Well, what a day Saturday 10th August turned out to be. Andy (Tank
Man) and the Cambridge members had spent days, weeks and months organising
and planning what was to be the biggest event that we in the Cambridge
TVRCC had ever staged. At the final planning meeting 2 weeks earlier
we heard that the number of TVRs that had booked in was already exceeding
all expectations.
Throughout
the week Andy was still getting calls from people
wanting to attend and this was with bad weather
forecast for the day. So, up at 4.30am on the
Saturday saw a misty but dry early morning. Much
work had to be done before the massed convoys
of TVRs started to arrive. By 10.30am cars were
starting to arrive - then all hell let loose
when up to 100 TVRs seemed to arrive all at once.
We had to keep the cars off the highway but managed
to pull all the cars into the site and through
the ticket point without a hitch.
Then it rained - we got soaked but it did not matter because the
sun came out in time for the BBQ and the sprinting. Quite how we
managed to feed over 1000 people at the BBQ is a miracle bearing
in mind that we are not professional caterers but all volunteers
from the Cambridgeshire and Suffolk/Norfolk TVRCC groups. But it
all went like clockwork with the queues of TVR people in good spirits.
An aerobatics display laid on for the event had the girls serving
the BBQ wondering if they were under attack - well they were pretty
close to the end of the runway.
By 4.00pm with still a few TVRs arriving we had massed up to 500
TVRs at the event. What a sight - every model from TVR No2 right
up to Tuscans and Tamoras in every colour imaginable including Jamie
Shaw's show winning Cerbera. CDL Racing, Eclipse Racing Team and
Martin Short with the successful SPA 24 hour Cerbera were amongst
the TVRs on display. Trade stands, the club stand and even an F1
simulator all helped to make this a great show.
But the bit most were waiting for was the sprinting down the runway.
Now with up to 500 TVRs this was not going to be a walk in the park.
But with some carefully planned organisation groups of TVRs were
allowed out in succession to allow all an equal stint down the runway.
Being stationed at the start of the runway the noise was just deafening.
For my money the group of SEACs and wedges came a close second to
the 2-seat racing Tuscan piloted by 2001 TVR Tuscan champion Stephen
Guglielmi.
Many thanks to all who helped make this event a success including
the sponsors and all the visitors who we hope had a great day in
Cambridgeshire.
Mike Good, Cambridgeshire Region
Cambridge Region website - http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cambs-tvrcc/index.html
(all following pics from Mike Good unless stated - the impressive
aerial view above was taken from the Dragon Rapide on its last flight
before the sprints by Richard Blacklee
The
queues waiting to be checked in
The
TVRs begin to fill up the parking area
Until
the field is almost full!
Dealers
and trade stands to visit
The
weather looked gloomy at the start
but
brightened up later
Entry
to the military/aircraft museum included
I
caught this small chap looking at the modified cerbera.
Is this where the TVR obsession starts - from Russell
Larcombe
The
Spa cerbera - Pic entitled - 'And this bit of tape
held the front wing on - from Russell Larcombe
The
polishers worked hard in the concours area
The
very impressive BBQ
Over
1000 people to feed!
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contributions to this website are the personal opinions of
the individual members concerned and do not necessarily reflect
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stated. The TVRCC accepts no responsibility for advice or information
given on ths website or by its members.
Throughout
the week Andy was still getting calls from people
wanting to attend and this was with bad weather
forecast for the day. So, up at 4.30am on the
Saturday saw a misty but dry early morning. Much
work had to be done before the massed convoys
of TVRs started to arrive. By 10.30am cars were
starting to arrive - then all hell let loose
when up to 100 TVRs seemed to arrive all at once.
We had to keep the cars off the highway but managed
to pull all the cars into the site and through
the ticket point without a hitch.
