REPRODUCED FROM CLUB MAGAZINE ISSUE 74

Welcome to the Summer issue of my ramblings and may I extend a warm welcome to all new members of the club.

With the Club International Gathering just a memory I hope that all of you who braved the poor weather have now completely dried out and your summer had some days of sunshine when you were able to use your Volvo and to those currently undertaking a restoration, I hope the weather was also kind to you.

I as members who attended the International Gathering will be aware have returned 'HAB' my 1962 P1800 to the road. This car has now exceeded 1/2 million miles from new on its original engine etc and had been up until 2001 never been off the road and used as daily transport. Since its return to the road 'HAB' has been less than reliable with major problems with water in the fueld, caused originally by a blocked drain hole in the petrol filler. Owners of 1800's (not E's or ES's which do not suffer) should regularly check the drain at the rear of the filler bowl. The hole is very small and only requires a small leaf or other piece of debris to block the drain and allow water to rise and run over the fuel filler. Despite draining the tank, luckily the 1800 has a drain plug in the fuel tank, I seemed unable to get rid of water totally. Water also was found in the petrol pump and in carburettor float cambers both required cleaning regularly. 'HAB' has a glass bowl 'AC' fuel pump which I think is the very best as it allows you to see the fuel and check its status. 'HAB' is one of those cars that needs to be used and so I intend to star, once I can sort out its little problems to use the car again everyday.

We have had a large amount of interest in this years Club Reliability Challenge which is to do a round Britain tour visiting 20 Cities in 10 days. Good luck to all those taking part on this annual club activity. Next year will be our club's 20 birthday and I would be interested to hear from members who have any ideas for
the Challenge.

Work on our stand for this years International Classic Motor Show at the NEC Birmingham on 14th-16th November is well underway, will celebrate 50 years of Volvo in Britain. We plan as in previous years to have a number of unusual Volvo models on display. Members wishing to visit can obtain reduced price admission by booking online using the Code 'ESCLUB' etc. See show details in this magazine on page 74-4 for further options/codes for booking. Our Club Stand will be in hall 1 Stand No. C11. We will looking forward to seeing members for a chat and refreshments.

We still have a number of Club activities this year including of Autumn Gathering in the Lake District at Holker Hall and Lakeland Motor Museum and of course our traditional Christmas Get-Together which this year will be a return to the Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum in Wiltshire. I look forward to seeing you there. Don't forget you don't have to bring your Volvo. Members and their families are very welsome at all our events, with or without their Volvo.

I am still looking for help with a number of posts as detailed in the last newsletter and those listed opposite. If anyone can help please let me know. I am always looking for items for publication in our Club Magazine and on our Website so if you have a story to tell or have something of interest to fellow members why not sent it to me, I would be pleased to receive it.

Well I think that's about it from me. Once again thanks to all those wishing me well in my continued ill health which I am pleased to say seems to have improved. I look forward to seeing you all at one of our coming events this year or on your visit to the NEC Show in November.

Best Wishes & Happy Volvoing
Kevin Price Chairman/Founder

INFORMATION: The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are copyright of the Volvo Enthusiasts Club or its Membership. Whilst every care is taken when accepting advertisements, the Club or its administration cannot accept and responsibility for any resulting unsatisfactory transactions. All information given is given in good faith and the Volvo Enthusiasts Club cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

Club Secretary, D.V.L.A. Co-ordinator, Magazine Editor Kevin Price.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

REPRODUCED FROM CLUB MAGAZINE ISSUE 69

Welcome to all new Members and to this the Spring Issue of our Club Magazine.

Firstly my thanks to all those who have been in contact with messages of support and condolence following the sudden death of Christina our Membership Secretary. Christina will I am sure be greatly missed by all, and I for one, am only just getting to grips with the vast amount of work she undertook on behalf of club members and myself. May I once again thank Members for their co-operation and support at this time. Matt & Dave have also asked me in this section to thank all Members who have been in contact with them with messages of condolence, those who attended Christina's funeral and also those who contributed to the charities in her memory.

Club activities so far this year have been very well supported. Our stand at this years Bristol Classic Car Show was well received by the record number of visitors to the event. the Spring Rally, this year was held at what proved to be a very interesting and pleasant venue, Lydiard House and Park at Swindon. This was also very well attended and the Easter Eggs, timed tour of the house by member and gathering afterwards for refreshments was a great success. We have also been represented at a number of Classic Car Events by VEC Members, which again have been well supported. My thanks to all those who organised, helped and came along to all these events.

If you would like to organise an event for fellow Members or a display at a local Classic Car Event please contact me and we can place it on our list of 'Forthcoming Events For Members'. We are also looking for Local & Technical representatives for some Areas/Volvo Models. If you feel you could help in any way, please let me know.

Preparations are well in hand for our International Gathering, our main event of the year, which will this year be held at the popular venue of Hatton Country World near Warwick on Sunday 1st July 2007. I am looking for help on the day, so if you can help in any way please contact me. Further details about the day are enclosed in this magazine and the Invitations etc. with be posted to Members nearer the event as usual. Remember Members wishing to compete for awards such as 'Best Restoration of the Year' and 'Monster Miler' should make sure the items needed to be considered for these awards are sent to me by the required date or members will not be allowed to compete on the day.

On the topic of Awards at the International Gathering, I am pleased to inform Members that the Trophy awarded for the 'Best Car' at the event will now be awarded in memory of Christina. It has been decided, following recent discussions with Founder Members of the club, to change the rules regarding the competition of 'Best Car' and 'Simply The Best'. The 'Best Car' award is now not made once only, previous and future winners will be excluded from the competition for this trophy for the following two years only e.g. Winner in 2005 will not be eligible to compete until 2008, while the winner in 2004 will be able to win again. ALL Winners of 'Best Cars will be placed into a seperate class but this will be for any vehicles which have previously won 'Best Car' and will as before compete for 'Simply The Best'. Should ownership of a vehicle change (excluding within the same family) within the two years the vehicle will once again be eligible for 'Best Car'.

Kevin Price