The events 'season' will be almost over by the time you get to read these Notes. The last 'local' event will be the Bristol Pegasus Sprint at Castle Combe on Saturday 21st October, organised by our friends from the Bristol Pegasus Motor Club. The sprint usually attracts a reasonable number of MGs, including a handful from the SW Centre. Why not come along to watch? Entry to the circuit is free and there are some splendid spectator areas at Combe. Providing I get an entry, I'll offer a passenger ride in the convoy run to the first person who expresses an interest. If there is lots of interest (which I sadly doubt on the basis of experience), I'll do all I can to persuade the other SW entrants to do likewise. The final 'official' SW Centre event of the year is the Kimber Production Car Trial is on Sunday 22nd October. There are a few scores to be settled after the Mendip Trial! If you don't fancy entering, you could come along to spectate - and the best place way to get close to the action is to marshal at the same time… Contact Bruce Weston for an entry form or to volunteer your services; his number is 01963 440941.
Phil Archer e-mailed a report on the run to Shelsey Walsh Hillclimb, saying that 25 members and guests had a fantastic day out. The Hill Record fell again - which doesn't seem terribly exciting to me as it always happens when the SW Centre shows up! There was plenty of MG action to watch, with a Turbo 6R4, MGB, MG Special, a couple of Midgets, a nice Frog Eye Sprite (which is almost an MG, I suppose) and a splendid K3 in the paddock. A Spitfire (although Phil isn't specific, I'm assuming that it was the flying kind) entertained the crowds during the lunch break, and an enjoyable cross country run back, with a pub meal in Tintern completed a happy day.
I will not say much about the Wiscombe Hillclimb as I am expecting a report to appear elsewhere in Safety Fast! I did get a brief 'report' from John Bird though, who e-mailed to say that the weather was "perfect" and that there was time for a third timed run. MGCC entries were apparently disappointing, which is a pity as Bruce Morgan e-mailed to report the event to be "the best anyone can remember". I'll be there next year; will you?
Although the 'competitive' events are almost done and dusted, Natters continue throughout the winter months. Winter is the time those of us fortunate enough to have a heated (or attached) garage spend fettling our MGs. If you are doing likewise, or are planning to do likewise once the weather gets warm again, why not go along to your local Natter for inspiration, encouragement or technical advice?
I'll close this month with a picture that got squeezed out of the Notes last month as I over-stepped the word-quota. It is of Russell Morgan kicking up the dust in his Midget at a Gymkhana: sorry, forgot which one, Russ!
Neil
neil@port-z.fsnet.co.uk
01275 817915 (before 9pm please)
SW Centre website: www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgccsw