The Acorn June 2007

The Sevenoaks & District Motor Club

Top Left: Darren Tyre - Class 1st Top Right: Chris Penfold - Class 1st Middle Left: Chris Judge - 5th Centre: Daren Hall - FTD Middle Right: Chris Rose - Class 1st

Ralph Travers - Class 2nd Steve Thompson - Class 2nd Autotest May 24th 2007 CLUB CONTACTS CLUB CONTACTS Sevenoaks and District Motor Club Ltd. CONTACTS CLUB PRESIDENT: J Symes VICE PRESIDENT: V EIford

ACORN MAGAZINE June 2007

The Editor, Committee and Club do not necessarily agree with items and opinions expressed within ACORN magazine

OFFICERS and COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN; Chin, TROPHY RECORDS [email protected] KEEPER:

DEPUTY CHAIR; Andy Elcomb, SECRETARY; [email protected] MEMBERSHIP SEC:

TREASURER: Clive Cooke, [email protected]

COMPETITION SEC; Ian Crocker, WEBMASTER: [email protected]

SPEED LEAGUE Karen Webber, CHAMP CO-ORD: [email protected]

RALLY SECRETARY: Iain Gibson,

CHIEF MARSHAL: Philip Fawcett, [email protected]

ACORN EDITOR; Dawn Travers, CHILD PROTECTION [email protected] OFFICER:

SOCIAL SECRETARY: Daniel Whittington, [email protected]

PRESS & PR: Suze Bisping, [email protected]

PRESS & PR: Steve Thompson, [email protected]

WEB ACORN: Ralph Travers, [email protected]

Website - www.sevenoaksmotorclub.com

PLEASE NOTE: COPY DATE FOR JULY ACORN WILL BE 18TH JUNE

Wednesday 20th June 2007 Noggin & Natter from 8:30pm at The Lion, High Street, Farningham, Kent. DA4 0DP

You can e-mail copy to [email protected] I will also accept copy on disc or CD-Rom; on paper (typed or handwritten) or by ‘phone for juicy gossip.

- 1 - COMMITTEE COMMITTEE COMMITTEE CCC (Chairman Chin’s Chat) Editorial Ramblings

f I thought April was busy I should have been o what does this month’s Acorn hold for your warned about May! Work-wise it’s almost im- entertainment and delight? Well several mem- Ipossible, but there’s light at the end of the Sbers have sent in articles of their various ac- tunnel – June should be a doddle (I’ll let you tivities over the past few weeks (for which I thank know)! Motor sport has had to take a back seat you all for your efforts). Plus I have included an arti- cle about our esteemed Vice President, Vic Elford, – – – so, having missed most of the first Evening FROM THE CHAIR FROM THE CHAIR FROM THE CHAIR which we have been allowed to reproduce from “Full Autotest as it clashed with an ASEMC Council Throttle” magazine. For the younger members who Meeting, I also missed the second. I’m told that may not be aware, Vic is a driver from a generation everyone had fun, which is what it’s about, de- when racing drivers did a bit of everything from For- spite the very wet first evening and that there mula 1 to Le Mans to Rallying to club circuit racing. are plenty of you having a go. I’m told that the Vic still comes over from Florida to take part in the number of marshals is a little short so where are Stoneleigh historic meeting and of course the Good- all those Speed League folk who were worried wood Festival of Speed, where he recently could be about qualifying with enough marshalling seen driving a Chaparral 2J “sucker car” with a points? Stacey Thompson is in charge of the 7Oaks sticker on it! Autotests again this year and is making a thor- Full Throttle is a new(ish) magazine that has grassroots motorsport at its heart. Why not search it oughly good job of it and putting in a lot of effort, out next time you are looking for something a bit dif-

let’s find a few more people to help her out. ferent to MSN. I haven’t had a chance to look for it There’s a lot going on at the higher levels of yet, but Suze Bisping and Steve Thompson have organisation; what with the proposed future of been in touch with the editor and I believe the publi- Stage Rallying in the proposed future technical cation will be running a feature on our club very regs known as K37, we’re also trying to make soon. If you local newsagent doesn’t have it in life easier for grass roots events. The first stock, why not order it? It would be great to see change we’re trying for is the removal of the re- something like this take off and be successful as quirement for an MOT on vehicles taking part in there is not much about for the true grass roots en- thusiast apart from various motorclubs’ own maga- PCTs and bring them into line with Autotests. zines. The next issue of Full Throttle will be out on The MSA is also looking at ways to make start- 14th June, available from WH Smith, Tescos, Co-Op ing motor sport at club level easier – but the etc. Give it a look. process is only at the beginning so don’t hold The 2nd round of the Autotest series has been your breath. and gone and the 3rd round will be upon us shortly. Ralph has been taking the Team Travers’ Nissan for 2020 Rally a drive and has found it a surprisingly good substi- tute for our faithful Vectra (and a lot shorter too!) The final date for your diary! th Mazda will never see this kind of treatment (well not The 2020 is now June 30 /July 1st start- for a good few years). Ralph was very chuffed to A ing in Vigo and finishing at the Maid- come away with a pot on the last event for 2nd in stone Services again. Ninety odd miles at a re- class. Hmm I think I need to see what I can do in my alistic average to finish by 1.00am and not as car, maybe it is my turn next time. quick a schedule as last year. It was surprising to hear that the event struggled I hadn’t realised how many of our friends for marshals, hopefully that will sort itself out for next were involved with Goodwood so I’ve had to time. Good to see a couple of very young drivers avoid that date. giving it a go too. Autotesting is an excellent way of I’ll need lots of marshals so here’s the learning car control and I think some of the young drivers I have seen around lately could do with that. chance to earn your qualifying points, either for We had an incident outside our house a couple of Speed League or for Rose & Crown. Although weeks ago when a young man over took a parked it’s not a very long effort I’ll call it a full event as car too fast on our blind bend and had a head on col- it will run past most of your bedtimes. lision with a car coming in the opposite direction. Phone me before I phone you! 01732 Luckily the more mature lady driver of the other car 823132 or email [email protected] was going at a more appropriate speed and was able to slow down in time, but not enough to save either Chin of the cars from looking severely second hand! Quite shocking. Ralph noticed that the young man’s car had been modified in that max power large exhaust pipe way. Got something to say? Shame the kid couldn’t drive to the road conditions, Deadline for June Acorn will he may have been able to continue to cherish and look after his car instead of sending it to the scrap be 18th June yard. Dawn Travers

- 2 - COMPETITION CALENDAR 2007 FORTHCOMING EVENTS

DATE EVENT ORGANISING CLUB / Contact LOCATION Status Champ Round Grass Weald MC (7Oaks): Contact Stacey Thomp- Farningham CS 7th June Autotest son 0208 3002609 Sprint Abingdon CS Regionals; 9th June Sutton & Cheam MC: TBA Carnival 7SL Grass Weald MC (Maidstone): Ann Cook 01634 Headcorn Airfield CS 13th June Autotest 364021 or email [email protected] MR 188/848829 Grass Weald MC (7Oaks): Contact Stacey Thomp- Farningham CS 21st June Autotest son 0208 3002609 Lydden Hill, Nat Regionals; 23rd June Sprint B19: John Sharpe [email protected] Nr Canterbury A & B 7SL

Grass Weald MC (Maidstone): Ann Cook 01634 Headcorn Airfield CS 27th June Autotest 364021 or email [email protected] MR 188/848829 30th June/ Weald MC (7Oaks): Chin 01732 823132 Start at Vigo CS 20/20 Rally 1st July [email protected] Village Hall Bristol MC: Comp Sec Glyn Hopkins Castle Combe Nat B Regionals; 30th June Sprint [email protected] 7SL Grass Weald MC (7Oaks): Contact Stacey Thomp- Farningham CS 5th July Autotest son 0208 3002609 Grass Weald MC (Maidstone): Ann Cook 01634 Headcorn Airfield CS 11th July Autotest 364021 or email [email protected] MR 188/848829 Grass Weald MC (7Oaks): Contact Stacey Thomp- Farningham CS 19th July Autotest son 0208 3002609 Llandow Nat B Regionals; 21st July Sprint BARC (Wales): Anita Williams on 01792 893800 7SL Swansea MC: Alun Morgan 01792 884713 Lys-Y-Fran Nat B ACSMC; 22nd July Hillclimb Regs available on Swansea’s website Wales 7Oaks SL Grass Weald MC (7Oaks): Contact Stacey Thomp- Farningham CS 29th July Autotest son 0208 3002609 (All day) Grass Weald MC (Maidstone): Ann Cook 01634 Headcorn Airfield CS 1st August Autotest 364021 or email [email protected] MR 188/848829 BARC (Yorks): Christopher Seaman 01142 Harewood Nat B Regionals; 5th August Hillclimb 585695 or email [email protected] 7SL BARC (Midlands): Noreen Ward 01455 824494 Curborough Nat B Regionals; 11th August Sprint or email [email protected] 7SL Grass Weald MC (Maidstone): Ann Cook 01634 Headcorn Airfield CS 15th August Autotest 364021 or email [email protected] MR 188/848829 7Oaks DMC: Suze Bisping 07986 445053 or North Weald Nat B Regionals; 26th August Sprint email [email protected] 7SL Tunbridge Wells MC: Gary Goodin 01892 Nat B Regionals; 8th Sept Sprint 516365 7Oaks SL Woolbridge MC: Check www.woolbridge.co. Longleat Nat B Regionals; 22nd Sept Hillclimb uk from mid-July 7Oaks SL Debden Nat B Regionals; 7th October Sprint Herts County AC: 7Oaks SL For further information contact :- Competition Secretary: Ian Crocker 01892 546006 email: [email protected] Speed League contact : Karen Webber: 01732 875091 email: [email protected]

- 3 - OFF ROAD OFF ROAD OFF ROAD Curtains for Blondes WEALD MOTOR CLUB LTD SUMMER AUTOTEST SERIES 2007 Blonde enters a store that sells curtains. A She tells the salesman,” I would like to buy Sevenoaks & DMC on behalf of Weald MC a pair of pink curtains." will organise a clubsport status series of The salesman assures her that they have a

grass autotests on the following dates in large selection of pink curtains. He shows 2007: her several patterns, but the blond seems to be having a hard time choosing. Finally she selects THURSDAYS June 7, June 21, a lovely pink floral print. The salesman then July 5, July 19 and asks what size curtains she needs. The blond SUNDAY July 29 promptly replies, "fifteen inches." "Fifteen inches???" asked the salesman. at COLDHARBOUR FARM, "That sounds very small, what room are they FARNINGHAM MR 177/540670 for?" The blond tells him that they aren't for a

Call Stacey Thompson on room, they are for her computer monitor. 0208 300 2609 for Regs & Entry Form. The surprised salesman replies, "but Miss, computers do not need curtains!” Sevenoaks Members aged under 21 will The blond says, "Hellllooooooooo .. I've got have their entry fee paid for them by the Windoooooows!" club, upon production of valid club card and proof of age. Summer Autotest Series 2007 PLUS Round 1 – May 10 The Maidstone & Mid Kent Motor Club Ltd. will organise a clubsport status Grass ast Thursday saw the start of this years’ Eve- Autotest series, at ning Autotest series. The weather, I must ad- HEADCORN AERODROME, KENT Lmit, was not up to last year’s standards but (MR 188/848829) that did not deter the 34 (yes you read it right, 34!) competitors who turned up. on the following Wednesdays in 2007:- Unfortunately, we didn’t do so well on the marshal May 30th; June 13th, 27th; July 11th & front and barely managed the amount needed to August 1st, 15th. man the tests. So, if you know anyone who is at a Phone: loose end on any of our dates and fancies a night out Dave or Ann Cook on 01634 364021 for getting dusty (or rained on – they’ll love it honest) please ask them to contact me. more information. Class A was the largest class as always with 17 Production Car class for Junior Drivers aged competitors. CHRIS JUDGE came first in his mini 14-17 available with JIM BOWIE of Chelmsford in second and BRIAN SHARPE of Maidstone in third. FTD was taken by DAREN HALL in his Nova. Class B was won by CHRIS PENFOLD in his Golf Marshals required for with STEVE HATTON and his Rover not far behind Autotest events in second and he was only 1.5 seconds in front of SUZE BISPING who managed a very impressive third in her first ever Autotest. If you are able to help on any Class C had only one entry so was combined with of the dates, please give the Class D. This combined class was won by Blackpal- frey’s CRAIG MCGURK in the Marina who was an organisers a ring. impressive 20 seconds ahead of Chelmsford’s SHANE KEILTHY who came in second in his VX220. Don’t forget 2 evenings at DARREN TYRE won Class E in his Healey. All in all I think everyone had a good time despite 7Oaks events can count as the drizzle and, by the end of the test, darkness! Bat- tle continues May 24, June 7, June 21, July 5, July your Speed League qualifica- 19 and July 29 – still plenty of time to enter we will tion not to mention Chalky be very pleased to welcome you. I would like to say a special thank you to my mar- White points. shals and also to Chris Judge and Daniel Whitting- ton without whose help we would have also been without tests! Stacey Thompson

- 4 - SEVENOAKS DMC EVENING AUTOTEST 10 MAY 2007 CLS NAME CAR TEST ONE TEST TWO TESTTHREETEST FOUR TEST FIVE TEST SIX CLASS O/ALL 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd TOTAL PLACE PLACE A RICH BAKER PEUGEOT 100.0 22.8 25.5 26.5 38.3 36.3 34.0 35.5 100.0 32.1 27.1 27.2 177.8 10 14 A JIM BOWIE PEUGEOT 20.3 19.3 23.1 21.8 34.5 35.4 30.5 37.5 29.5 29.4 25.9 26.3 161.4 3 3 A PAUL BRACKSTONE MINI 22.4 24.4 25.8 26.6 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 42.5 35.1 29.3 37.4 312.6 14 31 A TOM BRACKSTONE MINI 24.2 24.8 28.8 28.4 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 35.7 35.3 100.0 28.6 316.5 15 32 A ROGER BURGESS FIESTA 23.5 22.7 25.9 30.0 37.3 36.9 42.1 32.3 35.5 31.7 31.4 33.1 180.9 12 18 A JAY GROSSMITH METRO 21.7 20.3 28.4 22.2 40.1 42.5 40.1 41.5 32.8 31.0 27.7 27.9 181.4 13 20 A DAREN HALL NOVA 18.4 18.4 19.5 19.9 30.5 31.3 27.9 27.3 25.9 28.4 223.0 23.6 145.2 1 1 A CHRIS JUDGE MINI 19.6 19.4 20.8 20.4 36.0 31.1 28.7 28.8 28.7 28.8 24.9 24.2 152.5 2 2 A EMMA OLSEN CITROEN 21.0 19.5 100.0 23.1 42.1 40.3 33.5 35.5 32.4 35.3 28.4 27.0 175.8 9 12 A RICHARD OLSEN CITROEN 21.3 19.8 22.5 22.2 39.0 38.1 34.5 37.6 29.7 30.0 27.9 33.9 172.2 7 9 A MICK ROSE MINI 26.3 23.1 22.9 23.6 35.2 36.2 30.9 31.6 29.6 31.7 28.0 27.7 169.4 5 6 A CHRIS SCUDDER METRO 21.1 22.1 27.6 24.5 38.1 36.6 32.7 33.0 29.7 30.1 27.2 28.0 171.8 6 7 A BRIAN SHARPE NOVA 20.1 19.6 22.4 22.8 35.9 37.6 32.0 39.8 28.5 29.4 26.1 28.0 164.5 4 5 A ROBERT SHARPE NOVA 23.2 23.4 21.7 22.5 46.8 39.9 36.5 38.1 30.4 29.6 27.9 27.2 178.1 11 15 A MIKE THOMAS PEUGEOT 100.0 20.7 24.7 23.2 36.7 38.6 34.4 32.8 39.2 36.0 26.2 26.4 175.6 8 11 A JAMES TISDALL PEUGEOT 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 600.0 16 33 - 5 - - 5 A TIM TISDALL PEUGEOT 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 600.0 16 33 B CHARLES ARMSTONG-WILSON MICRA 24.8 23.6 23.2 28.1 38.3 38.5 35.1 32.1 31.7 32.6 30.8 30.3 179.2 5 17 B SUZE BISPING MICRA 22.6 21.2 24.7 100.0 38.5 43.1 33.4 32.8 34.8 32.2 100.0 27.6 177.0 3 13 B SAM COLLINS MICRA 100.0 22.2 26.6 28.8 51.5 37.7 35.3 34.5 31.8 32.4 32.4 28.6 181.4 7 21 B MATT ENDEAN ROVER 21.5 100.0 24.2 100.0 41.6 43.8 33.8 32.8 31.1 32.3 27.1 27.2 178.3 4 16 B LIBBY GIDDINGS POLO 24.0 24.7 25.3 24.3 49.3 55.0 41.5 39.4 36.3 34.2 30.4 30.7 201.6 10 26 B STEVE HATTON ROVER 21.1 22.3 24.2 21.2 46.7 37.6 35.0 39.0 32.2 31.9 28.7 29.8 175.5 2 10 B CHRIS PENFOLD GOLF 21.1 21.7 25.4 21.3 37.8 38.1 35.4 36.7 30.0 30.0 32.2 26.2 171.8 1 7 B RICHARD SCOTT PEUGEOT 20.6 22.9 25.3 25.5 40.2 40.8 40.6 42.4 32.0 33.2 40.7 30.1 188.8 9 24 B DAVID TOWN ROVER 24.0 23.6 27.0 28.5 36.7 40.3 36.8 34.6 38.8 33.3 32.3 28.7 183.9 8 23 B RALPH TRAVERS SUNNY 23.2 21.5 26.0 24.0 38.6 42.8 35.8 43.8 33.3 33.4 28.0 30.6 181.2 6 19 C SHANE KEILTHY VX220 24.4 24.8 24.9 25.7 59.1 106.2 51.2 46.5 37.7 37.4 34.8 27.8 220.1 2 28 D LEE BUSBRIDGE MARINA 22.6 100.0 36.0 100.0 47.9 100.0 57.9 100.0 48.7 100.0 31.9 100.0 245.0 4 30 D CRAIG MCGURK MARINA 21.0 100.0 24.2 100.0 48.2 100.0 39.0 100.0 37.9 100.0 29.5 100.0 199.8 1 25 D ERIC RICHARDSON MERCEDES 34.7 60.3 36.4 24.5 49.5 100.0 48.3 100.0 39.2 100.0 29.5 30.1 225.7 3 29 E PETER DUNN MAZDA 100.0 22.6 100.0 24.8 42.6 48.3 100.0 48.6 37.7 47.4 95.5 28.9 205.2 3 27 E STEPHEN M THOMPSON LANCIA 100.0 19.5 25.1 27.8 42.5 46.1 35.6 36.6 32.5 34.0 27.4 26.3 181.5 2 22 E DARREN TYRE HEALEY 18.6 18.2 20.6 20.6 37.7 37.5 34.9 33.1 29.8 29.3 24.6 24.4 163.1 1 4

ITALIC = HIT CONE(+10secs) / 100 = NO RUN or WRONG ROUTE AUTOTEST RESULTS AUTOTEST 10/05/07 — AUTOTEST RESULTS AUTOTEST 10/05/07 — AUTOTEST RESULTS AUTOTEST 10/05/07 — OFF ROAD NEWS OFF ROAD NEWS OFF ROAD NEWS My first…..Autotest! teed…. Thanks as always to those who helped to set up, es, back to the recurring theme and this marshalled and organise etc – particularly the mar- month it’s been the turn of my first (and by the shals stood out in the rain! I hope the rest of the sea- time you’ve read this, second) autotest. son is a little drier and whilst I won’t be at all the Y rounds due to the issue of working in London / living I was a little apprehensive in the office throughout the Thursday, as I have a view over South London to in Hertfordshire, I hope to do as many as possible Crystal Palace and the hills and it’d been raining all and look forward to the rest of the season. day for as far as I could see. Although when we Also, just a polite reminder – please remember to turned up at the venue it was dry, it soon started keep your speed down when on the access tracks to raining. I thought this would make things a lot harder, the venue. The last thing we want to do is lose the — — — but in the end I didn’t do too badly! venue due to speeding, so please – 10mph is MEMBER’S ARTICLE MEMBER’S ARTICLE MEMBER’S MEMBER’S ARTICLE MEMBER’S Sam and I were both driving my Micra again enough! which I like – it’s someone to compare myself against in the same car so I get a reasonable idea of Suze Bisping how I’m doing. He decided his tactic was to do all the tests as early as possible, which he duly did. Charles Armstrong-Wilson, Sam’s boss and a 7oaks mem- Autotest 24th May 2007 ber, turned up near the beginning and so we elected to triple drive so that Charles could compete too, so another person to compare myself against! Bar the first two tests with the Dawsons’ where I was getting an idea of the technique required (reducing wheelspin when pulling off the line, how late to brake to finish etc), everything else ran pretty smoothly. Being a short wheelbase car, the Micra

handled beautifully, and being just over 12 feet it was in Class B with some of the bigger cars such as Moody lighting sets the Ralph Travers in the Nissan Sunny and Matt Endean scene for a Micra 3-way of Chelmsford MC in his Rover. showdown. The tests on the hill proved a little more challeng- ing as by the time we got to them they were very wet so it was all about getting traction. Having only done a little driving in the Micra in the snow a couple of months ago, it was good fun to get it sideways and the car drifted really nicely. I managed to improve on my second run times on each test and could tell in comparison to both Matt, Charles and Sam I wasn’t doing too badly – Matt and I were running reasonably similar times with Charles and Sam both slightly behind. I made a couple of mistakes here and there – lost time having to double the clutch at one point to select second gear (one of my cars little personality traits as you quite often need to double the clutch for certain gears…) and a slide which lost a significant amount of time but other Charles Armstrong Wilson in Suze than that it was ok. Bisping’s Micra Due to the triple driving Charles and I both com- pleted our tests near the end of the evening as it started to get dark, and then Sam and I chose that before the drive back around the M25 we’d wait for the results. My fingers were crossed that I’d beat him! I finished third in Class B, just a second behind the guy in second place, and ahead of both Matt, Sam and Charles – a great result for my first time out! Sam wasn’t very happy – at the three events we’ve competed at together (the PCT, sprint at North Weald and now the autotest) he’s always been tell- ing me he would finish in front of me and I would find it hard to beat him. I think he was a little shocked, so now I’ve just got to work hard and ensure I stay in Emma Olsen digging in her wheels. front…! I will try my hardest, that much is guaran-

- 6 - SPEED REPORT S SPEED REPORT S SPEED REPORT S Cadwell Sprint, Sunday 15th May very funny ones. Mercifully there are rarely life- threatening or critical ones, but there is a lot more 2007 attendance on health and safety issues and the slim prospect of the legal profession lurking in the back- or a change, this is the Clerk of Course’s-eye- ground. Backstage in any role may be hard work, view of the Cadwell sprint. Or at least the bits I but it has its compensating features or none of us Fam prepared to commit to print….. would do it (that’s not to say we don’t actually all ask With memories of a foggy Saturday in 2006 still ourselves sometimes why the hell we are doing it!). very firmly planted in my brain, the forecast for this When it goes well though, and you have had a great year’s one-day event - promoted by MSV and jointly day in the company of a highly efficient organising organised by B19 and 7Oaks – gave me a consider- team and a paddock full of really great competitors, able degree of concern. ……130 competitors and a you can sit back in the evening and………fall asleep

fog-bound Cadwell… Hey, who wants to sleep the from exhaustion probably, but more normally just en- night before anyway? joy reviewing the day. The team arrived at Cadwell Saturday afternoon Will we see the like at Cadwell again? Jonathan to layout the paddock, signing-on and timekeeping Palmer flew in during the morning, as no-one could equipment. After everything was completed, and fol- have failed to see, and spoke to some of us regard- lowing weather discussions with circuit manager ing the future of the event. He has some ideas of his Mike Groves, the B19 contingent left for the Half own, but whether they can be made compatible with Moon Hotel with a degree of optimism which some- the various regulations of sprinting remains to be how seemed to improve as the evening progressed seen, and finer minds than mine will be considering it and so did the modest (MSA please note) amount of already I have no doubt. In the meantime, it was alcohol. Great for team-building, especially for Tina great to see everyone, and as for the future……… and I who rarely have direct contact with the club who can say? these days. A reassuring glance out of the hotel window on Neville Moon waking on Sunday, and a fine and early arrival at the circuit, was enough to instil the confidence that the weather at the very least was going to be kind to us. By the time the convoys started, the sun was peering Wiscombe Hillclimb through the little early morning mist there was and that set the pattern for the day. This is a good time iscombe is a great hillclimb and was all the to thank all the team whoever they were for the ex- more enjoyable due to the great weather tremely efficient start to the day. This is such a piv- W and great company. Only Mike Knapman otal thing, getting the show on the road, and it can and I with our respective support crews made the set the feel of the whole day. Everyone is of equal trip. I had high hopes from the lower diff but in the importance whatever their role, like bricks in an end couldn't get down to my personal best of 48.56 , arch – what teamwork! ended up at 49.75 but messed up 'Sawbench' on the The class structures were a little unusual as there best run. were several major sprint championships involved Mike's big Allard left tyre smoke up most of the including the SBD Motorsport British Sprint Champi- course and caused a lot of interest. It was last there onship, which gave us the highlight of seeing Dan 40 years ago or something.... Pickett in his newly acquired Pilbeam go on to set a Gordon (Franks) 'swapped' Wiscombe for Cadwell , new outright sprint record of 75.31 secs. We have in order to stick to venues where the odd spin is less been watching Dan’s talented development so far, likely to hit the pocket, until he get more acclimatised and I think we can look forward to much more yet. to the beast. In the Porsche championship class Colin Belton (993RSR) took the win, .64 ahead of Tim Chandler, Andy Webber with Simon Butterworth in 3rd spot. Class E9 was even closer, with Richard Carroll taking the win .09 secs ahead of Terry Everall, two of the many West- field pilots. The national sprint class was headed of course by Dan Pickett, with Mark Smith (Reynard) in Trainee Timekeepers runner-up spot and Andrew Platt (Dallara) third. TVR contenders were also out in force, with the lead- Wanted erboard headed by Simon Cole, Steve Cox and John Borough 19 are looking for interested peo- Simpson. A closer class C4 battle ensued, Gay ple to train as timekeepers. Although John Hussey (Raw) taking the win .38 secs ahead of Sharp normally is "the man", Alan Cherry Adrian Williams (Caterham). A larger margin sepa- has asked anyone interested to contact rated winner of class C5 Simon Rogers from second him first - his mobile is 07850 575224 or place Paul Gibb. daytime 01732 475218. There was obviously far more to the day than this Emails to [email protected] short report suggests. Things happen, and are dealt with. There are some annoying moments and some

- 7 - SOCIAL NICETIES SOCIAL FORTHCOMING EVENTS SOCIAL NICETIES SOCIAL FORTHCOMING EVENTS SOCIAL NICETIESSOCIAL FORTHCOMING EVENTS Social Stuff Can You Help? The ‘Seventies’ Show or June I suggest those who want a little 1st July 2007 mid-season chat should head to the Lion at Farningham. Some auto testers and lo- F A family fun event celebrating the innovations cals will know it already. It's a nice setting with and styles of the ‘seventies’ to be held at: riverside tables outside if the weather is fair. Unfortunately, due to my work commitments, Amberley Working Museum, progress on organising further social events is Station Road, Nr. Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9LT running a little slow, if anyone out there wants to

dabble with a helping hand, please don't hesi- Amberley are looking for a varied mixture of tate to give me a call! vehicles of the seventies era to come and be Likewise if you have any suggestions for a available for exhibit on this day. great Noggin & Nattter venue in your area, let If any of your members who may be inter-

ested in exhibiting their vehicles, would con- us know. tact us direct for an entry form, contact details I am currently trying to arrange a number of shown below. visits to local and not so local motorsport related businesses and some more sporting events Thank you such as Bat & Trap, especially during the sum- Sue Freed – Event Organiser. mer months. Hopefully there will also be a 01798 831370 karting challenge later in the year. [email protected] www.amberleymuseum.co.uk Daniel Whittington

Hillclimb and Sprinting in the Social Calendar 2007 Channel Islands Wednesday 20th June o you fancy competing somewhere different? Why not give the Val de Terre Hillclimb in Noggin and Natter th DGuernsey a try. It is being run on 8 Septem- From 8:30pm ber 2007 and the entry fee is just £40! at The Lion, High Street, A week later, there is a double event in Alderney, Farningham, Kent. DA4 0DP with a sprint event on the Saturday 14th September th followed by a Hillclimb on the Sunday 15th Septem- Wednesday 18 July ber. Entry fee for both of these events over this TBA weekend is £170 including ferry travel for one vehi- cle. Wednesday 15th August Drivers of shared drives pay just £40 per event. TBA

Want to know more or would like an entry form? th Please contact John Kemp on [email protected] or Wednesday 19 September phone 01322 370707 TBA

For accommodation information please contact Wednesday 17th October David Balderson on [email protected] or Speed League Forum. phone 01689 601661. Accommodation is limited on Alderney so this needs advance booking. From 8:30pm. Venue TBC

th It would be nice if a few 7Oaks members could make Wednesday 17 November up a party to go along. This may become a regular TBA invite in the future. Wednesday 17th December Why not give it a go? Festive Noggin and Natter. From 8:30pm Venue TBC John Kemp

- 8 - SPEED REPORT S SPEED REPORT S SPEED REPORT S FTD for Standing at Goodwood Class 3 was the largest with 14 cars and saw a 4- way scrap for the lead. Neil Duncanson (Audi Quat- he battle for FTD at BARC SEC’s Ian Bax Me- tro) took class honours with a 98.18 last run, just morial Sprint was very much a two-horse af- 0.42 second ahead of Les Beerling’s Ford Cos- fair between two Davids, Standing and Wat- worth while Aaron Bailey (Mitsubishi Evo) popped in T a 99.86 last run to take third place by 0.13 from Ian son. David Watson (Radical SR4) set fastest time in run 1 with a 84.67, just 0.22 ahead of David Standing Stevenson (BMW M3 CSL. Fifth and sixth places (TOMS Toyota) who was recovering from a gear link- were even closer, Paul Scapens in the Audi S4 age problem in practice. David S turned the tables in run 2 to set a new best time of 84.14 while David — — W was slightly slower on — GOODWOOD GOODWOOD 85.08. Could the Radical GOODWOOD Paul Scapens Audi S4 Avant Neil Duncanson Audi Quattro driver get it together and snatch FTD on the final run? No – he broke the Avant (yes, the estate version!) just losing out to the beam at 84.77 while David Porsche 964 RS of Brian Hunt by 0.10! S lowered the mark again Class AA was for GTD 40 club cars with David to set a 83.93 and take Parker’s splendid example setting the best time of Anita Bax presenting award 91.72. to David Standing overall honours for the day Class AB for Ginetta Car Julian Bailey Watts GTD40

and receive the Ian Bax Club championship contend- ers was won by Peter Memorial award Smith’s Ginetta G20. from Anita Bax as Class 4 was decided on best BARC SEC the first timed run, Guy member. Hussey posting a 92.38 in On the basis of the RAW Striker before the their practice times, gearbox cried enough in the hands of father David! class 0a looked to David Watson, Radical SR4 The double drive Westfield battle between Robert be the domain of and Colin Way went Roberts way, his time of 104.47 Jeremy Parker’s also giving him second in Honda S2000 and so it turned out, Jeremy driving class. Welcome sight in the very consistently to whittle his time down to an im- class was the original Lotus pressive 99.54. This left Chris York (Honda S200) 7 of Chris Davis who was and Matt Carter (Peugeot 306) to fight over second best Southsea MC member. place and they were locked in battle all afternoon. Ian Crocker used the sheer Chris led by 1.6 seconds after run 1 but Matt re- Ian Crocker’ Westfield grunt of his V8 powered duced the deficit to just 0.9 seconds after run 2 and Westfield to take class 5 finally pipped Chris by just 0.27 seconds at the end with a best time of 92.98. John Wade consistently of the day! chipped away at his times to take second place while Derek Jones was pleased to see some competi- Colin Crang (Exige) took third from Gareth Richard- tion in class 0b but I am not sure he expected to be son (340R) in the battle of the Lotus. run so close for the class win. While Derek worked The Minis dominated down from 102.04 in practice to a best of 100.61 on class 6, Chris Watkinson run 3, Tim Jeffery in the Alpine A610 was (River Mini) finally settling trying very hard to catch him, failing by just 0.25 sec- the class on run 3 with a ond at the end of the day. 102.52. Ken Welch (Rover Class 1 was not decided until the final run, Bruce Mini Cooper) took second Aitken (Citroen AX GT) finding nearly 2 seconds to from Richard Watkinson Ken Welch Rover Mini Cooper take the class by exactly 1 second from Tim Coles’ (Rover Mini). Mini Cooper. Daniel Whittington (VW Bora TD) was Roger Shadbolt (Morgan +4) streaked away with well in touch after the second runs, just 0.09 second the class 7 lead, leaving Nick Proudlock (Ford Escort off the lead, but was forced to retire with brake prob- Mk1) and Darren Russell (Citroen Visa GTi) to fight lems. over second place. Nick failed to improve on his first Class 2 was dominated by Chris Fulke-Greville run time of 102.23 while Darren chipped away at his (Vauxhall Astra GSR) who was 5.5 seconds faster time to finish just 0.42 behind. Meanwhile, the than second place man Andrew Webber in the Elan shared drive battle between Matthew Grey and Mi- +2. Ian Bennett and Paul Robinson, sharing the Ren- chael Cantelo in the Renault 5 GT was not settled ault 5 Gordini, were clearly enjoying themselves until the last run, Michael taking the honours by 1.01 separated by just 1 second at the end of the day, second. their times split by Andrew Smith’s immaculate Lotus Kevin Salisbury (Ford Sierra ) ran away Elan.

- 9 - SPEED REPORT S SPEED REPORT S SPEED REPORT S with class 8, setting a best run of 96.74. Steve Heath ours went to Malcolm Boorman (Reynard FVL) who (TVR390SE) took second shared the drive with Bill and certainly entertained Johnson taking third. Mark the crowd as he fought to Walker was consoled by a tame the extra power dominant victory in class 10 gained by adding a super- battling for FTD. Iain Hous- charger to the already ton improved his time on Steve Heath TVR390SE awesome TVR V8. every run to take class 12 Malcolm Boorman Raynard FVL Gearbox problems forced with a best of 93.18. the withdrawal of Dick Hulbert/Carol Torkington in Thanks to all the officials and marshals for an ex- their Westfield and Dorian Tyrell’s ADR developed a cellent event and the weather for ignoring all the wheel retaining nut problem so there were no run- forecasts and blessing us with a dry day. — — — ners in class 9. GOODWOOD GOODWOOD GOODWOOD David Watson was dominant in class 10 but Tony Phil Wood Beesley (Jedi Mk4) and Ian Catt (OMS SF2a) were BARC (SEC) locked in battle all day, Ian finally settling second place on the final run to beat Tony by 0.63. With David Standing taking FTD, Class 11 hon-

Results – Ian Bax Memorial Sprint – Goodwood – 19th May 2007-05-20

Award Driver Car Time FTD David Standing TOMS 037F 83.93 Best BARC SEC David Standing TOMS 037F 83.93 Class 0a Jeremy Parker Honda S2000 99.54 Class 0b Derek Jones BMW Z3 M Coupe 100.61 Class 1 Bruce Aitkin Citroen AX GT 108.60 Class 2 Chris Fulke-Greville Vauxhall Astra GSR 100.77 Class 3 Neil Duncanson Audi Quattro 98.18 Class AA David Parker GTD R42 91.72 Class AB Peter Smith Ginetta G20 109.86 Class 4 Guy Hussey Raw Striker 92.38 Class 5 Ian Crocker Westfield Seight 92.98 Class 6 Chris Watkinson Rover Mini 102.52 Class 7 Roger Shadbolt Morgan +4 96.74 Class 8 Kevin Salisbury Ford Sierra Cosworth 91.45 Class 10 David Watson Radical SR4 84.67 Class 11 Malcolm Boorman Raynard FVL 84.84 Class 12 Iain Houston Laser HD87 93.18

Warning—Parental Advisory Content Joke

dwarf with a lisp goes into a stud farm. A“I'd like to buy a horth” he says to the owner of the farm. “What sort of horse?” said the owner. “A female horth,” the dwarf replies. So the owner shows him a mare. “Nithe horth,” says the dwarf, “Can I thee her eyth?" So the owner picks up the dwarf to show him the horses eyes. “Nith eyth”, says the dwarf, “can I thee her teeth?” Again the owner picks up the dwarf to show him the horses teeth. “Nith teeth, can I see her eerth?” the dwarf says. By now the owner is getting a little fed up but again the owner picks up the dwarf to show him the horses ears. “Nith eerth,” he says “now can I see her twot?” With this the owner picks the dwarf up and shoves his head deep inside the horse’s vagina, he holds him there for a second before pulling him out and putting him down. The dwarf shakes his head and says “Perhaps I should weefwaze that. Can I see her wun awound?”!!!!!

- 10 - VIC ELFORD ARTICLE VIC ELFORD ARTICLE Vic describes the next three years at Ford as tu- ELFORD VIC ARTICLE Hot Shot – Vic Elford multuous, but they did provide him with his first proper taste of circuit racing in a Lotus Cortina at the In the late Sixties and early Seventies Vic near Nuremburg in 1965. The following Elford was the rain master; the king of year Vic got his first experience of the Nürburgring precision in precipitation. He’s one of and his first taste of endurance racing in the epic 84- the most versatile drivers ever to have hour Marathon de la Route. Sadly, the Cortina that Vic shared with Jochen Neerpasch expired with 12 been strapped into a car; yet his career hours to go. It wasn’t a dead loss though, as the ex- almost didn’t happen at all, says Graham perience would prove invaluable for later events with Flemington. Porsche. “Pretty horrendous” is how Vic Elford noncha- After a disastrous Couple des Alps in 1966 with lantly describes the accident, which could have eas- Ford, his contract was almost finished and Vic de- ily ended his driving career before it had really be- cided he’d had enough. He persuaded Huschke von gun. On a wet, wintry evening in early 1957 he was Hanstein, the competition manager at Porsche, to

driving from his home in loan him a car for the Tour south London to a weekly de Corse. The car arrived meeting of the Sevenoaks on a trailer behind a van and District Motor Club in his and apart from a couple of father’s car, an ex-Police sets of wheels and some Wolsely 6/80. He was happily tools the van was empty. bowling along the Sidcup by- Vic recalls the moment: “I pass at 70mph when a front asked von Hanstein when tyre burst sending the car into the spares would be arriving an end-over-end-roll. Seat and he said “Vicky my boy, belts didn’t exist at the time there are no spares, Por- so Vic was thrown about in sches don’t break.” Incredi- the car like a rag doll and bly he was right – no pro- ended up on the floor in the duction-based 911 that I back. drove ever broke. X-rays showed that Vic The following year was had fractured three lower ver- good for Porsche, Vic and tebrae. The next week was the 911 and it ended with spent lying flat on his back on Vic as the European GT a board followed by three un- Rally Champion. He also comfortable months in a stell won the inaugural British corset. A couple of weeks Rallycross event at Lydden after the corset was removed Hill in Kent in a 911. That Vic was due to go on a rally car was rebuilt at the factory in Scotland with Stan Cold- and he won the British Tour- ham, a Sevenoaks club ing Car Championship with friend. The pair left London on a wet Friday after- it too. noon in Stan’s AC Aceca-Bristol for the long drive up The season ended with a return to the Marathon to Glasgow. This was two years before the first mo- de la Route at the Nürburgring. Vic’s partners, Hans torway opened in Britain. Hermann and Jochen Neerpasch, referred to him as Once they were clear of the London traffic Stan “the rally driver” so he was elected to do the night pulled over and announced that Vic was to drive the stints. Vic drove the 911R Sportomatic through four rest of the way. Apprehensive about driving in the consecutive seven-hour rain soaked nights to win the rain so soon after the accident he started off gin- astonishing 84 hour event. gerly, but as the night wore on his confidence started The beginning of 1968 was a great demonstration to return and by the time they reached Glasgow he of Vic’s versatility. He won the Monte Carlo Rally in a was perfectly happy. Stan had done Vic a great ser- Porsche 911 and a week later won the Daytona 24- vice that night and it was to stand him in good stead hour race in a 907, which was Porsche’s first ever for the rest of his career. outright win in a 24 hour race. Confidence and a large portion of natural talent On the Targa Florio of that year Vic produced the saw Vic’s career progress smoothly through various drive of his life. His Porsche 907 had suffered a dis- BMC cars to a works drive for DKW. That was fol- astrous first lap. Seven miles in to the 45-mile road lowed by some good events with Triumph and by circuit he lost drive to the wheels. The right-hand 1964 he was in demand by other British teams. Tri- rear wheel nut had come loose but fortunately the umph wanted him to stay but Rover was preparing a wheel didn’t come off, having worked its way over rally ram and made him an offer. Ford did too and the end of the splines on the hub. Vic remembers it their Cortina GT was already proven. What’s more, well: “The crowd were incredible. Before I had man- the Lotus Cortina was on the horizon and that aged to get the jack out they jumped down from their clinched the deal. vantage points and physically lifted the car up so I

- 11 - could tighten the wheel nut.” board showing we’d got the lead.” There was an unofficial service area half way Vic didn’t just win, he opened the lead and won around the lap where the mechanics replaced the by an absolutely astonishing three minutes. In the rear wheel. Unbelievably the nut came loose again greatest drive of his life and one of the greatest but this time it happened on a fast down hill section drives of all time, Vic beat the fastest lap of the previ- and while he was trying to keep the 907 on the tar- ous year by almost 10 minutes and he beat the lap mac he picked up a puncture in a front tyre. Once record by more than a minute. Returning to the pad- again the madly enthusiastic crowd came to help and dock at the end of the race, it took two mechanics to lifted the car while Vic tightened the rear wheel and lift the utterly exhausted Vic from his car after his he- replaced the front with the Goodyear space-saver roic effort. spare. Later that year his versatility was tested when he At end of the first lap he went into the pits and the made his Formula 1 debut for Cooper at the French mechanics replaced all the wheels and nuts. There Grand Prix. With no practice he started at the back of were 405 miles left to run and Vic really had it all to the grid but his luck was in, and on a soaking track do – he started the second lap a massive 18 minutes the rainmaster finished fourth. behind the leader. Extraordinary stuff, but it just scratches the sur- Vic did the first four laps and came in for a driver face of an amazing career. To experience it in full, change. Comparing his lap times with those of his grab a copy of Vic Elford’s new autobiography, Re- team mate Umberto Maglioli, Vic calculated that it flections of a Golden Era in Motorsports, which is was possible, mathematically at least, for them to packed with terrific pictures to complement these rip- win if he completed the last three laps but only if he ping yarns. It’s from David Bull Publishing, priced could maintain the flying lap times that he set in his £19.99 and distributed in the UK by Haynes: ISBN first stint. 893618528. An unimpressed Umberto was brought in early and Vic went out with the bit between his teeth. “I didn’t just want the win, I wanted the lap record too,” he said. “I felt sure I could do it. I’m fortunate be- cause I’ve got a photographic memory and I’d made sort of mental pace notes for the whole 45-mile lap.” (It must work – Vic’s raced in the Targa Florio six times and got five fastest laps). Driving like a man possessed he gradually closed on the leader. “On the last lap a Porsche mechanic was jumping up and down on the pit wall waving a

1. Vic holding his line in the Filipinetti Daytona on the 1971 Tour de France.

2. The logo of Vic’s first motor club, the Sevenoaks & District always featured on his helmet.

3. Vic produced the drive of his 7. Vic’s trademark smile, despite not fin- life in the beauti- ishing the 1972 Daytona in an Alfa Ro- ful Porsche 907 meo Tipo 33/3. on the 1968 Targa Florio.

- 12 -

he 917 was the Porsche’s Concorde – Vic Elford mastered it and remains the only man to drive all the variants. It was conceived for the new regulations that the Commission Sportive Internationale (then the T independent competition arm of the FIA) announced in 1968. Aware that few manufacturers were ready for the new 3-litre class, the CSI allowed the participation of 5-litre sports cars manufactured in quantities of 50 in the Sport category, which was called Group 5. The production total was subsequently reduced to 25. This decision was Porsche’s green light. Based on the Porsche 908, the 917 was developed in a mere 10 months and was ready for testing in early 1969. It was Porsche’s first attempt at a 12-cylinder engine, with many components made of titanium or mag- nesium. Other ways of saving weight were comparatively simple – like a gear lever knob made of balsa wood. The aim of the new class was to reduce the top speed on the faster circuits, but the 917 turned that idea on its head, as Vic explains: “The original 917 was an unbelievable monster. I loved it though because it was so fast. It was a colossal step up in speed – none of us had done more than 180mph but the 917 would do 220mph. It used to be a test of your mettle to see if you could take the Mulsanne kink flat without lifting. But in the 917 we didn’t just have to lift, we had to back right off.” The aerodynamics were hur- riedly improved for 1970 with the low drag 917 long tail 6. In 1971 Vic shared a 917K with Brian (“Langheck”). “It was an eas- Redman in thr BOAC 100km at Brands Hatch. ier car to drive but you had to be precise, you couldn’t slide it about at all; once you were committed to a corner that was it, you had to go for it,” says Vic. The alternative was to improve down force at the expense of drag and the 917K (“Kurzneck” or short tail) was born. It is probably the most recognisable of all the 917s and Vic loved it. “It was gorgeous, a wonderful car to drive. You could really slide it about because it was so forgiving and easy to drive compared with the earlier models.”

Vic at the club’s Golden Jubilee Ball 2004 with the Porsche

4. The 1966 Monte Carlo Rally was the beginning of a rough year for Vic in the Lotus Cortina.

5. A happy Vic a few stages before winning the 1968 Monte Carlo, the last British driver to win.

With thanks to the magazine FULL THROTTLE for allowing us to reproduce their article and photos in full.

Marshals Needed For the Autotest Series

Please ring Stacey Thompson 0208 3002609 to offer your help on any of the fol- lowing dates: THURSDAY evenings June 7, June 21, July 5, July 19 and SUNDAY all day July 29. These events count towards your Sevenoaks Speed League Qualification—2 evenings or the full day.

- 13 - MEMBER’S ARTICLE ARTICLE MEMBER’S MEMBER’S ARTICLE MEMBER’S ARTICLE Snet in the Wet At the restart, I again had a good start passing several cars off the line and throughout the race bat- here was an early start for us on the Saturday tled with Lee McNair in his rapid mini. The end result morning, leaving home at 6:30am for our trip for me was 15th overall and 1st overall in the Tin Top T to Snetterton for the next round. After a boring class. journey we arrived at our destination at about 9 ish, On to Sunday, and after a poor night’s sleep the not having to panic too much because we didn't have day went downhill rapidly. to sign on until 9:50. Scrutineering was the hardest We arrived back at the circuit at about 9am, to thing to get through, first thing the fog light failed to find that the battery was flat, because I had left the work, then they found the usual little holes in the fan running. Oops! Once charged the car still would- bulkhead that had to be taped over. n't start due to two sticky valves and zero compres- Qualifying was dry, sion. After an hour Saturday.. but pretty hectic of being towed … Sunday ... with about 38 cars round the paddock sooo wet! all trying to get fly- by Alex, the engine - - - RACE REPORT RACE REPORT RACE REPORT ing laps in at the fired up but only on same time. There three cylinders, was one eventful however once moment when we warmed up it were following seemed to be run- Alex Ribbens in ning fine. Then the his blue Escort down the Revett Straight at 130mph, rain came, not good and his door decided to part company with his car when you have got bald tyres!! and flew about 20 feet in the air, from a distance it The race…...well not even one lap got completed. looked like a blue flag being waved! At the end of I got off the line OK, passing a few cars at a snail’s the session, we qualified 25th out of 38. pace, and as I entered the Revett Straight it was like

The start of the race again was pretty hectic, I got a wall of water, which the car didn't like. The engine a good start, but as I changed into 2nd gear, the en- coughed and spluttered round Coram Curve and gine cut out. Just as this happened, there was a bad promptly died near a marshal post. The end of my accident between a Nissan Primera and a Cossie, day’s racing. resulting in a complete re-start. Luckily this gave us Snet in the wet? Not recommended! time to repair the loose wire from the coil, which had caused our little problem. Steve Dann

- 14 - CROSS-COUNTRY MSA NEWSLETTER MSA NEWSLETTER BORC ’07 MSA NEWSLETTER The 2007 MSA Matador British Off Road Championship season got off to a fine start, with an entry of around Wheels 53 drivers, including clubman at a new venue for the championship, Baden Hall in Staffordshire. Past BORC champions Keith Lewis and Richard Kershaw continued the battle CRUISE NEWS they started last year with less than a ome club functions look like was ram a rod up the silencer to and style (much like the M25 minute between them after 11 runs. Grecian 2000 Sales make the sound fruitier. Was that really). But Richard and Keith where pushed SOpportunity Programmes, ‘our’ motorsport or cruising? A The third sort of event is Time into 2nd and 3rd place respectively by suggesting that we’re not doing fine difference. Mind you, those Attack – a circuit based event another ‘northern’ driver Gordon too well at getting youngsters were the days when Noise where drivers vie to set the Monaghan, a past multi — — involved; continue as we are and Observers used ear trumpets and championship winner returning to the — quickest lap. Very similar to our BORC driving his ‘Monaghan RS’ JUNE JUNE 100th birthday congratulations JUNE were instructed to ‘standeth not sprints I guess; cars are road legal special to a win by 34 seconds. With will be mailed out with more than half a league hence.’ but with highly modified engines. 4th and 5th place drivers just a few competition licences to save The cruise scene seems as The Cruisesport organisation, seconds behind the top 3 the 2007 postage at the Palace. Many other strong today as it was when I last run by the BRSCC, is funded and Matador BORC looks set to be as

activities report similar problems wrote about it three years ago. At overseen by Motorsport close as past years. Round 2 takes but at least in our case we know a wild guess there are 40 to 50 Development UK; funding was place on the 2nd – 3rd June. For where potential customers are static events a year for cruisers at initially put in place because of further details. www.marches4x4.com going – on cruises. Not the ones which you may get up to 600 concerns about the anti-social or www.BritishOffRoad Championship.co.uk where you bloat on boats with ‘competitors’ and around 5000 problems of cruise activities. your elbows bruised through spectators (yes, that’s three Now there’s an MSA Cruisesport jostling to sit at the captain’s noughts). The organised cruisers Baja GB: Working Group with table, but the sort involving cars. themselves don’t cause problems representation on the Speed With the first ever round of the FIA (If traditionalists wish to throw but events may be shut down by International Cup for Cross Country Events Committee. vegetables at me at this point for the police because clowns Bajas in Britain taking place in a few once again raising this topic, gatecrash, bring dangerous So bridges are being built. months on the 17 – 19 August details don’t bother making them driving with them and drag down It’s going to need a careful are now out. Rally HQ will be on the organic – I can’t tell the the name of cruises. balancing act because over- Royal Welsh Agricultural difference). Three other types of non- regulation may simply drive the Showground at Builth Wells, with But…should we in fact react traditional event continue to gain cruise brigade away. We must Friday’s official start in Llandrindod Wells, followed by a super special with horror? Motorsport means ground. First there’s Run What hope that that doesn’t happen stage in Radnor Forest. A central having fun with cars and that’s Ya Brung for which cars are road because if there’s turmoil in town centres, the media are likely to service area, stage and specially just what the cruise people are legal and run a timed drag run. prepared spectator vantage points will doing. And I’m not sure we’re Then there’s drifting carried out describe it as motorsport so we all be centred on the Sweet Lamb that far apart anyway. Years ago on tarmac, usually a race circuit, get some of the blame, however complex, in total Baja GB will have I navigated for someone who in which drivers chuck a car innocent. Better we work with 460kms of competitive stages over won many rallies with cars which around a fixed course at high the cruisers to stop the problems the 3 days. For further information were always immaculate. The speed and are then judged on happening in the first place. check the events web site. first thing he did with a new car speed, angle of attack, execution Stuart Turner www.BajaWales.com

AUTOCOURSE OFFICIAL it. Assistant mayor of Boulogne- HISTORY OF THE Billancourt Audouin-Dubreuil AUTOSCENE INDIANAPOLIS 500 fulfilled her lifelong ambition when REVIEWS FROM ISBN 1 905334 20 6 Donald she committed her father Louis’ Davidson and Rick Shaffer, exploits to paper, this being her Crash Media Group, £40 third book on Citroën’s epic (available from Motorbooks: journeys. Their battles against the LEO VILLA’S BLUEBIRD ‘Bluebird’ employ for nearly 50 020 7836 5376) terrain are vividly recounted ALBUM years, intimately involved with every There’s no shortage of books on through Louis’ diary, superbly ISBN 978 0 85184 071 0 car and boat, every adventure and Indianapolis but few are better value translated into English by Ingrid David de Lara with every record attempt, triumphant than this new 368-page whopper. MacGillis and illustrated with assistance from Kevin and tragic. It’s a tough brief to cover all the wonderful archive photos. Gripping Desmond, Transport There have been far more races from 1911 to 2006 but both stuff. Bookman Publications, painstakingly detailed accounts of American specialists have been £39.99 the Bluebird story, but none so witnessing the nation’s most famous Even without the 3D images (the personal: these pictures tell the story motor race since ’64. Their passion glasses are tucked inside the front better than any number of words and knowledge come across in this COD FILLET QUIZ cover), this would be an essential ever could. Simply beautiful. enjoyable read. acquisition for all fans of the This is very much a story of the Campbell clan, the Land Speed POCKET GP GUIDE 1.Which F1 team was once owned by race, so don’t expect much insight Record or even just photography. ISBN 1 884046 7967, £9.99: Bernie Ecclestone? to order, log on to into Indy car design, but it’s ideal as These breathtaking images 2.Who won the Pirelli International www.iconbooks.co.uk an introduction to the 500. enigmatically record the lives and Rally – The opening round of the deaths of Malcolm and Donald. So Following the fashion set by Schott’s CROSSING THE SANDS handy Almanac, this compact 2007 British Rally Championship? personal and on-the-spot is it that THE SAHARA DESERT compendium is packed with racing 3. Name the only female driver ever to there is an almost guilty pleasure as TRACK TO TIMBUKTU ISBN score in the points in a Formula 1 if you are surrepticiously delving a facts and stories. Published by Icon 1 85443 222 2 Ariane Grand Prix shoebox full of memories hidden at Books, The Grand Prix Companion hardback is compiled by respected Audouin-Dubreuil, Dalton ? the back of a wardrobe, but then Watson, £35 4.Who lives at Goodwood House and that is also why this book is so F1 pundit Alan Henry. It covers the masterminds the Festival of Speed compellingly unique. The young gamut from Ascari to wind tunnels. If your dad had been one of the and Revival Meeting held there? It’s not all anorak facts and touches organisers of the most challenging engineer Villa was poached by ANSWERS ON PAGE ii Malcolm in the ’20s and stayed in on the human side such as James automotive expeditions of all time, Hunt’s nocturnal exploits. you’d want to tell the world about Wheels 6/07 i - 15 - National No smoking? MARSHALS MSA NEWSLETTER MSA NEWSLETTER MSA NEWSLETTER Motorsport From 1 July, smoking will be MSA Week banned in many places in POST news The next National Motorsport England. This follows bans in by the BMMC Week will be 11-19 August 2007. Scotland from March 2006 and Regional This is an opportunity to attract in Wales and Northern Ireland Taking a trip around a circuit Committee notes new competitors, spectators and from April 2007. with a competitor is one of the marshals. Go to The new ‘smokefree’ law will best educational experiences a Bob Milloy writes: Colin Hilton www.nationalmotorsport apply to virtually all ‘enclosed’ Flag Marshal can have. reported and updated on various week.co.uk for news of events and ‘substantially enclosed’ It gives you a better appreciation matters including changes to the and for ideas of how to get public places and workplaces. of how narrow the window of MSA’s insurance arrangements, involved. This includes both permanent opportunity is for seeing a flag the MSA Foundation, motor structures and temporary ones when it is displayed. That window is often far smaller sport participation and MSA British such as tents and marquees. than you would think, even if Volunteers in Motorsport, MSA Race Elite Premises will be considered you do regularly walk the track control of authorised events, the ‘substantially enclosed’ if they — — — Following the continuing success to see things from a driver’s transfer of DoT Route of the MSA British Rally Elite have a ceiling or roof, but have JUNE JUNE JUNE viewpoint. Authorisation, Forestry programme, MSA British Race an opening in the walls, which is And, if you get the chance to Commission charges, upgrading Elite was launched in January. less than half the total area of the chat as you go round, you’ll soon of MSA computer systems and The training scheme offers walls. The area of the opening realise that even regular IT, MSA Race Elite, MSA Rally promising young British racing does not include doors, windows competitors may have a complete

Elite and National Motorsport drivers the opportunity to or any other fittings that can be blank spot as far as some flag Week (11-18 August 2007). develop their skills and progress opened or shut. points are concerned. They The Chairman, Nicky Moffitt, to the highest levels in motor Clearly, this has implications simply don’t know they are there. drew attention to the recent lack sport. From 86 applicants, the for clubhouses and for marquees There’s an argument for getting of nominations for the Prince successful six (named below with at motor sport events. If you drivers out on flag points, too – Michael Award of Merit and the championship in which they require further guidance on to get an appreciation of how encouraged members to consider will be competing in 2007) were whether your premises are difficult – but rewarding – suitable candidates. chosen for the first year’s ‘enclosed’ or ‘substantially flagging can be, why, sometimes, Allan Dean-Lewis gave details programme. enclosed’ please contact your marshals might refrain from showing a flag and how the lack of the Club Development Fund, Henry Arundel: local council. of marshals can sometimes the new Rescue Development Formula BMW UK The new law will also require impact on the quality of flagging. Fund and opportunities for Championship no-smoking signs to be displayed Of course, as new technology Regional Associations to in all smoke-free premises and Sam Bird: certain vehicles. becomes available, we hear more nominate Regional Volunteers in and more predictions about flag British Formula 3 Championship More information is Motorsport liaison officers to marshals being replaced by lights available from: assist in disseminating Andrew Jordan: – either out on circuit or in the information. Elf Renault Clio Cup/British www.smokefreeengland.co.uk cockpit. Rallycross Championships Details of recent and Rallying children There are three arguments forthcoming Inter-Association Adrian Quaife-Hobbs: against that, though. events were given and can be Formula BMW UK The MSA’s Rallies Committee has • Remote control by computer obtained from individual Championship unveiled its recommendations for or by someone monitoring Association contacts. the licensing of young drivers on CCTV screens in race control The meeting concluded with a Michael Meadows: stage rallies. The proposals will always be second best to presentation by Mark Taylor and British Formula 3 Championship would allow children aged 14 having someone on the spot Peter Young on Junior Regional (National Class) and above to hold MSA • You can’t communicate as Rallying, which the Committee Colin Turkington: competition licences entitling much with lights and, most welcomed as an adjunct to British Touring Car them to compete on stage rallies, significant of all similar on-going initiatives. Championship subject to stringent conditions. • The cost of running a system based on lights is likely to remain prohibitive for all but the “elite” circuits, running top international events on a regular basis. Comprehensive systems using lights will mean installing miles and miles of fibre optic cabling and sophisticated controls, not to mention maintaining them – a task which seems quite challenging even when simple telephone systems are involved. All things considered, Flag Marshals are likely to be around for some time still, so improving the understanding between them and competitors remains a priority. QUIZ ANSWERS 1. – in the 70s/80s 2. Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Mitsibishi Lancer EG) 3. Lella Lombardi (Spanish GP 1975 – placed 6th) 4. Lord March

ii Wheels 6/07 Correspondence to Stuart Turner, c/o MSA, Motor Sports House, Riverside Park, Colnbrook, Slough SL3 0HG - 16 -