Michèle and I spent a rainy August Bank Holiday Monday setting the route for the Bristol Sunday Lunch Run (which will be done and dusted by the time you read these notes). With wipers on and headlamps blazing, it was hard to believe that summer was 'nearly' over.
Just one 2004 event left to tell you about: the Kimber PCT on Sunday 24th October. Bruce Weston is looking for a replacement venue as the usual field is going into 'stewardship' (something to do with the EU). Therefore, unless you have sent your entry in advance, you should call him before setting off to find out where to go. His number is 01963 440941.
Next, a date for your diaries. The SW Centre Dinner and Dance will be held on Saturday 5th March 2005 at the Limpley Stoke Hotel. More details next month.
I was right in supposing that Safety Fast would be chock full of Silverstone stuff last month. I did think that the California Cup warranted more than a couple of sentences and an arbitrary photograph, so I'm going to indulge myself in a whole paragraph. The autotests were laid out in a large car park just outside the main gate. The entry of forty two cars covered the entire MG age range right up to the MGF. A Midget was the car to have if you had pretensions of winning, but the MGB's and a couple of the T-Types were not that far behind. The California Cup was won by the Ulster centre, the BMC Trophy by the Abingdon Works Centre and the Register Trophy by the MMM Team. Modesty prevents me from reporting the fastest SW member.
The Mendip PCT on Sunday 8th August was not well supported, but that did mean that those of us who took part managed to get to the pub before the rain started. The keenly contested event was won by Gerald Burridge in his PB, although Dave Mothersdill was close behind in his TA special (did anyone check if it's got 4WD too?). I was a long way behind (in a different field sometimes) but can report that I had tremendous fun. You really ought to give it a go.
On Sunday 22nd August, 41 members and their guests enjoyed a memorable day at Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb. Phil Archer has filed an excellent report that I will save to brighten up the dark days of winter.
The Chew Valley Gymkhana was held on Sunday 22nd August in the usual field. A huge entry of 21 (using 19 cars) enjoyed a full day of driving tests organised by Dave Coppock. With Russ Morgan out of action with toothache, it fell upon your scribe to provide the entertainment with a huge one-and-a-half turn spin on the long test. Clive Holloway managed to contain his spin to one turn, which I suppose is testament to the handling of the MGF! Bruce Morgan didn't spin at all, and turned out overall winner - I think there's a moral in that story somewhere… The picture comes from my own camera this month and shows an earnest-looking Andrew Owst 'all crossed up' in the Midget.
See you soon?
Neil
Neil Lock
neil@port-z.fsnet.co.uk
01275 817915 (before 9pm please)
SW Centre website: www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgccsw