At the risk of repeating both myself and previous Comp Sec’s ……. where has all the time gone??? I mean, it’s June already, England have just been beaten by a far superior team, although not after having stuffed the Argies, and I’ve only had the Chevette out once this year! That outing was to our Lydden sprint which went well although I did end up doing a Rik Lee and arriving shortly before midday. The reason for that was caused by what can actually be considered a very fortunate piece of bad luck …… huh? Backing the car out of the garage on the morning, one of the rose joints on the bottom link of the five link axle sheared, the car dropped to the ground with a loud scraping noise and I thought, bugger! I was able to drive it back onto the driveway with the link grinding into the tarmac, jack it up and replace the broken joint. For good measure I did all four, the thought of another one going on the start finish straight at 90 decided that. Are you impressed that I had spares? I was! Anyway, after a frantic morning, it ran well and I improved my own best time at the circuit, can’t ask for more, except perhaps for another 200bhp and four wheel drive, keep dreaming.
The second outing is about to happen with a showing on the club’s stand at The Bromley Pageant of Motoring at Norman Park. I will be joined by Daren Hall’s works Nissan Sunny  rally car, Colin Rodger’s Lola Sports 2000 racer and one of Colin Shipway’s menagerie just to show the public that motor sport isn’t confined to expensive exotic machinery. We’re all hoping for good weather and perhaps we’ll see some of you there. I’d better get the polishing cloth out again, I don’t want to lose my shiny nametag!
The Autotests are now well under way having completed three evenings already and maybe the 4th and 5th by the time you read this. That may therefore only leave one more date for you to finally get along and have a go. The ones that have happened have been reasonably well supported but there is plenty of room for more, so don’t put it off again..pleeease! Clive Cooke is doing a sterling job with the paperwork even if the copier reproduced a section of reversing that wasn’t supposed to be there. It was better with the reversing Clive so use that machine again. Our August find a pub social night at The Bell at Smarden falls on the same evening as one of Maidstone’s grass autotests which I shall be doing, it’s on the way for me. Let’s see if I’m the only one there! There is also the possibility of 7Oaks running a PCT/Autotest sometime at Nursted. John Kemp knows the venue and the owner well, it’s currently only used once a year by the MG Car Club and would be ideal for us. I have to confess John, that I haven’t done anything about it yet since talking to you at B19’s PCT. I’m up to my eyeballs in paint and wood and all things DIY at home at the moment. If some brave soul can help out, we can sit down and sort a date and permits ‘n’ stuff and actually make this happen.
Talking of home, who spotted the address change in the front cover of last months mag? Yes, I have finally moved in having owned the place for 15 months. Am I any nearer to finishing? …….silly question, course I am, but there’s still plenty to do, hence the reason for not being out sprinting. Mind you, I think I will take a break from it to visit the French hillclimb that Jim Giddings mentioned last month. The attitude to noisy smelly fast cars is so much better in France than over here, especially in the overcrowded South East. It can even be combined with a cheap beer and wine stock up. I am confused though …. members with a couple of years under their belts will testify to Jim’s fluent French articles that have appeared in ACORN shortly after trips to Le Mans. I think he’s pulling a fast one saying that he can’t speak the lingo!
Preparations for the Spotted Dick & Custard Stages at Longcross are also underway with Chin in the driving seat and Colin Billings shouting instructions, err, Clerking. This is the last event that has a confirmed booking at Longcross. There is a great deal of uncertainty over the venue and whether it will remain a viable one. Sutton and Cheam put on a hell of a lot at Longcross and it would affect them heavily if it were to go the way of Valence and Crystal Palace among others. For now, we will have to wait and see and just get on with our own event there. If you want regs, contact Chin and he will send them when available.
On a final note ……….. bad luck Sam, s’pose you could add …”antha” to your name!!!!!!!!

Mark Dawson