Midget and Sprite Club - Hampshire Chapter
*** NEXT EVENT - THE CROWN - KINGSLERE - 18th JANUARY 2009 ***
Starting on Friday 23rd May we were to go to Priors Marsden in a convoy of six cars. The four Frogs and the two Midgets of Chris and Mike. We had already planned the route, so meeting Mike just south of Wantage was going to be no problem. Well, Chris needed a new bit of exhaust pipe before we left Alf and Lynn's, Big John didn't have Vic with him due to her being ill, and then an hour out, Alf and Lynn had to return for forgotten items! No problem! The icing on the cake was Mike having an electrical malady and us all sitting on the side of the road while as many people as possible stuck their heads under the bonnet generally sucking in air and trying to fix it!


L to R. Mike, Barry, Big John and Terry
Whilst we were sitting there a gentleman (John Gardner?) who used to work in the drawing office at Healeys stopped. Most interesting man, who later found us in the pub and brought Mike an electronic ignition module that he thought might help. Eventually after the rescue service had called for a flat bed truck we
  trooped off to the pub we were staying in. needless to say we were much later than we anticipated, but "hey that's classic motoring".

Alf had, by this time, caught up with us, and went on ahead, unfortunately going AWOL. We got back to the pub for a well-earned pint of Hooky, and eventually got the word on Alf. He had a broken half shaft, and was situated in a pub car park in Fenny Compton. Chris and Barry went back to help, and the rest of us made plans to get Mike to Spridget 50, and also talk to John. Little John and Ellen turned up - no Frog - in the MGF
The long and the short of Friday evening, was that Alf, Lynn and the Frog went home (the second flatbed of the day) to get it fixed and then come back and rejoin us on Saturday afternoon.
The long and the short of Friday evening, was that Alf, Lynn and the Frog went home (the second flatbed of the day) to get it fixed and then come back and rejoin us on Saturday afternoon.


Priors Marsden, the pub car park! Four Frogs and two Midgets
  Mike was towed to Gaydon on Saturday morning while the rest of us donned yellow jackets and hats marshalling the Spridgets in to their places.


L to R. Terry, Chris and Barry

Spridget 50 - Wow what an event!

We all had a ball, seeing so many similar but different cars. If you were wondering whether your car would look good in another colour, you could check it out, trying to fit a different engine/gearbox/pair of seats? Yes, you could probably find someone who had done it too! There were marauding French Frogs coming over the hill, as well as cars from all over. In the middle of it was Mike, who after much persuading, had his car converted back to ordinary electrics rather than the set up that had gone phut! Alf turned up at about 3:30, which was fantastic. And what a lot of nice people were there too. We got together for pictures, then left to go back to the pub via Burton Dassett, so that Mike could visit the place where his sister's Midget was photographed in the late 70's. Great fun and beautiful views, but windy!


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The New Year's Day meeting took place at the Cricket Hill roundabout on the A30……………

It all started well enough with Terry and Harriet arriving at The Poacher in time to put the banner up in readiness for everyone's arrival and John and Vic soon joined them in the Clan.

Advanced Party - arriving at the Poacher
However it all began to fall apart from that point when Andy the landlord decided to open later than originally planned, so not even a cup of coffee was on offer to keep out winter chills. Meanwhile Barry & Jenny were happily batting down the A30 when the engine suddenly died without so much as a murmur.
Alf, (mechanical Guru) in his Sprite and Lyn & Brooke (support vehicle!) came to the rescue and the advance party at the pub packed up the banner and came to join us.
Alf, (mechanical Guru) in his Sprite and Lyn & Brooke (support vehicle!) came to the rescue and the advance party at the pub packed up the banner and came to join us.

To cut a long story short the problem was diagnosed as a 'dead coil' and after the roadside repairs we all went back to Terry and Harriet's for coffee and cake and a much needed visits to the bathroom! Luckily we had broken down on the route used by a lot of classics going to the annual Phoenix bash in Hartney Wintney and we would like to say a big THANK YOU to all the people who stopped to offer help/advice/sympathy - it was appreciated.

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