Club Torrevieja celebrate their Third Anniversary in style

It’s hard to believe that three years has passed since a group of classic car enthusiasts sat down together for a drink one evening and decided that the time was right for Torrevieja to have it’s own International Car Club.

Spurred on by the success of a night-time display on the Vista Alegre, prior to the Last Night on the Proms show back in 2006, a meeting was advertised from which over seventy people showed up, much to the surprise of the organisers. And so Club Torrevieja Classics and Specialists Cars was created and since then, they have attracted over (120) one hundred and twenty members to the club, and still growing every month.

The Club was formed to bring together all nationalities that are interested in keeping old cars on the road as well as helping with Driver Awareness, to highlight some of the problems associated with driving in Spain. On Sunday October 4th they celebrated their 3rd Anniversary and the International nature of the club was much in force as the countries represented included Denmark, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Ireland and Great Britain.

All those who participated received a bottle of the freshly made wine from La Mata’s Bodega Simon, a very special wine as it is the first wine to be produced in La Mata as well as being total organic and made by the local families of La Mata in Torrevieja. Leaving the wine untouched, for the moment, the cars set out on a beautiful Sunday drive that took in the scenic green lake of Pedera; sparkling in the unexpected burning sun in the light blue sky. Turning off into the campo with the fruit producing granjas that sit between the sharply cut out hills of the Orihuela, this part of the Vega Baja always changes and is always breath taking to drive through before heading for Torrevieja and their awards dinner.

This year the venue chosen was the magnificent Restaurante Queen Mississippi that rests on the brow of the pine dunes of La Mata that runs down to the sea. The restaurant has a unique and feel to it as it has been built in the style of an old Mississippi paddle steamer with an Octagonal cafeteria in front where the members congregated for a welcome free cocktail while making new and meeting old friends. Today two Irishmen joined the club even though they only are only regular holidaymakers, and soon made friends. John was to say that he wished the Classic Car Clubs back home could be as welcoming as this one is. While the cocktails were being consumed the members sat down in the wicker chairs to watch a film show produced by vice-president Keith Nicol and his son Brandon, depicting the 18 events held by the club over 12 months. Last year show was spectacular but this year was outstanding with the use of music to complement the photos that had special effects, which gave the feeling of each club day. When it was finished most members climbed out onto the top deck of the restaurant to get a view of the natural pine park with the seascape that was astonishingly picturesque.

As always, the awards surprised the recipients with Michael Stansmore receiving the Trabant Trophy for putting a smile on the faces of the members, Muriel Blackwell who worked tirelessly during the year to make sure every member no mater what language they spoke were enjoying themselves, received the Hand of Friendship Award and the Outstanding Member Award went to our Portuguese member Albino Careino who not only attended almost every meeting and event but made sure he met everyone with a smile and then financed and picked up the brass Club Plaques from Portugal. A fabulous night of good food followed by a fireworks display to top it all off. The club’s oldest member, in his 70s and driving his blue open topped Morgan, arrived home in Mazarron at 1.00 am, which goes to show that life is for living not for dying. A statement that is not only true of the members of Club Torrevieja Classics and specialists Cars, but also the treasured old motors, which they keep on the road too. Everyone is invited to come along and view the cars and talk to the owners during any of the clubs planned events, and advice on classic car ownership is always free. For more information on the club, visit their website at www.ClubTorrevieja.com.

Keith Nicol

FC Torrevieja Launch their new web site

FC Torrevieja launched their new Web Site last week onwww.fctorrevieja.es. Strangely, up until now, there has never been an official site for the football club, in part due to a dispute over the ownership of the .com name. Thus, for the last few years, all information about the club, fixtures, players and news, has been found on the Torre Army supporters club website, www.fctorrevieja.eu.
Club Chairman Eduardo Manuel Cagigao
said “It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the new FC Torrevieja website. This site is maintained and updated with a view to keeping ‘Torry’ fans both in Spain and around the world, updated with what is going on in and around the Club.
There are many people we have to thank for getting this official website up and running, but most of all I would like to thank those of you that take the time to look us up and demonstrate your interest in our beloved Club.

Torrevieja is a very special place and the football club that represents the town, FC Torrevieja, is a very special Club. We attract a large following both for the home and the away matches and one of the many things that make this Club unique are the many different nationalities that make up a typical match day crowd at the Vicente Garcia Stadium. Whether you follow the Clubs fortunes locally or, like the many thousands that take an interest in the Club all around the world, we welcome you to the wonderful world of Futbol Club Torrevieja.

Come on Torry!!!”
The new website is in both Spanish and English with German to follow soon. Through their website, Torrevieja Football Club aims to create a new bond of union with their followers while the Torry Army site, shall continue to promote the club and the uniqueness of being a Torry Army member along with information on fixtures, players, video clips and their forum. FC Torrevieja was reformed back in 1993 play their home games at the Garcia although the history of football in the town goes back to the 1920s. An overview of the History of the Club, written by Steve Hall can be found within the pages ofwww.CostaBlancaTV.com.

Keith Nicol

This Is Spain Exhibition, this weekend

This weekend, just south of the Torrevieja border down La Zenia way sees the Autumn edition of the This Is Spain Exhibition at the La Zenia Hotel. The show opens its doors on Friday October 23^rd and runs through Sunday evening. ‘This Is Spain’ shows have been a feature around the Southern Costa Blanca for over five years and have become a one-stop expo for information, services and suppliers in the region.

Entertainment is high on the list of offerings this year with performances by such acts as Nicky Dick, Jukebox Legends, Dance Xtream, Alan Findlay, Sevillanas Club Flamenco Dancers and the Kingsbury Dance School. Doors are open from 1000 until 1800 hrs each day with entertainment planned for early afternoon.

The show’s director, Christine Roche is bringing the show to the La Zenia Hotel for the first time. She said “This Autumn’s show shall again offer a little something for everyone. From entertainment to wine and cheese tasting plus a big raffle prize with your one euro admission ticket.”

For more information about the show you can visit www.exhibitions-spain.com or call 627 409 881.

Video about the event can be found on www.CostaBlancaTV.com

Keith Nicol

The Shirt 2010 - a mission raise awareness from Oslo to Cape Town

Few in Torrevieja may have heard of ‘The Shirt’ but that is all about the change as in the second week of November, Bjorn Heidelstrom an ex-professional footballer with a long career in Norway and England (Leyton Orient) shall cycle into town. The reason that this is so special is because he is a man on a mission; a mission to spread the word about ‘Soccer Against Crime and Racism’. His one year plan started in June when he left Oslo on a standard mountain bike pulling all of his worldly goods for the trip in a small trailer behind him. The task in hand is a major challenge as he plans to cycle and hitchhike his way from Oslo to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup, visiting 50 countries in the process.

The Shirt 2010 already has the backing of the Norwegian Refugee Council and the South African Premier Soccer League and last week he received official recognition from FIFA with the signature of Sepp Blatter himself.

The Shirt 2010 is an initiative from Bjorn Heidelstrom. Along the route, he's picked up official support from a number of organisations, including the Irish Football Association and FIFA and whilst he's cycling through Spain, he hopes to get more organisations on board and turn The Shirt 2010 into a symbol of solidarity for football fans around the world. Bjorn is cycling from Oslo to Cape Town and collecting signed football jerseys from all teams of all levels along the way. All these shirts will be be sewn together to form the world's largest signed football-shirt - a symbol of the unity of the football family and its solidarity with the plight of young refugees.

He says, "We are creating the world's largest football shirt - a shirt and a symbol that is sewn together by the signed club-shirts. The Shirt symbolises the ‘football family’ standing together and not forgetting the small ones." Big clubs, little clubs and even fans who sign their own shirts can become a part of the one big shirt - all are welcome.

Bjorn's journey began in Oslo back on June 20 (2009) and he's already been through Scandinavia and the Baltic, the UK and Ireland and now he's heading down through Europe. He'll be arriving in Spain on October 27 and his first port of call will be Barcelona where he'll be stopping off at Camp Nou to pick up a shirt before heading along the coast to Valencia, Calpe, Alicante and Torrevieja, picking up as many shorts as possible on the way.

How Can You Help? Obviously, the whole idea is to get as many people involved as possible so we want you to spread the word and/or to donate a shirt. For more up to date information about Bjorn's trip, check out his daily updated Shirt 2010 blog on www.theshirt2010.com.

Bjorn Heidelstrom and The Shirt 2010 shall be in Torrevieja from about November 9^th, 2009 , where a number of festivities are being planned including a civic reception, an appearance at FC Torrevieja’s Stadium, coaching of the players at the Sheffield United Academy (Sheffield United treated him exceptionally well while in the UK) plus a series of fund raising events at the Rocajuna in Torrevieja which shall probably include a car display from Club Torrevieja Classics and Specialists Cars, a Pie and Mash Night, a Fun Sports and Entertainment Quiz Night, music to dance to plus lots of other activities. More information and video of his activities in Torrevieja shall be broadcast around the world on www.CostaBlancaTV.com.

Taxi Drivers on the warpath

For many years, legal and licensed Taxi drivers in the Torrevieja area, and elsewhere, have had to compete with ‘the airport run’ competition; a battle that, until recently, they had almost lost. Last week saw an altercation between a local Taxi owner in La Mata and someone whom allegedly is providing a transport service to their company’s clients, or as they would refer to them here, a 'Pirate Taxi'. It’s a situation that almost every expat is aware of. Make a couple of phone calls and someone shall know someone who can run you to the airport, the hospital, downtown, etc, for a few bob less than a local taxi can.

For years, police round Alicante airport have been on the lookout for regular cars, visiting the airport. There is a fine line to be drawn between running friends and family to their flights, a service provided by real estate companies, hire firms, hotels and the local man with van, who is happy to make a few extra euros driving people they’ve never ever met before, to wherever they want to go.

The recession has not only hit local business but also the Taxi Drivers themselves. Clients think twice about making that trip, car pool with friends, just do without or, in a rare case, flash their free Bus Pass and save on their carbon footprint. Thus many taxi drivers are finding it hard to make a living and certainly can’t compete against non-licensed individuals as they have to pay for their vehicle, its upkeep, local, taxes, higher insurance rates and that all important licence, all of which makes up your ‘fare’.

The issue of Pirate Taxis goes a little further than saving a few euros on a run to the airport. One should realize that these operators do NOT have the correct public liability insurance, should they be involved in an accident PLUS, should your mode of transportation be stopped at a police road check, there is a good possibility that you will be asked to unload all your luggage and stand by the side of the road, while all documentation is gone through. This may be an inconvenience in itself but not as inconvenient as missing your flight because of such a hold up, plus you shall not have anyone to try and ask for compensation for!

The local taxi Association are in talks with the Police forces to see what can be done about the situation and already undercover officers have been noting cars, especially if on UK plates, that are regularly travelling to the airport, hospital, health centres and shopping centres. The day of the black market cab is certainly not over but it may be more difficult to find one in the very near future!

Keith Nicol