MX-5 Spring Rally 2012

Although no longer members of the owners club, both Sally-Ann and I had  input 18 months ago, at the initial organisation stages of the Spring Rally, and therefore wanted to go along to support their big day at Pendennis Castle when it finally came around.

We arrived early, in anticipation of the heavy MX-5 traffic into Falmouth, only to find that they were already queuing outside of the castle and along the ring road around the castle.

What a fantastic start for the Cornish Fives.

We entered and wandered around, catching up with many of our Cornish Five friends that we had not seen since leaving the club when we bought our Mini’s back in July last year.

The day was a resounding success for everyone involved.

The castle grounds were opened up to everyone attending and we had a good old mooch around, with Sally-Ann not being able to resist a good climb….. No Sally-Ann that is not Mr Grey!

On the walk back to my little Mini at the end of the day, I was grateful to have Pauls’ clever camera with me, the 36x optical zoom caught this little chap on my door by the wing mirror before we frightened him away.

Super day Fivers – you did a grand job in the organisation, and the club should be very proud of you all.

Jo Anne

Bye Bye Betty Blue, Hello Pricilla Queen of the Cornish Roads

As most of you who have been following my antics for a while will be aware, Paul injured his back a few years ago, before we left the bright light of Birmingham, to move to Cornwall.
The company he worked for at the time, paid to have a sports physio try to ease it, but with two prolapsed discs, it’s only a matter of time before problems rear their ugly heads once more.
About 12 to 18 months ago he was in a lot of pain.  I arranged for him to see our Company Osteopath, on a private basis, and although it cost a fortune, it did a grand job of easing the pain and re aligning the discs in his spine.
Unfortunately, whilst we were on holiday, with all of the manoeuvring of the caravan, and the lifting of equipment, and long hours driving, his back went once more.
This time was worse than he has known it for a long while. 
To cut a long story short, we decided to sell my lovely Betty Blue.  This was not a decision that we took lightly.  We have owned and run an MX-5 for in excess of 10 years now, and to not have on in our household, or be able to be members of the club any more, is a big step.
We went up to Exeter to view a possible motor, and as we arrived home, the final straw in Betty’s coffin, was that Paul’s back and legs had locked, and he was stuck in her!
The hunt must now start in earnest, but it has to be a local car for us, as Paul just can’t do a journey in her any more.

After much investigation and review checking, my decision was made on the car I wanted.  My number plate was put on retention ready for the next car, and we are awaiting the log book with the new reg number for Betty.
Today we found and paid our deposit on my replacement.
It is not quite like for like in cost, but it’s close enough for us to be able to put the difference on the credit card, and clear a bit each month.
At some point this week, all of the paperwork will be sorted and I shall hand over Betty and collect Pricilla. (get it? Cilla as in Black……..LOL)

What do you think of her? She has a silver union jack on her roof, and go faster stripes up her bonnet!
Not quite a convertible, but striking in her own right I think, even if she is already 5 years old.
It’s amazing just how much room there is in the newer style of Mini.  It also has lumbar support and height adjustable seats and steering column.  Perfect for when Paul drives it!
I feel a song coming on….. this is the self preservation society… LOL

Jo Anne

Anniversary Run to Lands End

We awoke to a blue sky and the promise of a warm sunny day for the Anniversary Drive to Lands End.

We drove down to Treasure Park, near Portreath to await the convoy coming from up country to join us, and as the car park filled with one MX-5 after another, we snapped away with our cameras.

In the meantime, a friend from work, who is a semi-professional photographer, was clicking away with his 'real' camera. Szymon had agreed to follow us for the day and take pictures of us all at Lands End, and en-route if at all possible.
By the time the other cars arrived from the Liskeard and Fraddon convoys arrived, we had 40 cars. The question then became, do we have to travel with our lights on as we were a convoy of more than 25 cars?
To be on the safe side, most of us abided by the rules, and we all headed off on the 25 or so miles to Lands End, with Symon bringing up the rear to get any shots he could.

We stopped briefly for the rear of the convoy (20 or so cars, us included) that took a wrong turn and had to find the front group once more, to catch up.

Then it was Lands End all the way. Symon was left taking pictures of everyones cars in the enclosure that had been provided especially for our group, and we headed on down to the restaurant for the meal that we had booked.

Having eaten, we then enjoyed a cake cutting for the anniversary cake that was made especially for the day.

Having eaten, we headed off the the signpost where two of the cars were positioned an posed for our group picture.

Szymon and Barbara were being very patient, and getting plenty of wonderful shots for us, and we were thrilled when were were one of the chosen group to be able to take our car right onto Lands End for pictures.

We had a fantastic day, and some wonderful pictures were taken by Szymon, and placed onto a website especially for us, so that we could purchase the ones we liked. You can have a look on the following website here : http://www.szymon-dereg.com/Cornish5s/?forumid=163967

Betty Gets Her Blue Back

Tomorrow is a big day for my little Betty Blue. It's the 10th Anniversary for the Cornish Fives, MX-5 Owners Club. About 40 or 50 cars are expected to be meeting for a convoy drive to Lands End, so she needs to gleam and show everyone how gorgeous she is.

We washed, waxed, polished and canuba'd her to within an inch of her life. We removed her wheels and scrubbed them back and front, and finally, over 6 hours later, she was done.

Roll on tomorrow morning for the meeting with the other '5' owners.