We drove our 1916 Stanley Mt. Wagon on a 96 mile tour through the country today. Through the tall forests, up and down through the mountain valleys, along the lakes and along the white water streams, we seen it all. The mountain wagon ran reliably and we were quite please with it. After last week's rear axle rebuild, at speeds over 45 mph, it still had a little gear noise. Speeds below that, it was as quiet as it should be. We gave rides to members of the Northwest Steam Society. One trip we had 11 people in the Stanley. We would have had 12 on that load but I limited the people in the front seat to only us two large people so that I would have room to operate. We got about 40 miles to a filling of 80 gallons of water. Hopefully the water mileage will improve. Steaming along is what dreams are made of.

Yesterday a group of us steamed over to Holt Railway Station for the North Norfolk Railway's Vintage Transport Day using both our Stanleys, siphoning water from the Rive Bure at Corpusty Mill both on the way there and back. Our red R was still suffering from a fuel line blockage causing the fuel pressure to keep dropping. Basil has cleaned the whole system out but there's still a bit of algae lurking in there somewhere.

There was an interesting selection of over 300 cars on display and a beautiful 1893 Galloper ride complete with its original wooden horses to ride on. Two LNER steam trains J15 7564 and B12 8572 were plying back and forth between Holt and Sheringham pulling the railway's unique teak bodied 88 year old Quad Articulated coaches and there were vintage buses ferrying people around as well.

On our drive home we rounded off our day by drinking tea from china teacups as we sat on the grass of the village green at Heydon in the late afternoon sunshine. How English is that!

Vicki

We were out for 9 1/4 hours today, taking part in the 18th Charles Clark Classic Car Rally www.charlesclarkrally.co.uk with a total mileage for us of 120 miles. The rally started once we had all filled up on bacon sandwiches & coffee at The Pigs in Edgefield with about 50 of the 63 registered cars setting off from 10am in the pouring rain. Our two Stanleys were by far the oldest cars taking part; most were sports cars and sports saloons. Everyone was very appreciative that we had made the effort to join in.

The 70 mile route started off on very narrow winding lanes, it took us an hour to do the first 15 miles which included a stop to syphon water. Of course we had a great view of the countryside and pretty cottage gardens from our high seats on the Stanleys which would have been lost on others who had low sporty cars. The route took us all the way out west to Thetford, with a picnic lunch just before that in the forest at Mundford for which the rain briefly stopped! The rally finished at the famous Bressingham Steam Museum where the rain finally stopped and the sun came out.

After a ride on the garden railway and a much needed cup of tea we attended the rally prize giving when Basil was delighted to be presented with a trophy for the best presented car, his red Model R.

The main steam pipe split on the Model 70 so James had to nurse it for the final few miles of the rally and then for the final 30 miles home.

We had a great day and I can guarantee that as I post this all the other six people in our party are all asleep in their arm chairs!

Vicki

We took our 1916 Stanley Mt. Wagon on a VCCA British Columbia, Canada tour today. We had as many as eleven adults aboard our Mt. Wagon most of the time. There were about thirty cars on tour and we visit Fort Langley, an old 1850's Hudson Bay trading post. In the afternoon, we toured back to the Ken Findlay's for a a hot dinner prepared by the Findlays. Dan Findlay toured with his recently acquired 1911 Stanley model 62. See attachment.

Eastern Steam car tour Stowe Vermont
I was so engrossed with all that was going on I only remembered to take the camera out a few times.
There was some where between 25 and 28 cars. Some came only for a few days. most the whole week.
One night about twenty hot air balloons came over the hotel.
Great time.
Rolly


[www.wcax.com]


[www.necn.com]

Last Sunday we entered both our Stanleys in the charity Centre 81's 30th Birthday Challenge Classic Car Run & Show. This was a very pretty 38 mile run down the coast road from Cromer to Gt Yarmouth where we all parked between the Sea Life Centre and Britannia Pier on the sea front. Entry was limited to about 60 pre-1975 cars with ours being the oldest by 25 years. There was a prize to be won for the car dripping the biggest oil/water puddle which we were a dead cert to win but we left before the result was announced.

We took a scenic route home on little country lanes stopping at The Ferry pub at Stokesby to siphon water from the River Bure. We drove a total of 92 miles door to door without breakdowns or problems with the cars, with the tops down as it didn't rain.

What we would call here in Norfolk " a nice little run out in the motor".

Vicki



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 08/01/12 04:00PM by Basil.

Last Sunday Lesley and I steamed one of our routes for our forthcoming Teesdale Tour.
Great scenery – Great weather – and no breakdowns, what more could you ask for!

No photos attached as I don’t want to give too much away!

Don

Last Saturday and Sunday drove the car to Withernsea Carnival, a seaside resort 25 miles away, two great runs covering 100 miles in total. As often happens with Stanley's we were asked if we would give the lord mayor of the town and his consort a ride in the parade round town before parking up on the sea front. Superb weather on both days for a change. lots of the usual funny questions 'where's the hole for the starting handle'? and the usual one about where the coal is kept.
Also attended the Driffield Agricultural show, we have a club stand there to promote our steam and vintage rally where members bring a selection of exhibits.

Harold Bell

We spent 4 delightful days last week steaming in The Cotswolds thanks to Les and Pat. Sightseeing in the sunshine on a steam car through picture book villages with views of the gorgeous countryside from the quiet lanes between them, it was just perfect.

There were 11 steam cars and 2 elderly petrol cars touring during the week and about 30 people with them. It was particularly good to see George, Peter and Richard Hounslow steaming in their newly acquired Stanley at last.

We continued to have fuel line blockages caused by algae but in our Model 70 as well as the R this time which was very trying and inconvenient. Basil is on a mission to get rid of it!

Vicki

We had a very memorable day Saturday. We were invited to join the VSCC with our two Stanleys at their lunch stop at The Brisley Bell during their Norfolk Tour. There were over 70 cars on the tour and we were astounded at the variety and quality of them. We loved the little Astahl sports car (photo attached) the only one in existence.

Classic Car Weekly had a reporter covering the event and a photographer told Basil he had in the past stayed with a fellow club member of ours in New Zealand and been given a ride in his Doble!

We returned with the other cars to where the tour finished at the home of Wing Commander Ken Wallis MBE where we were able to look around his amazing collection of auto gyros and war time and flying memorabilia. Ken also presented the prizes in between amusing and moving anecdotes, which for our party was the highlight of the day.

Vicki