Being a working Friday, some were in situ early but the remainder of us turned up into the evening, including Snaplegs with the club trailer after his detour around Peterborough, so it was time for a well earned beer and electing to erect the stand early the following morning ( Can someone please explain the term early to our chairman?). So bleary eyed an early start to Saturday was made. The actual bleariness was not due to the intake of alcohol – for some reason SteveMid’s generator didn’t want to play so he had to resort to brewing up on a stove, meaning there was not a free flowing stream of tea’s and coffee’s to get us going. However, the stand was up and running in time for the ensuing hordes of showgoers.

Of the shows we’ve attended this year, this was by far the biggest and best attended. Having visited Billing we think this one edged it by a few thousand. Scania did a sterling job keeping the vehicle windscreens supplied with leaflets, which were rapidly disappearing into the hands of show goers as they stopped to peruse our line up of Solihull exports. The usual suspects were all in attendance, including Cazuki and the Postman-Pat-Mobile, but we had a welcome new addition in the shape of Sleepy’s FC101 GS. Sleepy and the Eighth Dwarf (AKA Chris and Lyn, who also brought along Chi Chi and Lady – two little dogs who don’t like being more than five feet away from “Mum & Dad”) are new members who will hopefully be joining us on our forthcoming jaunts in 2011. We were also blessed with a recently refurbished Discovery, courtesy of DiscoNuts, and Rich’s LPG converted Range Rover Classic (complete with inflatable armchairs).

The Saturday was blessed with fine weather, if a bit breezy (but the marquee was nailed down this time following the trials and tribulations of Stoneleigh), and some good contacts were made as folk specifically sought us out on the showground. We saw plenty of familiar faces sauntering around the show and several brews were exchanged, ‘tis good to catch up with folk we only see once or twice a year. But the joy of these kinds of events is meeting new people and Klaus (Sp?) and his 101 Ambulance, all the way from Holland, was keenly greeted and duly invited to our evening’s festivities.

The DTC Mini-Beer Festival and Pub Quiz may not go down in the annals of history as a roaring success, but we had fun nonetheless. Out of the twenty odd invites distributed to clubs, only the Discovery Owners Club managed to raise some teams for the quiz, presided over by Scorps, but they forgot to bring beer. Fortunately we had plenty, courtesy of the Chiltern Brewery, and a small contribution of Grolsch (that’s the proper stuff from Holland, not the rubbish brewed under license in the UK) from Klaus and some Adnams Broadside courtesy of Dentmeister (and an ever welcome slice of Stilton – ever dependable is our Denty). The quiz proved a toughie but the winners were the DOC Committee but only by a slender single point over the DTC. The remainder of our Saturday evening was then spent trying to way up the pro’s and cons of the beer at our disposal.

Sunday was another bright and sunny day, in more ways than one. Show attendance was busy, with the added attraction of the auto jumble, but the clubs day was made by the arrival of Gresh and his entourage at the club stand, we’re sure the sun made an extra effort for this. For many it was the first time to catch up with the young man, and of course Rachel, or indeed meet him sober, and it was an emotional day for some. It’s been too long Gresh and now we hope to see you more frequently

As the show drew to a close, we had one final obstacle to overcome – not cleaning or tidying up as some would think, but putting away one of those pop-up tents. Like an episode of the Krypton Factor it baffled many but was eventually hammered back into its bag by Snaplegs and Gresh’s Rach. Scorpio could then drive his caravan home safe in the knowledge that something pink would not be obscuring his vision through the caravan, he had enough to contend with Landy Lauz and Mudgirl in the car.

It was quite poignant that one of the last remarks made about the show, before we all went our separate ways, was that this showground saw the formation of the DTC all those years ago. It’s our 10th anniversary next year – do you think we may be celebrating it in style there come this time next year?

The entourage of DTC members began pitching up on the proceeding Thursday with the majority arriving Friday and the set up went swiftly, although accommodating half a car park meant placing the marquee on hard standing to allow enough grass space for those who were pitching tents. For the first day of the show this was fine but a windy Sunday showed us the error of our judgement (isn’t hindsight a wonderful thing). Whilst the marquee was fully pinned down, the sides were not and billowed in and out with every blast of wind, nearly destroying the display boards and merchandise.

The show opened with the DTC basking in the glow of being LRM’s Club of the Month, complete with Gandalf and his Discovery taking the main picture. We never knew he had desires on being a centrefold model – it must be that rock’n’roll lifestyle he leads. This prompted quite a few inquisitive show goers to seek us out and the day was refreshingly busier than B&W. Our vehicle line up was varied, with Denty’s 90 making a welcome appearance, Range Rovers a plenty and the little Suzuki. Again this little red monster had the lion’s share of attention as people pondered over the Suzuki Swift engine. However, it should be noted that little people should only drive this car – if anyone bigger than 5’4” get in they have a tendency to look like Postman Pat. We may have to write to CBBC to ask if Jess the Cat can make a guest appearance at the next show. Mind Buster might eat him like he did the meerkat on the front grill.

Interest levels continued throughout the weekend but sadly the Bank Holiday Monday was disappointingly quiet. Cue impromptu Teddy Bears Picnic in front of the Club Marquee. Enjoying the food and the delicious Victoria sponge most of all was young Tyler, who thought crawling through the food was the best method to get fed. Poor Squaddie definitely had his hands full and was ably assisted by Auntie Jude in nappy duties.

Evening entertainment was a bit of preparation for everyone, in advance of the Pub Quiz we’ll be holding at Peterborough. Scorpio had thoughtfully downloaded some sample quizzes and Landy Lauz and Jay took up Quizmaster duties covering The Chocolate Quiz (won by Mr & Mrs Snaplegs), The TV Quiz (won by Cazuki and Snaplegs) and The Music Quiz (won by Scania and SteveMids). We may have the making of a quiz team.

With a short turn around we’re all looking forward to Peterborough in a fortnight, where the DTC will be holding a Mini Beer Festival and Pub Quiz, with various clubs being invited to attend for what will be the end of the main show season party.

The event itself was based on a previous show/auto jumble for the region. It has now been taken on by Live Promotions and this in itself generated a lot of interest from clubs, such as ourselves, and traders. However, being further afield than is the norm it was not perhaps as well attended as the organisers had hoped. Nonetheless it was very good weekend.

Our arrival was not helped by a dash of West Country rain and some football match, resulting in not erecting the stand fully till early doors on the Saturday morning. Squaddie had limped into the showground, as yet another head gasket on his latest acquisition had given up the ghost on the run down from Salisbury Plain, and had to be given a jump start to help line up the vehicles. The club display boards had been refreshed, and together with a sprinkling of DTC bunting, some newly acquired furniture and a team looking resplendent in their new attire, the stand looked very presentable – ready for the incoming crowd.

Or so we thought . . . . . .

Our stand location, alongside the Discovery Owners Club, the Dorset Land Rover Owners Group, Wessex 4×4 Response and the Land Rover Register, was at the very bottom of the show ground away from the main trading area and even further away from the main camping ground. The result of this was that very few show-goers actually made it down to see us. Those that did were duly given our new leaflets and business cards and we did generate a bit of interest, keeping the stand team occupied throughout. As the day progressed, the weather got better and better resulting in some rosy red faces and necks (and foreheads in some peoples cases). When the first day drew to a close we prepared for another of our new ideas – The DTC Pimms Party.

Invites were distributed by Steve Mids, who for the first time got to walk round a show in his own time, and at 6pm we were quaffing the summer beverage and enjoying the hors d’oeuvres with our guests. This was the first time the DTC had dabbled in corporate hospitality and it was generally well received. Some new friendships were made and old ones were renewed as the sun set over the West Country. This could well be a regular part of our shows in the future and if anyone has any ideas/suggestions for future Saturday night entertainment then please let Snaplegs know what they are. There are rumours of a mini beer festival in the not too distant future.

The Sunday was blessed with glorious sunshine and a fast rising temperature. It wasn’t too long before we were slapping on the SPF and shading ourselves from the sun. Again it was a slow day but we had some genuine interest in both the club and LRBoards, we await the outcome of our endeavours.

Sadly the weekend didn’t end as well as the weather. Squaddie’s Rangie was taken home on a big yellow taxi, having failed to find the necessary parts to make good before returning home. He jumped in with Steve Mids for a ride up to Birmingham but the caravan had a tyre blow out on the M5, resulting in it flipping and taking Steve’s 110 with it into the central reservation. Both Steve and Squaddie escaped with minor cuts and bruises, though Squaddie’s back may take some time to recover, but the vehicles did not fair as well. At the time of writing it may well be that both are written off and though that outcome has not been confirmed yet, we can merely keep our fingers crossed that all will be ok.

Do You Want Your Title Doctored?

Whilst this is our main website, we are all residents of (and keen supporters of) LRBoards com. It’s an independent Land Rover Chat Forum, provided free of charge for all users. By registering, thereby generating a Username and Title, and by being a member of the DTC you are then eligible to have your title doctored. The title refers to the information below your Username. In fact that’s how this club started.

When someone had done or said something a bit silly (or very silly in some cases) a quick message to a forum administrator would result in a title change. All done anonymously, it’s just a harmless bit of banter between likeminded friends. Sadly you can’t change your own title, or do anything about it, just make sure you make plenty of suggestions to change other peoples.

Upcoming Events can be found here

Past Event write-ups are here

Alternatively, everything you need should be on the right.

The London to Brighton Land Rover Run is an annual gathering of Land Rover enthusiasts organised by the South London and Surrey Land Rover Club. We meet at Crystal Palace Park and drive down to Madeira Drive in Brighton.

It costs £30.00 to take part and you get a lot for your money. Entrants can get into Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon and camping overnight is free. The Saturday night has become part of the event and should not be missed, also this year the campers will get priority for leaving the site early.

Everyone gets a free t-shirt, and you can also buy as many as you like for only £7.50 each. Just let us know on the entry form. You get the best Run Plaque ever made and most people wear them with pride for the whole year, I do.

When we get to Brighton everyone gets a chance to show off their Land Rover or their club and can win trophies, take part in tug-a-landie, win the raffle, buy shiny bits from the great trade stands or simply eat fish and chips.

Our chosen charity this year is Help for Heroes, further details may be found here

Come and find old friends and make new ones at the biggest, friendliest, and last one-day event of the year.

The Abingdon 4×4 Festival is the only event on the 4×4 calendar that’s run by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts and their families, and donates every penny of the profits to charity.

For the 2010 event, we’re going to have:

• A bigger arena with a full timetable of events there.
• The off-road course, complete with the mud-run to challenge the serious off-roaders, as well as some tamer sections for shinier vehicles.
• Entertainment for children off all ages.
• Live music and bar on Friday night
• Our famous charity auction and disco on Saturday night
• Something for all the family from our traders, as well as 4×4 accessories and auto jumble.
• Camping and Caravan pitches for those who want to stay for the weekend.

Tickets on sale now!

With more than 70 clubs at the show (more than any other event) , a giant trade area, massive autojumble and also an official Sodbury Sort Out at the event the show is an unmissable weekend for any Land Rover enthusiast and Rimmer Bros have chosen the event to showcase their range of Land Rover parts and services.

Don’t forget the 20th anniversary ‘LRO Billing Show, Billing Aquadrome – 16/17/18 July 2010’.

The LRO Show is the biggest Land Rover show in the UK, and is organised by respected automotive event promoter, Live Promotions Events Ltd.

The show takes place at The East of England Showground, Peterborough
(next to the A1) and the show site is a purpose built showground, with toilets, showers, quality exhibition areas and tarmac roadways.

For many years Live Promotions have run 4×4 and Land Rover Shows, introducing vehicle auctions, restoration projects, quality arena displays, clearly defined areas of the show (i.e. industry exhibitors, general trade, autojumble, clubs), and much more. Our events are professionally organised for both exhibitors and the public.

Peterborough has become an important date and venue in the Land Rover Owner and off-road show calendar and this exciting show provides a superb meeting place for owners, magazines, clubs and the industry, and an opportunity for visitors to buy anything and everything for their vehicles.

Sunday 12 September 2010
Old Sodbury’s Land Rover Sortout will be right next to the LRO Show at the East of England Showground at Peterborough. Visitors will make their way to the Sortout from massive free car parking through an action packed LRO Show to gather for the 11am “gold rush” Buyers and Sellers will find a proper Old Sodbury’s Land Rover Sortout with plenty of familiar faces and
plenty of choice. If it is Land Rover related all they have to do is find
it. The big difference is that their admission tickets will get them into
both the Sortout and into the Show running alongside.

OLD SODBURY’S SORTOUT AT PETERBOROUGH

Peterborough Showground on September 12th 2010 is the rendezvous for the next Old Sodbury’s Sortout. Visitors will be delighted to find it is within what the Organisers bill as “The Worlds Biggest Land Rover Show”., the LRO Show by Live Promotions.

This is a deliberate plan by The Old Sod. It gives buyers on the Sunday the chance to consider both new and used options for the parts they are looking for. With present fuel prices only one lot of travelling expenses are needed to take in two Land Rover events with an international reputation.

This attract sellers of rare and interesting items who find much more competition for them. With so many buyers attracted it means there is strong demand for any of the material that other Sellers bring along from their sort out.

The recent strong demand for scrap, makes it vital that valuable spares are snapped up at a fair price rather than letting them be weighed in. Equally any parts that fail to sell at an Old Sodbury’s Sortout probably are only fit for scrap!!

Stalls can be booked from www.sortout.com or by ringing 01454 323109. Tickets for the LRO Show on Sunday admit to the Sortout when the internal gates open at 11am.

Incidentally The Old Sod has noticed that seat boxes are slow selling items. Presumably because it is the body part least likely to be damaged in an accident or in use. Even here people overlook that dismantling them yields patching material of the right composition and usually available in a factory finish.

The friday afternoon saw many club members turning up and pitching camp. For some this involved sorting out towing caravans, mainly due to a freelander not being up to towing such a big van (scorps… ). Once all the tents were up it was time to light the barbie and get on with socialising with a few beverages.

Saturday started with the mandatory brief to all the drivers from SteveMids – then the fun began. Squaddies Range Rover decided it didn’t want to go into low box as Solihill intended, so it got a little bit stuck and had to be towed back to the campsite by Rawson to be appropriately fixed (Squaddie was seen with a hammer and a brew). In the finest traditions of the event a few met up at the trig point for some photos and a general chat.

This is where Acropolis turned up and challenged Squaddie to ‘do the sheepdip’. After a bit of cajoling by everyone else he agreed (well not much to be honest – something was mentioned about girls blouses).

Inevitably once again the sheep dip claimed another victim.

Isn’t it funny how every man and his dog turns up to point and laugh when somebody is stuck.

After the laughing had subsided Trigger turned up with the trusty winch. However, he underestimated exactly how stuck Squaddie was . . . . . . and proceeded to winch himself towards the ‘dip. So he was anchored by a couple of other members rovers and eventually the rangie was free’d and started again (with a lot of effort).

Saturday night was Gaz’s birthday bash. The marquee was turned into a makeshift disco with lights and a sound system, this made way for some ropey dancing by glen and various others. As usual the camp fire was going with everyone reminiscing about the day and putting the world to rights with beer and bbq food. An inordinate amount of thanks go to Jackie for keeping the majority of the members supplied with ‘hot’ food as she did sterling duty as the overseer of the coals.

Sunday morning saw some guests arrive at 8am (even though squaddie had just gone to bed ) and the off roading began again. Strangely enough there were no attempts at the sheep dip this time. However, someone may have forgot to mention to our guests that some of the holes were deeper than they appeared to be

resulting in Squaddies Range Rover (complete with misfire) being called into action to winch the stricken disco out so that playing could continue.

The Sunday night tradition is a trip into the town of Bewdley to go to the regions number one chipshop, located on the banks of the River Severn. Having consumed this delicious gormet delight the club returned to the camp site to kick off the evenings fun and games (where a couple of alcohol fuelled bets were made, mainly between Squaddies Dad and Acropolis – put simply the Navara is going through the sheep dip next year! )

Monday morning was the usual de-camp and pack the marquee away in the clubs shiny new trailer. This was made harder by the wind that sensed a large amount of material was unsecured. Perhaps paragliding is on the cards for Coney Green ’11?

all-in-all a great weekend was had by all.