BLUEBIRD MAGAZINE FEATURE

THIS IS A COPY OF A NEWSPAPER ARTCLE REPORTING OUR BLUEBIRD MOVEMENT.

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"It was the CN7, though the smallest in width that posed the initial complication when having to negotiate the
entrance.  The complication wasn't caused by the extra 3 ft in length of the CN7 either.  It was due to the fact that there was only a misery 2° of movement on the steering, mind you, I suppose when someone is travelling at speeds of over 400 m.p.h. it could be classed as
excessive!" he exclaimed.

"Well to address that problem; I had decided to modify four machinery removal skates be welding four stop plates on to the swivel plates."

"This meant that once the CN7 had been (physically) pushed up onto the four skates and the rear of each wheel had been scotched, it could be rotated and moved in any direction we wished.  Much to the relief of the crews involved, the idea proved in valuable for the
remainder of the tour."

"The K7, as I suggested earlier, was not really difficult to move, as it had been housed on the back of a purpose-built trailer used to transfer to to and from the water's edge.  And it was that trailer that enabled us to guide it in and out of the exhibition areas."

"The exhibition at Belle Vue lasted from the 23^rd August till the 11^th of September. And from Belle Vue it went to Hanley Park, in Stoke-on-Trent."

"Because of the media coverage the Bluebirds had received, security enroute to and from their varied destinations was always going to be a dilemma, especially when it was time for the crews to stop and eat."

"So the only real answer was for us to double up on manpower and while one group ate, the other remained with the consignment and then vice versa.  From the outset we were aware that trophy hunters could be a menace.  In fact while the Bluebirds were displayed at Hanley Park between the 22^nd of September and the 4^th of October, a fuel cap was taken and part of the CN7's tail was broken off."

"Unfortunate incidents, but out of our control.  Once delivered the responsibility for the vehicles became that of the exhibitors own security, certainly not an envious task", admitted Eric.  "When people have paid to view a spectacle you have to be tactful in asking them to keep their distance."

"The final public showing of the Bluebirds in 1965 - and most certainly the last for the K7 -was at the Hull Sailors Children's Society, Hull, and occurred between the 4^th and 9^th of October.  When the tour came to an end we had been instructed to return all of the vehicles to Beaulieu - now known As the National Motor Museum - in Hampshire."

"Because of the distance involved, approximately 300 miles, an overnight stop was inevitable.  It had been decided by all involved to cover as much of that mileage in the first day.  An early start from Hull ensured and by the evening we were in the market square at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire."

"Whether or not we had been their most valuable visitor at that time I don't know, but in the views of the some local bobbies we were not necessarily the most welcome.  While all the crews slumbered into the night, the local constabulary kept a vigilant eye on the our expensive consignment.  And an excellent job they did", added Eric.

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