Rev Up & Rock Up 2025

This event is now in its second year and is one organised by our known TR mechanic, Steve Denton.

Last year had a musical connection, but Steve struggled to find a venue to accommodate music this year, so he had a rethink.  He works a few days each week on classic cars at John’s Motors just outside Towcester. John came to the rescue for people to meet at the garage, before taking a drive along Northamptons backroads to Castle Ashby Gardens. Just a few of the LVG gang attended so if you missed it, you missed a really good day out.

We started the day by meeting up for breakfast at a popular haunt, the Super Sausage cafe on the A5. Phil picked up Paul, who has his 2 TR’s off the road at the moment (his TR3 should be back in action in a day or two after a weeping brake union is fixed – His TR4 may need a head gasket). John made his way from Everton and Richard turned up in his modern (his TR4 is also off the road after his loom melted recently). This meant just 3 LVG TR’s made it. 

If you have travelled up the A5 in the last 30 years, you have probably seen John’s Motors on the RH side (heading North) and possible seen a classic or two sitting outside. Further refreshments were consumed at the garage and the owner John gave us free reign to wander the site and see some lovely cars in a surrounding that could have been taken right out of an episode of Heartbeat. Steve welcomed everyone (around 30 cars) and John gave a talk about the history of the garage which was passed down from his Father……John. Interestingly John’s son who is 17 and just starting to work at the garage is also named John, so as a family they are very good at succession planning.

After an hour and a half most people left for the drive to Castle Ashby Gardens along a route suggested by Steve, who lives in Northamptonshire. Only Christalle and Mike took the drive, so LVG were down to one car. However, it was wonderful to be greeted at the gardens by Dale & Chris, who live just around the corner in Sharnbrook. Upon arrival we went straight to the café and had some more refreshments and a good old chin wag. Being on their doorstep, Dale & Chris left and Christalle & Mike took a walk around the wonderful gardens. It is well worth a visit, although you will have to part with £14pp to get in (the house is not open to the public).

You have probably picked up that we had lots of refreshments (we also had an ice cream after visiting the gardens), but the weather was glorious with temperatures around 32C all day, so drinks were order of the day. All TR’s performed faultlessly and Christalle & Mike were the last to leave, as can be seen by the lone TR in the car park.

If you need a mechanic to work on your TR, give Steve a ring and he will be happy to come to you to do the work. He is brilliant with trolley Jacks and axle stands, but if a lift is needed, it could be a job for John’s Motors.

Steve even organised a swift fly past by the Red Arrows while we were at John’s Motors. Well done Steve.