Fantastic car, awful weather

IT’S not often I get an entire afternoon to reacquaint myself with an old car. Even when the afternoon’s as wet and unwelcoming as this one’s been.

The old car in question is one you’ll be familiar with if you read these pages regularly; my 1972 MGB GT , which despite being one of my most treasured possessions hasn’t done any meaningful driving since its appearance at the Ormskirk MotorFest back in August. With the weather turning increasingly cold and miserable, the tougher driving tasks have been assigned to the MX-5.

Until now.

I would’ve loved to point the MG’s nose onto the motorway and go hunting for the hills of the Lakes or North Wales but with just a few hours of meaningful daylight I play with I went to a place surprisingly few motorists outside the Sefton/West Lancashire area know about. The shots you see here are taken on Cleaves Hill, which is a stone’s throw from Aughton. Normally, it affords some great views across to Liverpool and even to the Welsh coast, but today just about the most it could do were these moody countryside shots of the MG.

The weather was cold and miserable, the amount of water involved was playing havoc with the GT’s indicator relay and the light was fading fast, but I absolutely loved my afternoon with it. It’s a proper sports car in the old fashioned sense; heavy, noisy and not especially easy to drive, but tinged with a romance and a nostalgia which make its sound, handling and style ever more enjoyable.

I just can’t wait for it to be summer again, so I can enjoy it properly.

Southport mechanics restore couple's classic Morris Minor wedding car

Pictures by Martyn Snape, Champion Newspapers

A COUPLE who used their beloved classic car as their wedding transport have just had it lovingly restored to its former glory by a West Lancashire firm.

John and Jean Fagan, of Snape Green in Scarisbrick, told The Champion this week they were delighted that Molly, their 1963 Morris Minor Convertible, had been restored by mechanics working at the Southport branch of West Lancashire car repair specialists Karl Vella.

The car holds a special significance for the couple because John originally bought it for Jean in 2008 as a wedding present, and the couple used it as their wedding car at a ceremony at Briars Hall in Lathom.

Jean told Life On Cars: "She made an excellent wedding car - the little car has given us so much pleasure and happiness. Wherever we go in her, people wave and smile and want to know her story.

"Molly was in good condition when we bought her but more recently we noticed a bit of rust and some of her paint was starting to crack. We made the decision to have her paintwork completely renewed, and some of the metalwork has been replaced. She looks absolutely magnificent now thanks to the work of John, Peter, Darren and Kieran at Karl Vella in Southport."

Jean, a lifelong Minor enthusiast, added that although she didn't drive at the time she learned and passed her test just so that she could use Molly as her own car after the wedding. The couple brought the car into the company's site on Cemetery Road last December, and during quieter periods at the garage the car has been brought back to its former glory using new paintwork, improvements to the metalwork and a restoration of the interior.

Karl Vella MBE, Managing Director of the Karl Vella Group, said: "I'm delighted John and Jean are happy with our work. The lads have done a cracking job - I was really impressed at how they pulled out all the stops to ensure the car was restored to its former glory."

 Do you have a story you'd like to share with Life On Cars? Get in touch by sending an email to david.simister@hotmail.co.uk or leave a comment below...

Hundred End Festival of Transport 2012

 

A FEW pictures from the Hundred End Festival of Transport, which is taking place near Banks, in Lancashire this weekend:

If you've got a motoring event or bit of news you'd like to share with Life On Cars get in touch by sending an email to david.simister@hotmail.co.uk or simply leave a comment...

Events: Lancashire Classic Car and Bike Show 2012

FROM the organisers of the Lancashire Classic Car and Bike Show, taking place at Hoghton Tower on Sunday, June 24:

The Lancs Classic Car and Bike Show will be a stunning gathering of classic vehicles assembled at Hoghton Tower near Preston, Lancashire.

There will be an array of vehicles ranging from pre 1950 Singer, Morris, Riley, Rover & Humber to modern day classics such as the MG, Porsche,TVR, Mercedes & E-Type Jaguar with BSA and Velocettes in the Classic Bike Section. Hoghton Tower is a well known local venue ideally suited for a classic vehicle show.

Vehicle events have been running there continuously for almost two decades and continue to be a very popular feature on the classic vehicle calendar in the North West. We always get around 400 classic cars, a good turn out of classic bikes and around 25 autojumble and trade stands. There are 14 clubs booked in to the show, travelling from the surrounding area such as Wigan, Cheshire and other parts of Lancashire these include the Stag OC, Cheshire Classics OC, Merseyside MG Club, Liverpool and Cheshire Capri Club to name just a few.

In addition to the 100+ Club vehicles on display, there is a further 200+ private entry vehicles booked in that will display in categories divided by decade. Visitors can enjoy the show and have the opportunity to walk around the beautiful house, grounds and gardens (entrance by separate admission). There will be an all day concours competition with live commentary and prizes plus catering options within the show, providing an enjoyable day out.

For more information visit the Andrew Greenwood’s Classic Shows website at www.classicshows.org or call 01484 667776.

Military vehicle fans plan second invasion of West Lancashire pub

MILTARY machine enthusiasts are drawing up plans to invade a Scarisbrick pub for the second time at a special show later this summer.

Members of the North Lancashire and South Cumbria Military Vehicle Trust said that a showcase at the Heatons Bridge Inn of vehicles going back to the Second World War had been such a success that they are now planning a second event on August 4 and 5, and are teaming up with their comrades at the West Lancashire Military Vehicle Trust to make the show even bigger and better than before.

Organiser Mark Lancaster told Life On Cars: “Due to the great success of the first military vehicle weekend at the beginning of April at the Heatons Bridge, we are going to hold our ‘Second Invasion' in August.

"This time we are teaming up with The West Lancs trust to put on what will be a bigger more impressive event with a more diverse selection of Military Vehicles for the public to see. It will be free admission again to the event, but we will be collecting again for Help For Heros and any voluntary donations would be appreciated."

Among the exhibits being planned for the show at the West Lancashire pub are Ferret armoured cars, army Jeeps, Land Rovers, trucks and tracked vehicles. The trust are also planning to bringing back the tanks which provided an eye-catching sight to visitors during the first show in April, and to host another road run on the country lanes of West Lancashire.

The event, called The Second Invasion, will also take advantage of the pub's own links to West Lancashire's wartime past, and will once again incorporate an original World War Two pillbox at the rear of the site into the military displays.

For more information about the event send an email to Mark Lancaster at lancaster798@btinternet.com

Buses galore at Merseyside Transport Trust open day

THERE'S an old proverb that says "Never turn down a chance to get your MG in front of some old buses". Probably.

Joking aside, if you're into your old buses as much as your automotive antiques then this event would probably have been up your street. The Merseyside Transport Trust keep a selection of buses going back decades at their hangars in Burscough, and although they're usually kept under wraps just once in a while they venture out into the public eye, giving passengers rides around the country lanes of West Lancashire.

 

Not only did visitors get the chance to check out gems like the Leyland Olympian, but the trust's members managed to incorporate another of my passions - beer - into the day, by coming up with the ingenious idea of offering rides out to several of the nearby pubs using their exhibits!

If you're a fan of buses - and there are plenty of petrolheads who are - you might like to check out their website or send an email to enquiries@mttrust.co.uk

P.S: I was also approached, as I was taking pictures of my MGB GT, by a man from the North West Museum of Road Transport. The St Helens museum is holding a Classic Car Spectacular on Sunday, August 12 at their base in the town's former bus depot, between 10am and 4pm. For more infomation or to enter your classic send an email to matt@nwmort.co.uk or call 01744 451681.

Car and bike fans urged to check out Cleveleys Classic Vehicle Show

FANS of classic cars and bikes are being invited to Cleveleys later this summer for a full-throttle show in the seaside town.

The Cleveleys Classic Vehicle show will see the one of the main streets in the Lancashire resort, Victoria Road West, closed off from 10am on Sunday, August 19 for a gathering of classic cars, sports cars, American automobiles, hot rods, modern classics, kit cars, motorbikes and specialist vehicles. The entrants, of which there are more than 100 registered for the show so far, will be parked along the main street up to the town's promenade.

Russ Larcombe, one of the show's organisers, told Life On Cars:"The show's aim is to draw people back to the town to enjoy a great day out amongst the displays and entertainment and visit the impressive and modern sea front promenade at Cleveleys.

"The event is being managed by The Thornton Cleveleys Association of Trade and commerce assisted by ukwheelsevents and the Lancashire Vehicle group. It is supported by several local businesses."

In addition to all the automotive action live music from a variety of bands will be performed throughout the day, while over the beach and weather permitting there will be an air display of radio controlled aircraft .

To register your vehicle or to find out more about the event go to the show's official website at www.thecleveleysclassicvehicleshow.com

Classic car fans invited to Bispham show

CLASSIC car fans are being invited to head to Bispham to check out a mouthwatering selection of motor cars from years gone by next week.

Hilldale Community Association said it was urging enthusiasts of all things automotive to head to the Farmers Arms, on Chorley Road, next Tuesday (June 5) as part of a series of events being held in Hilldale and Bispham, in West Lancashire, over the Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend.

A spokesperson for the event said: "There will be a fantastic display of motor vehicles from all eras. On show will be vintage and classic cars, vintage and classic motorcycles and classic mopeds. "There may well also be displays of racing cars and racing motorcycles from throughout the years. Why not take the opportunity to admire the many fine examples of automobile engineering?"

In addition, there will also be an auto-jumble sale on the day, with pitches costing £5 in advance or £10 on the day. For further details, ring Ian Smith on 01257 464640 or e-mail Ian at iangsmith@msn.com Entry to the show is free for visitors.

Panic buying hits petrol stations across Sefton and West Lancashire

IT'S a curious contradiction. Petrol is, most motorists would argue, too expensive, and yet this week scores of them have been queuing up to buy as much of it as they can.

Over the past few days we've been keeping a close eye on threats of a strike by fuel tanker drivers - and the panic buying it's prompted right across our area and other parts of Britain. It's one of those stories that affects almost everyone - even if you don't run a car yourself - and unsurprisingly plenty of you have already got in touch to share your experiences.

The thing is, of course, that panic buying is a self-fulfilling prophecy, because it'll happen as soon as you - or rather, cabinet ministers - allude to it. At the time of writing no strike has actually been confirmed, but if you'd just emerged from a cave and taken a look at the number of "SORRY, NO FUEL" signs out at the moment you'd draw a very different conclusion.

It'll also be interested to see what effect the Twitter generation has on the course of events; the last time there were widespread fuel shortages, way back in 2000, it and Facebook hadn't even been invented. It, is, in many ways, a bit like last summer's riots. Social networking is simultaneously its best mate and its sworn enemy.

Without wanting to, er, fuel the panic, we'd be interested to know how you've been affected. Get in touch via all the usual Life On Cars channels...

West Lancashire pub to host military vehicle weekend

MILITARY machines from as far back as the Second World War will invade West Lancashire this spring for a major public display.

The event is being hosted by Heatons Bridge Inn, near Scarisbrick, on the weekend of April 14 and 15, with enthusiasts from as far afield as Cumbria bringing machines to display on a field behind the pub.

Steve Flitcroft, secretary of the South Cumbria and North Lancashire Military Vehicle Trust, which is organising the event, said: “At other events in other parts of the region we see a lot of people turning up to take at look at the military vehicles because they generate quite a lot of interest.

"We are the largest military vehicle trust in the UK and Europe, with vehicles going back as far as the First World War, so we're hoping that over the weekend we'll be able to show off quite a good cross section of military vehicles from conflicts going right up to the present day."

Although the exact details of the displays included in the event have yet to be confirmed, the public can expect to see vehicles Willys Jeeps, Ferret armoured cars, Saracen personnel carriers and larger ex-military machines.

The club will incorporate a second world war pillbox, which still stands near to the pub, into their display.

Steve Winrow, manager of the Heatons Bridge Inn, told Life On Cars he was looking forward to seeing the event taking place in April and to seeing the variety of vehicles expected to attend.

"It's not something we've ever done before, but a couple of the trust's members approached us and asked if the big field at the back, and the pillbox, could be used to host the weekend show.

"I'm really looking forward to it - it should be a brilliant event which will offer the people of West Lancashire something a bit different."

The event, which will also include a road run, takes place throughout the day on April 14 and 15 at the pub, situated on Heatons Bridge Road. For more information contact Mark on 01704 545514.