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Section : South of England Meet (SEM) - Leatherhead

MUD MUD SEM

Posted By : Raymond Johncock, 08-May-2004, 06:21pm

HI ALL

WARNING TO ALL MUD WAS GETTING BAD NO ONE CAN GET IN OR OUT WITHOUT BEING PUSHED TRY AND PARK OUT SIDE UNLESS YOU INTEND TO SHOW YOUR CAR TAKE SOME WELLYS

CHEERS RAY J

Followups :

MUD MUD SEM

Posted By : David Rumens, 08-May-2004, 07:26pm

Thanks for the info as I am going on Sunday.
- MUD MUD SEM
  
  Posted By : Ian Mulford, 08-May-2004, 11:56pm
  
  Thanks for the info on the ground conditions, I was thinking of coming down in the corsa (spit is officially an MOT failure to be cured on Monday). Methinks it might be a time to take up my neighboughs offer and borrow his landrover!
  
  Cheers!
  - MUD MUD MUD SEM
    
    Posted By : Huw Harrison, 09-May-2004, 08:24am
    
    I'll Pack my wellies...See you all there
    
    Huw
    - SEM - Sunday Cancelled
      
      Posted By : Huw Harrison, 09-May-2004, 09:15am
      
      Just spoken to Suzie Singleton, it seem's it's too muddy so unfortunately they have cancelled today...
      - SEM - Sunday Cancelled
        
        Posted By : Christopher How, 09-May-2004, 09:18am
        
        Is this all true?
        
        Can anyone confirm?
        I cant believe they'd cancel the whole thing because of mud!!
        
        Chris
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled
        
        Posted By : Jason Chinn, 09-May-2004, 10:06am
        
        I was there yesterday and it was muddy at the entrabce but not that bad really - a bale of straw or two would have sorted it so I can't think it would be cancelled. There will be people there - the field was not water logged and the bar was open. There was quite a bit of auto jumble and a couple of traders - all rigged for bad weather.
        I haven't ever known an event to cancelled so I would say turn up but take your wellies and a brolly
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled
        
        Posted By : Steve Brooks, 09-May-2004, 12:04pm
        
        Definitely cancelled.
        I got there at 10.00am from basingstoke and they were turning people away. Some organisers were lining up the triumphs that people had brought into groups on the hardstanding carpark but that was it.
        As a commiseration, I thought I would visit the thornycroft transport do at Basingstoke war memorial park but that was cancelled too. Oh well nothing to do now except visit the Pub!!
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled
        
        Posted By : David Rumens, 09-May-2004, 03:55pm
        
        I got there at around 10.00 am with the Herald Estate fully loaded with lots of jumble ready to slim down my spares.
        
        The organisers were quite correctly turning people away as there had been yet more rain over the night. As the club is liable for any damage to the field it was the right thing to do.
        
        In my experience this is the first time in the 20 years of the SEM it has been cancelled. Thought 1988 was some what wet , but it had not had the two week of rain before.
        
        Many thanks to all the organisers as it was not an easy decision to make.
        
        It any person talks about a lack of water or wrong rain this Summer!!!!
        
        For me on the positive side it gave me a chance to enjoy the Herald Estate after its winter lay-up.
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled
        
        Posted By : Andy Cook, 10-May-2004, 09:53am
        
        Despite the show being officially cancelled there must have been well in excess of 50 cars (possibly even 100) and various trade stands and autojumble in the "unofficial" alternative SEM in the leisure centre car park. There was certainly a bigger number of Triumph's on the Sunday at the unofficial show than than there was in the field on on the very wet Saturday! I don't know who had the idea of using the car park but they need a real big pat on the back for initiative! Hope that the organisers realised and started directing arrivals to the unoffcial meet rather than turning them away?
        
        As the car park is very large and obviously underused on a Weekend couldn't SEM have the fall back contingency of using the car park if we have any future repeat of the mud quadmire on the field in future years?
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled
        
        Posted By : Chris Mills, 10-May-2004, 10:10am
        
        Hi Andy
        
        The difficulity with the suggestion would be moving the Club marque + contents, and fixing the thing down as the Leisue centre won't like us drilling fixings into the carpark, + PA, Control and moving the autojumble and traders.
        
        The conditions were pretty awful, we've been at this site for something like 22 years and conditions have been bad before, and we've coped , but never this bad.
        
        If it happens in another 22 years, !!!!
        
        The TSSC's event insurance did'nt cover us moving to the carpark, but if Triumphs being turned away parked there, using the Leisure centre's facilities then no problem, it just happened.
        
        The Leisure centre were OK about it, as they suggested the weather had stopped some of their members attending, that carpark is usually pretty full.
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled
        
        Posted By : Chris Mills, 09-May-2004, 04:23pm
        
        The organising team took the decision about 8am this morning ( Sunday ) to cancel the event, it's not a decision we ever take lightly and is proven in that despite some awful conditions this is the first show we've ever cancelled in over 20 years.
        
        The damage was primarily done yesterday ( Sat ) mainly on the section around the Food stall, the ground rises here and many vehicles were having to be pushed out by the team. Heavy rainfall from 2am ish to around 9am turned the grass into a very muddy field, combined with the rainfall all last week, the field had not had chance to drain off prior to Fridays nights deluge. Any one who knows the site, and the stream at the bottom of the field, said stream was well up the bank and way above usual levels and flowing fast.
        
        I personally pushed most of the traders / autojumblers up the incline near to the food area and with other members of the team, sometimes in as well as out, vans loaded to the roof, perhaps overloaded for the conditions. The TSSC van was the last to leave on Sat evening and took 15 guys pushing to get it off site.
        
        The main showground did start to firm up a little last night and we were confident of changing the exit / entry route around the Food stall to cone out the worst area, the heavy rain in the early hours of this morning ( Sun ) just reversed the main showgrounds conditions and with grey sky and more rain forecast, we took the decision based on current circumstances and our Health and Safety responsibilities not only to members entering, but for traders and ourselves to cancel the Sunday programme.
        
        Several other local shows were called off on Thursday / Friday citing the weather as the contributory factor and SEM was the only one to actually try to run a normal programme.
        
        Given that we had about 60 cars + 10 Transit size vans yesterday and pushed 90% of the vans and 75% of the Triumphs and with an expected 200+ today ( about &189; normal, despite the conditions ) we definitely made the right decision.
        
        On of the Tune Up guys kindly came with his 4x4 this morning and towed the remaining vehicles off site, Having left his 4x4 with us, Mikes caravan needed dragging out and Im sure Bill Davis will independently post on how difficult his car ( the last !!! ) was to get off site.
        
        Chris Mills
        Co-organiser SEM
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled
        
        Posted By : William Davies, 09-May-2004, 09:30pm
        
        Chris is absolutely right, by this morning the field was incredibly boggy - not just the entrance, but the entire field. Having had our trailer pulled out by a 4x4, I got our (fully laden) Passat estate no more than 20 feet before it too was stuck firmly in the mud. Ever seen all 4 wheels on a 4x4 spinning while the car it's towing is throwing mud 10 feet in the air?
        Having got off the field sometime around midday, we joined the impromptu gathering in the car park, where those of us who stayed enjoyed the better weather of the afternoon.
        Ultimately it was great shame that the event had to be cancelled, but it was undoubtedly the right decision.
        I think that all those involved in the organisation of this event deserve to be thanked for all their hard work - both in organising the event, and ultimately in getting everyone (including ourselves) off the field safely. Most impressive was the way nearly everyone rallied round just got on with what had to be done.
        Cheers,
        Bill.
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled - MUDFEST!!
        
        Posted By : John Muggleton, 09-May-2004, 09:46pm
        
        Just got back from SEM.
        In all my years of doing shows I've never seen anything like it.
        My sincere apologies to all that travelled on Sunday not knowing that we had to cancel the main event, but as you will have read, and by the photos following it was a 'MUD-FEST'.
        The impromptu gathering in the car park was a great way to continue the day and considering the considerable dissapointment for all involved, it just goes to show Triumph fans will find some way of making sure they still enjoy theirs and others cars.
        I would like to say a big thank you to all of the organising team, who tried everything to keep the event on, most of them were still knackered on Sunday from pushing/pulling cars and vans out of the quagmire on Saturday!
        Finally this was Mike Crewes's last SEM as he has decided to pass the reigns over for next years event. For those of you who are not aware Mike and his 'team' have been putting this event on for the last 15+ years and over the years this event has become after Stafford one of the best attended shows on the calendar. My thanks to Mike for all his efforts over the years it is greatly appreciated by me and I'm sure by 1000's of others. I'm just sorry that his last show had to end in such a damp squib.
        
        John Muggleton
        Club Manager
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled - MUDFEST!!
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled - MUDFEST!!
        
        Posted By : Jason Chinn, 10-May-2004, 06:12am
        
        He he - that's me successfully piloting Jasmine out of the mud I did my bit and took a large amount home with me!
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled - Will it happen again ??
        
        Posted By : Huw Harrison, 10-May-2004, 08:18am
        
        It's such a shame I really enjoy the SEM such a lovely start to the season a really good friendly family day out...
        But from the pic's the show obviuosly could'nt go on..Will there be a re-run of the Sunday or is too much of a logistical nightmare to even think about ...?? Would be willing to help out now and in the future if needed ..
        
        Huw
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled - Will it happen again ??
        
        Posted By : Chris Mills, 10-May-2004, 09:10am
        
        Hi Huw
        
        Not this year, but I've noted your willingness to help and will be counting on it.
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled - Will it happen again ??
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled
        
        Posted By : Julie Sewell, 09-May-2004, 09:36pm
        
        Just like to say, it was still worth travelling from Norfolk to the SEM, as it was nice to catch up with everyone and see some nice cars on the showground. Saturday night was great entertainment and gave us a chance to test how weatherproof our tent is!!
        Just such a shame about the weather, after all the hard work that Mike and his crew had done. Anyway, well done for still managing to hold the show on Saturday, when many others had failed.
        
        Julie and David
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled
        
        Posted By : Raymond Johncock, 09-May-2004, 10:18am
        
        If it is true im not suprised
        
        We left 4.30 had to be pushed to get out .I asked when in tssc tent are you liable for the ground .
        
        Cancellation will leave a lot of very unhappy people due to how far people will be travelling only to arrive and find it closed.
        
        If it has rained overnight at leather head some cars and vans will be trapped on that site
        
        RAY J
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled
        
        Posted By : Kevin Cooney, 09-May-2004, 10:31am
        
        It is definitely off. Luckily I only went there from about 5 miles away.
        Very disssappointing but the fields looked bad and probably would have caused many problems.
        
        SEM - Sunday Cancelled - CONFIRMED
        
        Posted By : Jason Chinn, 09-May-2004, 10:56am
        
        I've just spoken to Dave Pearson (Canley Classics) who's on the site now. It is definately cancelled, people are being turned away.
        
        There's been a downpour this morning and the field has turned very muddy. There are some 4x4s there towing people off and the field management have wisely made the decision to cancel the show.
        
        Shame but there you go, if you can't get on or off the field it wouldn't be much of a show
        
        My commiserations to the organisers, I know a lot of hard work goes into these things but the weather can always screw it up.
MUD MUD SEM

Posted By : Craig Gingell, 08-May-2004, 07:43pm

Ray,

You obviously weren't wearing your "Hello my name is sticker..." as I was at SEM today, and didn't see you.

http://www.tssc.org.uk/messageboard.asp?board=even...

Craig
- MUD MUD SEM
  
  Posted By : Raymond Johncock, 08-May-2004, 08:26pm
  
  Hi craig
  
  You were hiding behind bill@ rare bits i did say hello craig. Dismal day for all weather wise . Did you manage to get off without being pushed.
  
  10/10 for the guys pushing cars through mud
  
  CHEERS RAY J
MUD MUD SEM

Posted By : Jason Chinn, 08-May-2004, 09:10pm

Definately a slippery exit but I was heartened to see all the front wheel drive moderns getting bogged and needing a push. I, being not well know for my driving skill in anything slippery, managed to gracefully slither out in the wife's nimble little Herald - but boy was it caked in crap when I got it home!
I think a bale or two of straw would sort it.