Hello again! I am hoping that you will read this in time to remind you that our Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 2nd March at the Ring O' Bells in Compton Martin, south of Bristol. If you need a map or directions then please visit the website, send me an e-mail or give me a ring.
Last month I promised to give the novices amongst you a brief description of the different types of event on the calendar for 2004. So, in a rough sort of order starting with the least competitive, here goes. Will all egg-sucking grandmothers please accept my apologies in advance….
Social Run: To clarify a misconception, no actual running is required. A social, or road run is a scenic drive between two or more points of interest purely for the fun of it. Sometimes lunch is involved (Sunday Lunch Run on 19th September), sometimes there is a final objective (Road Run to Shelsley Walsh Festival on 15th August) and sometimes the run is just a good excuse to enjoy your MG amongst like minded people in beautiful countryside (Wye Valley Social Run on 23rd May or Dorset Social Run on 11th July).
Navigational Scatter: A navigational scatter, or naviscat, is a bit like a social run except you have to make up your own route. A navigator is most definitely required - crews are provided with a series of map references that they plot (draw) onto a map. They then have to decide the route to visit as many of those points as possible, picking up clues on the way. Some think of it as a glorified treasure hunt. Why not enter the Cheddar Valley Naviscat on 18th April? My name's already on the trophy, but there are class awards to play for!
Gymkhana: A gymkhana is 'sort of' along the lines of the horsey kind, but obviously there are some detail differences. The event usually consists of a number of 'tests' set out in a field that involve driving around cones while sometimes doing something else besides. Passengers are normally required to help with the 'something else besides'. Gymkhanas are popular, so there are three on our calendar - near Bath on 6th June (note change of date), at Pucklechuch (north Bristol) on 18th July and in the Chew Valley on 22nd August.
Autotest: If it were possible for a gymkhana to have a big brother, then it would be an Autotest. Normally held on tarmac (in a large car-park) autotests are a bit faster, a bit trickier and a bit more competitive than gymkhanas. The principles are the same, although timing is more precise and marshals are more conscientious when it comes to reporting errors and omissions! Our California Cup Autotests are held at MGCC Silverstone on 25th July and the Patchway Autotests are in Bristol on 26th September.
Production Car Trial (PCT): This is an event that I have never really understood. A twisty course is laid out, up a steep hill in a field. The objective is to get as far up the hill as you can - the further you get, the fewer points you get. Repeat this for a couple more courses on the same site and the driver with the fewest points is the winner. Passengers are very handy as ballast (apparently). We have two PCT's on the calendar - the Mendip Production Car Trial on 8th August and the Kimber Production Car Trial on 24th October.
Classic Trial: A Classic Trial is much the same as Production Car Trial, except that the twisty courses are on different sites linked by road sections. Our Kimber Classic Trial on 24th April sets the standard.
If you are unsure about entering an event, why not call the organiser for more details or turn up to watch? If you choose to spectate, bring you membership card so that you can make a last minute entry if the event takes your fancy. Entry fees are normally no more than a tenner and you may win an award to impress the neighbours.
Next month I'll tell you about sprints and hillclimbs, as well as extolling the virtues of marshalling at an event. See you then!
Neil
01275 817915 (before 9pm please)