The Manchester and North West Group held its first
road run of the year on Sunday, 17th April, 2005, visiting
the Astley Green Colliery Museum in Lancashire. Over forty Classic car
enthusiasts met at the Group’s headquarters at the Woodthorpe Hotel
in Prestwich where coffee was provided for all the participants.
Twenty-five Classic cars took part in the Run with ten Standards, two
Triumphs (including an Acclaim) and the remainder comprising of Open
Class participants with a variety of very nice Classics.
After starting off from the Woodthorpe Hotel the route
took the enthusiasts through an area of country that was once a
thriving section of the British coal industry. Now of course it is no
longer in existence in Lancashire and there is little evidence that
its many coal mines provided a major source of employment in the area.
After passing the now redundant Mines Rescue Station in Boothstown the
procession of Classics proceeded to the Astley Green Mining Museum
which boasts the only remaining pit headgear in Lancashire. Together
with the engine house this is now a listed structure. The museum
contained many interesting items for Group members to see and
following the visit refreshments were available in a nearby pub and
later at a Little Chef restaurant near Haydock.
Fortunately, the weather was fine during the major
part of the Road Run and museum visit but as people set off for home
rain did eventually overtake us. The Group was grateful to the Parent
Club Chairman, Peter Lockley, for travelling up from Rugby to be with
us with his fine Vanguard Estate and also to Mike Wilks and his wife
who also joined the Run with their very nice pre WW2 Standard.
Below are more photos of the
event. You can click on any of them to see a larger version:
The next events planned by the Manchester Group will
be the Standard Motor Club stand at the Tatton Park Classic Car Show,
Knutsford, 4th and 5th June, 2005, the Group
Annual Classic Car Display Evening at the Woodthorpe Hotel Prestwich,
Manchester, on Thursday, 30th June, 2005, starting at 8 pm
and the Standard and Triumph Day Out at the Manchester Museum of
Transport in north Manchester on Sunday, 31st July, 2005,
10.30 am until 4.30 pm. (Details of all events on the Club Web Site).
Members who would like to join in any of these activities will be very
welcome. Please contact Bryan on 0161 483 7121 or e.mail: Bedabrammerjones@aol.com
Bryan Jones, Group Organiser
