Oily's MG Blog - Oily Hand's Life with MGs

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Tees Valley MG Owners Club run to Durham Botanical Gardens

23/9/2018

The weather forecast wasn't good but thankfully it was also wrong. The promised rain mostly stayed away and we had a good day.

Just for a change we took the MGB GT and headed for the start at Middlesbrough & District Motor Club. We had a chance to get a good look at Mark's new MG ZS which was quite impressive although a long way from the original ethos of MGs. I suppose they have to make what sells in quantity these days.

Setting off we headed by a meandering route to Roots for a coffee break. Leaving Roots we were first away which gave me the chance to stop and get a bit of video of some of the cars crossing the narrow bridge near Neasham.

By the time we had done this we were tail end Charlie and a fair way behind. We caught up later and followed the convoy to the gardens.

A leisurely picnic lunch was followed by a wander around this lovely place before heading for home.

A very enjoyable day.

Tees Valley MG Owners Club Tees Valley Trail

29/7/2018

Wow! What a wet day this was.

We turned up to the start at Roots Farm Shop and were surprised to see an empty space where the gazebo normally sits. It was so wet and windy that the staff at Roots cleared some space for us in one of the barns. Thanks to Roots.

We signed on and collected out route book and chatted for a while before the space filled up with other arrivals.

There were quite a few no shows which was understandable as the weather was bad and the forecast wans't any better for the rest of the day.

We set off in rain and it didn't let up at all. We were thankful to be warm & dry in TYO our MG3 . Many soft top owners got wet even with the tops up. The rain was driving in through every nook and cranny.

It was a super route and the scenery was lovely but we couldn't see it. The lunch stop in Kettlewell was a washout.

To add interest to the route there were questions to be answered and we got enough to win the trophy. There weren't many other competed entries and I'm not surprised given the weather. The trophy is ours to keep (clean) for a year.

Not all the field turned up at the finish. Some went straight home to dry out.

It was a strange day with non of the usual chatter round the cars and the only video is from the car. No photos either as it was too wet for me to get my camera out.

Tees Valley MG Owners Club Tees Valley Trail

30/7/2017

What a super day this was. A relaxed start to the day saw us taking the short run down the A19 to Roots Farm Shop to meet up with old & new friends.

This would be the longest run old Numbum had done since I changed the head gasket so there was a little bit of doubt as to how the day would go. Fortunately it was OK.

The club gazebo was set up with the tombola & raffle and we won four prizes on the tombola. Not a bad start to the day.

It was quite a good entry, 43 cars, I think from all over the area. The car park was quite full.

It was good weather for top down driving as we set off on this well planned route to the upper reaches of the river Tees. Some of the roads were best described as interesting, and at times it was quite a challenge, but great fun.

At one point we thought we were in for a soaking as the clouds rolled across the hilltop and a heavy shower passed over us. It didn't last long thankfully.

For quite a bit of the route we didn't see another car from out group, which is just how I like it. We rolled along at our own pace and stopped for refreshments when we pleased.

Back at Roots, it was time for some good conversation before setting off for the long 15 minute journey home and arrived back after covering 120 fun filled miles.

A big thank you to all who made it happen.

Tees Valley MG Owners Club Summer BBQ

9/7/2017

With The TA still not finished we took the BGT to meet up with six other cars at Middlesbrough Motor Club car park for a run to Gennel Farm for some fun and good food.

We set off ahead of everybody else so I could find somewhere to get some video of the other cars and found the ideal spot at the top of Carlton Bank. Then it was catch up time as we headed towards Helmesley and onward to Beadnall Farm Shop where we stopped for refreshments. Well we had been driving for almost an hour.

From there it was on past Castle Howard and along some lovely lanes to our destination. It was quite warm in the GT, even with the sunroof fully open and the windows down so it was a relief to see a gazebo in the field for a bit of shade. There was also a bit of breeze to keep the temperature down.

We had time to wander around the barn to see the various cars stored there. One that stood out was a Frogeye Sprite with a V8 squeezed in. Unsurprisingly it was reported to be a bit of a handful to drive.

The barbeque was fired up and superb food was quickly demolished and entertainment followed in the form of TVMGOC's resident ukelele trio.

All too soon it was time for us to go and we had a pleasant drive home.

A great day out. Thanks to all who made it possible.

Tees Valley MG Owners Club run to The Herriot Museum

19/2/2017

With the TA not quite ready for the season and the BGT waiting for a retest date, it was TYO, the MG3 that was pressed into service for this run.

I was promoted to navigator and it made a pleasant change being in the left hand seat.

We met up in the Middlesbrough Motor Club car park with 10 other cars in bright sunshine for some good conversation before setting off.

It was a good run with some interesting roads across country to Carlton then up Carlton Bank and onwards to Chop Gate. From there it was and easy run to Helmsley and on to Beadlam Grange Farm Shop for refreshments.

Suitably refreshed we headed off for Thirsk down some narrow roads and descended the notorious Sutton Bank. It's a lot easier going down than up. Arriving in Thirsk we found a parking spot in the market place and gathered together for the short walk to the museum.

It was quite an interesting place and we enjoyed the hour or so we spent there before heading for the A19 for the quick route home.

One of the joys of being in the left hand seat is seeing more of the scenery.

Thanks to John & San for organising the route and to everybody else for being such great company.

Tees Valley MG Owners Club Fish & Chip Run

22/1/2017

I forgot to count the cars but I think it was about a dozen turned up to a freezing Birk Brow car park for this annual run for fish & chips. Some hardy souls were top down as well. We were in the BGT and we were cold. The normally cosy heater wasn't and the temperature guage was not reaching its normal levels. I suspect the thermostat is stuck open. Something else to sort out.

A gentle drive took us to Whitby, which wasn't any warmer. Some parked on the West Cliff and the lame and lazy ones drove into town to park closer to the pub and chippies. The steps down from the West Cliff aren't that bad but the climb back up again is a killer for some.

After warming up in the pub with some good conversation the group split up as folks headed for their favourite eating places.

Well fed after a huge plate of fish, chips, mushy peas and bread & butter we strolled back to the car to find that it was well hemmed in but after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing we got it out and headed for home.

All in all a good day, even if it was very cold.

Tees Valley MG Owners Club Tees Valley Trail

2/8/2015

It was raining as we loaded up old Numbum and set off for the start of this great run at Stokesley.

On the way there we were alarmed by clouds of smoke coming from under the dash. It's a good job we were topless as the car would have been unbearable with the top up. I found somewhere safe to pull over and investigate. The smoke didn't smell like burnt wiring so I decided to look under the bonnet. I saw that the engine was covered in oil and the cause was in plain sight. Somebody had topped up the oil before we set off and hadn't put the oil filler cap back on. I wonder who it was? Oil had splashed out of the top of the rocker cover and once it ran down to the exhaust manifold it produced the huge clouds of smoke. Thankfully that was the only problem we had all day.

We arrived at Howards Cafe in Stokesley and collected our route book and plaque. Over a cuppa we chatted to other entrants and studied the route before heading outside into the wet to prepare for setting off.

The route book was great and easy to follow and we had no trouble at all. About 20 miles in we ended up in a long convoy and decided to take a break. The village hall in Boltby had a pop up cafe so we stopped for a cuppa & a scone to allow the convoy to get well ahead of us.

Once on the road again we realised that the light refreshment had only wetted our appetites and we soon stopped again for lunch. The halfway point was Helmesley, which we knew would be busy, so having eaten, we didn't stop there but kept on driving.

The route was superb with some amazing little lanes. The two fords were good. The first had little water and I could get through it briskly. The second had more water and a left hand bend which meant I had to be a bit more gentle.

As the day progressed the roads dried out and we had a very enjoyable drive arriving at Roots Farm Shop just after 2 o clock where we spent a pleasant couple of hours chatting and taking pictures.

I won a box of toffees in the raffle. They're probably the most expensive toffees ever, not because of the cost of the tickets but the cost of having my fillings replaced.

As the oldest car in the run I gladly took the prize of a bottle of wine.

A great day out with super people and lovely roads. A big thank you to Reg & Babs for all their hard work in planning the run and Derek for managing the raffle.

Tees Valley MG Owners Club run to Tanfield Railway

18/5/2015

It was a good turn out with nine cars meeting at Yarm station and one car going directly to Tanfield. We took the B GT as the TA was still out of comission.

I was too busy chatting to get any pictures at the start and we were soon on our way. The route was mainly A roads because of the distance to be covered and we made good time. We had one navigational error in Darlington because I wasn't listening to my navigator. We weren't the only ones and soon got back on track.

It was bright sunshine at Tanfield but there was a strong biting wind on the hilltop. Down by the line in the valley it was much more pleasant. First order of the day was a comfort stop followed by food, then it was time to explore.

The two locos in steam were No.2 and Sir Cecil A Cochrane and they did a sterling job double headed. The train ride was a pleasant run and very reasonably priced.

The sheds were fascinating with loads of old machining equipment. There was enough old rolling stock to keep the volunteers busy for a century or two.

I'd spent so much time hanging around for video shots that by the time we got back to the car everybody else had gone home. We do believe in getting good value from out days out so we drove down the road a bit to Causey Arch, the oldest railway bridge in the world.

From the car park there were two ways to the Arch. One down into the valley and back up again and one across the top. We took the first route but we didn't make the same mistake and came back across the top, much easier on the legs.

The B got some admiring looks as we sipped the remains of our flasks and we rolled on home.

Tees Valley MG Owners Club Trip to Killhope Wheel

19/4/2015

Seven cars met up at the usual meeting spot, Yarm Station. It was a chilly morning so we took the BGT.

It's a fair old trek up the dale so we took a direct route with a short stop in Stanhope for relief and a cuppa.

It was a coat colder at Killhope so we headed straight for the cafe and ploughed our way through a huge plate of mince & dumplings with mash & peas. Very tasty and really good value. Many decided to go down the mine but as we had been down a few times we passed on that joy and had a wander around outside.

The temperature started to drop even further so we headed for home. A lovely relaxing day with good company.

Tees Valley MG Owners Club run to Shildon Rail Museum

22/3/2015

Seven cars turned up at the usual Yarm Station meeting place. Three of the cars were MGs. We were in the MGB GT. We had an pleasant drive and met up with other club members who had gone directly to the museum.

This is a great little museum with plenty to see and it's free to get in. Bonus!

After a quick bite to eat and a cuppa we all spent an enjoyable couple of hours browsing.
Thanks to Pam for some of these photos.

On the drive there I was trying out the new cam and it pefromed as well in daylight as it did in darkness. I also had one of the old cams mounted on the back of the car. That turned out quite reasonable.