The newsletter of the Luffield Cars MGCC Speed Championship
Also available at the championship web site www.mgcars.org/mgccsc
Once more into the breach….
Well, guess what? I’m back! Just when you all thought you’d got rid of me and my rather frivolous sense of humour, I return like the proverbial bad penny. But, you’ll be pleased to know, just in my capacity as scribe and general all round PR type chappie.
So, what’s new? Well this could be thought of as either the last newsletter of 2001 (the season from hell thanks to F&M) or the first of a new, and crisply laundered 2002. It all depends on your point of view, and the vagaries of the Christmas post. A bit of a half full, half empty situation. From my perspective I’d like to think of it as the first of the new, welcoming you all back to a season of fun and frolics down on your local speed event track. I hope to have included the 2002 regulations booklet with this newsletter, but only time will tell on that front. Suffice to say our good friend Hamish is currently slaving over a steam powered keyboard as I type, and if they get to me in time, and if I can get them copied, and if the sponsor’s advert is ready and if.. and if……You get the picture. They should be enclosed, but may not be. If not, they will follow early on in the new year, but in the meantime, the changes are summarised in the second part of this missive.
Before I get too carried away with next year, there is the small matter of the final results from this year to communicate. You will (notice the decisive note there) find attached the final points and positions table for the Southern Series, on which I have helpfully marked the award winners. This is to remind you to make sure you attend the SW dinner to collect them. As usual this will be held at the Limpley Stoke Hotel, near Bath, and full details are also enclosed. Please remember to book early to avoid disappointment, particularly if you want rooms at the hotel. Another helpful hint is also to make a note of what you ordered in the space provided, then remember to bring this bit of paper with you, 2 months later, a feat I have yet to master. Golden rule, give it to a responsible adult to look after for you. YOU are clearly not in this category as you choose to throw your beloved MG around a dangerous race track!
In summary, it was an entertaining season down South, from the relatively few events I witnessed. I think JT benefited from the regulations this year (I don’t think he’ll mind me saying that) and the only sporadic appearances of Bruce, but nevertheless deserved his overall championship win on the basis of his persistence and enthusiasm if nothing else. It’s also nice to see you don’t have to drive a turbo nutter head-case machine to win the title, a Standard TF will do. Immediately behind him it was all a bit close, with 4 drivers separated by only 2 points. Matt triumphed with 92 and so picks up the Windmill and Lewis trophy as Southern champion, but he was chased all the way by the ubiquitous Tel P in the V8 (he just needed better times up the hills!) and the dynamic duo of Adrian Moore and Chris Cooper in the RGM classes. Needless to say all pick up class awards by some margin, although Chris was pushed the hardest by a season long tussle with the 2 MGBs of David Butler and Andy Bush. Maybe next year lads.
So, looking forward to 2002 there is good news to tell. After a turbulent but enjoyable 1st season, Luffield Cars have announced they wish to continue supporting the championship, with MD David Wood threatening to bring out a ZS 180! That should be interesting, particularly as a well known Northern driver’s other half has just got a ZR 160 and is threatening to have a go. A to Z, we’ll have the lot.
The upshot of this bit of news, is that we will be reducing the entry fee next year to its previous level of £15, thanks to a bit of financial security. We will also be modifying the regs a bit, following feedback from the drivers’ meetings. The general feeling was that the Road-going and Modified classes were OK, but Standard had drifted too far from it’s intended “showroom” status.
Consequently, we are reverting back to pre-MGF Challenge times, tightening up the standard class regs, and running a separate class for Challenge cars, similar to that for Cockshoot cars up North. We worked out that this wouldn’t disadvantage any current competitor, as only MGFs had taken advantage of the revised regs. What this means is:
We are currently trying to decide on ride heights, our original proposal of standard less 1” was challenged by some MGB drivers who would have fallen foul of this, and this should be clarified in the regs booklet.
Other
changes will be that the RGM cars can use better brakes, i.e. grooved/drilled
equivalents of standard fitment, and changes will be made to the infamous
scoring system, which I think is simple, but everyone else seems to struggle
with.
I have relented and we will be dropping the “Bogey”
times, but we will be enforcing a stricter amalgamation regime, strictly in line
with the regs, no exceptions.
In
fact this will be a general trend, the regs will be enforced more rigorously,
even if this may seem less “helpful” than in previous years.
Trying to be nice to everyone has only got us in trouble, so we won’t
be. Sorry about that, it’s not in
my nature, as you know, but look where helpful got me this year with Dunkeswell
etc.
All in all, not a lot of change, but some small improvements I think.
Next season’s draft calendar is also enclosed, with the odd new venue, and a welcome return to Loton Park, albeit rather early in the year. We’ve also put the Summer Anglesey event in the Southern calendar for 2002, which may seem a bit strange, but it really isn’t that far North from the Bristol/Bath area and it’s an excellent venue. What’s more, we are trying to make a bit more of an MG show of it this year, with NW Centre providing a marquee and free BBQ for MG drivers (& hangers on). For 2 days of 2 lap sprints it really is good value for money and they don’t bank your cheque until after the event! Book early to avoid disappointment.
Another change that will no doubt be welcomed by the Northern fraternity, is the move of the traditional MGCC “freeze your wotsits off” Scammonden hillclimb to a late spring date. Maybe better weather, but then who can tell, we’re talking Yorkshire here!
So, that’s about it. A quick reminder to all who have 2000 trophies to please return them to Jean ASAP, particularly the register awards, otherwise no engraving for this year’s winners.
And finally, would all 2001 award winners please send photos of their cars in action this year to Jean for engraving onto your glassware. No photo, no picture.
All the best for now.
Jim “Piglet Pilot” Garvey
P.S. Latest news is that due to financial prudence by Jean, an extra reduction to next year’s championship fee will be forthcoming for all this year’s (2001) competitors, knock £5 off, i.e. £10 to you lot.
P.P.S Regs didn’t make it after all, but I wasn’t about to re-write all this.