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- Created on Sunday, 06 September 2009 16:36
Magnette Meeting at Norwich
or
What I Did On My Weekend Off Work
by Stephen Hicks -age 50 and a half (here seen with a friend)
Good driving conditions (a mixture of sun and overcast with no rain) on Saturday saw around twenty Magnettes arriving to a warm welcome at Lou and John Shorten's for a cuppa, a chat, some spares and and, in my case, some technical assistance after a flooded engine. Thanks, as always, to the Shortens for their hospitality and advice. I personally tested Lou's contention that 'Magnettes are meant to be driven FAST!' all the way back to London and can confirm that she is absolutely correct. A bunch of people took off for a mini rally before meeting up again for a natter and a meal. Peter tells me they had a whale of a time whilst the rest of us dispersed to various hotels and B'n'Bs near to the show ground.
We awoke circa 7.30am on Sunday to the sound of Greg reversing his immaculate Varitone across the gravel of the B'n'B carpark and showered to a stream of Mk1 Cortinas thrumming past the bedroom window. Breakfast: 'Oh look, a Mini Cooper! And a Mini Cooper. Mini Cooper. Mini. Mini. Mini....Mini....' etc. Apparently Minis have something to celebrate this year and they are coming out en masse. Twenty one Magnettes, including one stunning Farina, made an impressive line up at the show ground. We all had a lovely day poking around each other's cars, swapping advice, running away from Daleks, sharing cakes, meeting new people including two debutantes - me and Cara ( and her delightful boy ) - and taking in some of the other splendid cars and bikes at the show. The best car was Greg's by long chalk, though Mike Laflin's black pigeon pair of Z and Farina really deserved some sort of special recognition. I include a photo of the two of them and a close up of the terrifying monster lurking under the bonnet of the Z. Mike tells me it pulls twice the bhp for the same number of cc's. Greg's fish are a potential photo of the year. Incidentally, had there been a competition for 'Most Ragged Magette' it would have been a toss up between me and Peter. And Peter would have won.
The day wrapped up with the drawing of a raffle led by Paul Batho who thanked Mark Bunce for a superbly organised day and people settled down to a cuppa or slipped off into the late afternoon sun for a return trip home. Some as far as Devon! All in all a really successful weekend. I hesitate to claim that the Magnette and Z Farina Register turn out was by far the most impressive in an impressive meet - but it just was. Thank you everyone.
Stephen Hicks (235 XUN)
ps if anybody found a ferrule off the front of a fog light either at the showground or somewhere on the M11 - it's mine....
