News Letter August/September 2019

Activities and Events of WMPMC

The year has progressed very rapidly and the various sections of the motor club have been busy competing and marshalling at different events, there have been visits to car shows and a Hill Climb, all part of the eclectic social scene.

Membership is looking very healthy, all thanks to new membership secretary Debbie Palmer, thanks Debbie, however, additional new members would be very welcoming.

Racing

Well as the season ended for Paul Clackett and what a way to finish. Two races at Anglesey Race Circuit. Due to an indiscretion by Paul he lost all his qualifying times and had a 10 second penalty at the start of the race. So for race 1 he started at the back of the grid and 10 seconds after everybody started he was released. He drove through the field not literally and got up to 2nd, a good result. He had a slight engine issue during the race. The team tried to find the problem but it reappeared for race 2. So no heroics and achieved a safe 2nd place in race 2. This, as it turned out was what was needed for Paul to secure the overall MGCC Cockshoot Cup Championship for 2019.

The final round was at Oulton Park Circuit, Paul went out for qualifying but on his 2nd lap had an electrical issue and the engine stopped. He coasted into the pits. The team managed to get the engine fired up so he went out and did the 3 laps required to qualify for the race. He started from 8th on the grid and after a storming first lap was in the lead. The two cars that were on the front of the grid recovered from their poor starts and were pushing Paul. He saw that they were fighting hammer and tongue with each other some let them past and kept just close enough should anything happen. It did with two laps to go as Paul approached the first corner he saw that the two leaders had gone off and Paul went on to take the chequered flag and finish the season with a win. It turned out that the other two had gone off on some oil from another competitor who’s engine had let go big style. But as the saying goes to finish first, first you have to finish.

So all the hard work and consistently good results by Paul and the car preparation from his team from CMC Motorsport have paid off this season.

Paul would like to thank the West Midlands Police Sports and Wellbeing Association together with the West Midlands Police Motor Club for their continued support throughout the season.

MGCC Cockshoot Cup Champion 2019….. Paul R Clackett.

Motor Cycle Section

CTRacing

With the season drawing to an end, 2019 National Endurance Championship has been amazing for the team. With 31 hours’ worth of racing this year to date and one 3 hour race still to go. Nathan Jackson and Dave McCarthy have proudly secured 3rd place in the championship. The year hasn’t been easy, with Dave suffering a with a broken leg at pre-season testing in Spain. He has fought back getting himself fit for some arduous racing. It’s hasn’t come without problems either, with a couple of crashes and break downs on the way. But the whole team at CT Racing have pulled together on and off track. With some amazing support from the pit crew, Stu Davies and Kev Barker. Not forgetting the wives and families. Our last round is on October 12th at the north eastern circuit of Croft near Darlington. I’d like to thank everyone from the Motorsport section for all their support and help on the way.

2020 season has yet to be decided but all being well and hopefully we can find some good sponsors we will be challenging for the championship.

Rallying Scene

Ex Police rally duo, Paul Farley and Iain Henderson have been testing recently in preparation for their forthcoming event, The Three Shires Rally stage based at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire. They spent the day testing at Curborough sprint circuit, near Lichfield, finalising settings to their Honda Civic type R. The team has recently made some mechanical updates to the car including fitting paddle shifters to the “sequential gearbox. The day went very well, and was supported by their team and engineers from M3 motorsport in Kings Norton. Iain managed several runs throughout the test day to ensure the gearbox system was adjusted to gain the maximum performance available. The team left finalised the testing knowing they had greatly improved the vehicle’s performance in readiness for the closed road event. The test day was organised by Quinton motor club and was an excellent opportunity for those wishing to either test vehicles or just enjoy a fun day out on a good sprint circuit.

The forthcoming three shires rally on 7 September follows the new closed road format allowed in England and Wales, where with agreement of Motorsport UK and the local authority it is now possible to close public roads for motorsport use. The event is centred near to the Malvern Hills and comprises of 18 stages which runs just short of 50 miles. Iain stated: ‘ We had a good run out in difficult conditions on the Tour of Epynt back in April so this year I’m looking forward to a different format of event on closed roads as well as seeing how adjustments to the car will now perform’ (Write-up from Paul Farley and Iain Henderson)

Marshal Section.

The club’s marshalling section have again given their support on more rally events, covering timing, Flying Finish/ Stop and Radio and DSO, but it all shows the versatility of the marshalling section.

Dave Williams and Mark Wakelam in their role as Driving Standards Observers (DSO) making sure competitors behave on the public road sections between stages.

Such rally events have included Harry Flatters and Mewla, both were held on the Epynt Military Ranges. For the Mewla Rally, Dave, Craig, Trevor and Steve had radio points within the stages in the well-known German Village.

We did have a full team out on the Woodpecker rally covering Flying finish, stop and radio at the end of Radnor forest for stages 2 & 5. It was a very long day with Radnor stage 2 having to be stopped after only one competitor due to another competitor rolling and blocking the stage, then a long delay before the stage was restarted and Radnor stage 5 was late starting although there was no major stoppage on this stage, but it ended up with several competing cars going off the road, which certainly gave the recovery crews a major task at the end.

Some members of the team at the stop line at the end of the Radnor stages

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We are always looking for help/support on rally events (see events list below) we are not able to attend all events we get invites to, but in some cases just two club members have gone out to support an event and this makes all the difference.

Social Scene

Welsh Classic Car Tour

Mark Wakelam and Henry Adams once again participated in the two day Welsh Classic Car Tour which was organised by Martin Hadley and team from Llanerchindda Farm and Guest house near Llandovery, there is no racing or rallying involved so quite a relaxed event. Road books/route information is supplied and then after a good breakfast it’s up to each crew to follow the route, although this is an advised route so deviations can be made. Martin and his team normally find some excellent Welsh roads and countryside for this event, from Llanerchindda the route wound its way through places including Llanwrda, Lampeter , out to the coast for a stop at Aberaeron then onto Newquay then back though the lanes for a the first day finishing back at Llanerchindda Farm for a catchup with other entrants and an evening meal with trimmings (beer and wine).

The second day again started with a good hearty breakfast, chat with other participants then off and out into the Welsh countryside, but stopping for our midday lunch at Aberglasney Gardens, Llangathen, these are apparently considered to be some of the finest gardens in Wales. After lunch the route covered several other picturesque places before the final finish at Llanerchindda Farm. It was a good two days and all participants appeared to have enjoyed the event and no one got seriously lost. There was certainly a good array of cars in the event, including, Morris 1000 Traveler, Jaguar, Jenson, MGF, Morgan, VW beach buggy, RS 2000 fwd, Mark chose to use his MX5.

It would be good if the WMPMC could get a similar event under way?

Derek and Joanna Higgs with very smart Ford RS 2000 FWD, this was their first time participating on the Welsh Classic Car Tour, and they were suitably impressed and promised to return for this event in 2020.

Motor Club Members have attended quite a few car shows and events so it’s not all Racing and Rallying.

Climb at Chateau Impney, Droitwich.

This was an extremely good day with a lot to see from show stalls, many classic car clubs, including a very good display from the ‘Italian Job’ preservation society group, their display included the Mini’s naturally, the Bedford twin steer coach, E-Type Jag and the Ford Thames Mini-Bus, the gold bars on display looked very realistic, but made of wood I think?.

The Hill Climb circuit at first did not appear that demanding, but looks can be very deceiving, as several competitors attempting it had spins and even a couple of cars rolled. Different types of category of car were taking part from hill climbers, rally car class, bikes etc. and we even had a fly over from the BBMF Lancaster Bomber, that great sound of four Rolls Royce Merlin’s engines.

The Old Ford Rally day

This was held at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire, naturally there were a lot of Fords covering many models from the Model T, up to the later Fords, including the later model Mustang. The Ford commercial and agricultural vehicles were also well represented. One car that roused the attention of Russ Pemberton and Mark Wakelam was the 2.8 injection Ford Capri in Police livery, a long chat with its present owner and a look at some of the original police equipment; it was a bit of a trip down memory lane for these now retired policemen.

Russ Pemberton had his very nice big wing Ford Escort MK1 on show, nice car Russ. A look around the museum is always well worth it because there is always something new to see, on this occasion there was a Dinky toy and Meccano fair on and some of the models made from Meccano were engineering masterpieces including the model of The Lady Isabella water-pumping wheel, found at

Laxey Isle of Man, it must have taken months to build. This is another show also worth a visit next year.

Lupin Farm

Lupin Farm near Alewas, Litchfield, hold a classic vehicle show every year, although this show is never advertised as such, but is certainly a show for all types /class of vehicle including cars, commercial, agricultural and military. It was a very good turnout with such a lot to see and also many stalls selling all types of automotive spares and memorabilia. The proceeds from this show go to local charities, another good reason for supporting such a great and well organised event.

Pershore Plum Festival

Pershore Plum Festival is an event held every year over the August Bank holiday and being the first time of attending found it to be very impressive, with lots to see all type of craft stalls in and around the town. Many of the shops were open and a very large number of classic vehicles on show around the Abbey grounds. This is certainly the show to bring your classic vehicle to and naturally quite a lot of plums on sale.

(Pictured) Paul Price who is a member of WMPMC was spotted at the Plum Festive with family and friends. Paul says he will definitely bring his Classic MG to next year’s event. We look forward to seeing it Paul.

Future Rally Events 2019 Wales Rally GB. 3 - 6 October Sat 12th October Welsh Classic Hill Climb, (We are marshalling at Ralph’s Cider Farm, New Radnor help required)

Shows Sat 21st Sept Rally Day, Castle Combe 8 -10 Nov Classic Car Show NEC, Birmingham

Note- Early enquiry has been made with regard to a return to the Isle of Man next May to assist with the Manx National Rally 2020 Hope to have more positive information for the next newsletter.

If you have been involved with an event, competing, marshalling , car tour, car show etc., please could you pass on photos and write up to Bob Hickman. [email protected] for the magazine.

If you have an event that you think others in the club may be interested in or that you require help/support with, please let Mark Wakelam know.

Contact details.

Please contact Club Secretary - Mark Wakelam [email protected]