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Torque of the North
The monthly newsletter of the AHC Northern Centre
March 2024
AHCN - Torque of the North - March 2024

Torque of the North - March 2024

Austin Healey Club Northern Centre's Newsletter
Hi ,

Time to get in the Garage and get the cars ready for Drive It Day.  This year we’ve four to choose from; the usual excellent Yorkshire and North Wales, joined this year by Northumbria and our newest Area, Lakes & Dales.  I’ll be heading North to bulk up Norman's first foray into organising a Drive It Day through the Lake District, so no excuses this year, oh and remember to support Childline. Norman extends a warm welcome to any members who fancy a drive up to Crooklands for the next Noggin on 14th March, when we’ll be looking at “what’s in your boot”!

News from around the North

National Club Website
Worth peeking at the National Club website www.austinhealeyclub.com which has just undergone a major “refit” with high-quality graphics working well on phones, tablets and laptops.  This is where we can see what’s happening across the club and keep everyone up to date.  Redesigned and engineered by our very own Robert Thornburrow, you’ll recognise many of the photos from our own events up North.

We are always looking for photos to add to the website, so contact Robert at: webmaster@austinhealeyclub.com and get your best shots online.

Northern Centre Treasurer

We have been very lucky to have the services of Jonathan Pilkington as our treasurer over the last 5 years and have reaped the benefits of his enthusiasm and energy on the centre’s committee.  Committees are always changing though, and Jonathan has decided that at the next AGM in November, he will be standing down as Treasurer. He has kindly given us plenty of notice to find a new volunteer to take over in November.  Whilst this is a vital role in the running of the centre, it doesn’t require accountancy skills.  Jonathan describes the job as “straight forward”.  If you are interested in supporting the club and getting involved with the committee, this is a great opportunity to get stuck in.  We meet as a committee, 6 times a year over Zoom so there is no need to travel too far to join in. 

Contact Doug McClymont on 07940 313947 or  chairman@ahc-northern.org.uk if interested.

Every Second Counts – navigating and co driving in the ‘60’s with Don Barrow

Don’t forget.  Next event on the Northern Centre calendar is 2nd April.
We are delighted to have persuaded Don to present ‘Every Second Counts’ - The life of DB’s Navigating & co-driving from the ‘60’s. If you’ve ever been to Race Retro, you’ll know the format, with a romp through the exciting and hairy times of works Rally teams, with low budgets and a much simpler approach to motor sport!
 
Don will be with us on Tuesday 2nd April 2024 at 2-4 pm in the AVRO Heritage Museum, Woodford, Stockport, SK7 1GD, [what3words:///living.once.units]
£5 pp to cover costs & refreshment.
 
If you want to join us at the museum - email Doug at:  chairman@ahc-northern.org.uk

Great British Car Journey
As a part of the Austin family, all members of the Austin Healey Club have been invited to support the following event and take advantage of a massive club discount.

Austin Extravaganza!

The First of our BIG Themed days for 2024 celebrates the Great Sir Herbert Austin and the cars that bore his name with an AUSTIN EXTRAVAGANZA.

Sunday 14th April

At “Great British Car Journey” in Ambergate, DE56 2HE.
From 10am – 4pm, £10 Per Person (normally £18.50)

Book Tickets Here >>

£10 entry per person for occupants of ANY Austin car from 1905 to 1989. Includes full access to Great British Car Journey interactive museum, café and facilities.

Price valid up until a week before the event – book now to avoid missing out! On the day prices are £15 per person – including museum entry…

Drive It Day this year is Sunday 21st April 2024 and there are drives being organised in several areas across the centre:

  • Northumbria: Cobweb Run with MG Car Club Tyne Tees Centre.  AHC Northumbria will be joining the MG Car Club again this year for Drive it Day.  First car is waved away at 10:00 from Seaton Burn, Newcastle on a choice of two routes at 77 or 106 miles.  Contact Murray Shand below for more details and to join in.
  • Yorkshire: Meets at 9:30 in Sowerby Bridge for a 50 mile moorland drive with lunch at Winterburn Inn around 12:30. Make your own way home after lunch. Contact Jeff Hollinshead below to join in.
  • North Wales: Meeting at Tweed Mill, St. Asaph, Denbighshire, LL17 0UY.  Arrival at 10.20am with time for coffee.  Depart 11.15am.  Drive 50-60 miles to lunch.  This is subject to change if necessary.  Please contact John or Jill for details.
  • Lakes & Dales: We’ll meet at our usual venue, the Crooklands Hotel for coffee at 10am, leaving for a meander around some of the lovely Lake district roads for a 45-mile drive, arriving back at Crooklands for lunch.  Contact Norman Butler on 07788148485,  lakesanddales@ahc-northern.org.uk or WhatsApp.

Please buy a rally plate to support childline at www.fbhvc.co.uk/drive-it-day
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
  • Tuesday 2nd April - “Every Second Counts” A  talk by Don Barrow,  co-driver with the works rally team from the 1964 Spa-Sofia Liege Rally.  2-4 pm at the AVRO Museum, SK7 1GD.  Email Douglas McClymont at: chairman@ahc-northern.org.uk
  • Sunday 14th April - Great British Car Journey.  £10pp entry to this fabulous motor museum’s Austin celebrations when members prebook and arrive in their Austin-Healey. (normal entry price £18.50pp)  Book Tickets Here >>
  • Sunday 21st April 2024 - FBHVC Drive it Day 2024 – AHC Northern Centre drives in Scotland, Yorkshire, North East and North Wales.  Contact your area rep below for details and joining instructions.  See https://www.fbhvc.co.uk/drive-it-day for FBHVC website to buy your plate and support Children in Need.
  • Fri-Mon 3rd-6th May 2024 - May Bank Holiday Weekend.  Cedar Court Hotel Harrogate. Contact Paul Johnston:  vicechairman@ahc-northern.org.uk Mob: 07785 790710
  • Sunday 2nd June - Thirlestane Castle. In the Borders, contact richard.spalding@ahc-northern.org.uk by 5th April to book your place at this event.
  • Sat/Sun 13th/14th July 2024 - Glamis Castle.  Scottish Transport Extravaganza. Contact Ian Walker at scotland@ahc-northern.org.uk to get your car on the stand.
  • Tues/Weds 16th/17th July 2024 - Yorkshire Elegance 2024 Grantly Hall near Ripon in company with the AHC National Concours.  Contact Jeff Hollinshead at yorkshire@ahc-northern.org.uk to join the club ticket list.
  • Wednesday 24th July 2024 - Gawsworth Hall BBQ and Drive. We will have an exclusive tour of the Hall with a picnic lunch on the lawn followed by a Cheshire drive and our own BBQ back in the grounds of the Hall, later in the day. 
  • Sunday 12th August 2024 - Classics over Sands  - https://classicsoversands.org for more information - Phil Kershaw on 07836 622293.
CENTRE CONTACTS
  • Northeast - Contact Murray at tyneside@ahc-northern.org.uk for details of future events and noggins or on 07850 286999 or via WhatsApp
  • Yorkshire - Contact Jeff Hollinshead on 07800 974418 or at yorkshire@ahc-northern.org.uk or via WhatsApp
  • North Wales - For information on Noggins and events contact John or Jill on 07766 706554 or via WhatsApp
  • Scotland - Contact Ian Walker on 07740 148881 or at scotland@ahc-northern.org.uk or on WhatsApp - Scotland - North East – For local Noggins, contact Tony Ball on 07703 349679 or on WhatsApp.
  • Northwest - Contact Mike Stonier on 07941 757648 or at events@ahc-northern.org.uk
  • Lakes and Dales - Contact Norman Butler on 07788148485, lakesanddales@ahc-northern.org.uk or WhatsApp.