American Auto Club North West

We’ve Moved!

gibbs #040 — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:53:12 +0000

A New year and a fresh new start. We’ve been improving our website and have come up with a lot of new changes. As such, this section of the site is no longer in operation and we invite you to take a look at our new beginning at the following address:

http://www.aacnw.com

Thank you for your support

Gibbs.

Graeme’s Gas – December

95Stang — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:16:52 +0000

Tis the time to be jolly so the song goes, yes it is the time of year for parties and the rather LARGE gentlemen in red suit and white beard leaving nice expensive presents under the tree for you…..and hopefully me. But I’ve also found this period in time is always filled with quiet moments of reflection, a time to assess your actions throughout the past year, and a time to remember loved ones who are no longer with us physically. As you can guess folks I’m a firm believer our friends and loved ones never really leave us, they drop in and out of our thoughts at the funniest of times as well as relevant dates in the year, a song on the radio, a look in your child’s eye, or a familiar voice in your head…..that split second and they are there alongside you. Chatting with one of our members who’d lost his good wife this year, he was telling me how he’d had a couple of bad days feeling really down and missing her so much. I explained how those feeling never go, but with time they do ease. I went on to tell him how Lesley had dragged me Christmas shopping up in Fleetwood and Cleveleys, we sat in a café, me mindful of the piped music when Glen Miller’s ‘In the Mood’ filled the air, nothing wrong there…..big bands are back in fashion? It was the intuitive notion ‘String of Pearls’ would be next, so when that oh so familiar tune started, a smile came over me and it was Sunday morning, mam was cooking breakfast and dad had his LPs on the gramophone again! This put a smile on Mike’s face as he mentioned he’d been brought up with the big bands, I think he was surprised when I said I knew of Arty Shaw, Tommy Dorsey and the like. Although both my parents have been gone nigh on thirty years, they have never truly left me, and I know our Colin is lurking in the garage when I’m tinkering; after all it was his yank motors that got me started in the first place. So when Bing starts to sing this Christmas, I know that tear in your eye is for JOY and HAPPINESS remembering the GOOD times, for that’s what our loved ones do leave us…..Happy memories.

So on behalf of your committee and myself I’d like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year Graeme S…..

AACNW 2012 Calendar, Get Yours Now !!!!!

95Stang — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:49:55 +0000

The club’s 2012 calendar is now available to buy!

Get it quick….even for your xmas gifts.

Great collection of American motors owned by our own members.

Is yours making an appearance? …….only one way to find out!

Also includes dates of all our club nights and many of our meets and shows throughout the year.

Orders can be placed through our editor Nick.

E-mail; nick_rockcentral@hotmail.com

Calendars are at the very good price of just £6!

Nick will have them available at club nights and meetings/events to collect. Calendars can also be posted out to you if you prefer (small postage cost to be covered). Please get in contact to reserve you a copy or two so that she can make sure they are put aside and you get some. Also to arrange payment details.

Graeme’s Gas – November

95Stang — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:53:11 +0000

Well what a mad mad mad year we’ve had so far!

From a record winter snowfall and extreme cold temperatures at the start of the year, to October kicking in with people flocking to the beaches as the sun turned on the heat at the other end of the scale.

The late autumn sun also brought you guys out to kick off our winter programme with good numbers, attending the Krispy Kreme and Southport Bowl/cruise; you certainly seem intent on making the most of your pride and joys.

I, and no doubt yourselves hear the same comment over and over again…“HOW DO YOU AFFORD TO RUN THESE MONSTERS”. With a wry smile you reply, you just do because of the sheer pleasure….. turning the key and hearing that V8 rumble and the smiles per mile.

November heralds Nick’s Blackpool cruise through the lights, Mellissa’s secret hotpot birthday supper at the Brown Cow, and the booking of a room for the clubs AGM. In the past few years this has been at the George Carnell sports hall by the Trafford centre, but this year when Val and Bert went to book they are remodelling the centre, so dear folks we have seen and booked an alternative venue that seems to be an even better room and facilities that is just as easy to find as it’s down the road from old Trafford. In this edition of Rumble and Roars on page 5 you should find details and a post code to help you find your way to the Railway Club where you will be able to stand down some old chuffers and stoke up the fires of your elected committee, while enjoying a sumptuous Buffet and motor mind quiz. There will be a map to follow for the venue, and contact myself or Tom for points of view; drop us a line to keep us on the right track and express your thoughts.

Keep those wheels turning good friends, Graeme S.

Graeme’s Gas – October

95Stang — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:51:39 +0000

Back in 1975 Ester Philips put her version of “What a difference a day makes” high in the UK charts, this up beat dance record had yours truly to his feet with its rhythmic beat and uplifting lyrics, “what a difference a day makes…twenty-four little hours. Those few words folks must have struck a chord with me and stuck, as over the years I have adopted that Ethos as a way of life. Sometimes to the annoyance of Lesley, but on a whole it has worked, be it a work/ personal problem/dilemma or just some scroat key board warrior, give it time/24hrs, things tend to sort themselves out or go away hence the adage to look at it in a new light.

You may be by now asking yourself where is Graeme going with this. Well cast your mind back to last month when I was moaning about end of season blues. Instead of 24hrs these past four weeks have certainly put a big smile on my face, getting the nod from Lesley to let Screaming Yella our ‘03 mustang go on to pastures new in favour of a more PRACTICAL daily work horse for myself. I ventured on to ebay.com for a pickup, having had a Caddy pickup….that’s of the VW kind by the way, for back and forth to work, I knew in the back of my mind what I was looking for. Although 50s stepsides are vogue there would be too much modification for what I needed, new pickups too big! What I did find ticked the boxes in style and my Ford allegiance, and to find it in a little town called ‘Graham’, this little old pickup already had my name on it???!! ……….Well ‘WHAT IS IT’ your asking yourself stop P-ing about tell us what this PRACTICAL Ford Pickup IS that’s put a smile on your face…………. How about an unmolested 1972 Ford RANCHERO GT 400ci C6auto with a 9” posi backend, been in the family garage since 1978, and still on 70s tyres. Christmas comes early this month for me that is!

Other good news when all the youth of today are getting bad press…. Jack Brown the young whippa snappa who addressed the club meeting some four years ago when he was only 14 looking for cars for his school fete, and I dubbed him then a future Chris Jackson in the making. He has been a regular Brown Cow attendee in spite of the barracking he gets off me has just passed his driving test, become 18 years of age, and won a scholarship for his Aeronautics engineering degree. Well done Jack and congratulations from all here at AACNW!

Certainly makes a change to hear some good news, it always pays to look on the Brightside…..isn’t that a song title too??

Graeme’s Gas – September

95Stang — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:21:20 +0000

September dawns and I don’t know if I’m knackered or just on a low from being subconsciously aware we are at the end of yet another fantastic summer show season, on a whole the weather gave us some memorable sunshine to bring out the best of those polished curves and bumpers, what rain we did get couldn’t dampen our spirits (you lot drink too fast for that) although the Friday night down pour and hail storm before Americana had us all thinking “here we go” but come the Saturday morning between the breeze and sunshine Newark show grounds looked pristine, as if Chris and Bev had ordered a thorough wash down to bring the venue up to their usual high standard, another memory was of the Lakeland drizzle in May just after two weeks of spring heat wave you just don’t know in this country especially when you hear snow on the hills in Wales on the radio in June AARRRGGHHHH.

I know for some it’s a time to get those little niggles sorted or prepare for winter storage (don’t forget to SORN) Taxman does not need any more excuses to take even more money of us, for the rest who like to enjoy their motors all year round we have our monthly cruises and winter season of social events be it Tenpin bowling, Blackpool lights cruise and even Christmas dinner we will endeavour to keep you informed, we may even throw in a late weekend away if we can, I’ve still to make a few phone calls we have seen over the past few years how more and more join us in our off season out and about all should be in Rumble and Roars if not Tommy G and Val will be Emailing you.

No matter what you get up too in the coming months take care and enjoy life to the full Graeme S.

Graeme’s Gas – August

95Stang — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:38:59 +0000

Hi folks, may I start by sending out a big AAC North West welcome to all our new members who chose to join this great family of ours!

Like in all families you will find all sorts of men, women, and junior members from all walks of life, and as you would expect…they will have different tastes in music, clothes and vehicles, but are all drawn together for their love of Detroit Iron. Those fantastic Dream Machines that capture your imagination and senses with their magnificent body styles and heart pounding thump of V8 horse power, add to that a willingness to help one another and share in the fun of owning our beloved motors. I hope you will find that we are what the north west is famous for, Fun and Friendly a club of like minded people who enjoy this great Hobby of ours, an escape from the stresses of work and whatever life seems to throw our way, a place of No Bollitics but plenty of banter.

July folks has left me physically knackered but mentally jubilant, from the start of the month with Stars and Stripes in Tatton Park, then down to Newark for the daddy of shows Americana International. These two shows alone filled me with pride to see AACNW members come away with Best in Class trophies on both weekends, and the Americana Best Club Stand award, sweet reward for all the effort we put into displaying our pride and joys to their best. I most congratulate Michael Godfrey on winning Best in show at Americana, the high standard achieved to pick up a best in class only hints at what is required to win best of the best here. I must also congratulate Steve Read who won this round of Classic American’s Car of the year, winning himself a place in the final at the NEC classic car show in Birmingham, where the American Auto Club North West will be having our own stand once again, so if you want your vehicle considered for display please let us know ASAP.

Hopefully this month’s mag has dropped through your letterbox before the Woodvale show at Southport, once again we will be lighting the Barbecue, and Neil and Toni will be showing a car movie for the club stand drive in. Good food and great banter…..just what you need for another great weekend!

Safe driving good friends, Graeme S.

Club Discount: Computer Help

gibbs #040 — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:15:41 +0000

If your computer is running slow, got a virus, needs speeding up or wiping altogether, then NRD Computers are just what you need. Prices range from £35 for computer help and the help is good and professional. With 15 years experience in supporting businesses and home users, they have the know-how to get you up and running again in no time.

Club members get a 10% discount too by quoting your AACNW Membership number.

NRD Computers Ltd.

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Fancy a break in the Lakes?

gibbs #040 — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:05:26 +0000

Oak Head Caravan Park

Oak Head Caravan Park is located immediately between the Cartmel peninsula and the southern tip of Lake Windermere. It offers a quiet, attractive and secluded setting, yet is within only twenty minutes drive of some of the finest sights of English Lakeland. The park occupies a well tended, uncrowded and wooded site set admist picturesque fells. The Caravan site is where we held our Lakes outing and it’s a truly great place, that’s why we are proud to post it on here.

The park is club member friendly and they also have bags of room for full sized American RV’s. Check them out, well worth a visit in the summer hols.

Oak Head Caravan Park

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Graeme’s Gas – July 2011

95Stang — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:03:26 +0000

Only a short gas this month folks as I’m out and about with you all this time of year, trying to put names to faces and welcoming all those new members that have chose to join this great club of ours . From the very first weekend of July at Stars and Stripes in Tatton Park, the following Thursday to Monday weekend at Americana International, Newark show ground, your committee and myself will be there from first light (Tommy on the mooch for a free brew, and Val the club Rottweiler will have took her poochy poodle pills). We will be catching up with old friends we’ve not seen since last year or making new ones, and like yourselves enjoying the great atmosphere that surrounds this great hobby and its people. Let’s not forget folks this is still our 30^th anniversary so come and get a slice of cake from the club stand and join in the celebrations. Talking about birthdays, Americana regulars will recall the birth of Olivia Hardy three years ago, so it goes without saying this little princess will have the honour of blowing some candles out. But hold on what has come to light is the weekend also coincides with her dad Pete Hardy being born 50 years ago (ouch!! Sorry Pete mate). So that warm glow over Newark that weekend won’t be from Americana’s stage lighting or the blazing multitude of burning candles, no sir it will be from Pete’s glowing chiselled features as he explains to Linzi why he told her some pork pies (Pete’s a cockney Geezer) but with a northerners heart.

Have a good un dear friends Graeme S.