The Rotary Club of Chipping Sodbury Classic Run 2024

 

The Rotary Club of Chipping Sodbury

Classic Run 2024

The Election has just passed and I am pleased to be catching up with MotoGP from last weekend. I was in Chipping Sodbury for the Rotary Club annual charity car run around Gloucestershire. I had changed the clutch on the Burton and did a test run only a few days before everything seemed OK other than the new clutch needed adjusting. All set for the weekend in good weather.  Arriving on Friday afternoon at Adrian’s home it was a pleasant walk to the pub and a few beers before fish and chips and an early night. Saturday was fit the run number, fill up with fuel, lunch out and another early night.

Sunday was an early start having to be in the High Street before 09:00am to line up for the start. Obligatory bacon roll and tea before the start. While waiting there was much discussion about cars. We were among the last to depart. 

Spot the mistake?

I was driving and Gita was navigating and her first time using the trip metre. I had spent much of Saturday evening converting miles to kilometres and the distance between each checkpoint. Necessary when you don’t have  a trip mileometer. All was going well until the half way stop for a tea and cake. We were about to leave when trying to start the Burton there was this ominous clunk instead of a starter motor spinning the engine into life. Adrian and my other brother, Barry were on hand to give assistance along with the couple who had followed us around all morning. A little push start got us going again. The battery had failed. We continued taking the quickest route back to Chipping Sodbury Rugby Club and a waiting ploughman’s. Another push start on grass got back to Adrian’s home. An eventful run with Gita doing an excellent job at navigating displaying well hidden talents.

 In the late afternoon it was a trip to the pub again to try to catch the performance of the “Wurzels”. Standing room only so we retreated to the lounge, next to the tele. We did not see much of  the band but we were treated to an agonising display of football by England being so poor that we left before the match ended in search of  something  to eat. We all ended up at Nandos in Yate. We were quite early. By the time we were leaving the football match had ended. England had won 2-1. This re-affirmed my view that when I watch England play they lose. To remove that jinx I do not watch them. Saving the disappointment and despair.

Monday was a busy start trying to find a local supplier for a battery that would fit the Burton. It turns out that it is a popular battery on modern cars. By 09:00am I was fitting a new battery while Gita  and Adrian were off at Farm Shop getting our supply of eggs. When they returned it was time to load the Burton for our journey home. A detour into Morrison’s in Yate to collect fresh fish and meat before heading home along the M4 and miles of roadwork’s.