Newsletter—June 2015
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Northants and Bedfordshire Area Robert Grounds at Prescott Hill Climb in May 2015 PHOTO THANKS TO PETER BAKER NEXT MEETINGS 8 pm Monday 29th June 8 pm Monday 27th July 8 pm Monday 24th August rea meetings are usually held on the last Monday of each month—at Towcester Mill Brewery, Chantry Lane, Towcester. AGoing south on the A5 Watling Street turn left into Chantry Lane in the centre of Towcester. The nearest postcode for your sat nav is NN12 6AD. Map ref: 152/694488 For further information on area meetings contact HRCR N&B Area Co-ordinator, Northants and David Holmes Bedfordshire Area [email protected] Area Co-Ordinator’s Pace Notes… from David Holmes am pleased to report that Fredo Domaine Fourtanier’s wine travels well and was just as I had sampled it when Peter Collier delivered my purchases on his recent visit to the UK at the end I of May. Historic Marathon Rally Show Fun Farm Day After a pleasant evening, he and I then attended A little reminder from David the Historic Marathon Rally Show at Gaydon on Yorke, of the Midlands area is the Sunday. I am not sure what the organisers had that newly appointed HRCR planned but the cars on display were quite varied Vice President Richard and maybe not exactly connected to a Marathon Prosser has offered them event as far as I could see. Peter C spent time on a fun day at his farm on the the Club Triumph stand which at least did have 12th July. The farm is near Patrick Walker’s two pucker Marathon PI cars Junctions 9 and 10 on the on display. However it was nice to catch up with M42. They are assured that Tony Mason (I bought his book at last), Barrie the field will be smooth and Williams, Cal Withers, Rob Lyall and a few more unslurried(!). Catering will be of the more local faces, who brightened the damp self-service, people bringing and cold day. their own picnics. Organisers and helpers are needed for the running of the event which it is hoped will be Three Castles Rally supported by many of the Region’s Members and their For me it was then off to Llandudno on the friends. Tuesday for the Three Castles Rally. There is a report later on in the newsletter, but Anthony Where and time: Waste Farm, Hurley Common CV9 2LR: Proceedings to start at noon, with grass autotesting Garside and I finished th12 overall and won the Team prize with Mark and Sue Godfrey, in their and the like beginning at about 1300hrs. MGA, who finished nd2 overall and Mike Cornwell Please contact David Y at [email protected] and Andrew Duerden in their MGB, 7th overall for further details. but missed their class win by one second! John Gearing navigating for Doug Carmichael, in Mercian Road Rally another MGB, were 9th o/a and 1st in class, while Later in the year is the Mercian Road Rally, on Alan Sayer with Willy Cave were further down September 19th/20th. A night road rally starting from the the order. It was a great event, good competition, Southam Tyres Depot in Southam and finishing at the good company and good hospitality. Fred Bent Great Western pub in Deppers Bridge. certainly put his stamp on it, but even so one to Mercia are inviting entries from the HRCR (it is a round do again next year. of the HRCR Premier Road Rally Championship). Meeting Plans There will be a special test on private land. They are offering goodie bags to marshals and I understand free My plans for a visit to Oselli Engineering in breakfasts to marshals. Milton Keynes have been put on hold as extensive building work has greatly overrun and There is a link from Rugby Motor Club’s web site. at the moment www.rugbymotorclub.co.uk they cannot accommodate us. At short notice I Also from the Rugby have invited Mike Motor Club website, Broad to join us on I found this picture our next meeting— of David all dressed Monday 29th June. up to accept the club presidency!—Ed I am still planning a Classic Car display for the 27th July and Travel safe and enjoy have invited Terry whatever you do in Kaby to join us the your Classic. following month, the 24th August. David H Northants and Page Bedfordshire Area Newsletter—June 2015 2 W Down Under Editorial From Nick Wright—Editor In Chief ist, a big “Thank You” to Monica for producing the last R two newsletters while we were gallivanting around Europe. We managed to take in the May HRCR N&B I F meeting while we were there, so we caught up with a few of you and enjoyed John Davenport’s talk. Our European trip was enjoyable; Mitch and We then spent three weeks visiting friends and G the boys represented Australia well in the U19 relations in Sweden and the UK. We managed to World Floorball Championships in Helsingborg, take in some motorsport by travelling to Scotland Sweden. They raised their World ranking by two to the Colin McRae Rally Festival at Knockhill. As H places, so all in all it was a successful campaign. well as the single venue rally to watch, there were On a personal note, Mitch scored a goal in the several displays—both static and on-track—of final minute of each of the first two matches— various rally cars. They had assembled almost T not bad for a player selected as a defender and every car that Colin ever drove—from his Vauxhall who was transferred to a forward position after Nova to his WRC Citroën Xsara; there were the training camp held at Eerikkila in Finland the many, many Group B cars and lots of Subarus, I week before the championships. many that carried Colin’s name. While the boys were off at camp, Glad and The rally itself had many famous names and lots N I explored Helsinki and surrounds. We of interesting cars—I don’t think I’ve ever seen so have decided that Finland warrants further many Mk2 Escorts together at any time—but not exploration, so it’s on our list for next time one of them sounded like I remember an Escort G around! Maybe we will travel later in the year, did when new! Drivers included Alister McRae (in though—there was too much snow about in his replica works Proton Satria), Jimmy McRae April! We are not used to snow—especially in (Sierra Cosworth), Stig Blomqvist (V8 Firenza), S a capital city! Kris Meeke (the aforementioned Citroën Xsara), plus many well-known names from the Scottish During the championships, Glad and I did and British rally scenes as well as plenty of circuit nothing other than attend the matches with the other 15- racers. Fittingly, the event was won by Australian 20 Australians who had made the trip. Apart from the resident Alister McRae. Scandinavian countries and the nearby Baltic countries, I think Australia had the largest cheer squad of all! As After the event, many famous names sat in a forum the team had never played together as a team before to discuss their achievements and recount stories leaving home (the tyranny of Australian distance!), they about Colin McRae—and to have a go at other constantly improved throughout the championships. members of the panel! We were lucky enough We were very proud of Mitch’s performance; but we did to sit in the front row, within touching distance of have a scare during the 13th place play-off match against Alister, Jimmy, Stig, Kris as well as Derek Ringer, Canada. Approaching the end of the game, Mitch and Hannu Mikkola, Arne Hertz, Nicky Grist. one of the Canadians were racing for the ball and collided My own motorsport activities have heavily—the Canadians are all ice-hockey come to very little since returning. I players so know about physical contact— still haven’t sorted out my steering Mitch bounced off him and flew backwards problem, so couldn’t make it to over the side-boards, landing at the feet the recent Autocross. Every of the players on the Canadian bench; other event I had planned many reports suggest that a Canadian to do seems to have had a hand helped him on his way. When he change of date so there are didn’t surface for some time, Glad and many that I can no longer I quickly extricated ourselves do! Hopefully by next from our seat and went around month the picture will the court to where Mitch was look a little brighter! now on his feet on his way down the tunnel to the medical Thanks for the articles area. The doctor gave him a and photos that make full examination—his shoulder this a good read— was very sore and bruised— keep them coming. but announced there was no Till next month, from injury other than the bruising; Down Under— he suggested it would be wise Nick to sit out the rest of the game. Northants and Page Bedfordshire Area Newsletter—June 2015 3 The Three Castles Welsh Classic Trial 3rd-6th June 2015 from David Holmes nthony Garside and I set off for Llandudno on the Tuesday and were met by improving weather as the days passed. After a pleasant evening meal with Mark and A Sue Godfrey, and my sister, the Wednesday morning dawned with Scrutineering and Documentation being achieved with no problems followed by the Prologue event in the afternoon.