of a classic car club, the better answer of these 2 possibilities has to be the Napier Lion and anyone coming up with this engine must have full marks. Shamefully, I was unaware of the specifications of this engine and would have awarded an unchallenged top grade to the Merlin engine. Many thanks to our reader in Carlisle, who has saved me from total humiliation, as the piston was from such a Merlin engine.

The Role of the Club Organiser

I have been privileged to be the Club Organiser since its inception in June 2014. Prior to the arrival of Covid, we kept to a simple format of 3 or 4 meetings in the summer at the Crooked Billet pub in Colney Heath and 2 meetings in the winter at the Duke of York Pub/Restaurant in Potters Bar.

Members have been hugely supportive in sending in photos from the meetings, details of their cars if it was to be featured, and information about classic car activities in the area. We do not have a clubhouse where we can display any information and so the newsletters are the vital channel of communication for the club. The Organiser has to arrange the 5 or 6 meetings each year with the 2 pubs, set out the details in the newsletters and pass on whatever arrangements have been made for our classic car show and the RSPCA Open Day. It is helpful if the Organiser can process any photos and insert them in the newsletters but they are far from essential.

 Having details of future meetings listed is all that really matters.

I am a very fortunate 84 year’s old but have inevitably acquired some recent health issues that are making it difficult for me to continue as Organiser. If any member, maybe jointly with a friend, feels that they would like to take over this not-too-demanding role please let me know. If it would help, we can discuss any aspects of the job that may appear to be a problem. The new Organiser/s will find a great fund of goodwill from the members that will make the task an enjoyable and satisfying one.

With very best wishes to all our members, their families and friends.

 Owen Jones    29 Sutton Crescent Barnet Herts EN5 2SW        020 8440 7550                17^th July 2021.

Mobile:  07 903 277 485.

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JUNE 2021 NEWSLETTER   No. 2

 OUR NEXT MEETING AT THE CROOKED BILLET PUB COLNEY HEATH WILL BE ON:

 SATURDAY 24^th JULY 2021  3 to 5 pm

For any new members, a route to the pub from the M 25 is to leave the motorway at J22 then follow the signs on the 2 adjacent roundabouts for Colney Heath. After about a mile along Coursers Lane, turn left at the first roundabout in the village with the now defunct Cock pub on the right. After about one third of a mile, the Crooked Billet is on the right with the entrance to the car park on the far side of the pub, as shown in the above photograph. The pub’s postcode is AL4 0NP.

Let’s hope that we will be lucky with the weather, as we were for our last meeting there on 29^th May. The Crooked Billet is an unspoilt, typical country pub where Wally, the landlord, and Sandra, who serves out the drinks, extend a warm welcome to the customers. Please come along with the family to this peaceful place where the children can enjoy the play area in the garden.

CLUB MEETING 29^th MAY 2021

The photo shows the car park with some free space down the middle. Later, this was filled with mostly classic cars and we hope that no regulars missed out on their Saturday afternoon pint as a result. The nearest car in the middle row is Peter Kelly’s hand-built special while on the right by the fence is Tom Skinner’s very impressive Ferrari.

With remarkable skill, Peter constructed the wooden body of this unique car, starting with a 1988 Citroen 2CV6 which has a 602cc engine developing 29 bhp. It rightly attracts admirers wherever it is parked.

Photo courtesy Tom Skinner

Tom’s 1996 Ferrari has a 5.5 litre V12 engine which develops 478 bhp at 7000rpm. It is credited with a top speed of 199mph and a 0 to 62 mph time of 4.4 secs.

Photo courtesy Philip Lewis

Here is Daryl Miller’s 70 year’s old charming Sunbeam Talbot waiting in a leafy corner of the car park to take him home in a few hours’ time. The Clement-Talbot company first produced Talbot cars in Ladbroke Grove in North Kensington in 1902 until in 1938 the 2 Rootes brothers, who were initially distributors of cars but bought the Sunbeam company in 1934, acquired Clement Talbot in 1935 and then established the Sunbeam Talbot model with production continuing in North Kensington. It is worth looking at the Wikipedia pages on the history of the Clement-Talbot company. In 1946, this factory was closed and the business moved to Rootes new production facility at Ryton in Warwickshire.

Photo courtesy Philip Lewis

Parked up on the entrance to the car park is no place for Andy Sargent’s pristine 1974 TR6. Unfortunately, the large car park was completely full in the later afternoon. It was very good of members who had to park near the entrance in the middle of the car park to leave very promptly at 5pm so that others who needed to be away about that time were not delayed.

This meeting was our first since 1^st August last year and we had a perfect day with nice blue skies, as some of the photos show. It is difficult to say this, but perhaps we should not actively look out for any more members until after our next meeting on the 24^th of July when we should have a better idea of the number of cars that may come along in the future.

THE BARNET CLASSIC CAR SHOW    SUNDAY 26^th SEPTEMBER   10.30 am to 2.00pm

We are presently reminded by the rise in Covid infections in the country that nothing is certain with our planned activities in the coming months. Chris and Diane Nightingale are grateful to the large number of members who have committed to supporting the one event that we will put on in Barnet this year so that they could confidently plan for that day well in advance.

If any new members would like to be part of this most enjoyable few hours, or any established members who now find themselves free to come along, please let Chris know at:     cdnightingale@aol.com  

Details of the show can be found in the May 2021 newsletter which is accessible on the club’s website:   barnetclassiccar.club 

QUIZ QUESTION

Derrick Haggerty, whose 1955 Ford Popular is in the background, brought this section of a piston to the meeting. It was once part of an engine in which one cylinder had almost twice the 1172 ccs capacity of the Ford Popular engine and there were 12 of them. No more clues, no prizes and the answer to the question ‘What engine did this piston come from?’ will be in the next newsletter.

HARPENDEN CLASSICS ON THE COMMON WEDNESDAY 22^nd SEPTEMBER 2021

Emile Connor has kindly forwarded the invitation letter and application form for this very popular event and they are attached to the message. Details of the day are on the event website.

Emile has also recommended the meetings at the Ace Café on the North Circular Road with all the information available on their website.

LAPEL BADGES FOR MEMBERS

A few years ago, some members suggested that it would be helpful at our relatively infrequent meetings if members were to have lapel badges identifying themselves and their cars or motorbikes. With Clare O’Sullivan’s considerable help, a number of blank badges were printed out, holders obtained and some given out. I fear that I have been remiss in not distributing these at recent meetings and will try harder in the future.

AUTUMN MEETING OF THE CLUB

We are on course to have another meeting at The Crooked Billet pub on Saturday 4^th September 2021 with details to follow in a later newsletter.

I wish our members, their families and friends good health in the days to come and very much look forward to meeting you on the 24^th July, the 4^th September and the 26^th September.

Owen Jones   29 Sutton Crescent  Barnet  Herts EN5 2SW    Tel:  020 8440 7550

Mob: 07 903 277 485                                                                            27^th June 2021.

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JUNE 2021 NEWSLETTER NO. 1

The main purpose of this very brief newsletter is to let members know the dates of our next 2 meetings at The Crooked Billet:

                                 SATURDAY 24^th JULY 2021   3.00pm to 5.00pm

                                 SATURDAY 4^th SEPTEMBER  2021   3.00pm to 5.00pm.

Details of both meetings will be sent out about a week beforehand.

   CLUB MEETING AT THE CROOKED BILLET PUB SATURDAY 29^th MAY 2021

Photo courtesy Philip Lewis

Here is the 106 year’s old Calcott which Ken Goddard has spent the last few years restoring and what a fine job he has made of it.

This was our first meeting since 1^st August 2020 and we were blessed with a perfect day; blue skies, a little cloud and a comfortable temperature. Wally and Sandra provided the familiar warm welcome with Sandra steadily serving out the drinks all afternoon. For the first time at the Crooked Billet the car park was full of classic cars and those of the local customers. Some members have sent me in a number of high-quality photos which will be in subsequent newsletters.

For any newer members, please keep Sunday 26^th September 2021 free in your diaries for our own show. We will put on a display in the High Barnet Spires car park after a parade of the cars along the High Street with details in recent newsletters on our website:       barnetclassiccar.club  

Owen Jones   29 Sutton Crescent  Barnet  Herts EN5 2SW    Tel:  020 8440 7550Mob: 07 903 277 485                    1^st June 2021.       

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MAY 2021 NEWSLETTER

   Here is a brief reminder that the date for our next meeting at The Crooked Billet is:

                SATURDAY 29^th MAY 2021 3 to 5 pm.

   There will be more details in a newsletter nearer the end of this month but, for new members wishing to check the location of the pub, just Googling ‘The Crooked Billet, Colney Heath’ will bring up a link to their website. It has the postcode AL4 0NP.

  It will be so good to see members and their cars again after the last meeting on 1^st August 2020. It is especially pleasant if partners, friends and younger family members come along. There is a well-equipped play area for children and ample seating in the garden next to the car park.

Barnet Classic Car Show   Sunday 26^th September 2021

Chris and Diane Nightingale are very grateful to the members who have already committed themselves to coming along to this special annual event for the Club and the local townsfolk. The show is well-advertised in the area and the parade of cars along the High Street attracts large numbers of spectators. This encourages the people in the High Street to then come along to the Spires car park, see the cars and motorbikes for themselves and meet the owners.

It has always been a most enjoyable few hours for the members with time to look at the dancing and music groups that are usually performing in the Spires complex. The half hour or so in the Barnet Playing Fields car park from 10.30am to 11.00am is a good time for us to meet up before setting off for the Spires car park via Barnet Hill and the High Street and then returning home at 2.0pm.  Please support this worthwhile event. If you have not yet let Chris or myself know that you can come along then kindly contact us at:        

         Chris Nightingale        cdnightingale@aol.com                    or                 Owen Jones          owen.jones25@btinternet.com   

We hardly dare mention the words British weather or, hopefully not, Covid, but this horrible virus or a forecast of heavy rain on the day could have the final say. We ask members to kindly let us have their mobile/landline numbers in case of a last-minute postponement or cancellation of the Show. If you gave us your phone number prior to the 2019 Show then we will have that recorded.

Members’ Cars

I am very grateful to members who have sent me photos of their cars over this period of lockdown when we have not been able to hold any meetings with all the photos they provided for the newsletters. Kevin Stewart has kindly sent me some photos of his fine 1965 Mk 2 Jaguar which is fitted with a 4litre, straight 6 X300 engine, automatic gearbox, suspension, steering, brakes and heated, electrically adjustable seats.

The Jaguar was fully restored some time ago by J D Classics for the then owner of the company, Derek Hood. As can be seen from the photos and Kevin’s evident satisfaction with the car, they made a very good job of the work.

Philip Lewis’s 2020/1 Morgan Roadster

Philip has recently acquired this stunning, 3.7 litre V6 Morgan Roadster with the photo showing the newly-delivered car before it was registered under Philip’s ownership.

We have been fortunate to admire Paul and Tamsin’s earlier Morgan Plus Four at recent Barnet Classic Car Shows and be reminded that the overall styling of this iconic model has not changed fundamentally since its launch in 1950. Henry Morgan founded his company in 1910 in a workshop in Malvern and these unique, hand-built cars have been prized possessions for more than 110 years.

The term ‘Classic’ applied to cars often suggests a model no longer in production, maybe at least 15 or 20 years old or with few examples still on the road. This new Morgan Roadster is a car to be treasured right now as a fine example of British engineering.

Emile Conor’s 1967 420 Jaguar

A great car photographed on the historic racing car circuit of Brooklands.

These are days of hope. I wish members, their families and friends happy and healthy times for the rest of 2021.

Owen Jones   29 Sutton Crescent  Barnet  Herts EN5 2SW    Tel:  020 8440 7550

Mob: 07 903 277 485                                                                            7th May 2021

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MARCH 2021 NEWSLETTER, No.2

CHRIS NIGHTINGALE HAS ARRANGED WITH THE MANAGERS OF THE NATIONAL CAR PARKS AND THE SPIRES SHOPPING CENTRE THAT THE 2021 BARNET CLASSIC CAR SHOW WILL BE HELD ON

 SUNDAY 26^th SEPTEMBER

AS MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS NEWSLETTER OF 4^th MARCH, THE PLAN IS TO MEET IN THE BARNET PLAYING FIELDS CAR PARK BY 10.30am, DRIVE UP BARNET HILL AND ALONG THE HIGH STREET, STARTING AT 11.00am, AND TO THEN PARK ON THE TOP FLOOR OF THE SPIRES CAR PARK FOR A PUBLIC DISPLAY UNTI 2.00pm.

    We are very grateful to Chris for all the time he has given to negotiating with the Spires and the NCP so that we have this date agreed with all parties involved.

  Waiting is rarely easy, as Gary Lane’s faithful friend demonstrated at the classic car show in 2019.

(Photo courtesy Jayne Evans)

  However, we shall meet again, hopefully as we did in 2019 in the Barnet playing fields car park before the drive to the Spires.             

(Photo courtesy Jayne Evans)

                Our next club meeting is planned for Saturday 29^th May at the Crooked Billet Pub in Colney Heath from 3 to 5pm with details to follow.

     Emile Connor’s 1967 420 Jaguar

The first newsletter this month has a photo of this handsome car as a side view while the photo in the February newsletter has a quarter front view. Emile has kindly provided a detailed description of the restoration work on the Jaguar and some photos taken in the workshop where the tasks were carried out. The car has a 4.2 litre straight six engine, 4 speed manual O/D gearbox with independent rear suspension and power steering.

Emile bought the 420 in 1994 with the shell, mechanical parts and the interior in separate packages. Originally, it was Balmoral green with biscuit colour seats but it was resprayed British racing green and now has light green leather seats and interior.

The above photo gives some idea of the amount of work carried out on the lower sections of the car. The subframes, differential, driveshaft, front and rear suspensions and exhaust have all been dismantled and refurbished, the suspension being refitted with polythene bushes. At the same time, the fuel and brake pipes were renewed while the brake callipers now have stainless steel pistons. 2 years ago, a new radiator was fitted along with the expansion tank and water hoses. About four and a half years ago the car was repainted while further improvements at that time included new tubeless wire wheels with the rear wheels being slightly larger at 6.5 inches, the front wheels being the standard 5 inches.

Above is a selection of the parts from the rear suspension awaiting reassembly.

This photo shows the 2 upper wishbone arms, the spring pans, shock absorbers and steering gear from the front suspension.

   Here is the front sub-frame having been cleaned and painted, as have the parts laid out on the work benches.

The above photo shows just how shiny and fresh the sub-frame now is after the refurbishment.

Two suspension parts being sprayed in a booth with a floor fume extraction system.

Finally, the reassembled Jaguar next to another example of high-quality engineering.

MANY thanks, again, to Emile for sorting out these photos and text for this newsletter.

CLASSIC CAR EVENTS FOR 2021

One item of good news is that the Museum of Transport in Enfield is in talks with the RSPCA Animal Rescue Centre in Southridge to consider holding a classic car event in the Centre’s grounds this September. Howard Pryor is a member of the committee of the Museum and also has strong links to the Rescue Centre.  He was involved in the organisation of the Centre’s Fun Day of 2019 which was in the form of an open day and proved to be very successful as a fund-raiser for this charity. Howard arranged a classic car display at that show which had a good number of members taking part. Let us hope that it will be possible for the Centre and the Museum to arrange an event this year.

Unfortunately, the Enfield Pageant of Motoring, usually held over the May Bank Holiday at the end of the month, will not go ahead this year.

A few classic car shows have been planned for this year and I am very grateful to Howard Pryor for sending me the links to 2 of them. Just Googling the names will bring up all the necessary details:

 Wednesday 7^th July   Classics in the Walled Garden at Luton Hoo.

Wednesday 28^th July   Classics on the Common at Harpenden

OUR VERY OWN WEBSITE

This can be visited at:     barnetclassiccar.club    and we are grateful to Chris Nightingale for setting this up and keeping it up-to-date.

I wish members, their families and friends good health in these times when we can see signs of better days to come.

Owen Jones   29 Sutton Crescent  Barnet  Herts EN5 2SW           Tel:  020 8440 7550

Mob: 07 903 277 485                                                                               30^th March 2021.

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MARCH 2021 NEWSLETTER, No.1

Hopefully, the photo will revive pleasant memories of Saturday 1^st August 2020 when we had our last meeting at The Crooked Billet. The ‘Open All Day’ notice really dates this photo. This was before the more stringent application of the Tier system to the St Albans area, followed by the national lockdown, snuffed out all hopes of another gathering for some time.

Well, we do have a provisional date for our next meeting at The Crooked Billet:

                SATURDAY 29^th MAY 2021 3 to 5 pm.

As we know all too well, the entry in our diaries must be made in pencil.  Julie has kindly agreed to have extra staff on that afternoon and we must hope for continuing success against the cursed virus with some blue skies and warm weather on the day. Details of the meeting will be in a newsletter nearer the time.

THE BARNET CLASSIC CAR SHOW

Chris and Diane Nightingale have 2 possible dates for our classic car show this year. They are Sunday 19^th and Sunday 26^th September. The hope is that the format will be very similar to our last show in 2019 with a gathering in the Barnet Playing Fields car park, a drive up Barnet Hill and along the High Street then a display on the top level of the Spires Car Park. This requires negotiation with the Spires management and the local authorities and so is a decidedly tentative plan at present.

ERRATUM

I regret to say that I am guilty of generating then distributing fake news in the February newsletter. I referred to Emile Connor’s Jaguar as a 1968 XJ model but Emile has had to point out that it is a 1967 420. The above photo shows a 1968 XJ.

Emile has very kindly sent me a number of photos illustrating some of the stages involved in restoring this fine car and they will appear in a newsletter very soon. Here, below, is another photo of the 420 which perfectly illustrates the typical, graceful Jaguar style.

Let us hope that the vaccine roll-out, the benefits of the lockdown and even the weather will result in our having the chance to meet up again in 3 months’ time.

Owen Jones   29 Sutton Crescent  Barnet  Herts EN5 2SW    Tel:  020 8440 7550

Mob: 07 903 277 485                                                                            4^th March 2021

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FEBRUARY 2021 NEWSLETTER

PHIL RYAN’S NEW JAGUAR XKR

We have become used to seeing Phil arriving at the club meetings in his pristine 1972 Triumph TR6 or on his classic Harley Davidson Dyna Glyde. Just to keep us on our toes, Phil has added to his stable this lovely 2003 XKR 4.2 litre Jaguar.

The V8 engine is fitted with an Eaton M112 supercharger and develops 400 bhp at 6100 rpm which gives it a top speed of 155mph and a 0-60mph time of 5.6seconds. This power is transmitted to the road wheels via a 6-speed automatic gearbox. It outperformed most similar cars at the time as the body was made of aluminium which gave it a body weight of 3826 lbs, significantly lower than the BMW M4 or the Mercedes C Class with their steel bodies.

Like pretty much all models in the Jaguar range, this one has no ‘bad side’. Its sleek lines are shown here in this three-quarters rear view.

EMILE CONNOR’S 1968 XJ

We are very fortunate to have 4 fine examples of the Jaguar range in the club as well as Phil’s XJS. Members may recall seeing Eric Tetsel’s iconic white XK 150, John Bishop’s sleek maroon E-type and Graham Paddon’s limited edition Silverstone at our meetings and shows.

Above is a photo of Emile Connor’s 1968 4.2litre XJ. It is fitted with a straight 6 engine and a Borg-Warner automatic gearbox. The 1968 XJ was the first in the long series of powerful luxury cars that Jaguar produced

 and was the only model to have had some input from Sir William Lyons, the founder of the Jaguar Motor Company.

Marco Fiori

The January newsletter referred to Marco as one of the originators and the current organiser of the very successful ‘Classics at the Villa’ classic car show in the grounds of the Villa Scalabrini Care Home in Shenley which provided invaluable income for the home. Sadly, Marco contracted the wretched virus last month. He was unable to fight it off and died soon afterwards. We hope his family and friends are comforted by the memory of this good, kind man.

Julie Kasprak

We have just received the very bad news that Julie, the wonderful landlady of the Crooked Billet Pub in Colney Heath where we have our summer meetings, is seriously unwell as a result of all the stresses of the past year and will be unable to return to work. Julie could not have made us more welcome at our meetings and it was Julie and her partner Wally who helped the club start up with our 2 initial meetings there in the autumn of 2014.

We just hope that the combined effects of the lockdown and the vaccination rollout will enable Wally to reopen the pub very soon so that they can again provide hospitality for the villagers, country walkers and classic car owners.

I wish our members, their families and friends good health in this time of hope. How pleasant it will be if we can meet up again and, maybe, have our own classic car show and support the RSPCA Animal Rescue Centre Open Day sometime in 2021.

Owen Jones   29 Sutton Crescent  Barnet  Herts EN5 2SW    Tel:  020 8440 7550

Mob: 07 903 277 485                                                                            27 February 2021

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JANUARY 2021 NEWSLETTER

This photo of Paul Johnson’s 1970 MGC is on the Club website:   barnetclassiccar.club    in the ‘Members’ Cars’ section on 28^th April 2020. There is an interesting account of the history of the car, including some details of improvements that Paul has made since his ownership. It took Paul a year to find a suitable example of the MG, resulting in the purchase of this handsome vehicle in 2018. Two features of the MGC that distinguish it from the MGB are the more ‘bulbous’ bonnet to accommodate the repositioned radiator and ‘taller’ engine with the small ‘teardrop’ to allow for the forward carburettor. Both the radiator cap and the forward carburettor do look rather prominent in the above photo of the engine bay which Paul also kindly provided. Sadly for the MGC, with the MG company now part of the British Leyland empire, the board decided to end production of the MGC in 1969/70 in favour of the Triumph TR6, the latter continuing in production until 1976. Approximately 9000 MGCs were manufactured between 1967 and 1969, with some such as Paul’s vehicle being first registered in 1970.  About 1300 are still registered in the UK.

   The C series engine has a capacity of 2912 cc and is made entirely of cast iron. It developed 145 bhp at 5250 rpm, 50% more than the 1.8 litre B series, but it weighed 209 lbs more than the earlier engine. It gave the MGC a top speed of 120 mph and a 0-60mph time of 10s.

 In May of last year, Paul’s MG went to a specialised paint shop for some minor work then to his MG garage for a service. While on a test run after the completion of this work, the car was involved in a serious collision which badly damaged the front suspension, chassis, radiator, steering rack, front wing etc. After this traumatic event, Paul was without the MG until December of last year when all the repair work was finally completed. Paul has produced a detailed account of his involvement with classic cars, the purchase of the MGC and all the events that followed since then. This account will be sent out at the same time as this newsletter and some of it makes very painful reading for other classic car enthusiasts.

The major work that had to be done was a new front suspension, steering rack, radiator, oil cooler, king pins, a new wire wheel and tyre. The engine had to be lifted out to confirm the straightening of the chassis. This gave Paul the opportunity to arrange with MG Motorsport for the head to be gas-flowed with larger valves and now able to run on unleaded fuel. The flywheel was considerably lightened, a 6-branch exhaust system fitted and the clutch and race bearing renewed. Paul has noticed a real improvement in the performance after these changes which, hopefully, gives Paul some consolation for all the months of waiting since May last year.

The above photo shows the clean engine bay with the equally pristine engine and twin HS6 SU carburetters while, on the right, is the fully repaired and uprated MG taken last December. Paul must have wondered if that day would ever come but, there it is, and we wish Paul many years of trouble-free motoring in this increasingly rare British sports car. The precious vehicle is now in storage and may make its first public appearance this April.  

Events planned for 2021

We are, of course, hoping that Chris and Diane will be able to negotiate a date with the Spires management for for our own show this year on the top floor of their car park. Very early September is a possible time. Howard and Loretta Pryor are strong supporters of the RSPCA Animal Rescue Centre at Southridge and we hope that they will be able to arrange another of our classic car displays as part of their Open Day, if the Centre is able to hold one this year. We look forward to Wally and Julie being able to open their doors again and, maybe, having another Crooked Billet Classic Car Show in the autumn.

We are grateful to Marco Fiori, one of the originators and present organisers of the annual ‘Classics at the Villa’ show in Shenley, for sending us the details of this event. The show is held in the extensive grounds of the Villa Scalabrini, a residential care home in the village. At the show there is an emphasis on Italian food as well as classic cars with the proceeds from the day going to support the care home. The best thing to do is Google ‘Classics at the Villa’ and go to their own website where there are 2 videos, the first made in 2017, which capture the atmosphere of the shows. Paul and Pina Griffin, who brought along their magnificent Bentley to our last 2 shows, feature in the 2017 video. In the 2018 video there is an interesting contribution by Roger Dudding, the owner of Studio 434 in Potters Bar. Following some friendly persuasion from Chris Nightingale, they have generously sent along one of their many classic cars to our shows. Marco is hoping that they will be able to hold their ‘Classics at the Villa’ show this year, but, like so many other planned events, probably in the autumn rather than in May as in previous years. All confirmed shows and meetings will be listed in the newsletter as promptly as possible.

I wish our members, their families and friends good health this year. I hope that we will be able to meet up with our cars and motorbikes on a warm day at The Crooked Billet Pub very soon.

Owen Jones   29 Sutton Crescent  Barnet  Herts EN5 2SW    Tel:  020 8440 7550

Mob: 07 903 277 485                                                                      29^th January 2021.

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