After the experience last year of going down with very high temperatures twice on the same journey, I cheated, stole a day and travelled up the day before. I looked for a hold up but the best chance was a mishap on the southbound M6 when the northbound traffic would have been expected to slow up, stop and look, but it didn't.
All those due on Friday night duly arrived and assembled for a wonderful culinary dining event, master minded by Roger, Sean and Leigh. As Vanessa and Greg were keen to sample the Windermere night-life, we ventured forth and presented ourselves at this somewhat forbidding fortress disco. As we turned to leave on being asked for £10 per head, it was amusing how this was immediately reduced to £2 each. After driving a Tiger for some distance, the disco din was hardly noticeable!
Saturday morning saw Tiger crews up and mustered carrying out the first parade checks on their machines. Sustained by a bumper Bordriggs breakfast, the ten Tigers were herded down to the ferry across the lake - no doubt in order to avoid Windermere city centre traffic. Tigers are good on ferries - moving slowly but no alarm signals from the temperature gauge.
We motored up hills, down hills (some quite steep) and round lots of bends before arriving in Keswick. Michael Rackham, STOC member, Tiger owner and Keswick hotelier, joined us at this point. Tops were off or down and the Lake District populace didn't seem to mind. It was at this point that Keith noticed that there were three crews missing.
Undaunted it was decided to proceed with the next stage of the planned route - on to Cockermouth via the Whinlatter Pass which proved to be relaxing, scenic and enjoyable driving.
Unusually for a Tiger event there were no timed sprints, hillclimbs or special stages. Keith didn't seem to be suffering withdrawal symptoms following all those "derring-dos" in the Isle of Man just four weeks earlier!
Arrival at the Western Lakes, Aspects of Motoring Museum at Cockermouth (just how many car museums are there hereabouts - we keep finding more!). A good selection of cars and motorcycles - a tidy SP250, a neat Singer9 (or was it a Jowett?). All are aired and exercised regularly locally. Not just a static display - good show!
Keith was concerned now that crews headed by Greg, Robin and Joe were not with us. We decided that they must have got lost and gone their own way.
Burbling through an unconcerned Cockermouth, Warwick had the unnerving experience of his car stopping from fuel starvation and the fuel gushing from the carb. If it had to happen, there's no better time than with Brian and Keith behind. The sticking float chamber was restored to proper behaviour and Michael led us out of Cockermouth. There followed a quite magnificent run through goodness knows where, to Keswick. You will not see the like on any coach trip! Top down, we followed bumpy, twisting narrow lanes with unpredictable cambers hardly noticeable in a modern car but stimulating in a Tiger.
At Keswick the mystery of the missing crews was solved. It transpired that the crews had not lost their way but that Robin had the nerve-wracking experience of losing a front wheel. Thankfully he was proceeding at a very reasonable and sub-limit 40 mph and skilfully kept the beast tamed and on the straight and narrow. It was lucky there was a pack of Tigers close by and Greg and Joe (roomy BMW) came to the rescue. The report was that the nut on the lower swivel bearing had loosened and detached itself without warning or permission, causing the collapse of some surrounding (and very necessary) stout parts. The solution to this problem is that your nuts need a pin inserting through the middle. OUCH! Repairs were effected next day by a fine team of mechanics led by Brian and Keith, who drilled them most effectively (the nuts that is!). Most importantly no harm came to Robin or Maureen apart from Robin's sprained shoulder.
With split pins at a premium throughout the country, you should confirm all your future orders with Brian Postle Ltd and Keith Hampson plc (now merged in an international grouping).
Still at Keswick we visited The Cars of the Stars Museum, about which Steve Berry (Radio 5 Top Gear) had enthused. Perhaps he found more of it than I did.
After a nice "stuck in tourist traffic" engine temperature static running test in Ambleside it was back to Roger's and a dust settling pint or three before Saturday's delicious dinner. Excellent company, good wine and good stories combined to give an enjoyable evening with not a single bread roll or paper pellet propelled! Then on to the disco again. More Tigerists turned up this time, so the disco was noisier and more crowded - Roger provided the evening's entertainment with a Disco Dancing Display.
Sunday dawned - bright sun and very warm. A leisurely steam boat voyage was planned on Coniston Water via the Windermere ferry, however we arrived at the steamboat place to find that we were too late. As Hyacinth Bucket found with the Q.E.II they had sailed without us. Greg and Warwick rowed their ladies across the length and breath of Coniston while we cruised about in an elderly but charming diesel powered affair.
Back on land, Hugh persuaded Jan that instead of going back across Windermere on the ferry, a drive all the way round to the south of Coniston and Windermere would be more challenging. Following Hugh and Jan in their beautiful award winning Tiger, there was no evidence of escaping coolant but Hugh's hunch was correct. A stop confirmed trouble to the water pump which was quickly repaired.
Lunch was taken and what a lunch it was! Roger and his team produced an excellent rib of beef which was enthusiastically enjoyed by all. Roger is currently enlarging the dining room - no wonder!
A photo call on the lawn followed and Roger sys he might be able to get the cars on there next year (with a little re-arranging of trees and things!). All agreed that the weekend had been a great success, conducted in glorious weather and organised perfectly by Keith and Roger. Thank you to both and to all that attended. Journeying homeward in the company of Keith and Hugh, I wondered at the solid waves of cars three abreast all the way down the M6. Is it car boot sales that everybody has been to, or are they going to tea at their aunties?
