T.O.C. Newsbrief March 2009

Dear T.O.C members, here goes with the second NewsBrief. Hopefully you will find it informative and possibly will promote some communication! May I say thank you to all those who commented on the first NewsBrief, which were many.

Website

>  Lots of additions and changes during the last month,

>  As a matter of interest the site has had around 3300 'hits' from around 10 different countries!

>  The webmaster, Nigel Welch has managed to get some movies on the site, including part of 'Can You Afford to Walk'.

>  The events page has details, movies and reports of past events. It also has in the current events area details for this year. Please find entry forms for the forthcoming AGM and the Gaydon Two stroke event. In the member's section, we have now included a listing of current members and their approximate location by county/country. There is also a listing of known vehicles, registration, chassis and engine numbers where known. It would be appreciated if members can review their vehicles on this list and advise Brian Hounsfield and myself of the missing details. If anybody needs help with location of these details on their vehicles, please email and I will help.

>  It is the intention that each vehicle would ideally have a picture linked to the relevant details on the vehicle listing. This has been partially achieved by identifying appropriate pictures that are currently on the website gallery .

>  We would appreciate if you can provide a picture electronically. For those who know how to do this, the preference is for a JPEG file. Others such as TIFF, GIF etc., can also be used. File size should not exceed 3 megabytes. Digital cameras, need to be on medium resolution, not high. If this is all too much please just send a conventional photo and we will scan in and use it this way. Photos will be returned. Thank you.

>  The website team would really appreciate if you can take look and give any constructive comments.

Club Subscriptions

Reminder these fall due at the end of March, no change to the current fee of £15.00 send to the Treasurer. Thank you.

Trojans in Trials 2009

>  Steve and Richard Potter, also John Wilton continue to enter and compete in these events with the March Hare Trial on the 8th March near Bedford and The Mechanics Trial on the 15th March in Stroud, Gloucester. This will be followed by the MCC Land End Trial starting Easter Friday from Popham Airfield near Basingstoke, Hampshire. It is hoped that a regular feature and photos of these trials can be added to the website in the near future.

 >  As a matter of interest John Wilton's utility has fitted the ex Scroggs BH removable cylinder head engine fitted with Aluminium pistons and Steve Potter's car has a BH fixed head engine, both quite fast and reliable in Trojan terms!

Old photo

Whilst talking with a work colleague recently the subject got around to old cars and Trojans. A day later the following photograph was sent to me to enquire whether the car was still known? The driver in the photograph is Mr Leslie Rose, born 1900, my colleagues Grandfather. The car looks quite new to me - almost certainly a 1925 utilty. Does anyone recognise this? Looking through the old membership records we did have a Mr Rose as a member in the 60's and 70's. Please see attachment above.

Club Profile

In an effort to improve the Club profile within the old car community generally and at the agrreement of the committee, new club stationery has been commissioned and agreed. We will therefore have new membership cards, letter heads, invoices and compliment slips all in the same distintive format. We hope you approve.

Annual General Meeting

The entry form, agenda, voting form and last years' minutes will be sent out this week and for the first time electronically to those who can receive by email. The balance will go out by the post as previously.

TOC Gaydon Two Stroke Event

This has all the hallmarks of being a super event. We need TOC members to enter please. ( Download entry form from website and or give Carl a call). Gaydon are delighted that an event of this kind is being staged. They did want to do this themselves at some time, so we should have a very good response and support from them. Carl is trying extremely hard to make this successful by contacting and liaising with many two-stroke vehicle clubs. We are looking forward to total blue smoke pollution of the Gaydon Site on the day! We are currently working on the format for the day..........

Back on the road again

John Prices Utility, following some major engine work, is now back on the road again. We look forward to seeing John and Pat out and about again this year. I also understand Peter Wareing's van is also nearing completion, perhaps we can see more detail of this in the near future?

Spares

John Wilton and Chris Tordoff will commission in the very near future, approx 20 sets of steering drag link and track rod end springs. These being vital components for safe steering mechanisms. John is also looking at a batch of the two types of bonnet petrol filler cap for the prewar vans and cars. More news as and when.

Can you remember ?

Trojan Utility, once owned by Charles Maple, then Richard De La Rue, what was the registration number and where is it now ? - Any clues here ?

>  What is happening in Australia ?

>  What is happening in New Zealand ?

>  Are the any Trojans in Museums in the USA

With best wishes - Phil Potter Secretary TOC. (any replies or comments to pa.potter@btinternet.com )