How much fun can you have with your coat on? Well for once the forecasters had it right. It was to be a typical summers weekend in the Warwickshire countryside, and, for the second year on the bounce it either rained stair-rods or just threw it down. Still, Griff owners are nothing but hardy souls always ready to have roofs off and it came as no surprise that despite the doom and gloom 127 Griffs made the annual pilgrimage to Ettington. 41 other Tivvers joined us in the damp over the weekend, so well done to them as well.

The weekend started as normal on the Friday with Flip Flop moaning about the time keeping of the organisers as they rolled up to mark out car parking and pitches for the traders. He managed 20 minutes or so of this before he led the way to the pub next door for a ‘management’ meeting. It proved to be a longer meeting than planned despite the pub trying to close its doors, and they soon realised that thirsty TVR owners do not shift too easily and commenced serving again.
All good things have to end, and before long it was time to return to the Hotel to get ready for, well, more beer actually, as the coach arrival neared to take 36 of us into Stratford on Avon for the traditional curry night at Chutneys restaurant for some great food and general bonhomie. Old and new friends were met including some that had travelled a bit further than others. Lindsay Durbin, Griff owner from Sydney, had flown in from Oz yet again. Per and Gry Terje- Laenn in their Chevy powered LS Griff had motored over from Norway, Harry Paalvast had driven across from Holland.

Some hours later, caring perhaps less now about the weather, the coach returned us to the Hotel. We thought we had managed to get away with it, but someone did the decent thing and spoke up and before too long Jeffsy led us in the rugby songs!
Some of us made breakfast on Saturday morning, the late arousers missed a glorious ten minutes before the drizzle started and set the tone for the day.
We were later to be joined by Griffs from Ireland and France, to think some of us complain about travelling, quite an amazing feat to have so many who must have really made great efforts to make the Growl.

We were blessed with our usual traders we can almost call friends as they support us year on year, but we welcomed some new faces to the Growl. Thank you for the effort it must take to ship all your equipment to us after a week at work. We hope to see you all again next year. Despite the rain the Crazy Horses rolling road were doing sterling work with plenty of uptake on both days. Per’s self-installed Chevy block was the highest non-standard for the weekend with 408 horses and 440 ft lbs of torque. Highest standard Griff was Barry Woods ’98 500 with 276.8 BHP, just about the same as the highest standard  ’99 Griff 500 was on the Sunday.  Someone’s Aston intruded on the rollers on Sunday with 383 BHP and 415 lbs torque. It may have surprised a few that the older pre-cats were still producing some healthy figures. The rolling road was certainly a great centre, and indeed, talking piece. Well done to Gary and Simon who did not appear to have a break from their rollers. Result Wiki on PH please add to it if you havent already link here

Elsewhere traders reported brisk business, this may have been down to having a captive audience sheltering inside their marquees, but certainly one stated he had done more trade on Saturday than at Rockingham in its entirety! Others were also busy with getting out their pre orders for Growl collection, Opie Oils for example had some special prices on the black stuff, as did Steve Heath on his products. Those traders who stayed for the Sunday enjoyed some good trade as well, perhaps hangovers loosened wallets?

Local fireman, Dan Vale, with ‘Little Major,’ a vintage City of Nottingham fire tender that had been rescued from a scrap yard and restored by Dans grandfather, joined us on the Saturday. Throughout Saturday the quest for the Noisiest Griff was underway. Many had thought that Paul ‘Pasco’ was in with a good shout with his Nascared sound alike that put out 124.4 dbs, however, Clive Ford won the day with an ear bleeding 125.8. Rumours Pasco would have won had he removed the sausage roll from his tail pipe where it was warming have since been discounted!

Saturday night saw the usual barbeque at the nearby White Horse hostelry. Some great food was enjoyed whilst an excellent group did a live set. At least the band were under cover as it was one of those nights when it could not make up its mind to rain or simply just pour down. Still, 160 braved the elements and made a typical British fist of it all with coats and umbrellas of all descriptions going up and down through the evening. Bob gave a, welcome, short speech before the raffle and charity auction started.

This year’s charity was for the families and dependants of the four Warwickshire fire fighters who lost their lives at a factory blaze near Ettington in November 2007.
Our traders were again most generous with their kind donations to the charity raffle or auction.
Sealed bids were taken in the build up for Clive Fords, of V8 Enhancements, stainless manifold Y piece, and 2 half days courtesy of Julian at Ride Drive advanced driver training, so the charity had a great start before the bidding began in earnest.
Items given as prizes or auctioned seemed to go on for simply ages, on behalf of the Fire Fighters families that I have personal knowledge they thank you all for your wonderful generosity.

Nigel Lewis took the votes again for best ‘new’ car with his SE, and Simon Winter for the ‘used’ category.

With the evenings weather and having had a long day in the saddle many left at sensible o’clock but we all had a very good evening again and made a large dent in the final figure for the charity of £1000. Griffters may be light-heartedly accused sometimes of wearing chest wigs, but they can never be called anything but generous!
Sunday brought the early bird vendors replacing gazebos that had been blown over through Saturday night, one had dragged across Mike from the Polishing Companies BMWs bonnet, my how he must have laughed when he heard, ‘won’t it polish out?’ for the umpteenth time! Trade was still brisk as last minute must haves were sought out, and as the event started to peter out for another year a special presentation was made to Jeffsy in appreciation of his hard work organising the previous 3 Years Growls. He has now left the dark side for a Ford Martin or something, thanks for all the work, Ned! Don’t be a stranger.
Having had the old Fire tender the day before, we were joined on the Sunday by a more modern red beast from Stratford on Avon, where two of those that died were stationed. The crew enjoyed a break from their daily routine and took in the shows events.

The weekend ended late afternoon with the last of us leaving at around 4.30pm.  This event has rapidly placed itself as one of the ‘must do’ events and is also one of the biggest.  A great deal of hard work goes into its organisation and credit is due to the main organisers plus their immediate families who support in other ways - it is a labour of love.

Thanks as always are due to everyone else who helped - marshalling and giving out the Welcome Packs, setting up and packing away, the trade vendors who are such great supporters and to you – the attendees!  What makes the Growl great we believe, are the people. It is a great social event and where many Griffters meet up for their yearly outing, like-minded folk from all walks of life with a penchant for a very special motorcar and having a good time.

It’s a great mix.

See you all again next year....

Bob.