Armstrong Siddleys in the Isle of Wight

Over the long weekend of the 12th to 15th September an array of Armstrong Siddeleys were again in the Isle of Wight for the International Classic Car Extravaganza. Now in its thirteenth year the Show organised by Victor Gallucci and sponsored by Wight-Link, the IoW County Press, the IoW Council and Morris Lubricants is now a truly international event, highly regarded in the classic car fraternity. There was an impressive and eye catching collection of Armstrong Siddeleys on display at both Newport Quay and Ryde Esplanade on the 13th & 14th respectively and this year the Show was even bigger and more varied in exhibits. The format now included not only classics but new cars as well, particularly examples of electric vehicles including a Nissan Leaf, one of the new generation of such vehicles. However your correspondent was highly amused to see one of these vehicles displaying it’s huge bank of batteries but with a large dog attached to it by a strong lead. Presumably emergency back up in case of power failure! Those Siddeleys taking part over the weekend were the Hurricanes of John Pulfer & Margaret Hook, Joe & Linda Moremont and Jim & Diana Lovell, the Typhoon of Brian & Joyce Hayter, the Whitley of Fred & Carole Luscombe, the Special of Chris Warner & Margaret Constant, the 346 of Ian & Muriel Gordon, the 25HP of Tony Heckman & Pam Darsley and finally the Star Sapphire of Brian & Angie Smith. Also joining in was a little gem of a 12HP Sports Coupe belonging to Paul who lives on the Island and the line up was completed by the following ASOC members with interesting non Siddeleys - Michael Batt with a Daimler and Richard & Doreen Emeny with a 1957 A95 Westminster.

Ian & Muriel are new ASOC members having been resident in New Zealand for many years ang with their 346. They recently decided to return to the Isle of Wight and of course brought the Siddeley with them. It was nice to meet them and to enjoy their company at the most enjoyable Saturday evening meal at The Fighting Cocks Inn, Arreton and again on the Monday evening at The Pointer Inn, Newchurch.

Those negotiating the Solent on the Friday maintained the tradition of meeting up at Arreton Old Village to visit Farmer Jacks for provisions and a bit of retail therapy as required before heading off to Godshill for lunch and/or those very delicious cakes followed by yet more retail therapy before departing for pre-booked accommodation.

On the Saturday all were duly assembled on Newport Quay, the sun was shining and all seemed right with the world, but someone was missing! Brian Smith had a phone call from Tony Heckman saying that his Siddeley had broken down with problems with the carbon brushes. He had managed a quick fix but decided that he and Pam would come to Newport by bus. John Pulfer had a spare set with him so once Tony and Pam arrived these were handed over and in due course found their way on to the sick Siddeley. Time was spent around the shops of Newport and enjoying the on site activities. Of particular interest was the ‘human fruit machine’ run by the IoW Round Table and if you were lucky a prize of £10. Doreen ‘contrived’ a win with the organiser as a way of donating £10 to the cause. During the day the ASOC presented a cheque for £60 to the IoW Round Table, the nominated Charity for the day. Later that day Brian Smith was asked to do an interview for the Classic Car Weekly and his photo with his car has duly appeared, good publicity for the ASOC.

On Sunday the weather was still good but a little windy and everyone arrived on Ryde Esplanade in convoy and so were parked up together. Again plenty of visitors admiring the Siddeley display. A further cheque for £60 was presented to the Earl Mountbatten Hospice. Both of the presented cheques were raised by donations from those ASOC members in attendance. During the day the Wight Harmony male barbershop singers performed a wide range of songs dating from the forties to the nineties and they were excellent. Some of the girls were whisked off for a day out at Northwood House, Cowes, for the Craft and Food Show. There were numerous stalls and various cookery displays using local produce. One such session was by the Island’s own 5 star chef Robert Thompson. There was also an intriguing display of Morris Dancing performed by Bloodstone Moonshine Border Morris, a group with a distinctly Gothic look all black clothes and face paint! Afterwards it was a drive round Cowes, a short trip across the chain link ferry to East Cowes (no cup of tea or cakes on this one!) before heading back to the men folk at Ryde.

By the way I’m still waiting for my medal, and a Knighthood to go with the Sainthood would go down well! Tony managed to get his Siddeley to Ryde to go on display but an earlier departure was arranged just in case. Tony rang Brian Smith later that evening to say that he had just got home as the last 40 miles were spent on the back of a trailer! Hope it hasn’t put you off Siddeleys Tony!

Again this year a number of members decided to stay on for a short break rather than depart the Island after the show. For Wednesday afternoon Fred Luscombe had booked a round trip on the paddle steamer Waverley from Ryde Pier Head to Portsmouth Harbour. Having made the journey to the end of the pier by car, train or on foot (no mean feat or should that be feet?) it was very disappointing to be later informed that the sailing had been cancelled as the Captain felt it unsafe to dock. Perhaps fate was smiling on us as the Waverley did dock at Ryde Pier a week later only to smash the windscreen of a parked car when the crew threw a rope with a weight on the end to the pier as part of the docking process. It was near where Chris had parked the Special a week earlier! After a week of glorious sunshine the heavens opened on the Thursday morning as we were packing the cars for the trip home back to the "North Island". Our thanks must go to Brian & Angie once again for organising the ASOC entry and associated meals and we look forward to returning for next year’s Show.

Posted in Events on the 30th October 2014 at 9:45pm.