J-type 65th Anniversary Rally ~ June 15th/16th.

Thanks for a great day on Saturday. We all enjoyed it very much. The J’s, the company, and the buses with rides! And we were suprised at the museum content. Much more there then expected (Dave even found a bus with his name on!!). Great event in a great venue. Graham Daniels

Thanks for everything and more! Gray Southard

It was great to see everyone yesterday, just a shame I couldn’t stay longer. Seeing all the restored vans there has certainly spurred ne on to complete ‘Stan’. Thanks for arranging the event, it was very much appreciated.  Andy Pitts

Just a quick note to say many thanks for organising the j van get together. A quality turn out and so good to see the two project vans. Tell the girls the cake was fantastic. All the best, Roly and Caroline Turner

This major rally will again be at Wythall Transport Museum, on the outskirts of Birmingham, near to the motorway network. The 16th June happens to be Father’s Day and the Museum are planning lots of additional attractions, including rides on various classic buses.

All owners and enthusiasts are invited. If you are an owner, please try to bring along your vehicle – we would love this to be the best display of J vans ever. The Register managed to attract 29 club vehicles to the 50th, and 29 again ( but many not the same as the previous ones) for the 60th. Let’s see if we can get the total into the thirties, with so many vans having been restored recently.

We hope to do a couple of road runs too, certainly one of the highlights of the 60th.

The event has been in the planning for more than a year now. We approached BAMMOT, the trust that runs the museum, hoping for this particular weekend as it follows on from the Gaydon Classic Commercial Rally, which is on the 8th/9th June. The Gaydon rally is always good, how could it not be with 400+ old commercials to see, and it is hoped that many members will visit both. If any member planning on visiting both would like me to try and arrange storage for their vehicle in the intervening weekdays between the two events, do let me know, I’ll see what I can do.

We know that at least one Australian owner is making the effort to be in attendance at Wythall, too.

The Museum’s full address is Chapel Lane Wythall Worcs B47 6JX. If driving, it is best approached from junction 3 of the M42 motorway. Head towards Birmingham as far as the large roundabout at Beckett’s Farm, turn left and then left again for the Museum entrance. If in a club vehicle you will be guided into the club display area, if in an everyday modern vehicle you will be directed to parking areas. Off-site parking areas are often in use for major events at the museum.

Comments from owners and enthusiasts:

‘I’ll be bringing the Royal Mail van to Wythall’   Gordon Wilson – YLH 449, ‘and Gary Sumner is bringing SLO 234′

‘Looking forward to seeing you at Wythall’ John Rice – 477 XUK

‘Definitely aiming to attend both Gaydon and Wythall, not sure yet which days though’ Ray Kings – 949 BYY

‘Helen & I will be at the 65th for the weekend, camping over locally. Looking forward to seeing everyone again!’ Peter Smith – 8444 UA

‘we are unable to get to Wythall for the 65th anniversary weekend in June. As this is Fathers day we have family commitments for that weekend. Maybe if there is a 70th anniversary event we will get to that. Hope you have a successful weekend and the weather is good for everyone. Kind regards David Harms & Richard Rowley –  TLJ568

‘See you on the Saturday’ Roland Turner – OBL 432

‘I hope to make it to the 65th, so please keep me informed’ Peter Page – MSK 194

‘have booked the Travelodge at Maypole on the 15th’ Mike Cotton – TGC 770

‘interested in taking the van down to Wythall this year if you can give me a bit more detail’ Jim Blackhall – JAV 160

‘Please put pressure on Ian and I will come!’ James Bissell-Thomas – TEW 195

‘Great news about the 65th Anniversary. A get-together rally, road run and celebration of ‘J’ vans. It really is the ‘only way is a ‘J” weekend!’ Gray Southard – MYH 238

I’m afraid I’ll not be there…’ Frank Horton –HBN 942

‘Mona and I plan to come to the 65-rally like we did last time. But unfortunately the celebration of 100 years of Morris takes place at Cornbury, near Oxford the same weekend. We are invited to come there, and plan to be there on the 15th but try to come to you on the 16th’ Björn Stensson – 317 BXY (AHW 391)

‘Unfortunately we are always away in June so it’s not looking good. It’s such a shame because I would have loved to have been there’ Peter Kent – 773 WPH

‘Yes would love to bring the Morris to the rally. My son Michael will bring it both days’ Ray Herritts – 495 YUB

‘I will be attending in XVM 892 and if James Bissell Thomas’s TEW 195 is not ready he is welcome to ride shotgun with me’ Jon Coleman – XVM 892

‘We’d love to be a part of your J Celebration at the Wythall Muesum in June’ Graham Daniels – Austin Devon pick-up OEW 665 and Dai Sheldon – Ford 5cwt van OXO 998

‘I’d like to bring along my R-type truck’ Steven Field – Morris~Commercial R-type HH 5125