Nowt quite like a crispy autumnal blat in a Spridget ...

Sunday 12 December 2010

December 2010 mtg at Ye Jolly Farmers

snowy Atlantis outside Ye Jolly Farmers

After two weeks of very heavy snow in North Yorkshire before our December meeting, it was a real joy to not only have a turnout of 12 people, but also to actually have a midget in the car park. Mark and Ken came up from Eccleshill in Mark’s Ford crossflow powered Atlantis Midget (formely owned by Anita and featured in various magazines) which has had a full strip-down and bodywork restoration over the summer, and which now looking amazing. Mark has been using it at various Yorkshire historic motorsports events, and in the heavy snow, has also been a taxi for some of his work colleagues whose modern cars have been unable to cope, whilst his 40 year old rally car has breezed through the worst of it!

We also welcomed new members Ken & Julie who have a very original Mk I Midget (safely tucked up for the winter) and Michael & Tina whose Midget is currently off the road pre-MOT. It was lovely to see John & Carol who ventured down from their farm in the Durham Dales (no mean feat given the weather) and John & Jeanette who had made the most of the blue skies and break in sub-zero temperatures to come up from Leeds. Ken kept us entertained with tales of the Canadians who had occupied most of the airfields in the area around Dalton during WW2, and he is interested in organising a spridget run next summer around various airfields and places of interest.

We look forward to seeing more of you in 2011.

Sarah & Tim

Thursday 18 November 2010

November 2010 Mtg at Ye Jolly Farmers

looking at Rob's newly fitted K-series

Yorkshire's first newly resurrected meeting at Ye Jolly Farmers on 13 November was a success with three spridgets turning out on a very cold day. Kevin came up from Easingwold and Rob and partner came up from York for a warming pie at Ye Jolly Farmers. We also had a lot of apologies from other area members who were otherwise tied up this weekend. Rob has recently fitted a 1.4 k-series into his midget doing much of the adaptation work himself, and created his own telescopic front suspension using mini shocks which was very impressive. His Bertone leather seats from a Fiat X1/9 were also a revelation!

We look forward to seeing more of you at December's meeting.

Sarah & Tim

Monday 25 October 2010

Yorkshire MASC Autumn Run


On Sunday 24th October a few of us made the best of the good weather, and had a run out on a gloriously crisp autumnal day. Frank & Val in Frank's white midget and Andrea in her Austin Sprite met up with us at the John Smith's brewery in Tadcaster. We then went on a follow-our-noses drive through Hambleton across the toll bridge at Aldwark and up through the Hambleton Hills to Ampleforth. The original plan was to aim for the Lion Inn at Blakey Head, but given the heavy rain visible up on the moors on the distance, discretion was the greater part of valour, and we diverted to Ye Jolly Farmer's instead for a great home-made lunch.

In the afternoon we drove up to Osmotherly and then came down Snilesworth Moor to Hawnby for tea and afternoon cakes at the village tea rooms. Altogeher a great drive out, and all cars behaved themselves perfectly.

There is a great set of pictures here.

Tim & Sarah

Saturday 23 October 2010

Yorkshire Area Is Back - with a New Fixed Venue for Meetings

Ye Jolly Farmers Inn at Dalton - our new venue

After a sad summer with no Area Reps and no activities for MASC within Yorkshire, Sarah & Tim have agreed to take back on the role of caretaker Area Reps for the next 6 months, albeit on a more restricted basis than previously. We are no longer able to dedicate the substantial amount of time required each month to organise rotating venues around the vast expanse of Yorkshire's far flung territory without any assistance. So we will now have meetings in the same venue for the next 6 months, and then we will review the situation.

Yorkshire Area's monthly meeting until at least April 2011 will now take place on the second Saturday of each month at Ye Jolly Farmers Inn, Dalton near Thirsk, YO7 3HY from 12:30pm.

We appreciate that this venue is not the most geographically central, but the reason we have chosen this as a fixed venue is because there have been no volunteers to organise meetings elsewhere, and the landlord at Ye Jolly Farmer's is exceptionally friendly to MASC and will not take offence and bar us if low numbers turn out. This is one of the major stress factors in organising meetings. It is also an exceptionally good CAMRA pub that does great home-made Yorkshire cooking at very affordable prices, with a decent car park.

We hope that you will support the Area by trying to come along at some point over the next six months - you don't have to be in a spridget, particularly over the winter months - but you can share fellowship and expertise with fellow spridgeteers next to a roaring fire over a steaming pie, and cheeky half of real ale.

We also hope to be in a position to organise some road runs for the Spring.

Hope to see you all soon,

Tim & Sarah

Thursday 19 August 2010

So where do we go next?

only two people turned up to July's meeting at the Red Lion in Burley in Wharfedale

Unfortunately due to family and other commitments, as many of you know, Sarah & Tim had to step down as area reps at the end of July.

Nobody volunteered to organise a meeting for August. Turnout over the summer has generally been very poor. At present, this means the area is rudderless with no-one at the helm - and sadly nobody seems very bothered.

So, what do you want to do about it? It's your area ...

We need new area reps. Maybe we need to split Yorkshire into smaller, more manageable patches with several local meetings, rather than rotating? Please email your suggestions or volunteer to help. We will give you all the suport that we can.

Sarah & Tim

Friday 11 June 2010

Meeting Sat 12th June at The Smiths Arms, Beckwithshaw

Hoping for a good turn out at this highly rated village pub just south west of Harrogate, which is the venue for our June meeting - and for some good spridgeting weather! No need to pre-order food, just turn up - although it does get quite busy so reserving a table might be wise. Meeting from 12pm - map here.

You may want to avoid Knaresborough / Ripon and surrounding area on your way to the meeting, as many of the roads will be shut due to the annual charity bed race.


UPDATE: We had a great turn out, it was lovely to see so many people. There is a great set of photos here...

Sarah & Tim

Friday 7 May 2010

Meeting at Hillam, Saturday 8th May


Come gnome spotting in your midget or sprite to the Cross Keys at Hillam near Monk Fryston, LS25 5HE. Meeting from 12pm onwards, excellent food, no need to pre-book, just pitch up. Hope to see some of you there. Map here.
Sarah & Tim

Thursday 29 April 2010

Drive It Day 2010


We had a great day out in the Yorkshire sunshine for Drive It Day, with four spridgets coming out to play in the Hambleton Hills and on the North York Moors. And those of you who couldn't make it, well, you missed out on the best game pie ever, and some stunning spring flowers in the gorgeous gardens of a privately owned stately home ...

You can read all about it and see a load of photos by clicking here.

There are also four short videos on YouTube which you can see here.

Sarah & Tim

Sunday 18 April 2010

an invite to the MGCC's Woldsway Run

on the Woldsway Run in 2007

Our friends at the MG Car Club have specifically invited Yorkshire MASC to join them on their early summer charity run in East Yorkshire on Sunday 9th May. This event is really good fun with a great mix of classics, not just MG's, and there are always plenty of midgets in attendance. The drive starts at the Humber Bridge and ends up near Flamborough Head, taking in some great country roads in the Wolds.

Sarah & Tim have done this event for 4 years now and it is really good fun. Come along and join us. You can download an entry form here. Deadline for entries is 27th April.

Sarah & Tim

Sunday 4 April 2010

Hot X Run 2010 - photos and video

Our traditional Good Friday Hot X Run saw 8 spridgets turn out in somewhat murky weather for a great drive in the Dales which included some fantastic views and little known byways.

You can see lots of photos by clicking here.

There are 4 short videos also on YouTube including some spectacular views down Coverdale where there was still snow on the ground - you can see them by clicking here.

Sarah & Tim

Thursday 18 March 2010

Phoenix Run Pictures and Video

The Phoenix Run was a great success, with six spridgets enjoying some of the nicest driving roads in Wharfedale and Nidderdale on a dry March morning.

You can see lots of photos and video by clicking here.

More of this sort of fun at Easter on Good Friday's Hot X Run!

Sarah & Tim

Wednesday 3 March 2010

The Phoenix Run and March Mtg at The Watermill - UPDATED START TIME

from the ashes of November's damp squib run - The Phoenix Run 2010!

After the washed out disaster of November 2009's Bonfire Run, you are invited to come on a re-run of this event, renamed as the Phoenix Run, on Sunday 14th March 2010. Meeting at Surprise View car park at Otley Chevin Country Park (just past the Royalty Inn) from 10:15am, setting off from 10:45 onwards, this is a morning event from Otley to the outskirts of Thirsk.

The route takes in about 60 miles of scenic driving on little known back roads through Wharfedale and Nidderdale, ending up at The Watermill at Carlton Minniott for a very tasty carvery lunch at 1:45pm. All dining places available have now been booked, but you are welcome to just come on the run (and maybe bring a picnic?) although you will need to let us know by email so that we can bring sufficient route plans. There will be a small charge payable on the day for participants of £3 to cover the costs of route plan booklets and rally boards. We really look forward to seeing you there for the first road run of the year!

Sarah & Tim

Tuesday 2 February 2010

February Mtg at The Kings Arms

Our next meeting is on Saturday 13th February 2010 at The King's Arms, Heath, near Wakefield from 12pm. This is a great little pub with a very cosy interior and excellent food.

We hope that you all can make it, and hope to see plenty of old chums from West Yorkshire. You never know, the Atlantis (pictured above) may make an appearance again, as it has found a new home in West Yorks.

All food needs to be pre-ordered, and the landlady has asked us to gather your food orders by Sunday 7th February: menu here. Make your choices and then drop us an email!

Sarah & Tim

UPDATE: Unfortunately due to a serious and unexpected family emergency, Sarah & Tim will not be able to attend the meeting on Saturday, but Claire and Ian Barber have kindly volunteered to step in and be your hosts.

Wednesday 13 January 2010

A Farewell Shandy Anyone?


Anita says goodbye to John & Carol - or are they just hogging the fire?

Just a quick post to say thank you to those who made it down on Saturday despite the extreme weather and heavy snow. In the end there were 8 of us, which was a good turn out considering 4x4's were the order of the day rather than spridgets! Here's hoping for an imminent thaw and clearer weather for the February meeting. If you were unable to make it and want to say farewell to Mark & Anita, they are having an open afternoon and evening at Blind Jack's in Knaresborough on Saturday 16th January - just drop in and have a farewell shandy with them at any time!

Sarah & Tim

Saturday 9 January 2010

Weather Report for January Meeting

The hill into Thornton-le-Beans at 8:30 am on Saturday 9th January

The meeting is still on, despite last night's inclement weather, but please don't attempt it in a spridget or a rear wheel drive car. Traffic is moving freely on the A168 between Thirsk and Northallerton. Leaving the A168, the road into Thornton-le-Beans has snow cover of about an inch or two, but is perfectly passable in front wheel drive and 4 wheel drive vehicles, if you drive with care. Weather is currently blue sky and sunshine.

Hope to see some of you, but please don't take any risks getting here.

Sarah & Tim