Annual Rally Pics 2025

[Simon.Gardiner]

Some pics from the Annual Rally last month. Not as creative as Karol's I'm afraid!

A variety of Ariels (with a theme of luggage arrangements, but feel free to spot other 'alterations'!) :

Big top box with back rest (and a few other mods!)

Period rack (and special knee pads!)

Well-travelled top-box...

Another top box and smart colour-coordinated throw overs

Another top-box, another rack (and REAL indicators!)

Top-box, period soft luggage?

Big rack, big top-box and several other mods...

No rack! But more indicators, TLS front brake, and...!!

Ummmm-back rack!

The only white rack!

Full set of Leader luggage.

Rack, and tank bag

Mudguard mounted rack (on a rare VA)

Most dodgy rack mounting? (That mudguard must be stronger than it looks!)

A fine array of period luggage arrangements (with one red exception!)

[Simon.Gardiner]

(continued)

Full set of period luggage

Bungees and tank bag (with padding!)

Another fully-equipped Leader

I think there's space for something small behind the driver's seat...

Bartram HT - no extra weight allowed!

I think we know about this one (not forgetting the trailer...and the front brake!)

Genuine period soft luggage...

And genuine period hard luggage!

[Simon.Gardiner]

On the Friday we had the option of a ride-out around the Shropshire countryside and over some of the hills via 'such delights as Stiperstones, The Bog, Frog's Gutter, Boiling Well and Long Mynd scenic area' (to quote the route-sheet!). The Membership Secretary made an excellent job of organising this but I still managed to spend too much time getting lost to take any photos.

Saturday brought a short run and visit to Mill Meece Pumping station, with its two massive steam engines from 100-odd years ago, still in working order even though the water is now pumped by electric motors. Cake and beverages were provided along with a guided tour.
(Mill Meece web site link below, it has some interesting reading including an interview of the engineer who installed the first engine, assisted only by two local farm labourers
http://www.millmeecepumpingstation.co.uk/ )

Parking along the front of the boiler house.

A view into the boiler house (which has three boilers).

Looking towards the engine house (through the door)

Lots of pipework!

Small 'starter engines' (visible in front of each flywheel) engage with the flywheel gears to move the main engines 'over centre' when starting.

Small exhibit display in front of pipes that feed into the main supply to the water reservoir.

Inside the boiler house, looking out across the boilers.

[Simon.Gardiner]

And some pics from the Saturday concours line-up across the camping field.

General view down the line.

And the odd one out is?!

Three W/NGs in the line-up (the fourth was misbehaving).

A pair of very smart 'vintage'...

The sign says 'two strokes' and that's what they all are!

The highs and the lows (or maybe someone explaining the 10 reasons why a Healey needs a shopping basket?!)

Fours and twins

More twins

Singles

And more singles.

Unfortunately, no award for most environmentally friendly prop stand!

SG

[Julian Murphy]

Thanks for taking the time to snap the pictures and post them up here.

For those interested in Victorian pumping stations, here is another one. No doubt lots of others around as well.

https://papplewickpumpingstation.org.uk/

[Bernie Blundell]

Nicely done Simon

[Paul Slootheer]

Nice pictures Simon! Thank you!

[markus.nikot]

Love the car - this brings up silly ideas......

[paul.jameson]

On the Friday run, this dragonfly had the misfortune to be hit by the Red Hunter ridden by .....Roger Gwynn !

[Simon.Gardiner]

Ohhhh - the irony!

SG