Sodbury Sortout - Stay at home !!

We usually aim to be there about 10:45 but made a bit of a late start, then missed the "altered exit" and drove what seemed like half way to Oxford on the A34 before being able to escape and turn round! So didn't arrive in the best of moods but soon settled down to an enjoyable few hours of browsing through the assembled junk and chatting with old friends.

Didn't buy much though - an 'NFS' carb for no better reason than I wasn't familiar with the type and wanted to know how it worked, an LPG demand valve and a tiny little compressor all in nice black enamel lined out in yellow - the total barely exceeded the increased cost of entrance for the two of us. Mind you, looking at the price of 'traditional' engine collectors fodder there; small open cranks, Petter M's etc, I'm glad that's not where my interests lie at the moment.

All in, still a good do (where else can one browse through so much junk in one place?), I can live with the increased entry charge (must save a lot of frigging about with change at the gate), but if Chris' experience is anything to go by they really will have to look carefully at the organisation if they are not to alienate more of their customers.

Well I must admit that my trip to Newbury was completely opposite. As I only live about 15 miles (=20 minutes) up the A34 the drive there was easy. I arrived at about 10.45, sat in a short queue and parked. The wander around was interesting. As it's the first one I have been to, I can't really comment on the quality of stuff for sale. There was enough of interest to make me feel the £5 was a little steep but just about acceptable. Only purchases were 2 batteries for car and tractor. My lack of storage means I cannot really consider any more toys at present. Indeed, some of my existing stuff may have to go. With that in mind, it was good to see what prices were like. Any comments here? I did notice a few engines. The Lister D with water pump seemed a little high at £150. Nice condition but not immaculate. Fairly standard rally fodder. The seller did comment to a prospective buyer that with that engine, he would get into rallies for free. Not quite the attitude but he was trying to get a sale. There was a rusty Petter A with a chalked price of £5. Made me wonder what was wrong with it or if the price was right. Surely my "Big" engine is worth more that. My interest in tractors was well catered for too. Looks as though the Fergie is going up in value all the time. Picked up a catalogue from a local supplier of tractor bits so I now have some light reading to do. Not a bad few hours fun for me. Did anyone else go?

John

"Chris Bedo" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@mygate.mailgate.org...

The only reason I can think of is insurance. Maybe the berks who organised the event saved a quid or two by not having their insurance start until 1100?

Think I'd have been tempted to give the local constabulary a call and inform them of the traffic hazard created, they'd soon get the gates opened...

The local police were actually directing traffic at the top of the A34 slip road when I arrived so perhaps when the queue got back to them, action was taken before the A34 became blocked.

John

I have noticed not only today but on outher sort outs the police dont do a lotwhen we arived off a34 slip rd pc plods sat in his motor,well isupose it was drizling!some trafic control was certanly needed.it reminded me of m25 on a monday morning once through gate.i thought a fiver is a bit steep where does this money go? to police this event.still enough grumbling i did find a buzz coil for my new toy the fairbanks got it home and got it working just got to make up some kind of contact system so not a bad day in all

I managed to get a milk churn for Moo, but she thinks it is a bit big for her flat!

Anybody know who bought the mistifyer orchard sprayer ?

Simon Taylor

P.s. that bloody slip road!

Some Italian people long before the show opened to us mere public mortals for 375. Nice item I thought, lovely original condition.

Interesting Idea from Dave, cos thats what happened, when the Police came along, the gates were opened. So why annoy everyone first ?!

Enstone is far better - simply because it is less formal and less about how much can be taken on the gate.

Regards

Chris Bedo Kent UK

I am totally bemused by the odd attitude of the Sodbury Sort Out staff towards letting people into the field to park their cars. Although I wasn't able to get there this year, I have experienced this in the past. I always arrive between 10.00 and 10.30 - sometimes they let you in at 10.30, sometimes they don't.

I've known traffic queue on the motorway and the Police seem quite undisturbed by it - it really is strange and no fun at all for any poor whit with other business that requires access to the A34.

Why they don't just let people park from ten and sell tickets from 10.30 for an 11.00 entry is beyond me.

As to cost, I thought it was a lot at four quid a head, so a fiver is obviously worse. It's no good moaning though, because nothing will be done about it, we pay up or don't go. Anyone else fancy organising a rival do of equal size?

Well, there you go then ;o))

One thing I did want to know: This time the Sort Out was held on a Bank Holiday Saturday. Did those attending as sellers or buyers think there were fewer or more people there? Were many precluded from attending that would have gone had it been on a different Saturday?

Regards,

Kim Siddorn