Federation of Austin Clubs, Registers, and Associations.
18th July 2008.


Interesting Emails Recently Received
From Sara Nye 18 Jul 2008.
Subject: BMC/BL Rally

As if I havn't had enough stress of late, AOL cancelled the BMCBLRALLY
account for no apparent reason, several phone calls later, I have got it
reinstated, however, it had deleted all the emails...please could those of
you that had emailed requesting your club stands email them to me again so
that our field planner can get sorted.

As a result of the above, I have set up this email Sara Nye. bmcblrally@btinternet.com  address on my home
broadband account  and would really appreciate it
if you could ammend your address book (although dont panic if you do send
anything to AOL as I will be checking that just a regular).

Many thanks for you cooperation

Sara

 

Hello,

we have a great meeting in Eisenach/Thuringia

 from 5. - 7.09. 2008

"80 years Dixi" .

The Dixis 3/15 and the BMW 3/15 are a lizenz from the Austin Seven - the brothers.

Welcome all Austin Seven owners in Germany !

 

 

Members Page Added to Website - 18th March 2008.

  Please see your recent Federation newsletter for access details.

  Pride of Longbridge Rally 2008.

The Pride of Longbridge Rally remembers all those workers made redundant at Longbridge on 15th April 2005 as the administrators reduced the workforce from 6,500 to a couple of hundred. The weather prior to the day had been wet and on the morning Cofton Park was boggy.   However hard standing was found further up the hill towards ‘Q’ Gate. Whilst the Rover Community Action Trust (RCAT) were locating the various activities on the park, hundreds of Austins, MGs, Rovers, and other BMC Cars were gathering at Hopwood Park Services. The weather held off and at 10:30 am precisely the first cars, four new MG SV sports cars set off for Cofton Park, to be followed by somewhere between 200 and 400 cars depending whose estimate is used!
Once at Cofton Park RCAT had provided entertainment for the children whilst there were hundreds of cars to view, the burger van had disappeared before the hungry masses descended on the Park!
Our thanks to Gemma Cartwright and the many helpers who contributed to the smooth running of the rally at both Hopwood Park Services and Cofton Park, particularly the management of Hopwood Park Services and Birmingham City Council without whose support the rally could not have gone ahead.

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News Item:

METRO 25.
 25 years ago on 8th October 1980 the press were introduced to the Austin Metro, the car that was to save Longbridge and repel foreign invaders in the small hatchback market place.  On 14th October it was launched to the general public.

 25 years on and a dozen of these cars from early days of production to the last, from basic City models to MG Turbo derivatives and a Rover 100 gathered at the now famous 'Q' Gate at Longbridge to mark the event.  Following a photoshoot and recording of the event by BBC Midlands Today the cars set off in cavalcade to Wythall Green, the site of the old RAF Wythall airfield where many of these (and other Longbridge built cars were stored at times).  Here the cars were buffed again and glinted in the sunshine as the girls from the BBC interviewed the drivers.
The dozen cars, which were joined by others which had made their way directly to Wythall, created much interest from the public attending a bigger classic car rally held at the site regularly.


 With the autumn approaching the weather was certainly fine if a little cool.  This was an ideal setting to show off these magnificent products from Longbridge.

 

Austin Photo Gallery:
Please click image to enlarge.
 

                           Website News:

March 4th 2004 - Website came quietly into existence.

Wednesday May 26 2004 -  Hit Counter added to the website, which is now hosted in the United States.

Monday June 7th 2004. - Photo Gallery added, (above). Will you please help with the loan of interesting good quality Austin photographs for inclusion. Many thanks to Tony Osborne for photos, Rev. Bill Moore (Vicar of Dosthill, Tamworth) for photos of his 1968 Mini, and John Adderton, (Australia) for photos on his 1925 12 HP Austin Iver and A35.

Wednesday 28th June 2004.  Guestbook Added to website. 

Sunday 15th August 2004.   1000th visitor to website.

Sunday 11th October, Aussie Austins page added.

Saturday 1st January 2005.  3,000th visitor to the website.

Tuesday 1st February 2005. We now have confirmation that Sir Stirling Moss will be joining us for the Centenary Dinner and for the rally on Saturday - thanks to Footman James who are also sponsoring the Parliamentary Classic car Run.

Sunday 5th February 2005.  American Austins page added.

Monday 8th June 2005.  10,000 visitor to the website.

Monday 10th October 2005.  15,000 visitor to the website.

Thursday 17th January 2008,  Longbridge History Page Added.

Sunday 20th January 2008,  Longbridge Heritage Centre Page Added,

Monday 25th February2008, Website Discussion Forum Added.

Tuesday 18th March 2008.  Members Page Added.