Torque of the North - September 2025
Austin Healey Club Northern Centre's Newsletter
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Hi ,
News from around the North
Huge welcome to our newest members in the club, Philip & Mairi Ladyman from Benbecula, who are the most northerly members in the UK - see members heatmap.
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Should you ever want to organise a local Healey car show, I’m sure there will be a team who would charter a ferry or two to explore your beautiful island.
Bowcliffe Hall and Beaulieu Masters of Motoring
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Fantastic to see the Austin Healey Club return to Bowcliffe once again. In co-operation with the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu and showcasing the very best of the museum’s cars, alongside Jonathan Turner's 1955 Jaguar D type and an ITALA similar to the one that won the 1907 Peking to Paris race, which he completed the 12,600km Paris to Peking Rally with in 2007.
Hebden Bridge
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Whilst we’ve been enjoying the weather, the early birds at Hebden Bridge were getting a proper soaking. However, once the rain cleared there was another great turnout with 13 Healeys on show. Steampunks or Healeys, it was a close call which attracted the most interest!
Thanks to Mike Robinson for the photos at Bowcliffe and Hebden Bridge.
Classics over Sands
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With a record crowd and a “full to the brim” entry list, we had more Healeys than ever and, remarkably, an original AC Cobra. There was something for everyone; stunning 1930’s cars, MG’s, be-finned Americans and modern classics. Big thanks to Club members Richard Hague, John Ridyard and Lesley Peel for helping at the event. Next year the show is on Sunday 9th August, make sure you book promptly for 2026, as entries closed early this year!
Cumbria Classic Weekend Wigton Motor Club
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A quick replacement for the lack of Croft Classic, meant a trip for the Northumbrian team to Dalemain, near Penrith for the Wigton Motor Club Classic Car Show. Great to see Murray’s race car out on display as well as David Harding “slipping in” with his blue over white 3000 at another AHC event, so far clocked at Thirlestane Castle, Yorkshire Elegance and Dalemain.
August Central Scotland - too hot?
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The central Scotland Austin Healeys’ August Noggin’n’Natter was at the Coffee and Classic gathering at the Crieff Hydro Hotel. Always a great place to visit as we get to wander around the amazing workshops and car collection of the Hotel owner. Get a feel of the event with this FB video .Thanks, Nick Gould, for the video and as always organising the Coffee and Classics.
The Group then headed off for a short drive to lunch, then a few carried on, using a fantastic new road across the Ochil Hills to a vital ice cream stop at Milnathorp. Same again next month? Gathering at Melville Castle at 10:30am on the 10 Sept. Contact Richard Spalding 07598194394 for more info.
Classic and Retro Car Revival at Tatton Park
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Another terrific sunny Tatton event with the full stand on both days - regular and novice attendees. Great food and company there were two standout photos of the show; Rob T showing off his smart frogeye whilst flying the flag alongside the club trailer and, not far from the club stand, this amazing BMC Works Team Austin 1800 Landcrab, which completed the 1968 London to Sydney marathon.
HealeySport at Loton Park
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Staying on a racing theme, it was the turn of the Healeys to provide the entertainment at Loton Park Hill Climb last weekend. Northern Centre member Rob Owen demonstrates a tidy apex at the “Triangle” to set up some good times in the Sprite class.
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Having made a great start to his day with a PB on his first timed run, another Northern member Murray Shand got everyone’s heart in their mouth with this interesting cornering technique at the same spot on his final run. No harm done but a shed load of entertainment from the cars on the track (not forgetting the Porsche exiting into the woods!).
Still to come!
Sun 21st September - Cholmondeley Castle Festival of 1,000 Classic Cars
Car show | bike show | autojumble | trade 10am - 4pm Cholmondeley Castle, Malpas, Cheshire, SY14 8AH. The event everyone asks about! Weather permitting, expect to see as many as 1,200 classics on display in the grounds of the stunning Cholmondeley Castle. Whilst the AH Club will not have an official stand at this event there are members attending. Full details and ticket prices via the link below. Select Classic Car Exhibitor which will gain entry for the driver and 1 passenger for £8.06.
Post on the Golden Pheasant WhatsApp group if you are interested in going.
https://classicshows.org/events/festival-of-1000-classic-cars-21-september-2025
Last of the Summer Drive
Last of The Summer Drive on Sunday 28th September. Meeting at Squires Biker Cafe, Sherburn in Elmet for at drive and lunch around East Yorkshire. Register your interest, ASAP, at yorkshire@ahc-northern.org.uk or by phone/text at 07800 974418.
Yorkshire Noggins
The Yorkshire area Noggins are now all starting at 7pm on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. The change has been notified to RevCounter and will be in the September edition.
Thu 16th October - AGM North Wales
Time to start thinking about getting yourself on the Northern Centre Committee or just coming along to the AGM to hear the plans for the coming year. See the panel below for more details.
Tue 4th November - Bickerton Poacher Skittles Night
We are holding our annual Skittles evening on Tuesday 4th November at the Bickerton Poacher, Malpas, Cheshire, SY14 8BE. The time is 6.30pm for 7pm. Steak and Ale pie will be served at 7pm followed by our pub skittles challenge. We usually have sufficient attendance to have 3 teams Cheshire, Leek and North Wales. This is always a great night and very popular. To book a place contact Mike Stonier on Northerncentreevents@aol.com or 07941 757648.
NE Scotland Noggin & Natters
The NE Scotland group has recently started a regular monthly meet (1st Friday of the month) at a new car themed cafe; “The Drive” near Haddo House. all Healeys welcome - as evidenced by the decor...
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Near Haddo House, B999, Ellon, AB41 7NU.
Want to attend a show?
Other events are opening for bookings in the coming months and we’ll update you as they come along, but its easy to get ahead of the game. Go to the Northern Centre website, checkout the list of planned events and contact the organiser - simple as that.
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
SCOTLAND (CENTRAL) - 2nd Wednesday of the month (Mar-Nov) AHC club joins in with “Coffee and Classics” at various locations, meeting at 10:30am. Details on Coffee & Classics Facebook Group or from Richard Spalding on 07598 194394
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| 10 Sep |
Melville Castle |
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12 Nov |
Mortonhall Garden Centre |
| 08 Oct |
Park Bistro |
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- ***NEW*** Sun 21st September - Cholmondley Castle Festival no club stand but Cheshire members going. Post on Golden Pheasant WhatsApp for more details.
- ***NEW*** Sun 28th September - Last of the Summer Drives Sherburn in Elmet contact Jeff Hollinshead.
- Thu 16th October - AGM North Wales. See the panel below for more details.
- ***NEW*** Tue 4th November - Skittles Night. Bickerton Poacher. See website for more details or contact Mike Stonier below.
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See the Northern Centre Website or National Club Website for the full list of events planned for 2025.
Other events are being organised at local area level at short notice via WhatsApp groups. Get yourself on the groups and intothe action by getting in touch with your local rep below.
CENTRE CONTACTS
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Northern Centre AGM 2025
The Northern Centre AGM will be held in Clwyd and will coincide with the regular North Wales Noggin and Natter. It will take place at:
8pm on Thursday 16th Oct 2025, at the
Cricket Club, Smithy Lane, Northop Hall, Clwyd, CH7 6DE
Members will be able to join the AGM virtually on Zoom or in person at the meeting where light refreshments will be provided.
All Northern Centre members are welcome so please join us to air your views on how we run the Centre, hear what we are planning for the coming year, and to vote in the committee. We always want to hear from members who wish to become more involved with the running of the centre.
Please advise secretary@ahc-northern.org.uk if you would like to attend the AGM in person. Alternatively, e-mail webmaster@ahc-northern.org.uk if you would like to join the meeting virtually on Zoom.
Watch out for more details about the AGM on our website. For more information contact the Chairman: Douglas McClymont on 07940 313947
or chairman@ahc-northern.org.uk
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