WARINGSTOWN VINTAGE CAVALCADE - 29TH JUNE 2012

The annual Waringstown Vintage Cavalcade in aid of the Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund took place on Friday evening, 29th June. 

The Rover 100 Ascot driver arrived at our house at 4pm, as arranged, for a chat.  We waited on the Rover 75 tourer until 5.30 but it didn't show up and its owner was off radar... he was responding to Facebook messages or answering his phone.  So we left without him.

My husband, son and I headed off in our SD1 followed by the Ascot and drove the short distance into Waringstown where we stopped for ice lollies.  As we were eating the lollies, we received a phone call from the owner of the tourer, asking if we’d left home yet!   Needless to say he got a ribbing about his time keeping!

From here we headed on through the village past a lot of spectators and vehicles already on display; we were virtually out of the village before we found a parking space.  The cars were neatly lined up on the grass verges on either side of the road.  

Rover SD1 and Rover 100 Ascot.

We took a walk around the other vehicles on display, we recognised some the cars from previous shows but we also saw a lot of cars that we haven’t seen out at any other show this year.  The vehicles kept flocking in right up until the roads closed at 7pm to facilitate the cavalcade. 


The cars that caught my eye included, a 1965 Series 1 Ford Mustang and an Austin 35.



1965 Series 1 Ford Mustang

Austin 35

Besides club members cars, there were 5 other Rovers on display,
a Rover 90, a Rover 60, 2 Rover P6's and a 216i convertible.

Shortly after we arrived back at our car, we received another phone call from the tourer owner saying that the road had been closed and that he had to park in the spectator’s area, I gave him detailed instructions on where to find us.   Soon after he arrived we were joined by another member of the Rover 75 and MG ZT club who was also there as a spectator. 

There was a fine drizzle which only lasted a few minutes, as the cavalcade began the sun came out.  The vehicles looked splendid, in the early evening sun, as filtered past us.  Soon it was time for us to join the cavalcade; we filed out into the convoy with the Ascot sneaking out in front of us.  The spectators were out in force lining both sides of the street.   The sheep in the back of the Ascot attracted a lot of attention and comments. 

Having travelled the length of the village and back it was decided that it was time to make our way to the hall to cash in our meal voucher.  By the time we got to the hall, we were gutted to learn that they had ran out of sandwiches... no tea for us!  At this point we decided to call it a night and headed to Tesco for sausages, burgers etc to cook back at our house.

This was a great event, which ran like clock work, with an impressive turn out.  I’d estimate that there were over 500 vehicles (cars, lorries, tractors and motorbikes) on display, supporting a very worthwhile cause. 

Another event that we will be adding to next year’s events list.

EARLY MORNING RESCUE OF A MG ZT - 26TH JUNE 2012

A phone call from, the Club Secretary of the Rover 75 and MG ZT club, at 12.30am resulted in 'International Rescue' heading out to with our 'A' frame to retrieve his MG ZT.

He came to collect us, explained what had happened - his words


Part 1..... Pride

Took her out for a spin last night after having spent the day cleaning, sorting, doing plenum's, checking oil, water everything and @ 70mph on the motorway cruising along she let go.

Part 2..... Panic

Oil light came on for a split second, the engine then felt as if it was in the wrong gear and made the car nose forward for a second, then what I can only describe as a total loss of power and enough grey/white smoke from the rear of the exhaust to block the entire m2 6 lanes wide from any viability.

Part 3..... Perplexing

As I was pulling over there was a large grinding noise constantly, like being in wrong gear but of lots of different frequencies of the noise if that makes sense, like ball bearings hitting each other at the same time. Got it onto hard shoulder, stopped and the engine stank of burnt oil and coolant. Wouldn't start and the coolant tank was as empty as my bank account will be.

Part 4..... Pudendum

Now this is the funny part.......

Of course tried to ring my wife for help...... im not in range cause im on three network.... but im four miles from home so i walk down ahrd shoulder to get signal......when I do get through she cant hear me and it takes her 20 mins to ring me back to tell me she cant find keys of tourer......I have them with me.......She turns up in her car, gets the keys and goes to get the tourer......... phone call nearly 45 mins later....... tourer wont start!!!!!!  Whats wrong with it etc........... And after 10 mins of over the phone diagnostics she hadn't unlocked the steering lock (FFS!!!!).......so she gets the car to me, I get the tow bungie cord set up correctly etc..... explain to her the importance of keeping distance the same, try not to use brakes and so on......... and we make it a mile before she manages to slam on the brakes for no reason just as I got the car of the motorway and the slam panel tow bolt area rips clean through.

Part 5..... Pen*~~~&%$$~£~!"~~££*****nt

The swear word I created on the spot.....

Having listened to his story, we headed off to rescue the car.   Although he was visibly distraught, he was putting on a brave face and could see the funny side of what had happened.   It's vitally important to keep a sense of humour when you drive a Rover 75 or an MG ZT because in our experience they always let you down at the most inappropriate time possible!

With the 'A' frame attatched to the MG and hitched on to his tourer, we proceeded to his house which was only about 2 miles away.   Given the gradient of his drive way it was decided to unhitch and park it on the footpath outside.   

With this done we headed to ASDA for pizza and returned to our house, arriving home at just after 3am.  As is normal in our house pizzas were cooked, we stuffed our faces and chatted.   It was day light by the time he left us!

A disastrous night for the MG, at present we are still awaiting a diagnoses 

THE ROVER 75 AND MG ZT CLUB OUTING TO MARBLE ARCH CAVES - 24TH JUNE 2012

Everyone thought that the caves would be closed due to the torrential rain in the run up to Sunday but a text from their club Secretary and an update on the internet on Saturday night/early hours of Sunday morning confirmed that the event was going ahead.    

My husband, my son and I arrived at our meeting point a few minutes before schedule.  We got a phone call from the MG ZT saying that they were running late.  15 minutes later we were joined by the club secretary and his wife arrived in their Rover 75 Tourer (15 minutes late, as is customary for him) and the MG ZT.  

Unfortunately, due work commitments and the mess with the Ulster Bank, a number of members that had planned to go were unable to do so, due the lack of funds.  Nevertheless, we decided to go ahead despite there only being 3 cars.

Our trip down the motorway to Enniskillen was interesting particularly when we managed to frustrate the life out of a BMW driver!   

When we arrived at the Marble Arch Caves at 12.30, the sun was shining.   Typically, after days of torrential rain, the sun came out and we were going underground!   We enjoyed the sun and chatting in the car park before we joined 1.40pm tour.  

Descending the 150 step down into caves down into the bowels of the earth, my husband and I wondered how we were every going to make it out again!   We were guided to 55 metres below ground level through approximately 1.5 kilometres of caves along the River  by a very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. 

The stalactites are formed by water dripping through the limestone and calcifying, they take millions of years to form - they grow at the rate of 1cm per 1,000 years but the fast growing one (there is only one) grows at 1cm per 100 years.

            

Apart from the concrete foot paths and one section which was drilled through to link two sections of the caves, everything inside the caves is created either by rain dripping through the ceilings or the flow of the river.

Sadly, the boat journey was off and our tour was cut slightly short by an electrical fault which meant that we missed the last section of the caves as it was unsafe to cross the newly constructed causeway across the river.  

Back on the surface the flirting between the tour guide and one of our members and the ensuing match making was priceless!

Back in the car park a member from Sligo was waiting for us, we gathered around his car and admired it chatted while lapping up the sun.   My husband showed off his newest modification to our car... the automatic boot opening springs.  The time whizzed by and before we knew it stomachs began to rumble.

Just after 4pm, it was decided that it was time to find somewhere to eat.   One of our members chose this moment to tell us that he needed a petrol station urgently as he was “running on air” (something that we now expect from him).   The nearest petrol station was about 15 miles away and the range on his car was showing zero, so we headed off back towards Enniskillen fully expecting him to come to an abrupt halt, but we made it safely to the petrol station... good to see that the trip computer on an MG is reliable!  

From here we progressed on towards Enniskillen and stopped a nice looking roadside restaurant where we stopped for tea.   The food was served and although it looked ok, it wasn’t great, but the plates were cleared.   Given the quality off the food, I really wished we’d taken the barbecue with us.

The craic in the restaurant was great, with our bellies filled it was time to call it a day and go our separate ways, the MG ZT and the tourer for home while my husband, brother and I headed off to visit my brother who lives nearby.

Despite the very low turnout, we had a very enjoyable day.   If you’re ever in the vicinity, with a few hours to spare I recommend that you visit the caves or maybe the Club could organise an outing to them.