Although I'm already looking forward to the SW Centre calendar of events for 2005, I am pleased to present my 'review of the year' for 2004! Its been a year of memories to forget for me - roadside repairs after yumping along the lanes of the Somerset Levels on the Cheddar Valley Navigational Scatter, a monumental spin which nearly eliminated the whole entry at the Chew Valley Gymkhana, and being pushed across the start line at the Wiscombe Hillclimb after terminal failure of the fuel pump on my GT. But its also been a year of memories to treasure - being enthralled by the after-dinner speaker at the Dinner and Dance, watching (and trying to emulate, somewhat unsuccessfully) the Midgets dance around the California Cup Autotests, and three MGB entries at the Patchway Autotests (have I mentioned that before?).
The SW Centre Dinner and Dance set the year off to a great start. A sell-out attendance enjoyed a three-course meal at the Limpley Stoke Hotel (near Bath) followed by a fascinating after-dinner speech provided by Mike Penn, curator of the Haynes Motor Museum. It's not quite, but nearly, your last chance to buy a ticket for the 2005 SW Centre Dinner on Saturday 5th March, again at the Limpley Stoke Hotel near Bath. Presentation of awards for the SW Centre Driver's Championship shall follow the dinner, and there will also be presentation of some awards from the Luffield MGCC Speed Championship. Tickets are £18 and available from John Bird - either download the details from the SW Centre website or call him on 0117 956 0175.
Competitive events have included a Navigational Scatter, a Classic Trial, a Production Car Trial, two speed events, four social runs, four gymkhanas and a couple of autotests. Entrants (and passengers for social events) are automatically entered into the SW Centre Drivers Championship - this year 120 of you were awarded points. The winner was Rob Orford with his MGB GT (hooray!), very closely followed up by Dave Mothersdill (TC and Midget) and your scribe (MGB GT). The top ten includes an 18/80, T-types, MGBs, Midgets and MGFs - so anybody can do well. The championship is not taken too seriously because nothing should get in the way of the fun!
We're finalising the calendar of events for 2005 as I write. If you have any last minute ideas, please let us know as soon as possible. Social events seem to be the most popular, closely followed by gymkhanas (which are competitive, but barely so). Speed events provide most of our income and are well supported, although mostly by invited clubs - it would be a delight so see a full field of MGs at Wiscombe! Your committee can only respond to your comments, suggestions and requests if we know about them. Despite publishing my address on each and every set of Notes, I only received a solitary e-mail. Is everything really that rosy in the SW Centre? Please give the committee some feedback, good or bad.
Finally, the winter months give me the opportunity to show you a few pictures from warmer days. I'm always telling you about the wide range of MGs at our events. This month's photo from the social run to the Shelsey Walsh Festival provides all the evidence I need…..
Happy New Year, and Safety Fast!
See you soon?
Neil Lock
neil@port-z.fsnet.co.uk
01275 817915 (before 9pm please)
SW Centre website: www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgccsw