TSSC International Stafford

Just got back from a weekend away, camping in a field full of petrol heads.
Me and the guys from Hants & Berks did our thing - Andy Cook & Family, Mike Crewes & Claudia, Carl & Becky and Zoe and I made our way up separately but all converged on Friday night for a beer or two in the bar. It was great to catch up with old friends and put some more faces to names. The internet is a great place to correspond with people but it's quite weird to have some "stranger" come up to you and know you by name, by car etc.
Saturday breakfast was the usual Hants & Berks super full English - BBQ toast, bacon, sausage, Becky on the eggs and Carl on the beans - we'll feed anyone.
Becky's car was in for a hood fitting demo by Anglian Triumphs and Carl was so impressed he entered the Spit for the Cruised and Used concours, no prize but an interesting experience none the less.
We did our "official duty" and went round the campers asking people to park their cars on the field with the other visitors' cars - a good opportunity to chat to people too.
After that a quick trip round the hall, Carl stopping and buying from almost every trader - parts for the Sprint to make sure it's in tip top order for the trip round Europe, we even sorted out the Insurance with Footman James. Carl managed to save a tidy sum by putting all his and Becky's cars together on one combined policy including their modern car.
I picked up some wheel locks for our cars from Midland Wheel Supplies who were out in the sunlight on the autojumble stands - the jumble was quite good again this year. I noticed quite a few new components out there amongst the oily bits - some low key operations selling some rather tasty stuff!
Saturday night's band were very good, the ale flowed well and we drink them dry again. Not so many fancy dress revellers this year but enough to maintain the strangeness of it all.
We crawled into bed at some unmentionable hour and awake in red hot tents in the morning - this thing with camping is that when the sun shines on your tent, you don't want to be in it! Despite a thick head and too little sleep we were up and about. Carl & Becky needed to go polish the Spit and we sorted breakfast.
Sunday was a bit of a zombie day but nonetheless enjoyable. More catching up with people, a quick ride in the Picton Sports Cars Green monster - 2.5PI powered Spit, no seatbelts, no windscreen, no silencers - niiice. Piloted by James Caruthers who was up for the day to do the Official Photographer bit. - see photo



The WIT, Women in Triumphs, had their first outing, born on the spur of the moment this was a parade of ladies in their cars around the main arena. It went down rather well and I think we'll see it again.
After that it was wind down time, pack up and tidy up for the drive home. A masterful piece of navigating saw me avoid the Silverstone traffic and get home in pretty short order - hood down all the way. OK it was a bit of luck and a fortuitous error but I think it was good navigating - no satnav and my daughter asleep so who would know if I went wrong?
I'd like to attend a few more general classic shows this summer but with weekends away, school trips, another reorganisation at work (sigh), a near 3 week holiday to Cyprus and the 10 Countries Run to fit in, I may just have to accept that I can't do everything!

After my worries about the head gasket I have to say that the Vitessewentt well,coveringg in the 150 miles up there without drama and again the return journey was fine too - she never missed a beat and the oil stayed where it should, a little bit of a blow out of the oil filler vent which is annoying but nothing like the previous outings. I improved the breathers and I think I'll go for a larger bore breather system into abiggerr catch tank eventually.

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