I hate deadlines! I am writing this in between coming home from holiday and trying to arrange marshals etc for our Wiscombe Park hill climb event in Two days time! Still I do think the Weather is going to be kind.
Enough of my rantings, on to other matters. Later in October, the 18th to be precise, my old mate Bruce Weston is hopefully organising the Kimber PCT, a great little trial near Chew Stoke, Bristol. Suitable for most cars due to its non-damaging field but you will have to wash them as it is still made of mud! Give him a phone on 01963440941 to enter or help/marshal (I marshalled last year and will again this year, great fun).
Towards the end of the month (The 25th October) John Bird is organising a social run to take in a NT property in the Wye valley area, contact him by e-mail (johnbird@fsmail.net) I am sure he will enjoy your company for the day (as you will his).
That is the last event or gathering we have in the calendar for 2009 but don’t forget that Andy Owst organises a small meal @ the “Ring of Bells” Natter on the first Tuesday in December, which this year is the 1st of the month, give him a call to book your place.
I have been given a report about the aero day that Tony Blake organised back in
July. It was a charity event with moneys going to the Air Ambulance Appeal, a
great day out with a difference!
The South West’s annual Auto Aero picnic had
a special exemption from foul weather this year! It took a special deal with the
weathermen but we got sunshine all day even if a bit blustery. Even this was not
enough to stop half a dozen lovely Auster light planes and an exceptional pre
war Percival Vega Gull which flew in to join us down at Henstridge airfield in
Somerset; so thanks to our friends from the Auster Club. In the air the star
turn was the giraffe painted autogyro, whizzing down the runway 10 foot off the
ground and pulling up to make a sharp turn. But the real rotary wing stuff was
demonstrated by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance which dashed off to three
emergency calls but not before showing a number of people the kit that they
carry and how it’s used.
On the ground we had an incomparable collection of MGA and MGBs, and a special
welcome went out to the members of the local branch of the Sprite and Midget
club who have graduated to MGB and joined us for the day, more than welcome to
you all and please come and join us more often.
Picnic’s are a chance to play games and have an outing, so thanks to Ian Fraser
from the Henstridge Aero Club who led almost the entire gathering in a tour of
the hangars to view the collection of experimental, homebuilt and personal
aircraft on the site.
As for fun and games thanks to Jim Lott for marshalling the mini-gymkhana, where
we had two courses, one for the morning and one in the afternoon. It’s an
opportunity for the old hands to have a go at some familiar tests and newcomers
to try the delights of gymkana-ing on grass for the first time. As it happened
Mike Hawke’s skilful handing showed how to do it; glad the diff got you home.
But Dave Jackson in his Midget set the quickest time in his very first attempt.
Last year Dave came down for the first time and he was so fired up by the event
he bought a Midget and came back all the way from Wolverhampton again this year.
I hear he experienced the full range of delights of owning an MG as he had to
call the AA to fix the exhaust somewhere near Gloucester on the way home.
Perhaps we should not have all borrowed his Midget to have a go as well!
As Henstridge is the home of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance we had Wendy
and Richard, who are their ace collectors, along to help with the raffle and the
£250 proceeds from that and the event all go to the Air Ambulance. We also have
a super DVD of the event made by Terry and Finbar Donavan. I’ve got ten copies
of this and £5 will secure you a copy, all the proceeds from this will also go
to the Air Ambulance Appeal so just email me at tonyblake38@hotmail.com for the
details.
Thanks must also go to Joe Williams the airfield manager at Henstridge for
letting us have the run of the place, Brian for getting the grass prepared for
the mini-gymkhana and the ladies in the restaurant for the unending supply of
bacon sandwiches and all the other goodies.
Tony Blake
That did sound good, and as I said before a little different, thanks for that Tony. The two pictures were taken at the aero day.
Regards to you all
Jon Pittard.