Compost

Things are beginning to get back to normal. Some events have been issued with permits which previously were ruled out on the grounds of Foot & Mouth. Croydon’s recent PCT being a prime example. Our own Autotests could well be kicking off soon, possibly starting with the June 14th event. The main issue with granting permits is whether the land to be used is grazed on. Our field currently isn’t and as long as we follow MAFF’s and the NFU’s guidelines and have the written permission of the landowner, then the MSA will issue a permit. Give either myself, Chin or Alan Pearson a call if you any doubt, but at this stage we hope to start on June 14th and then June 28th, July 12th and July 26th. Whether or not we tack on the missed events after the last one is something we can decide upon nearer the time.
The PCT mentioned run by Croydon MC was a great event. In a previous ACORN I had said that I hadn’t been to a PCT before and so this proved an ideal opportunity. Held at Cameron’s Field, just outside Dorking also meant it wasn’t miles from home. Graham Baker, our new Social Sec had the same idea as me and turned up to see what it was all about. We managed to get Graham into the passenger seat of Peter Turner’s Volvo so he could get hands on experience of competing, plus he makes a good bouncer! Whilst he was doing that, I helped Phil Sullivan marshal on several of the tests. All of the lot of you will have seen Phil along with Jerry Rogers marshalling at our speed events so it’s only fair to return the favour every now and then. It kicked off around 11.30am and the 10 crews did 6 hills each before lunch. Just across the very busy A25 from the field is The Watermill which provided a nice relaxed lunch break of the solid or liquid variety. At about 2pm we wondered back to the field to complete another 12 hills which took us up to about 5pm. Graham and Peter finished 5th overall with 23 points. The lesser score wins. I think the winning score was 12 points. The sun shone all day, the venue itself is ideal for PCT’s, i.e, there’s nothing major to speak of that could cause any damage to the car. This is certainly something that all you autotesters could do as well as autotesting. The basic idea isn’t dissimilar but because your time against the clock isn’t an issue, the car will take much less of a hammering doing a PCT as opposed to an Autotest. New member, Jon Harmer had entered the event but due to suspension problems and work commitments, couldn’t make it. You would have enjoyed yourself Jon. After everyone had completed their runs and before the markers were taken down, Phil persuaded me to have a go. This could be embarrassing I thought. Not so, I managed to get up all but one of the hills and will certainly be entering next time but I will need a passenger …. any mugs/volunteers?
Thanks to John Lloyd, Croydon’s Chairman and Secretary for this event for a good day out. Croydon’s other PCT usually takes place in October  but there are other clubs that run PCT’s. Keep an eye on the calendar for information.
The Porlock hillclimb I mentioned last month has recently been cancelled. Being in the Exmoor National Park which is still classed as an affected area has brought this about. The organisers toyed with the idea of holding the event in October but considered that failing light, and fallen leaves would create too many problems. Their planned date for next year is June 30th 2002.
Longcross is known primarily for rallying with our own Spotted Dick & Custard Stages now held at this excellent venue. Now, and I believe for the first time, Sutton & Cheam Motor Club are organising a sprint here. July 22nd is the date, it is a round of the ACSMC Sprint Challenge and regs are out. If you are registered with this championship, then you should have received regs by now. If you’re not and want to enter, call Melissa Wheeler (before 9pm) for a set of regs. She will take provisional entries over the phone but these must be backed up by a completed entry form and cheque within 3 days. For those that know the venue, the start will be from near the control building, will sweep 180° left around the heavily cambered first bend followed by a shortish straight before joining the ‘snake’ which will be an eye opener for sprinters who haven’t been here before. Exiting the snake back onto the outer track for another long fast left-hander before a 90° left and right to the finish. The course length will be about 1.75 miles. The entry fee is £75 before July 1st and £85 after. Unfortunately single seaters, sports racing and clubman cars are not allowed on this occasion.
Another event to which we have been invited which isn’t in the Marketing Machine, is the Brighton & Hove North Star Goodwood Sprint on August 4th. This event is a two lapper, which is just short of 5 miles. I have a few sets of regs for this, so call me if want some or alternatively phone Tony Johnstone before 9pm.
Our North Weald Sprint on June 17th may well have happened by now, time will tell. Colin Rodger had taken a full entry with reserves a month before the event, which just goes to show how important it is to get in quick with your entries. Colin was hampered by his computers’ hard disk eating itself. Of course he had a back up copy didn’t he!!  Well ….. no, he didn’t. But with much key tapping, he recovered the situation. One thing worth mentioning about the event just in case this is read before the 17th, is that there is some drag racing going on at North Weald on the same day. There won’t be any interference between the two meetings, and there is a separate entrance for the drag racers. The sprint entrance will be in the same place as normal which for first timers to North Weald is off the A414 onto Rayley Lane, then roundabout right onto Merlin Way, go past the gatehouse on the right onto the next roundabout. Go right round and come back along Merlin way and turn left into the airfield. This info will be in the Final Instructions as well, but we all know how well they are read by some competitors.
I’ve just seen an ideal new engine for the Chevette. I was working recently at an Aston Martin restorer / dealer and sitting on a stand and obviously used for shows was a 6.3 litre 32 valve V8 producing 740bhp and driving to an Aston Martin transaxle…. mmmmm….. niiiice! Amongst the assorted DB5’s and Zagato’s was a one off Le Mans winning car worth, wait for it, £3 million!!! I must stop now, I need to work out how much overtime I need to do.

Mark Dawson

The Acorn : June Edition