alanrichey

What a glorious day out that was.    Just got back from the Annual Stilton Cheese Run.   For those who didn’t know, Stilton Cheese was never made at Stilton, it was made in a village called Hungerton in Leicestershire, some 40 miles West.  In the early days the cheese was delivered to Stilton by horse and cart via various small villages to eventually sell it to all the people travelling up from London on the Great North Road (now the A1).  As such it became known as Stilton Cheese.

Every year, this is celebrated by inviting classic cars to retrace the route along the country roads.   We actually start about a third of the way along the route at Uppingham, which is large enough to host the start.   Also, rather than just do the straight line we do a semi-random meander around the Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire and Rutland back roads.   And we have a break point about half way at New Lodge Farm on the A43 for coffee, loo stop and a hog roast if you are hungry, before finishing at Stilton.  As such the run covers maybe 40-50 miles (In my case getting to the start point and getting back from the end point, via a pub lunch, adds another 60 miles so I have covered almost 110 miles today).

Like most events at the moment it has shrunk from it’s heyday pre-pandemic.   In previous years they had to limit the turnout to 300 cars.   This year they managed to get  only150.   Having said that there where lots of very interesting cars and I have added a few photos.  Similarly I remember the Club submitting 12-15 entries, this year it was just the 3 of us (with 2 wives).   A pity, but nevertheless, very enjoyable for all concerned.    The weather was perfect, the cars were running beautifully and the roads were narrow and windy

Here's the important cars:

 and here's a small selection of some others

There a couple of changes to the above Area Secretary list.   Chris Smith (tractor) decided to stand down, but Phil Shelton (philshelton) has stepped up to take the reins.   Hope all you Leicestershire owners support him.   Unfortunately we have also lost our Scottish Area Secretary as he sold his car and has moved on to different things.   As of now, no-one has volunteered to tak over so the office is vacant.   Hopefull someon will come through.

One of those nice rare months where we didn't reduce our numbers.    We had 7 cancellations but gained 7 new members.  I regard that as a win

So welcome to our new members  (username, location and Area Secretary)

John Organ                   Spain                     
Ashley Baker                Newton Abbott        Robbie 2B
Ross Maynard              Southhampton          apgodden
Thomas Greengrass    Norwich                   Me
Gordon Webb               Norwich                   Me
Greg                              Llandysul                  smpaarrkky
Tim Nursall                   Shipton on Stour     richyb66

This happening on Sunday 26th May.   Check out https://www.sandringhammotoringpageant.co.uk/

Can I get an idea of numbers who might attend.   If there is enough interest (more than 5 cars) I will arrange for a Club stand.

I don't recall having any problem.   Send me your photo and I will have a go.

Thanks for the offer.   Can you liase with Christopher (sparepart) ?  I'm sure he would be grateful for any contribution.

Sorry for the late posting of the January figures, I have been on a cruise so didn't have my laptop (hard life being retired )   It actually turned out to be our best month for some time.   As usual we lost a few (8 to be exact) members, but I was really pleased to see we gained a record 10 new members.   As usual, here are their Forum Usernames, location and their Area Sec.

Mark Haughton     Luton             Me
Craig White           Leeds             Grim
james Barnett       Fenton            Andi
David Amos           Edinburgh      (Vacant)
peter_m7uk           Hove               nelmo
Dave                       Yarwell            Me
Peter Steele           Lanark            (Vacant)
Sue                          Birmingham    richyb66
Paul Spicer             Bennfleet       nelmo
Ray Sinclair            Glasgow        (Vacant)

So welcome to all

Al

It’s on the side of the gearbox (assuming you have the MT75 Box).  You need to look from underneath to see it.

it has a very small connector with 2 small wires.  I have had to repair mine twice (in 10 years )

This will be held at Kimbolton Castle (PE28 0EA) on Sunday 14th July.   This is a regular show and attracts a huge number of cars (They are estimating 1200+ this year).   It is also a full day out with stalls, arena events, food and drink etc.   

The Club has been allocated a space for 15 cars, which is normally around the number we get.   The organiser has told me we can apply for early bird tickets using the code KCFCCS24  at www.kimboltoncountryfayre.org/tickets although I'm not sure how we benefit from that as it seems this option is open to everyone.

Location of our pitch will be issued nearer the day.   See https://kimboltoncountryfayre.com/  for more details.

Al (Temporary Events Secretary)

The old timers amongst us will remember we used to sell humorous stickers for the back of the car.   Well, the good news are that they are back.  These two are available:

Our plan is to sell them at Malvern and Newark, for £1 each.   However, for those who can't attend the shows or want some now, we are selling them for £1.50, to allow for postage charges.   Just go the 'Store' option on the blue banner and select what you want.

While cleaning up the store I have also added our normal windscreen sticker as well.  You will receive one of these on  initial registration and also you can request another at renewal.   For those who want one 'out of phase' these will also be on sale at the Shows at £1 or £1.50 from the Store. (We have red, yellow, blue and green nose cones to match your car)

Have fun

Sorry Nigel, forum rules clearly state :

3) You MUST put a price on all items in your adverts, we don't want to start an auction and everyone feels awkward when it says "Make me an offer"!

Cheers

Al (Webmaster)

Mine is identical with no model type specified, even though it is a Superspec.

i also have the SVA/IVA date specified (17/06/2008) and the emission standard (%CO 0.5; 0.3FI HC 0.02FI;LAMDA 0.97-1.03)

Shows the number of former owners as just 1.  I know the person I bought it from actually built it, so it just includes him.  One caveat is that the Superspec didn’t use a donor car so was declared new at the SVA.   I’m not sure what happens if your car used the original donor registration.

We now welcome the Exmo to the 'Useful Sites' list of dedicated pages for each model, joining the Superspec, Series III/IIIA and 2B/2b+.

I'm grateful to Jan (sparepart) for the work he has done in setting up this page as he continues to add more information.   If any other Exmo owner feels they can contribute please contact him.

Meanwhile I am still waiting for a volunteer to do pages for the Series 6, Series 7 and LIghweight.   Any one ?

Cheers

Al Richey (Webmaster)

Just to explain the logic here so you understand the reasoning for the question.   The speed the indicator flashes is dependent on the current load flowing through the flasher unit.  That is why if one bulb fails you get the double-speed for the rest, as the current has reduced.

Now, LEDs only take a fraction of the current compared with traditional bulbs, so if you have fitted LEDs that would explain the problem.  So you have 2 solutions as recommended by phaeton.   If you insert resistors in serial with the LEDs the higher resistance will induce more current flow so your flashers should slow down.  Alternatively get an LED-specific flasher unit designed to operate at a lower current level.

Hope that makes sense.

Look under Useful Sites > NW Group > Identification of various…

that shows the front suspension setups to all the Robin Hood models.   Might help.

Sorry, can't make it as I will be overseas visiting my daughter.   I'll put it in my diary so I can remind all the East of England members nearer the date.

January has always been one of our busiest months as historically all members renewed on 1st Jan.    Although we have now switched to the more flexible format there are still a number of us old-timers still left on that date.  So we had 53 members up for renewal.   A was a bit disappointed that 11 members failed ro renew, but very pleasantly surprised when we picked up 9 new memers.   Very unusual as many cars are SORNed, but very welcome.  So we are sitting comfortably at 353 members,

The new members are :   (forum name (and Chritian name if not obvious), location and Area Sec)

Cass (Garath)           Morecombe               Darrell

Paul Ringrow           Bangor                           toriitom

Ivo (Ivor)                  Walsall                           richyb66

Jerbear (Jeremy)     Dillwyn                          richyb66

Daniel Jowett           Doncaster                       Grim

Sam Burton              St Neots                         Me

Dave Read                Leeds                             Grim

Pete Millie                Cambourne                    Me

SteveT                      Plymouth                       Robbie2B

Managed to do the meet today, a nice lunch at the cafe for the select few.

 A fairly nice runout, an hour each way for me, although my car dumped a whole load of coolant on the way there and I arrived at the cafe with the temperature gauge hovering just underneath the red, and I had a mild case of hypothermia   The coolant fault is a poor seal between my expansion bottle and the pressure cap, as all the missing water was in the overflow bottle I have fitted..   I don't yet know if it is a faulty pressure cap, a poor neck on the expansion bottle or the coolant system is over pressurising.  I have a 20 psi cap one which should be more than enough.

I got home OK by driving at a steady 50mph with judicious use of the fan in villages, traffic lights, traffic.....   Unfortunately my brake lights then stayed on all the way back.  A fair number of people flashed me, but I didn't know how to tell them I knew all about it and couldn't fix it till I got home ?   Easy fix though, part of the switch mounting was displaced, so just a 5 min fix.  

Kit Cars eh !!, don't you love them

The run tomorrow has to scrubbed, I am the only one who could go.  I would have been a bit lonely.   Might try and resurrect it later, watch this space.

Yes, the owner is a member and a good supporter of the East of England group.   The car is a Polaris Slingshot 3-wheeler, an absolutely beautiful kit. It's just one of his collection

One down, one to go.   Good run to the Nursery (plants not babies) and a good meal at the cafe.  Although it seats 100, it was busy so we had to wait about 10 mins for a table.  No problem though, as we were all dressed for a cold day out in a kit car.   Huge car park so no problem parking together.    We'll be going back.

Thanks to all that turned up.

Change of plan for tomorrow, as we think the cafe at Sywell might be closed.   So we are now going to Rutland Nursery to the cafe there (LE15 8RN).

Weather looking good again, shame to waste it.    So we are going for 2 meetings, one on Sunday (tomorrow) for the 'workers' and one on Tuesday (30th) for the 'retirees'

Sunday is at Sywell Aerodrome (NN6 0BN), park next to musuem, so we might get some flying displays and then on Tuesday our old favourite, the Harvest Barn just South of Peterborough (PE7 3DR).

Any 'out-of-area' members more than welcome, just let me know.   Both meets at 12:00.

Al

Hi everyone

We have always encouraged members and guests to ask questions on the forum, and invariably several members will offer suggestions.   However I have recently seen aome questions that I happen to know have already been answered.   It really is good practice in any support forum to do some research before you post a question.

Under "Useful Sites" on the blue banner you will find specific pages for 2B, Series III/IIIa and Superspec models  that cover known problems (The Exmo page is under construction and I am still waiting for volunteers to buile pages fopr the Lightweight, GBS Zero or any other models).

Also the Search tool is very powerful tool, but you have to use it properly.  For example, when I was worried about my clutch rattle I did a search for Superspec clutch. I get 6000 hits, which is no help at all.  The reason, of course, is that it is looking for any post containing the word Superspec or the word Clutch .  But when I seached for "Superspec Clutch" (enclosed in quotes)  I got only 23 hits which were easier to read in full.  As it happened, they solving my problem.

Hope that helps

Al Richey  (Webmaster)

Another cracking day, proving again why you shouldn't SORN your car over winter.  Lovely day for the drive with slight caveat that our cars will all need a good clean later.

A good turnout and thanks to all those that made the effort.   They make a lovely sight.