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Welcome to the Official Website of the Northern Roadsters Club
Website was last modified on 24/12/2008
Introduction
Formed initially from a group of like-minded people over a decade ago the informal club became official in October 2006.
Many members of the Club have a long history of competing in motor sport events, with members competing at a high level in Hillclimbs, Sprints, Autocross, Autotests, circuit racing, Rallies, and Navigational Runs. It aims to be encouraging to new members to start competing and then providing the stimulus for them to further develop their skills.
Many members of the club come to it with no competitive inclination, but simply a love of the hand-built car and the open road, and the cheerful friendship of like minded enthusiasts. The club runs many events to cater for these members too. Of course many competitve members like to join in with the social side too!
Our current programme of events is being formulated for 2008, and we welcome requests from all members. If people want to do it, in a roadster, and it's legal, we'll organise it! (Probably).
Northern Roadsters Club is affiliated to the Motor Sports Association (the MSA) which is the ruling body of UK motorsport.
Our main object is to encourage interest in
enjoying wind-in-the-hair, seat-of-the-pants motoring in all its forms,
and our emphasis is on 4 wheeled hand-built or modified cars and
motorsport. Membership is open to adults of any age or sex with neither
age, nor type of car owned, precluding participation. It is not
necessary to own a vehicle to gain the benefit from our club as
armchair enthusiasts and spectators are just as welcome but members
active with their own transport gain the most.
As part of its communication process, the Club also publishes 'Torque
Tales', its own newsletter containing news and information for members.
There is a continuing need for willing helpers, both male and female at
our events and there is a vital and interesting role to be played by
anyone keen to act as a marshal or other representative of the Club.
Are you interested in finding out more? Then come down to one of the
events in our calendar, or our monthly 'first Friday' meet at the Three
Nuns, just off the M62 at Junction 25 (where the A62 starts just
through the lights past Cooper Bridge scrapyard). You can then meet
the members of the friendliest motor club in the North, or apply for
membership by either downloading the membership form or by e-mailing membership@northernroadsters.co.uk
for details of how to join by snail mail.
Check our calendar page for details of our forthcoming activities.
Raw Striker North
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We are by no means exclusively a club for Strikers. Robert Sinclair cars (Raw Striker North) aren't either. They build, sell and work on Westfields, Tigers and indeed any kit, hillclimb, race or road car.
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For all your fire and fireplace installation needs, please ring us
Latest News
ALG desires a car, wants a car, needs
a car. !3 of us agreed !! But he knows that he wouldn’t know how to fettle it,
but we all know that he doesn’t need to know because he will know somebody who may
know and failing that they can get in touch with a knowledgeable bod who will know. Freezing
February got off to a lively start. . Sec seconded several
subscriptions. Merry japes about road
kill and poaching laws, stray wagon wheels (not the chocolate ones), fireproof
helmets, track days, tyres, Spax damper length and ride height made. Steve is preoccupied about his wedding tackle
whilst driving – or is it that the ride height is just too low for
Snow Snow Slip Slip Snow for our January Japes meant only 6 managed to get to the meeting especially as it started with more of the fully white stuff falling at 7pm! OGL braved it from moorland heights but where was Sec Stu – skidding in a snowy Slaithwaite stuck in a slow snake of stopped traffic? Tales of the weeks weather was followed by various incidents of red mist road rage. Paul has chosen some wheel deals & Jo announced she has broken the cat flap – we recommended using the door next time and they both now need a three/four seater kit car. DP mentioned in passing that he hasn’t had time to polish the car yet this year (only the 8th) – we were aghast. With this years calendar penned talks turned to tents. Big ones to act as garages as well as holiday homes. DP reckoned it would keep the rain off the Blue Beastie. We all reminisced over past owned cars and DW explained how to rally drive a Mini with hydrolastic suspension.
Ho Ho Ho ! Several staunch members braved sleet, snow and slush to grace the 2009 Christmas Party at the Stansfield Arms. Sauvignon, Santa, scoff and singers provided the usual fun filled festive frolics. Good food was enjoyed by all whilst an excellent singer ‘Nat King Kong’ lamented us with ‘lurve songs’. Jon was awarded ‘brownie points’ for blagging an extra half of turkey, acre of veg and Christmas pud. OGL found a secret ‘cheese mine’ and brought several slabs to the table. Andy demonstrated giving birth to a ‘baby’ balloon then Jo got broody and practised cradling and feeding it !!. The dancing started and the ‘yokels’ whisked us off to the floor one by one starting with OGL (aka ‘Milk Tray Man’). The girlies danced round a handbag or two until the midnight hour then the stoic bade cheery farewells with good wishes and there goes another year !!
December - Ho Ho Ho it’s nearly Christmas !! A resilient 13 attended and talk of MSA reg changes lead to discussions of new tyre lists, FR Helmets, overalls, gloves, shoes and HANS (whoever he is). A brave few organised a Saturday morning run out to North Yorkshire Tales of ‘Ribble Head Lore’ ensued. Attention turned to aerodynamics and it was decided that apart from the usual winglets and side skirts the extra speed wearing a 60’s plastic hair band acting as a canard wing over a baldy head would add a further 10mph ! We then discoverer we are all ’saddos’ as all bar one have photos of their jalopy on their mobile phones. Nik has sold ‘The Black Beast’. Mike L described the Holme Moss fountain - to be avoided we believe. Dave W has bought some new shockers (bounce & rebound) but only for the Mountain Bike. All offered Jo birthing advice & a special offer of 3 packs for £18 was misunderstood by Jon as thought it meant Stella but Jo was talking Pampers!! The Christmas party looms on the 19th, the outline 2010 calendar was set and the next meeting will be Jan 8th as New Year day s the first Friday.
Remember remember the First Friday in November a Standard
number came and the night set off like a Rocket.
Where was Sonic Sec? Following OGL’s
lead and escaping for a weekend away. Bracey was off playing at Will Hoy on the
new wheels. A few ideas were Fused
and a bit of Flare was discussed.
Bill brought a home made Air Bomb
(intake scoop) and Dave P (Sparkler man)
said it needed a polish. Jo Barraged
Rick with questions about his truncheon and hat - the world is now legally her
toilet. Darrel has found a home for his Star,
Fencewrecker has put some time into the garage and the new car is ready to test
the Traffic Lights. The Christmas party was deliberated and
the menu went round as many times as a Catherine
Wheel before courses were chosen. Discussion turned green and it was decided
that we are all ‘enviro friendly’, by recycling an old Banger into a Black Cat
(Caterham). Jon regaled tales of maintaining the entente cordiale by joining
Friends Disunited in a French restaurant in
Ribblehead
Camping Trip No disasters! Dave & Jon have
tales of a boozy camp fire session and windy Saturday night with 2 Para in the
bunkhouse at Ribblehead.Was that a ghost ? No just a sleepwalker ! Sec joined
them at 10.00am Sunday up in the damp clouds - their other oppos having
departed. 3 intrepid Strikers set off for Hawes, crossing with 6 kit cars
coming the other way. Much waving! Fuel up, with locals taking photos! then
over Buttertubs at 526 mts to a drier Muker in Swaledale for a pot of tea
beside a real coal fire in Secs’ mates
teashop. Once more the cars attracted a family with 2 young lads who enjoyed a
sit in Jon's motor. Then it was back over the tops to Askrigg, and a spirited
run along the high level yellows of Wensleydale to find the sunshine in
Leyburn. Stop for chat and to remove scarves and Woolley hats, then we turn
south through Middleham heading for the Ice Cream shop in Ripley. Beyond Ripon
we crossed again with some 12 or more kits going north - even more waving! In
Ripley it was Vanilla or Banana dipped in Hot Chocolate, and a chat with a
chap lamenting the
Tin Top October Time meant that the weather has broken and most cars are
now tucked up in a warm garage – except Steve who braved the rain with no
screen !! (he’s emulating Bill for outright hardiness. 11 attended the meet but where was our little
treasurer? Hunting Rhinos again. Tales regaled of monthly daring and
deeds. Mr Polish and JR went out for a
run and both suffered a breakdown within 100 yards of each other. Paul & Jo
are expecting a junior member to arrive in May next year – congratulations from
all. Christmas dinner is confirmed – see the calendar page. Mr. Polish has been
hunting Gelert outlets to join the ‘Fancy Pants’ team but hasn’t struck lucky
yet and Andy seems keen to join the hardy campers. Talk centred around JR
bartering MFI wardrobes whilst ‘Sec’ bothered MI5, Customs and Excise
interference. OGL can’t access his clothes because of a handbag and shoe wall.
Tyres, Carbs, TB’s, Lambda’s, ECU’s and all things electronic and mysterious.
August Meet. A dry evening, 6 cars, several tin-tops, and a strong member turnout. OGL left early – family business. While the cat was away, the mice did not particularly play, they were too busy soaking up Dave & Jon’s tales of Scooby bating. Oh how Dave has changed – apart from the silly grin he can’t shed – he hasn’t polished off the trackday rubber and wears it proudly. When are we going again? he muttered all evening. Bill has 2 knees now – get back in the Striker soon mate.
DP’s first track day started well, getting
used to the circuit, braking & turn in points etc. making a few mistakes in
the morning stint, J "red mist’ R was off showing a clean pair of heels to
the "Scooby boys" demonstrating what these Strikers can do on a
track.
400bhp scoobys that had mods were overtaken
- they could not keep up on the bends and we pulled away on the straights. There
was only one scooby we let pass and that had 500bhp running on race fuel. Later
in the afternoon a jealous Scooby owner came over to enquire what engine was in
JR’s car? Jon replied "It’s a Cortina ". Brilliant! JR took his now best mate Tim out for a
blast on track for a few laps and he came back singing from the Strike Hymn
Sheet. “Respect, come round tonight with us for a pint".. A few
pints of lager in the bar and then all sat outside till 1am,chatting had a
great time made new friends and hope to meet up again at a future track day.
The experience and atmosphere of the track day was fantastic. The marshalls and
the people that we met were fantastic. Look out for the next track day
hopefully with more people from the club.
3 Nuns July Friday, only 2 cars - Sec & Howard - then Howard disappeared, only for fuel, he soon returned.. Best not to forget after a night of jolly banter. 10 bods in all, all happily searching through another goody-bag from Jon. Post-it notes and pens were found by a plenty, then Bill dug deep and brought out a gem of a mini LED torch "How did we all miss that?" Jonathan had finally got his Striker back from Boggies, only to be out of MOT, and Dave was absent preparing (polishing) for a track day at Ty Croes. by the way where was OGL – sweltering in Frog-land we were told ....
The Stoneleigh Kit Car Show
officials waved us through and we set camp. OGL felt outdone by the
Consensus was we are pig sick of hearing about Swine Flu – the news is becoming a bit of a boar! 14 members and 5 cars made the May assembly. Notable exceptions being the ‘Turquoise Rash‘ (so kindly named by Jon) because it was in the final stages of polishing! We will let Jon off for not participating in his car as it was in dry dock having the direction changer sorted. (is that the tiller then?). Pat & Tom turned up in a nicely refurbished MK and Mike L in the modified asymmetric with a grin bigger than a Cheshire cat recounting tales of the Harewood School Day Fencewrecker has nearly finished the new car but thinks the new ‘D-shaped wheels may catch on.. Plans were hatched for Stoneleigh and the hardy two (OGL & Sec) persisted at persuading the hesitant to join in. and general banter about roundabout prowess ended the nights fun.
The Derbyshire Dales run out day started with cars amassed at OGL’s house prompt at 8am on a cold and damp morning. The convoy set off with hails of ‘I know the way’ from Sec. Two miles later up the wrong road a hasty U-turn was made. The sun reflected strongly in Dave’s gleaming, recently polished car causing the rest to wear very dark shades to stop glare!!! The view from the top of Holme Moss was spectacular as was the look of fear from Tail End Charlie who popped over the crest into a set of stationary sight seekers. Through fine empty country lanes occasionally stopping to admire the view, put Dave’s rear light in, re polish the horse poo off the wheel arches. Onwards through Deepest Dales with the occasional Mexican Wave at traffic lights. Sec then led us astray again so Tail End Charlie let the Sat Nav do the talking only to loose the new rear gunner who went metal detecting. We re-grouped and OGL got us ot the Kit Car Show albeit in a round about way!‘April
Showers’ brought 6½ cars & 14 bods to the
first spring airing (Bracey turned up in the new tin top diesel– hence the
‘half’ but we will forgive him because is it such a good value beast). Andy
drooled over the yellow cars again & Darrel arrived at finishing time..
Howard admitted he has stopped smoking –
that’s the car not him – the new ZX9R engine sounded wonderful and has stopped
pumping out the blue stuff !!
Jon has his back on the road with bike
carbs, LSD and soft springs and admitted to Déjà-vu around a roundabout a
several times!!. Still wondering how to leave the turquoise ‘trailer’ behind
though. This years designer accessory must have is
COSHH earplugs on a string. Talk turned
to the usual banter such as exploding plods, and what has F1 given us?
Conclusions included adaptive suspension, telemetry, ABS, Traction Control,
cheating, lies, steward enquiries…………..
Some lamenting that we didn’t get Brawn
racing especially with a 4 second per lap advantage we reckon we could all have
a go and still win. Diffusers are
definitely ‘Confusers’ but now available for .reasonable spends for the striker
(contact Mike L for details). Runs out were discussed – with a Sunday ad-hoc
coast blast, Boggs Bros. end April, MK in May, and Stoneleigh (including beans
around the camp fire)…
The AGM managed to pass through swiftly –albeit starting a bit late due to OGL’s need for feed and Mr. Secretary stopping to view the scenery at every traffic light in town. Hopes for better weather in 09 abound so we can all enjoy our club more.Feelings of devastation ensued on the news that our £1 offer for Honda Racing was not accepted – still it must have been a close shave!! Anyway what do a razor firm want with F1 ? Serious gold star points are awarded to Mike L for arriving in the Blue Striker in near freezing conditions. Andy has the hots for a fast Fiat Turbo Coupe that Bill may be selling unless someone tells Bracey first. Dave W has been heard making ‘Brum Brum’ noises in the garage as his new builds progresses. The wheels are tuning, well one was changing hands in the car park. Jonathan wants to emulate Ferrari and put a plastic see through cover in the bonnet of the refurbished striker to show off Bogg Brothers best manifold welding & Carbs. Cold March means deferring the two planned runs to April and then it will be Stoneleigh again
February
Fling.
Where is he? – He didn’t ring me – I
couldn’t ring him - He never said anything.
The text an hour and a half into the evening finally settled the
speculation. OGL stranded in
Millers Oils Night 22 enthusiastically attended the very interesting presentation by Millers Oils at Raw Striker North (many thanks to Rob & Nik for allowing us to use their premises. A joint meeting with HMC (thanks to their members fro showing interest). A great insight was given by Mike Fenton into the technicalities of stopping metal grinding away metal in a nanosecond inside the various components of our cars. Oils have come on a long way since some medieval bod found out that when he ran over a beast of burden and the exuding animal fat slopping onto the axle made pushing his cart easier and faster ! Then crude oil was discovered and we never looked back. Questions came a plenty - once the discussion finished with modern synthetic oils. Some ‘tyre kicking’ ensued with the cars Rob had on display before some sojourned to the pub.
January The ‘Hardy Eight’ made it to the first meeting of the year. Honda hasn’t
rejected our 1p takeover bid - yet !! Jon reckons that we will come up against
some stiff competition - and we
thought maybe Dave Richards or Eddie Jordan too. DW regaled us with how he led the
Burmese Liberation Front over the border into
The New Year brings new forthcoming
activities like a run out to Boggs Bros. was discussed for early next year &
a potential trip to
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yuletide scoff time otherwise known as the Christmas Party at the Stansfield Arms
provided lots of fun as usual. Lots of people trekked to the team ‘tent’ where
we were placed at a table by the wind machine – or was that the door !! This
was always left open by any passing people so a force 10 gale kept blowing Stuarts
wig off ! Choruses of “Dooorrrrr” “Dooorrrrrrrrrrrrr”
to all that left it open went unnoticed by most except one fair maiden lady
gave us “the look” - and we assumed she thought we were shouting
“whore”!
The menu of choice was the high rise pork
steaks but those without their doggy bags have increased weight by
about half a
stone! It is amazing how a Dioxin conrtamination can make meat treble
in size. Bill stoically managed to come almost straight
from the operating table (a true grit spirit) but looked & was vey
sore – never
mind we can wait until next year for the dance routine. Bracey enjoyed everything twice as much as
anyone else apart from OGL who helped a bit with some turkey. Jo led the girls
in a dance line locomotion showboat, Rick showed us he is a Disco Diva and Jon strutted his stuff in the designer wear.
Paul talked about his fantasy garage but then we realised he was discussing his
musical tastes.!
The Ginetta Trip to the impressive LNT
group building on Tuesday 9th was an eye opener. A joint meeting
with HMC, 27 turned up in all.
It was impressive informative, interesting
& impeccably clean. An insight was given about the whole LNT group structure &
function then onto the juicy bit – the cars!
We were shown cars from 1400 & 1800
G20’s to the all singing & dancing G50. Some bare chassis – some ‘clothed’.
The new road car was there as well as a few special prototypes including the
107mph electric car.
We sojourned to the local for a sarnie,
pint and some chatter. Plans were hatched that when we buy Honda F1 we will
rent out the wind tunnel for a few quid
to recoup our investment costs.
The Northern Roadsters
Club,
simply first for Roadsters.
Leeds Road, Mirfield, West Yorkshire WF14 0BY
Tel. 01924 494233
This document was designed by
Nik Aveyard & is maintained on
behalf of Northern Roadsters Club by the Chairman
Material Copyright © 2006 Northern Roadsters Club.