The NVTA was founded in February 1977. The inaugural meeting was at the Fir Tree in Wingate attended by some 30 enthusiasts but the first Club Night was in the Railway Tavern (now no more) at Shincliffe. The Club moved around for a few years to the Oak Tree in Bowburn, the Black Horse at Coxhoe (now demolished), the Eden Arms at Rushyford and the Southern Social Club in Newton Aycliffe before finally settling at Middleton St George Cricket Club.
In the early days we had raffles, concourse night, speakers, film and slide shows, and dinner dances the Redhills Hotel in Durham, Eden Arms and Bowburn Community Centre as well as joining the HCVS for their dinner dances. We had picnic runs - usually pre - season & end of season - a May Day Monday run and one to celebrate the Royal Wedding of Charles and Diana. There was a trophy for the member who attended most Club Nights in their old car and one for the member who travelled most miles to exhibit at events each season. We raised funds by having a bric a brac stall and tombola at some rallies and at the Hartlepool Autojumble and members provided items for sale or a raffle.
Gradually the rally scene expanded to include the big events like steam rallies and other independently organised shows where there was concourse judging and plaques etc; to be had.
Our first major event was the Crimdon Dene Extravaganza in 1986 when the public caused traffic jams on all the approach roads. The following year we moved on to Whitworth Hall in Spennymoor and in 1988 and 1989 had a very successful and lucrative partnership with Langbaurgh Council (Redcar) with our Extravaganza at Kirleatham and raised several thousands of pounds to donate to local charities. The Extravaganza Committee (as usually happens in these cases) wore themselves out and there were no volunteers to take over so the funds remaining were used to give NVTA Members their first free Public Liability Insurance and their first photocopier.
The early editions of the NVTA newsletter were multi coloured foolscap documents printed on a Gestetner machine, hand -cranked at first then, joy of joys, electrically operated - each copy hand sorted, stapled & folded for posting at 2 Percy Street in Hartlepool (home of the Chaffers) by a small but wiling group. Over the ensuing years we progressed to a more elaborate newsletter with photographs etc, but still rely on members to volunteer to fold & insert each one in its envelope.
In 1981 a crisis in the Club left us with a Vice-Chairman, Gerry Fieldhouse, and two committee members - Sue Chaffer and Tom Davies. At this point, I volunteer to act as temporary Secretary and 26 years later I was still there!!! Eventually Gerry moved away to Chichester and the then Committee made him our one and only honorary member.
Club night we varied with a calendar of activities decided on at the first Committee meeting each year. We held craft exhibitions, displays of members’ collections and hobbies, photography competitions, local road treasure hunts, table top rallies, Guess what it is ?(Mystery objects) and Guess who? (Members’ childhood photographs) competitions and even the wittiest tea towel slogan competition. We once had a beauty queen when a young lady member won the local heat of a national competition for motor club members.
We had a Christmas party for the members’ children and grandchildren with Santa, presents and an entertainer, a members’ Christmas party with food provided by members and more recently an excellent buffet meal. Other “older” members might like to add to these reminiscences and have other fond memories, let’s hear from you Sue Davies
Now Sue Davies is now a Honary Member for all here hard work for the past 30 Years within the Club
Thanks Sue
