The Austin Seven Clubs Association

Summer Meeting

The Association met at Gaydon on Sunday 12th July 2009 ably Chaired by Phil Baildon as Bernard was on holiday. There were 22 attendees plus 4 VIP guests – see later! Previously there had been discussion on whether to hold a Summer Meeting but the turn-out and scope of discussion suggests that the right decision was made.

We heard that our President Bob Wyatt, now 80, was eager to play a greater rôle and was keen to attend events if transport were provided. Ian reported that we now have a total of 72 members – officers, Clubs (Full and Associate), Overseas and Registers – including our newest Overseas Member, The A7 Club of Jamaica! Also the Association accepted the kind invitation of the American Bantam Society to join them as a Complimentary Member.

Our noble Magazine Editor, Robin Boyce, is encouraging you all to copy him articles on what you do in the Clubs and Centres – he will of course give you full credit for this. Also any changes to 'Grey Book' numbers you want, please inform our new 'Mag. Distributor' (now there's a contradiction!) Les Gammon, who takes over from Lorna and Alan Martin after over 16 years of dedicated and efficient service. A 'Post-Meeting' idea – how about having an 'Editors' Meeting' at Gaydon with Robin to share experiences and ideas on the Editors' job? – let me know what you think.

Another 'new face' on our 'Officers' List' is Ilke Cochrane who takes over from Malcolm Watts – so lots of stuff for our site and the mag. please.

It was announced that the famous Bob Cross 'Red Book' now has its own Website – www.oldcarservices.co.uk – so now you know where to get everything for your A7 with just a couple of clicks!

A suggestion was mooted that Gordon Philip's Breakdown Register be extended to cover available parking for trailers/tow-cars and even campsite's and B&Bs – do support Gordon in this but please collect and send your Club inputs to him though your Rep.

A large number of Association, Club and National Events were noted with discussion on possible modifications of two – 'Beaulieu' and 'A7 Coast'. On the first, the idea proposed for consideration by the 750 MC is to set up a well-defined 'Service Team' for the event to spread the load, move to a two-day event with an optional run on Saturday and seek ideas from Clubs – all thoughts to Ian please. On the second, now Dorset Members Pat and Glyn Llewellyn have successfully completed a 3886-mile 'recce' in their A7 Tourer in just 33 days, we shortly will have a basic 'Round Britain' Route; this coupled with an idea to minimise the info gathered by Clubs should give the project a real 'kick start' and leads to the notion of re-titling the initiative 'A7s Round Britain' – all offers and ideas welcome! Discussion was also started on how to organise Eurotour 2012 for the 750 MC to mull over – again all ideas to Ian who will pass them on.

A couple of bits of admin procedure: if you do use anyone's Club info (other than already published) always check with the source first and giver full credit. And Ian is checking with our insurers about any requirements for prior notification of Member Events and will report back.

A Member Challenge: one Dorset Member had an A7 Speeding Ticket (now framed!) for 36 mph – can you beat that? if so, let me know.

A sad note, we learned of the death of Doug Woodrow author of the wonderful 'A7 Manual' through which his memory will remain – our condolences are being sent to his wife Sue and family.

Finally (phew!) the undoubted highlight of the Meeting ( I said it was coming) was the surprise visit of Angela Austin with her husband and two grandchildren! Angela is the fourth cousin of Herbert Austin, is keenly interested in the Association and presented us with a Family Tree for our Archives – now there's a real 'first'!

So I am sure you'll all agree a very full and worthwhile Meeting of the Association. The complete Minutes are available from your Rep, or if you want a copy yourself by e-mail, just let me know.

We hope to see many of you at our next Meeting (do let me know) which is:

Gaydon – Sunday 11th October 2009 at 10.30 for 11.00 am

In the meantime, happy Austin Sevenning – and if you do it in an A7 let us know!

Ian Mason-Smith
Secretary Austin Seven Club's Association

Tel: 01425 473949

Downloads

Full minutes July 2009