Letters

Dear Dawn and the 7Oaks & DMC,

Not many things upset me, but I feel that I need to get this off my chest!!
My partner Clive and I have been interested in Motor sport for many years. Last year we had the opportunity to purchase a ready to go Sprint Rally / Hill Climb Car (our Firenza 2300) from the Lyndsay Brothers.  They were very helpful when we picked it up and gave us many pamphlets on obtaining licenses and clubs to join.  I took the plunge and rang Andy Elcomb, who was very helpful and welcoming, I wrote the cheque and we joined the club as a family and helped Marshal at the Spotted Dick and Custard 8 stage rally in Chertsey and were posted on all the splits with Darren Hall and his girlfriend Sarah. They too were very helpful and friendly and made us very welcome.
We then helped marshal at the Rally of Kent, where we met some more very friendly people and already felt part of the club.  We got very excited as the North Weald Sprint was coming up and we were down to help Marshall this event, we had our phone call from our "Buddy" Andy Webber and knew he was going to be there which we were excited about as we like all things Lotus (we have a 1978 S2 Esprit).  We arrived at a very wet North Weald and met all the people we have so far. As you are probably aware the start was postponed until the rain cleared, but the rain never cleared and after a few practise laps the meeting was cancelled, very wet and bedraggled we left North Weald disappointed at not totally experiencing the events that we want to take part in.
But this isn't what I am disgruntled about; our second Acorn Magazine came through the door addressed to Clive only.  On further reading through the different items and articles, we got to the "Welcome New Members section" we read the names and there at the bottom was a Welcome to Clive Cannon from Mottingham.  I found out about the club, I wrote the cheque, we both have helped at all events and will both be racing the car in Sprints, so what happened to the welcome to me???????  I felt neglected, not wanted and an incy bit of a female in a males’ world, which can't be true of the 7Oaks club, when Vivienne has such an active roll and yourself too. Since then everything comes addressed to Clive -  stickers, a diary and the Acorn, I don't want my own copies but I just want to be loved!!!

Disgruntled, but with Kind Regards

Caroline Baker

OOPS! …...Sincere apologies to Caroline and any other “Family members” I have inadvertently missed off the new Members welcome section.  I will make doubly sure that I mention everyone our membership secs send through to me!  It is a bit difficult to know whether family members are of the “spouse” “child” or “partner” variety, but perhaps that is something we can look at amending on our membership form for the future!

Dawn

Dear Dawn,

Through your superb publication (Crawler! –ED) I would like to thank the Club for it's extra award to me regarding my unfortunate 'lack of vision' during the year.  This being the occasion of me driving a 5 ton van into my own car, whilst setting up a 7Oaks event.
I must however protest that it was not my fault as it was my wife who parked the car, opposite a T junction, (see article 217 of the highway code http://www.roads.dtlr.gov.uk/roadsafety/hc/11.htm) and so being a woman she should own up to the blame caused by her not keeping to the highway code. Having received the Battered Cup, I feel that that is embarrassment enough without having been handed an oversized Wing Mirror as well.  I have tried to add this extra accessory to the car, but my fleet manager asked me to remove the mirror as it was taking up an extra parking place at work, hanging off the side where it should be placed.
I have decided that to avoid having the Battered Cup for a third year in succession, I will need to, either take part as a competitor in all of 7Oaks' events or attend the marshalling duties on my daughter’s pushbike. My own car will be left at home, safely locked in the garage.

Ralph Travers
Battered Cup recipient (twice)

(HMMM!! I believe that the T junction in question was on private land and therefore is not covered by the Highway Code!!?!! Wanted – Navigator for next Scatter…. Please!

Ed and afore mentioned Wife!)

Motorsport News ' Do You Remember' column on 9th January featured a 7Oaks Vice President. Clearly their 'memory' failed them on this occasion since it claimed Vic Elford left Ford for Porsche in 1964. Strange then, that he was entered in a works Lotus Cortina as late as the 1966 RAC Rally? (and was briefly leader of the 1965 event in one?).

Keith Lay

NORTH WEALD OCTOBER 2001: BIG THANK YOU

Received from Michael Mooring, non-member and unlucky would be competitor:

To: SDMC & Tina Moon
Ref: North Weald 21/10/01

I would just like to say thanks for the cheque.
It was a very nice thing to do and I hope to see you next year.  Please pass my thanks on to your committee for making a very fair and generous decision.
 

Thank you Michael for taking the trouble to write. This shows that we as a club think about our competitors and by making the right if somewhat difficult decisions, will continue to attract them to our well-run events.

Neil Brookes-Johnson

The Acorn : February Edition