On April 10th 2010, the WVVMC held their first Vintage Display and Autojumble at Claregalway Corporate Park. The day was by all accounts a great success with hundreds of vintage exhibits and a large number of Autojumble, craft and memorabilia stands. The day was also enhanced by the fact that it was the warmest day of the year so far which definitely brought out the crowds. All proceeds from the show will be donated to local charities. It is hoped that this show will become an annual event.

SEE PHOTO GALLERY

After almost a fortnight of torrential rain and the worst flooding the county has seen in living memory it was left until the eleventh hour to decide that the WVVMC Pre-Christmas run would go ahead on Sunday 29^th November 2009
It was in fact a good decision as the day turned out to be dry, sunny and bitterly cold. A perfect day for a winter run.
The participants met at the Salthill Hotel and took the scenic coast road to Spiddal.  After a stop at the craft centre for a cup of tea and the usual motoring natter, the run resumed back to Galway and Salthill via Moycullen.
Only Nine cars participated but some members came along with their modern cars to support the event.
The run was followed by an excellent, optional meal at the Salthill Hotel and a lovely afternoon was had by all.

The WVVMC Late Autumn Run was based in Markree Castle Hotel, near Collooney, Co. Sligo, and took place over the Halloween weekend 30th Oct to 1st Nov 2009.  12 cars participated in the event and 23 people enjoyed the relaxed ambience of Markree Castle.
After a leisurely breakfast on Saturday, we set out for Arigna in Co Roscommon where we took part in the Arigna Mining Experience.  The tour was lead by a retired coal miner, who had worked at the mine until its closure in 1990.  There is no doubt that the working life of a miner was very tough.  We experienced at first hand the damp and dark conditions underground.  However, we got to walk through tunnels which were 8 ft high, whereas, the miners generally worked in a 2 ft crawl space. 
When we re-emerged into the day-light, we were greeted by a stunning view of Lough Allen from the Mining Experience car park.  We then drove the short distance to the Ramada Hotel in Drumshanbo for lunch.
After lunch, our run continued up the eastern side of Lough Allen, and on to Glencar Lake.  We arrived there just after a heavy rain shower, so the air was crystal clear and the views magnificent.  The more energetic members of the party climbed up the pathway beside Glencar Waterfall.
Our final stop was at Drumcliff churchyard to visit the grave of W.B. Yeats and grab a cup of coffee at the nearby visitor centre.  We then headed back to Markree Castle Hotel for an excellent dinner, followed by the customary ‘few drinks’ during which Joe O’Neill and Richard Higgins entertained us with a few tunes on the accordion.

Ballinasloe and District Vintage Club Inaugural Run & Parade

Text by Bill Fennell
Photographs Courtesy of Theo Hanly

On Sunday 11^th October, 2009, the new Ballinasloe and District Vintage Club held their Inaugural Run and Parade in conjunction with the final weekend of the Annual Horse Fair. Over 80 cars, 60 tractors, a number of stationary engines, machinery and horse drawn vehicles took part.

A very successful run took place on Sunday, September 20th. The Weather was quite good and the scenery was really brilliant in a drive which took us by the scenic coast route through Ballyvaughan, Fanore, Black Head, Doolin, Cliffs of Moher, Liscannor, Lahinch and Spanish Point to Miltown Malbay on the west coast of Clare. Twenty five cars took part and we were joined by some members of the Clare club from Liscannor to Miltown Malbay. The Westbridge restaurant in Miltown Malbay provided a really excellent meal for the fifty people who took part, while of course the All-Ireland football final commanded a lot of attention on the television.

On Sunday, the 5th of April last we held our Meals after Wheels run. We met up at the Esso petrol station on the Claregalway Oranmore road. This is a handy place to start as we have the car park outside the Cold Chon offices and if we need petrol or other refreshments – it’s beside us. It gave a chance for us to meet up, do some tyre kicking and discuss the run etc. We headed out the N6 towards Loughrea, and then took the road for Gort going out by the lake.