Wiscombe Hill Climb 12 September
The main South West Centre event which
took place at the beginning of September was Wiscombe Hill Climb, near Sidmouth
in Devon. There was a huge entry of over 135 cars ranging from Vintage and MMM
cars, a few MGAs, Midgets and MGBs and a tremendous number of Caterham Sevens.
The remaining entries consisted of six Reliant Scimitars, one each of other
makes too numerous to mention and finally a few single seaters. The weather was
glorious which was just as well as it was a long day, partly because of the
large entry but mainly because the event was hardly incident free. Early on
during practise, Ian McKay rolled his immaculate MG J2 in the Esses but
thankfully was unhurt. During the afternoon runs one of the Caterhams and a
Lotus both left the track at Bunny’s Leap, and ended up in the trees. Once again
the drivers happily suffered no injury even if the same could not be said about
their bank balance.
For those who have never visited this event, it is really worthwhile making the effort as the hill is in a beautiful setting, and the friendly atmosphere of the meeting is what a club meeting is all about. Better still come and marshal as offers for marshalling are always welcome and you get the best view of all the fun. Our thanks are due to Bruce Weston who organised the meeting, ably assisted by Jon Pittard and Dave Mothersdill. Our thanks also to all the other officials and marshals as without their presence there would be no hillclimb.
South West Centre Inaugural Treasure Hunt 4
October
It is many years since the South West
Centre organised a treasure hunt, if ever in living memory, but your committee
decided to give it try. Dave Coppock and Dave Mothersdill did a superb job
organising the meeting which started at a café near Cheddar. After a jaunt
across the Somerset Levels and then up onto the Mendips, we ended up at the
Crown at Regil, where we all enjoyed an excellent lunch. The route instructions
were excellent so no one got lost and the clues were just right with everyone
getting most of them, but sufficient clues just a tad harder to ensure the tie
breaker did not come into play to select the winner. However what was really
disappointing, was the very low entry of only five cars. These consisted of
myself in the TC, Alan Diamond MGB, Jeremy Hawke in Mum’s Midget, Jim Lott Metro
Turbo(not that the turbo would have kicked in on this event!) and Chris Warden
in a modern MG TF. Considering the amount of work put in by the organisers it is
not much incentive to do something different when there are so few entries. The
event was hardly taxing, and what better than a steady drive in one’s MG through
beautiful countryside for two and a half hours ending up at an excellent pub
where the landlord made us most welcome. Assuming we run this event next year
please make a special effort to participate, you will enjoy.
Details of the winners of awards at the above events can be found on the South West Centre website www/mg-cars.org.uk/mgccsw/
Future Dates for your Diary
By the time you read these notes all South West Centre motoring events will
have happened. However there are a couple of festive activities i.e. on evening
of Tuesday 1st December there is an informal dinner at the Ring O Bells, Compton
Martin which coincides with the usual natter night on the first Tuesday of each
month. If you wish to join us we are taking names on each natter night prior or
you can contact myself by email or phone, details above.
The Annual South West Centre dinner will be
held once again at Limpley Stoke Hotel near Bath on Saturday 20 February.
Finally the photo was taken prior to the start of the Treasure Hunt in the car
park of the Lillyput Café, Shipham.
Andrew Owst
