South West Centre Safety Fast! Notes for January 2004

Do you remember the summer of 2003? What a summer it was for nice weather - MG weather you might say. But there's an unpleasant irony associated with nice weather in this country: nobody thinks it will last. Only in 2003 it did. Of course, some people started off that "the gardens could do with a drop of rain" stuff, but the sun continued to shine right up to our last event of the season. Let's all put in a Xmas wish for more of the same in 2004...

It is traditional at this time of year for newspapers and magazines to look back over the highlights of the year. Traditional, and a good way to fill up space when there are no MG events to report on! The statistics read as follows: 6 social events/runs, 3 gymkhanas, 2 autotests, 2 production car trials, a navigational scatter rally, a classic trial, a sprint and a hillclimb. I'm not going to mention the vast range of cars that were entered (I think I have done enough of that over the last few months), but well over a hundred different drivers, navigators and passengers went along to events and had fun. For many, including me, these events are the encouragement needed to open up the garage doors and wheel out the MG. I'd therefore like to thank all of the organisers on behalf of all of the participants - please keep it up!

There may not be any competitive events over the winter, but the social side of MG ownership is certainly not neglected - there are 'natters' held all around the region. They are normally based in pubs or similar venues; if there's one near you, why not give the natter leader a call to find out more? There are natters south of Bristol (Andrew Owst, 01761 221893), in Cardiff (John Chapman, 02920 755295), in the Swansea area (Geoff Powell, 01792 418814), in Pembrokeshire (Neil Thomas, 01834 845244), in the Wye Valley (Terry Davies, 01989 562366), in the Bath/Chippenham area (Mike Hawke, 01225 863801), in West Somerset (John Hopkins, 01984 623763), in South Somerset (Barry Foster, 01458 850169), in the Salisbury area (Charles Jones, 01747 851938) and on the Isle-of-Wight (Dave Chorley, 01983 740736). If you live at the edge of the Centre area then you may find a natter nearer to you in an adjoining Centre area. Dates and times are normally published elsewhere in Safety Fast.

Finally, it's most definitely not too late to book your place(s) for the Annual Dinner, Dance and Presentation of Awards on Saturday 28th February 2004. The cost is £18.50 per person. Fuller details are available on the website, from me by e-mail, or by telephoning John Bird on 0117 956 0175. If you wish to stay the night, then you can take advantage of a special rate: £27 per person per night including full English breakfast. Please contact the hotel directly on 01225 723333 for room reservations, mentioning that you are attending the MGCC dinner.

Next month I hope to be able to tell you about the exciting programme of events that we are lining up for 2004. You will not be disappointed!

The photo is from the Haynes Classic Tour in 2002. Its shows me, my wife and our GT just about to join the throng at Castle Combe. So now you know what I look like!

Neil Lock

neil@port-z.fsnet.co.uk

01275 817915 (before 9pm please)