Birkenshaw. The Ridge, Little Baddow. Essex CM3 4SA 01245 226337

Dear SP owner 4th July2016

The next meeting is Wednesday 6thJuly.

We did a round trip of 991 miles, last month, to the DLOC International Rally centred on St. Ives (Cornwall) hosted by Kevin and Anne Monk which was very much a success and in glorious sunshine. There was great support from the SP250 section as over 40% attending were SP250s. Kevin and Anne had made a number of side events to add polish to the week’s events, one of which was a tour of the Southern tip of Cornwall visiting a number of old tin mines such as Geevor which I think was the last operational tin mine in this country. There was likewise a visited to the Minack Theatre which ‘hangs’ to the cliffs overlooking the bay at Portcurno on the Southern Cornish Coast.

Mike & Hattie Gallagher had arranged to take over an hotel at St. Agnes where a number of SP owners made their beds for a week or so. I must say this family run hotel was excellent and made us most welcome. (seeAnd finally)

Whilst down in that neck of the woods we visited a number of stately homes and gardens and I must say I have been dragged around a number during my married life but it was a pleasure to visit Trebah the one time home of Donald Healey of (Austin ) Healey cars fame.

It was from the beach that is part of these magnificent gardens thatin 1944 a regiment of 7,500 of the 29th US Infantry Division embarked for the assault landing on Omaha beach – part of the D-Day Landings. Also we visited Caerhays Castle an estate of some 18,000 acres where about 140 acres are given over to the national collection of its world class collection of magnolias. This magnificent castle was the backdrop for ‘Manderley’ the fictional setting for Daphne du Maurier’s “Rebecca” - the 1978 BBC 2 drama serial - so long ago I think I was a teenager!

A reminder that SP250 day this year is to be held on the 17th July at Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames anytime from 9.30am. For those with modern technology the sat nav reference is RG9 6HF otherwise by old fashioned maps, off the B480 between M40 (J6) and M4 (J8/9). The cost is £10 a head unless you are members of the National Trust then you get in half price i.e £10 for two. The house will be opened from 1.30 which is included in the price, refreshments on site or take a picnic.

You should have received your copy of the 2016 edition of pasSPort which we sent out about 10 days ago. Glyn and I spent the best part of a day stamping and stuffing copies into their envelopes. As I wrote last month this was made possible by the generous donation of an anonymous benefactor who contributed some 50% of its costs. Please help to continue its publication by sending some monies to Glyn whose details are inside the front cover.

We are in urgent need of two rear bumpers – in the short space of a couple of weeks two SPs were rear ended and their bumpers are not reclaimable so if you can help please get in touch.

Don’t want to fit an overdrive to your gearbox? Barry Thorne has the answer, he has commissioned some high ratio 3.31 crown wheel & pinions. So if you want one then get your name down PDQ.

Have you taken a look at the re-vamped web page for SP250s?

Further ahead we have the Layer Marney Cup here in Essex. As there has been so much interest it has been decided to recreate the run again on Sunday 14th August. I have forms.

Andrew Ducat is again organising theLavenhamRare Breeds Event onSunday28th August – note not the usual Bank Holiday Monday. Andrew is seeking some non SPs to show at the event so if you know someone with another Daimler give Andrew a call, his details are in pasSPort.

Further ahead the Annual NEC Classic car show is being held over the period 11th– 13th November as I write we are in Hall 2 stand 750 details of advanced tickets I will include in a later newsletter.

And finally………….something completely different, SP owners relaxing how they do!……….

SP owners celebrating in style – the excuse, the Queen’s birthday……..

Yours sincerely

Laurence & Ann