News Archive!
2009
Christmas White Griffin Run and Annual Dinner
The Club’s Welsh/Northwest England section held its annual end-of-year “do” at the Castle Hotel, Ruthin this year (our well-loved venue at the Saracen’s Head had, sadly, lost its fight against the recession and closed in November).
All assembled for a pre-run hot drink and natter in the hotel’s function room, then Bryan led the convoy up a narrow lane behind Ruthin winding up through the hills to the foot of Moel Famau, highest of the Clwydian Hills. We got out in the car park at the top of the pass to enjoy the views in what can most suitably be called “bracing” weather, but dry despite the near gale-force westerly. The pass looks west into Snowdonia and east to the Cheshire plain and Mersey estuary. Back in the cars and descending the pass on the eastern side, there was a sharp shower that cleared as we doubled back onto the A525, giving a superb panorama over the Vale of Clwyd – and a rainbow over the Clwydian Hills.
A superb Christmas Dinner followed our run, then all adjourned to the Function Room for coffee and another chat to round the day off. We broke the party up, reluctantly, in order for people to set off for home before darkness fell.
A really well-attended Christmas bash this year, with 20 members and guests present. Ages were spread from those in their first decade to those in their ninth!
Many thanks to Bryan and Marie for arranging this great social event, and to the Castle Hotel, Ruthin, for hosting it.
In The Press....Again
In last weeks Classic Weekly there was a feature on top cars to buy for winter and the Vauxhall Chevette was one of them. Silver Areo was also in the press in pictures from the NEC Show in Retro Car magazine.
In The Press....
The club is mentioned in this weeks Classic Weekly under the section with pictures from the NEC. Also pictured is Richard Watts press release mk1 cavalier.
All Set up and ready for the crowds at the NEC! (13/11/09)
Setting up our stand at the NEC! (12/11/09)
HMS Cavalier
HMS Cavalier now has its own website!
www.hmscavalier.org.uk
Pentti Airikkala 1945-2009
The Club are sad to hear of the death of Finish Rally legend Pentti Airikkala after a long battle with cancer. He was 64. Vauxhall fans will remember Pentti’s antics in the Vauxhall Chevette in which he took 1979 British Rally Championship. Latter at the end of the Group B era Pentti competed in a Group B Opel Manta 400 in the National Championship. It is also 20 years this year that Pentti took his only WRC win on the 1989 RAC Rally which was the last WRC event of the 1980’s.
Pictures From Corwen Show
Vintage Machinery Steam and Country Show
" On Sunday 20th September, the Club attended what was for us a new show, the Vale Vintage Machinery Steam and Country Show near Corwen in North Wales. This was a fantastic show that we shall definitely return to in future. Our small Cavalier/Ascona contingent attracted a lot of attention and interest, and once again we had two cars in the ring for the Car Parade - this time we had two interviews!
This is a great show for the family, as there are all sorts of main ring events, such as Falconry, Shire Horse demonstrations, etc., lots of stalls, model displays, and loads of vintage vehicles from steam traction engines to Victorain push-bikes. Do go along if it's in striking reach for you."
Chomondeley Castle
The usual suspects for the north-western circuit gathered at Chomondeley Castle on the 6th September for the big Andrew Greenwood Classics Festival there. As well as the Club's own cars, we spotted a Chevette and a couple of Cavalier Mk2 Convertibles - visiting cards for the Club were duly left with them! We took two separate lots of cars into the ring - one for the 1980s cars, and one for the 1970s cars. Their commentator did a short interview on the 1978 Cavalier (it has an interesting vehicle history) and the Club's name was duly publicised over the Tannoy."
Club Wins Best Club Stand at Kensworth
The Cavalier and Chevette Club Proudly won the best Club stand at the Kensworth Show in Bedfordshire, Beating The Vauxhall Owners Club, Ford Capri Club and The Viva Drivers Club.
Chevette HSR Joins the Club
After a period without any of the Rally Spec Chevettes in the ranks of our Club, we are pleased to announce that one of our keenest members has acquired a Chevette HSR. The car is currently being fully restored and it is hoped that it will be hitting the show circuit by the end of June.
July Jaunt
The Club’s traditional “July Jaunt” road run took place through the quieter lanes of West Cheshire on 26th July. An interesting mix of members’ and guests’ cars were present for the day. Starting just outside Ellesmere Port, the 25-mile route took in a farm shop and a Chinese restaurant meal en route to the main stopover at Mouldsworth Motor Museum, Cheshire’s only Motor Museum. Members were made very welcome at the privately-run museum, where there is a wealth of fascinating automobilia of all eras as well as an excellent collection of cars.
Anyone who missed the Jaunt, and would like to see for themselves what is on offer at the Museum can go to their website www.mouldsworthmotormuseum.com.
New Book on Chevette Development
Club AGM and VBOA attendees had a privileged sneak preview of the draft of a new book by Jim Penfold, to be launched later this year. Jim was part of the Development Team for the Chevette project from 1972 until Vauxhall killed off the model. The softcover book, which will be privately printed, features previously unpublished material from Vauxhall Motors, period newspaper clippings, brochure pictures, and fascinating might-have-been designs and facelifts that never made it to the production line. It’s linked with some of Jim’s own experiences, with a brief text “story” leading the reader through Chevette/Chevanne development. The book is also a valuable historical document, giving a glimpse of the way vehicle development was carried out in the 1970s before computerization. The draft will be further revised before going to press. We suggest that anyone interested in purchasing a copy drops the Club’s Newsletter Editor a line/email (chevaliernews@yahoo.co.uk) so we can let the author know the likely level of interest. The probable cost would be in the range £15-20.
Club AGM and Road Run
The Club’s AGM was held on Sunday 18th April at the Birch & Bottle, Higher Whitley, near Warrington.
The full Agenda was covered, and the Committee re-elected for another term in office. Some interesting offers made by members were discussed under A.O.B. We have a volunteer for the currently vacant South Wales Area Reps position, and a further two members have offered to store and/or break cars for the Club, in addition to the offers we have had from members able to provide a Parts and Spares location or remanufacturing service. More offers of this kind, or volunteers for other Area Reps posts, are always welcome.
After the meeting all enjoyed a good lunch and then set out on a beautiful hot sunny day for a short road run around the local quiet lanes. This was kindly organised by the Club’s Chairman, Vince Poole, who provided a map and crib sheet to the places of interest along the route. One place of great interest, due to the weather, was the home-made ice-cream farm, where the wares were sampled to the full! Passing through the picturesque village of Great Budworth, we made our main stop at the Anderton Boat Lift. This wonderful piece of 19th Century engineering was recently restored. It lifts/lowers canal boats between the Trent and Mersey Canal and the Weaver Navigation in their own personal “tank” of water, instead of using locks like a normal canal.
After the stop at the Boat Lift, our convoy set out on the homeward sector of the circular run, uphill from the Weaver Valley and so back to the Birch and Bottle before dispersing to our various home destinations.
A successful AGM and very enjoyable run. Any member who passed up the opportunity to come doesn’t know what they missed – but here’s a few photos to show them!
This is a book compiled by James Penfold, an ex Vauxhall engineer. It is not intended to be a definitive account of the Vauxhall Chevette, but is based on personal recollections whilst working on the car from its inception in 1972 to its end in 1984. Much of the content has previously never been made available.
The book is professionally printed on gloss paper and wire bound with stiff covers. Many of the 98 pages are printed in full colour.
The content includes numerous charts, diagrams, and photographs covering prototype build and test, magazine and newspaper reviews, brochures, Chevanne, and other proposed ideas which never made it into production.
The book price is £17.00 + £2.99 p&p
Cheques should be made payable to J Penfold and posted to:-
42 Lomond Drive
Leighton Buzzard
Beds
LU7 2XX
Please address any enquiries to jim.penfold@tiscali.co.uk
This website was started on 1st February 2009. Its aim is to supply parts for the 1256cc cars. At present most of the parts are service bits, but as time goes by I will be adding other parts. I have invested much of my own money collecting thousands of new parts to use as patterns for reverse engineering (copying). At present I have a pallet of front springs being made and a quantity of front valances. My mission is to eventually supply every part for the standard Chevette range. Occasionally I advertise for a part; these are not for my cars, but to fill gaps in my collection of parts (which I don’t rob even when desperate for my own car). If you don’t have access to the Web, you can ring me most nights before 10.00 p.m. I am not in Saturdays, and I occasionally have to go into hospital, so if I do not answer after several tries, do leave me a message and a return landline number.
Call me on 01509 621315.
Jeremy Haynes