Club News - No:7 April 2013
"From The Chair"
The Ford & Fordson Association’s Expo IX at Welland: 26th - 28th July 2013
This is a splendid venue for our ninth annual club gathering and any member interested in attending please contact me on 01787 277316 for entry forms (these are only available from me).
I have had numerous enquiries already so we should have a fine club display. This is a very good rally with plenty to interest everyone as well as H J Pugh’s well established auction. Also the place to find the part you always wanted but probably not at the right price!
We are also planning a few surprises in and around the marquee that should interest members and rally goers alike. We are hoping to have a fascinating model display, show films and, of course, the ubiquitous cup of tea will be to hand.
Many committee members will be there and this is Margaret and Derek’s home territory and they will look forward to welcoming you in their customary manner.
Tractor World – Malvern 2nd and 3rd March:
This, the first show of the year, got the season off to a cracking start. It may have been because last year was such a washout or because Mark Woodward, who has taken over running the show, has started to change the format or because it was a little warmer and quite a bit drier than last year, but there seemed to be more people about.
The Club stand was very busy on both days with a record number of memberships signed up and a brisk trade in merchandise. But it is the social side that really matters and that is, after all what the Club is all about.
A constant stream of members arrived at the stand, wanting information or just a chat and, of course, a welcome cup of tea and a seat. None of us are getting any younger and, speaking for myself, I need to be able to take the weight off the legs from time to time.
Andrew Gould our new Dorset representative and his partner Charlotte visited us and were introduced to the committee members on the stand. Andrew has been a member of his local young farmers for a number of years comes from farming stock and has some great ideas to promote the Club in his area. I’m sure that we shall hear a lot more from him in the near future.
I have to say that there was not enough space allocated for all the Fordson tractors entered, and I personally apologise to any Club member who was inconvenienced. However I have learnt from my mistakes and this will not happen next year.
My thanks to all the committee and other members who helped set up and man the stand, answer questions both from members and the general public and serve endless cups of tea etc. In particular I must single out the ladies Margaret, Jane and Wendy for special thanks as they tirelessly manned the stall when there were man things to do like the auction and the jumble and were frequently left to their own devices.
It was a great show, with tractors of all shapes sizes and conditions to see. Wandering round one can decide if the ‘working clothes’ or ‘concourse’ is your type of machine; or do you like a Ford truck engine grafted into an E27N or a P6 into an E1A? They were all there, you must do what you will with your tractor, paint it whatever colour you want, it is your choice and you will love it.
Eastern Counties Vintage Tractor & Heritage Spectacular Norwich 20 & 21April:
This was the second year for this event and it really is something very special. There are tractors exhibited here that you have probably only ever seen in photographs, like the Ford Model B shown here. The FFA stand was busy and a fuller report will be in the next magazine.
Introducing Andrew Gould the FFA Representative for Dorset:
I asked Andrew at Tractor World to write a piece about himself as an introduction to members, he writes:-
I am 24 and work on my family farm with my father and grandfather where we have a herd of 160 British Friesian dairy cows.
I also run a small contracting business specialising in small baling. We own 7 tractors all being blue ranging from a Fordson Power Major (which was bought brand new by my grandfather in 1960) up to the modern T6000 range as well as running a Claas self propelled forager with a close friend.
I have great memories of riding around on the tractors with dad from a young age, which is probably where my interest in tractors came from especially Fords. I enjoy restoring and carrying out repairs on my tractors and all the old machinery that I have collected.
I was also chairman of my local young farmers club 2 years ago. I can be contacted any time on my mobile number 07824994308 or by E-mail on Andrew Gould
FFA Members welcome 27th July:
For those of you who will be too busy to spare three days for Expo IX, Andrew will be at the “Vintage Vehicle Rally and Fun Day” which will take place on the 27 July 2013 at
The Udder Farm Shop, Manor Farm, East Stour SP8 5LQ.
It is the third year for the show which is run by Tony Fowler and Suzanne Smith.
They will be raising funds for Charities, the Salisbury Hospice and CLIC Sargent and there is an evening road run.
Entry details can be obtained from Tony by phone 01747838925 or Email: Tony Fowler
Andrew also intends to visit us at Expo IX so hopefully you can catch up with him there.
My Petrol Industrial Super Major:
The last two magazines have mentioned this tractor and it was also featured under ‘Show Stars’ in the ‘Spring’ issue of Tractor & Machinery written by Bernard Holloway so it is now perhaps time to say a little more about it.. . . . . . . . .
I first saw her at Cheffins monthly machinery sale last October, the knowledgeable gentlemen gently kicking her tyres were all of the opinion that she just wasn’t right and although the auctioneer tried manfully and supposedly received a bid just short of £2000, she was unsold; I was watching closely but don’t believe anyone actually bid at all.
I had my little book in my pocket and checked the casting and serial numbers which were all of a piece, I confess that I thought that Ford had ceased making spark ignition engines by 1961 so, being of a cautious nature made a ‘phone call or two that evening. The upshot was she was exactly, using the modern parlance ‘as described on the tin’ so the next day I spoke to Paul Gooderham and made an offer to the vendor, I’m pleased to say that it was accepted.
Under great disscusion at 2012 AGM in Kent
Now we come to the sad bit, when I bought her I had no history and there was no number plate so I contacted Tony Patten, the Clubs registration officer. He supplied me with the necessary paperwork and I duly applied for an age related registration number, nothing unusual in that until the DVLA recognised, by the serial number, that she was already registered.
To cut a long story short I was then able to speak to the last registered ‘keeper’ Mr Johnson, who very kindly put me in touch with Gareth Morgan who had sold it to him, both went out of their way to be helpful, for which I thank them. It transpires that she was sold at H J Pugh’s auction at Tractor World in 2012, at that time the Stothert & Pitt badge was still on the cowl, the logbook was with her, and the rear lights riveted to the bottom of the wings – all now gone, the bonnet has been swapped, as have the wings. It really is such a pity to desecrate a tractor in this way it was all part of its history, in the art world its called provenance but, to me, their removal is vandalism, particularly as she is quite a rare beast.
I still haven’t got the old girl running as I would like but shall in the end; Gareth tells me that she has a real turn of speed, I’ll keep you posted.
The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs:
The FFA joined the FBHVC last year and I see that they have produced two very interesting reports on the economic impact of the Beaulieu International Autojumble and the Goodwood Revival in conjunction with the University of Brighton. Frankly I was staggered by the amount of money generated that benefits both the local and the wider economy, a summary of the headline figurers from the reports are produced below; my thanks to the Federation and the University for allowing their reproduction here.
As many of you will know from first hand experience Beaulieu has grown into an international three day event starting with its inception in 1967 when it was held on 17th September between 11am and 5pm.
The report’s Beaulieu summary:
· Brings nearly £3 million business to the local economy
· Generates 11,000 person nights in local hotels & guest houses
· Provides direct temporary employment for over 220
· Is responsible for £11 million turnover for the national economy
· Contributes at least £570,000 in VAT government revenue
The Goodwood Revival may not be quite so well known to you. The first was held between 18th and 20th September 1998.
Fifty years to the day after the first race meeting was held there that also, incidentally gave a 19 year old Stirling Moss both his first motor race and his first win.
The event was held over three days and is built around a race meeting for historic cars and motorcycles no modern vehicles with the exception of emergency services are allowed within the circuit’s perimeter.
Goodwood Revival’s summary:
· Bought at least £12 million to the economy of the study area.
· Generated 23,000 person nights accommodation for
local hotels and guest houses,
· Provided direct temporary employment to over 350.
·Caused a further 25,000 person nights for hotels & guest houses outside the study area.
· Was responsible for £32 million turnover for the national economy net of VAT.
· Contributed £4 million in VAT to government revenue.
Both reports are available in full from the FBHVC website htpp://www.fbhvc,co.uk together with other interesting material and is well worth visiting. It just shows how much money is generated by our and similar hobbies for the economy at large and although these two reports cover commercial enterprises a lot of money is raised tractor clubs and preservation societies for charity.
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