2024 EVENTS
Tuesday, 17th December 2024
Jim and David and spent a very useful hour or so at the Norfolk Accident Rescue Service (NARS) office and depot. They met with many of the NARS team including Joe Russell, the NARS fundraising manager. It was a very fruitful meeting and NARS is most definitely a worthy charity for FAC’s sponsorship.
Friday, 13th December 2024
The Christmas meal this year was held at The Aviator, Sculthorpe and fifty-eight of us enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Heather’s raffle raised a record £240 for Nansa, our supported charity for this year, and Brian announced that the overall amount raised for Nansa during the year was also a record – the exact amount is to be announced next month when he presents their representatives with a cheque. Brian also announced that NARS will be our sponsored charity for 2025 (see below). Thanks Ian and Jim for organizing the dinner and the staff of The Aviator for looking after us so well. It is sad to note that this venue will be closing after Christmas as the owners will be relocating elsewhere. Let’s hope that someone else will step in to take it over.
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Norfolk Accident Rescue Service
Norfolk Accident Rescue Service (NARS) is a charity providing life-saving volunteer clinicians for emergencies such as cardiac arrest, serious falls, road traffic collisions and seizures. Established in 1970, NARS has a team of around 50 volunteer doctors, nurses, critical care paramedics, paramedics and first responders attending over 1500 emergency calls every year in Norfolk. They receive no Government funding and so rely on the generosity of public donations and fundraising across the county. Their team attend missions in the community using enhanced clinical equipment and critical thinking that directly save patients’ lives.
Friday 6th to Sunday 8th December 2024
The Brisley Christmas Tree Festival, where the Club has a Christmas Tree on display. All are welcome to come and view what will be an impressive gathering of decorated trees at St Bartholomew’s Church, and there were drinks and nibbles on Friday evening. Donations to our tree will be going to NARS (Norfolk Accident Rescue Service), the Club’s new charity for 2025.
Thursday, 14th November 2024
The Quiz Night at Q’s was a full house, as usual, and raised £220 for Nansa which included £170 from the raffle. Many thanks to Tracy and her team for a great evening.
Saturday, 26th October 2024
You would be forgiven for thinking that there would not have been many cars at the Fakenham Market Display yesterday, given the foggy, murky conditions. However, twenty-one cars turned up, spilling over to the Lower Market. The sun came out as a bonus for our last Marketplace gathering of 2024. We also had a new member from Dereham, a friend of Vanessa, who came in his immaculate 1939 Rolls Royce. He also has another Rolls as well as a Morris Minor Traveller. Thanks Brian for the photo.
Wednesday, 23rd October 2024
Club Night at Sculthorpe Village Hall for a showing of the Car SOS episode featuring Steve Coles’ 1962 TVR Grantura. The programme, presented by Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend, was originally aired on the National Geographic channel. Steve and Jo also gave us a detailed account of the whole process (see February entry, below, for details). It was a hugely enjoyable evening with fifty members present who were treated to free tea, coffee, cake and sausage rolls.
Steve kindly trailered the car to display at the Hall. Despite the huge effort by the TV company to restore the car, an extraordinary amount of work was needed on the chassis alone. This resulted in some work still requiring completion when the car was handed back to Steve, most of which has now been done. However, the car has yet to have its shakedown run so Steve though it prudent to trailer the car rather than drive it on the dark autumnal night.
Sunday, 29th September 2024
The Reepham Classic was attended by 110 cars of all ages and types, from Baby Austins to Lamborghinis and everything in between. There were food stands in the Market Place and a sale of motor racing prints and books in the church and live music. The weather stayed dry for us, thank goodness! A very enjoyable day. The event supports the East Anglian Air Ambulance charity.
Saturday, 28th September 2024
It was a good turnout for this year’s penultimate Fakenham Market Place meeting. Eighteen members turned up in the sunshine with an eclectic display of vehicles. Thanks to Mike for the photos.
Sunday, 8th September 2024
It was a mixed weather forecast for today’s Mike Tomlin Run but, nevertheless, there was a great turnout for this rally which started at Pensthorpe Natural Park and wound its way through some 47 miles of beautiful countryside for lunch at The Ram Coaching Inn at Tivetshall St Mary. Judy was charged with waving off the cars at the start and Jim’s organisational prowess was once again put to good effect. Heather presided over the raffle which was in aid of Nansa, the FAC’s charity for 2024. After lunch, Karen, Mike Tomlin’s daughter, presented Vanessa with the trophy for this year’s most desirable car for her immaculate Morris Traveller.
Sunday, 1st September 2024
The 3rd Classic Car Day at Brisley Hall yesterday was a perfect day out with over 160 cars attending and in perfect weather. The event was again organized by Dick Dykes with all voluntary donations going to The Friends of St. Bartholomew’s Church. A great variety of vehicles were on show including those from clubs such as the Fakenham Auto Club, the North Norfolk Classic Vehicle Club and the TR Register as well as numerous individuals’ cars. Drinks, bacon rolls and cream teas, etc., were available. There was also live music as well as a “Jimble” Sale for that one part/tool you’ve been after for years! Many thanks Jim for organizing the FAC contingent.
Sunday, 18th August 2024
Eighteen classic cars turned up to support the Bawdeswell Village Hall Centenary celebrations, including four from members of the public. It was a dry, sunny day and well attended by the public. Highlights of the day included Mike and Tony's dogs winning best in class at the fun dog show and David winning the competition to spoon marbles into the drain hole in an upturned flower pot (199 in 1 minute!) Thanks to David for organizing the event and for the photos.
Sunday, 4th August 2024
The Helmingham Festival of Classics and Sports Cars was the largest we’ve seen so far and it was a sell-out for the organisers with 1200 cars on display. This year they attempted to park the cars in groups according to the decades in which they were manufactured which was certainly an interesting approach although it did split up some attendees. There were two driveway runs one in the morning and one in the afternoon featuring some lovely cars and introduced by a man with a seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of all types of cars. There were a huge number of clubs from all over the region represented and for most of the day our music tastes were catered for by a large brass band in one field and a rock and roll group at the far end of another. Thanks to Jack for organizing the event and to Jack and Roy for the photos.
Sunday, 28th July 2024
Thirteen cars turned out for the annual Overstrand Village Fair which takes place on the quintessential English setting of the sports club ground. A wide variety of stall holders plus musical entertainment plus food and drink and a wonderful display by Marlene’s School of Dance, together with wall-to-wall sunshine made it a very enjoyable day. Thanks to Jack for organizing the event and to Stephen Jones for the photographs.
Saturday, 27th July 2024
Eighteen cars took part in the Market Place display and it’s pleasing to note that we are making progress with permission to park on the other side of the road, which has been a bone of contention. Thanks to Mike for the photographs.
Sunday, 21st July 2024
The 29th Charles Clark Rally once again started at The Goat Inn at Skeyton where the 75 cars taking part were assembled and their occupants enjoyed a bacon roll and hot drink to set them up for the sixty-five-mile route to Brisley Cricket Ground, planned by Colin and Leanne. There were places to stop on the way for a picnic and food and drink were also available at the Cricket Ground. The weather was kind to us and even the combine harvesters didn’t stop us! Brian told us that the 30th Rally will be the last that he organizes and he was thanked for all the hard work he has put into these rallies. The charity this year was Musical Keys which aims “to make music accessible to everyone, to celebrate all forms of self-expression and to sustain and improve wellbeing.” Brian presented a cheque for £1650 to Amanda, the Chair of Trustees for the charity.
Sunday, 30th June 2024
It was the inaugural Classic Car Day at Whitehall Farm, Burnham Thorpe, courtesy of Barry and Valerie Southerland. Fifty-plus cars attended from the Fakenham Auto Club and the North Norfolk Car Club and enjoyed the food, drink and objet d’art on offer. Barry’s Café, licensed Bar and Workshop were put to good use as well as his silo which he had converted into a cinema showing repeats of Bangers and Cash all day. There were other food options available including cakes, excellent Crispy Duck wraps, provided by the lovely ladies of the Duck Truck and, of course, Mr Whippy. Proceeds are going towards local fund raising for children’s play area and the village hall. Despite the mixed weather conditions, everyone was in good spirits, and Annie spotted the Norfolk Light Sabre Team doing their warm-up routine!
Wednesday, 26th June 2024
It was a lovely evening for a drive to the coast, not to mention the fish-and-chips! We met at Morrisons car park in Fakenham and followed Brian and Heather’s carefully chosen route via Burham Market and Ringstead to The Mariners at La Strange Hotel in Old Hunstanton, where a few other members joined us. Twenty-eight of us sat down to a enjoy some delicious food and, as we left to go home, the Sun put on a show for us.
Saturday, 8th June 2024
Over a dozen cars took part in the Nansa Charity Car Rally today which started at the Gallow and wound its way over a 60-mile route to end up at Jim and Judy’s home where other FAC members and representatives from Nansa were waiting for us. Jim’s prowess on the barbeque was only surpassed by his choice of music for the occasion. The chilly, overcast, morning quickly changed into sunshine but that was not to last. By the time we arrived a Wells-next-the-Sea, a heavy shower had taken hold and people were rushing to take shelter in doorways. However, the weather changed again and we enjoyed some sunshine in Jim and Judy’s lovely garden. In all the event raised £537 for Nansa.
Sunday 26th May 2024
Despite a horrible weather forecast, today’s Pageant of Motoring at Sandringham was very well attended. There were a few showers but also long sunny spells, and everyone seemed to be in good spirits. There were more Aston Martins on display than any other marque, by far, and they were all different.
Saturday, 25th May 2024
It was a wet morning for our monthly Fakenham Marketplace gathering but, amazingly, we filled the Upper Market Place with sixteen cars and four new members plus one possible.
1st to 3rd May, 2024
Some FAC members spent a few days in and around Buxton this week. Some of us took a walk from the Ladybower Reservoir, up to the Derwent Valley Dam where Guy Gibson trained 617 Squadron, The Dambusters, to drop the ‘bouncing bomb’ accurately against enemy targets in the Ruhr Valley. There were also pleasant canal-side walks along to the romantically named, Bugsworth Basin(!), one of the busiest inland ports in its day and the only one to survive. It was built to transport limestone from nearby quarries to industry in the north west. Another reasonably nearby attraction is The Great British Car Journey, a well laid out museum which tells the story of the British Car Industry decade by decade with the aid of recorded audio. The museum has an extra attraction: drive your dad’s car. Various models are available for a ten-minute drive for a modest fee. Many thanks to Rob for organizing this trip.
Sunday, 28th April 2024
Some sixty cars signed up for the 25th Anniversary Rally and, despite a few fallings by the wayside because of the awful weather, it was still a good turnout. After tea, coffee and bacon rolls at The Gallow, we set off on a scenic drive, ending up a Fakenham Marketplace around mid-day. There were some ‘new’ and unusual vehicles on show, including a Midas, based on a Mini Metro, a Jowet Jupiter, and a very cute Austin. DJ Jim kept our spirits up with a great selection of music, and the event raised £1001 for Nansa, our charity for the year.
Sunday, 14th April 2024
The Club visited the City of Norwich Aviation Museum today. Twenty-one members took part and, because the ground was finally dry enough, we were allowed to park close to the aircraft. Some of us took guided tours of the aircraft, the Nimrod and Vulcan being particularly popular. The museum has been enlarged since our last visit several years ago. Some took advantage of the lunch at the Castle Carvery Racecourse. Thanks to David for organising the event and lunch and to the museum’s staff for being helpful and accommodating.
Car SOS meets Fakenham Auto Club
On 15th February, a small number of FAC members had been invited to attend the filming of a mysterious TV production. We were all sworn to secrecy and told that we couldn't talk about the programme concerned with anyone not 'in the know'. The venue was switched at the last minute from Fakenham Racecourse to Raynham Hall, and twenty members’ cars started to arrive early that chilly morning, to be greeted by Fuzz Townshend, Tim Shaw and the crew of Car SOS, filming an episode centred around Steve Cole’s beautifully restored TVR. The car had been fitted with false number plates so that Steve would not recognise his own car. Fuzz and Tim talked to many of us about our cars and Fuzz even gave Barry’s recalcitrant Ford Consul some successful TLC. Jacqueline enjoyed a warming cup of tea in her immaculate Morris-Minor Traveller while we waited for Tony Dossor to bring Steve along under the pretext of it being just another car display. Some vehicles looked entirely at home outside Raynham Hall.
Soon the cars were being rearranged ready for Steve’s arrival – as were we. Tony and Steve arrived shortly afterwards while we all avoided looking in their direction (nothing to see here!) Steve was stunned when he realised that the TVR he had been admiring was indeed his own car, and soon his family and friends appeared from their hiding place to add to Steve’s surprise. The restoration was much more involved than originally planned as a trophy made out of a section of chassis shows! It was a very special day for the Club and Steve, and we look forward to seeing him and his TVR at future events. The episode will be shown initially on National Geographic at 8.00pm on Thursday 18th April, and on More4 at a later date to be specified.
Saturday, 23rd March 2024
This was the first Fakenham Marketplace meeting of the year and, despite the chilly wind, we were delighted to welcome the nineteen cars which took part, including some new additions to the fleet. A group from Nansa, our sponsored charity for this year, also arrived and enjoyed sitting in the cars. Several potential and actual new members made it a great start to our motoring season.
Saturday, 16th March 2024
The breakfast at The Parlour, Binham, was one of the best we’ve had. Super food, efficiently served on hot plates by cheerful, smiling staff. Forty of us enjoyed the morning, thanks to Jim’s organizational skills.
Wednesday, 28th February 2024
The AGM was well attended and was a pleasant evening. Brian remains as Chairman, with Jim as Vice Chairman. Tim Colman joined the Committee, bringing the total to ten. Heather and Ray were both thanked for their contributions as non-Committee members.
Saturday, 17th February 2024
The winter walk yesterday started at the Queen of Hearts pub in Lenwade. Thirty-four people signed up for the event, a handful of whom decided just to attend for the meal. We set off at 12:00 heading towards the Marriot Way and the railway bridge over the river Wensum. The river was quite swollen and fast-flowing, enough to put off the hardiest of anglers! As planned, we returned to the pub by 1:00 pm for lunch. The staff were friendly and the food was excellent. However, the service was very poor: the person sitting next to me was the last of us to be served – 70 minutes overdue!
Many thanks to Jim for organising this event and for safely herding us sheep.
Wednesday, 24th January 2024
Club Night at The Gallow at which Brian presented a cheque for £1780 to The Fitzroy Centre, Fakenham, our sponsored charity for 2023. It was gratefully received by Kerensa, Mo and Toby on behalf of The Fitzroy Centre, and Toby explained how our funds will be used.
Our sponsored charity for 2024 is NANSA, and its representatives Michelle and Judy told us how the Norwich based organisation helps both children and adults from all over Norfolk. We look forward to co-operating with NANSA during the year.
