Knebworth

[brrm]

Returned rather tired last night from a thoroughly enjoyable weekend. I drove to Cambridge on Saturday to meet up with j4, and we then set off in a mini Moggy procession to Knebworth, for the MMOC's annual national rally in the gardens of Knebworth house. We even found it eventually. :)
We spent most of Saturday ambling round the grounds, looking at many many Minors, and some equally-gorgeous non-Minors. The Minors ranged from battered-but-loved examples, to good-as-new concours cars. Personally, I prefer a car like mine or pto452 - in good condition, looking shiny, but not so perfect that one would be afraid to touch or use it. Custom Minors were also in evidence, including an impressive 5-litre TVR-engined monster that looked like it had come straight out of a Mad Max film - see photos 4415-4419. We managed to find a perfect match choke cable and knob for pto452. Fitting this required noticing possibly the smallest part of the car; a tiny sliver of metal (which is quite probably also called a Woodruff key). It has the important role of holding the choke knob at whichever position you pull it out to, and is held in place by a kind of metal collar. So, if you ever want a series II Minor choke cable fixing, I think j4 and I can now declare ourselves semi-experts. :)
Saturday evening also saw the 'party' in the marquee, which we investigated briefly. They played until 12:30am one of the longest string of cheese favourites I have ever heard, at which point we were able to get a bit of sleep.
After being entrusted with the Cambridge MMOC Table(tm), we set it up on Sunday morning between Patricia and <insert name here> (possible poll for naming my minor coming soon, watch this space), along with a shiny new banner and the fab bunting, which j4 magiced out of some paper tablecloths, staples and string.
The last event on the Sunday was the 'dancing Minors', a re-enactment of the display a team of Minors put on for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, although I have to say that the display was more impressive at the Games, as one could see it viewed from high above thanks to the TV cameras, as well as close up. Plus, the original performance had ballroom dancers in costume getting out of the back seats of the Minors. Before leaving, we had a look round Knebworth House, which was apparently being used as a set for something the guides couldn't decide on the name of. Noticed that one of the four poster beds was actually a *triple* bed, with three pillows across. Handy. ;-)
The journey back saw my Minor being more reluctant than usual, a mysterious misfire appearing, especially on acceleration, which got really quite bad at one point. The cause eluded Ian Allen when he had a look at it. I'm suspecting the distributor - maybe points, or the vacuum advance/retard mechanism. The plug leads were replaced very recently, so it won't be those.
All in all, a fantastic weekend - saturated with classic cars, perfect weather, spent in the company of three gorgeous girls ;-). Nothing more I could possibly have wanted.
When we arrived back in Cambridge, I was somewhat tired. But I would like to praise the MG at this point (in which I drove back to Oxford), for making even an energy-sapping drive through Milton Keynes et al relaxing and enjoyable.

As ever, here be photos