Safety Fast! Notes for September 2008

Well here we are and summer is virtually over, the nights are drawing in, chilly winds will soon begin etc. etc. Thankfully, however, the fun is not yet over as your tireless chums on the much admired (and under appreciated) South West Committee still hold before you the splendid Wiscombe Park Hill Climb on the 13th of this month—the venue is near Honiton in Devon (that’s EX24 6JE for those with Sat Nav or you could tap it into Google and a map will magically appear). A number of drivers believe that Wiscombe Park is one of, if not the, most challenging hills in the national championship. Once you have witnessed the drivers fighting their machines through the camber changes of The Esses and then rounding the hairpins at Sawbench and Martini it becomes obvious that this is very much a ‘drivers’ hill and as such a wonderful spectator spectacle (it says on their web site !). For all details (probably a bit late to enter now but always worth a try) can be found here or you could pick up the ‘phone and call Bruce Weston on 01963 440 941. This is the S.W. Centre’s premier event and well worth going to—not only M.G.s but lots of other historic, exotic and expensive machinery to boot—some of it disgustingly fast.

We also have an invitation to the almost as exciting Auto-Solo at Chepstow Race Course (NP16 6BE)—alas the details I have are a bit sketchy but it is on the 20th of the month and John Delafield will have all the details to hand on 01453 544 497 or there may be something on the Web site by now http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgccsw/

The last I heard Dave Coppock (01934 834 429) was still holding the enchanting Treasure Hunt on the 5th of October—no idea where it is to be held but probably somewhere in the South West Centre ! Now would be a good time to check on http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgccsw/ for up-to-date information.

Then, lastly, the pinnacle of exhilaration and excitement the Kimber Production Car Trial (and yes yours is a production car so you can enter) on the 19th October at the curiously names Pagans Hill Farm, Chew Stoke (BS40 8UN). Again all details and entry forms can be had from http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgccsw/

Aficionados of the famed South West Centre Drivers Championship and who have followed the jockeying for positions over the season by viewing the ever mounting number of results at http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgccsw/ and follow the link to Championship, will doubtless be aware that Wiscombe Park Hill Climb, the Treasure Hunt and Kimber PCT are the final points scoring events so the winner will be know and made public as soon after the 19th of October as humanly possible.

In passing, at time of writing (early August) the cars in the top 10 places overall are Metro, TC. TC, Metro/MGF, Metro, MGB, PB, TF and MGF and you cant get much more of a mixed bag that that ! Isn’t it about time you entered something ?

The scores for the recent Chew Valley Gymkhana will not have been added by the time you read this so Mike Hawk (J2), Mike Wright (TD), Ian Webb, Russ Morgan and Phil Archer (all in Midgets), Jim Lot and Sam Brown (in a Metro) will be added in very soon.

The earlier Pucklechurch Gymkhana had to be cancelled as the farmer, rather unsportingly, decided to turn the venue into a golf course without letting us know ! We are presently seeking another site to the north of Bristol—if you know anywhere suitable I know that Jon Pittard would be delighted to hear from you on 01275 879 632.

Well that’s about it for now. Andrew Oust will be recording the goings on for the October notes so give him a call on 01761 221 893 if you have anything you would like included (but do so before the 12th of September) then we have Bruce Morgan scribing something scintillating for the November effort to be in by 15th October so call him on 01275 790 855 if you can think of anything that may be of interest. Again may I remind you that for the very latest information, action pictures and much, much more please go to http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgccsw/

Until we meet again…….

Peter Jones pv2@pv.gotadsl.co.uk 01225 837 545