The months seem to come around quicker and quicker these days…. Dawns’ nag for copy heralds the end of one month and the beginning of the next. Seems to work though, here am I, two days after my nag, writing or perhaps waffling in a vain attempt to fill space, my monthly contribution for ACORN. How long can I keep going on like this for before you move to the next contributor???? Reckon I’ve lost you already!!
February’s been a very busy month for me and others no doubt. First of all, Daren and I cruised across to the Forest of Dean for the Wyedean Rally on February 9th. Once again we were hoping to see and more importantly hear the awesome Peugeot Cosworth of Andy Burton but witnessed him limping out of SS4 with what turned out to be a loose battery which resulted in the electric water pump not functioning and therefore simmering the engine nicely. Even a simple thing on what is an amazing bit of kit can cause retirement then. Mind you, I can remember my Chevette misfiring and cutting out at a Brooklands sprint and whilst we were thinking crank position sensors and other techy stuff, someone tugged the battery earth lead which promptly fell off the terminal post …..Doh!! Getting back to Mr Burton, he is entered in the Sunseeker which takes place tomorrow, the 23rd Feb, and at which several 7Oaks members will be manning 4 passage checks throughout the day, must take the video camera, and I’ll even remember the battery this time Daren!!!
The weekend in between these two stage rallies saw our own National B navigational road rally take place. The Kent Road Rally as you should all know it’s called had a good entry and some good results. Mick and Chris Rose finished in a superb 6th overall with 43 minutes and more importantly, no fails. I understand a bit of bribery was required, do well and I’ll weld your car for free I think it was. It worked though. Chin’s goal of just one winner was achieved with only the top crew totally clean. Everyone enjoyed the route, the dykes down on Pevensey Levels were brimming, and there was quite a lot of water in the ditches too!!! Icy in places, especially after cars had brought water out of the puddles and left it thinly spread on the ensuing sections of road. The night itself was clear at least where we were, which meant it was a bit chilly although I didn’t feel it myself. I do sometimes wonder why I do this, being up through the night standing out in sometimes inhospitable conditions, but on that night, with a huge number of stars visible and more or less total silence, it was wonderful. More of you should try it, particularly as once again we were short on marshals and some TC’s went unmanned. 35 members were out on the night but that figure included the officials. We really shouldn’t be struggling for support on a very local 7Oaks event. Full details of the results will I’m sure be elsewhere in this edition.
Our last 12car and scatter will have happened by now them being on March 8th and 13th respectively. There are still however other clubs running these events and Andy Elcomb is doing a pukka job of compiling and updating a Weald MC competition calendar. I will include this in the main calendar at the back of the mag so keep an eye on that even though mishtakes do sometimes creep into it!! Ring me if in doubt. One of the events of interest is the PCT of Southern Car Club on April 7th at Camerons Field, Dorking. Try to make it along to the PCT’s, they’re good fun. For details on this one phone Michael Weeks on 01483 721760 or email xenogamypct@coxhill-group.demon.co.uk
The speed season traditionally gets underway in March and this year is no exception although it’s not our Lydden that starts it off despite what the MSA fixture list says but Sutton & Cheam’s Chieftain Sprint at Longcross on March 17th. Not a round of our Marketing Machine Speed League but if doing the ACSMC Sprint Challenge, then you might be there on that day. Longcross is a brilliant venue for a sprint; it has a real mixture of bends and a grippy surface, well worth an entry. You don’t have to be doing the ACSMC championship to get an entry for it, as the invite is extended (as nearly all events are) to the regional associations of which 7Oaks is a member of 4, the ASEMC, ACSMC, LCAMC and AEMC. It will probably be too late to get an entry for this particular meeting by now but the club will be back there on July 21st for the Scorpion Sprint so phone Pam Guess for a set of regs on 01252 727390.
Our season opener is at Lydden on Sunday, April 14th. As is usual with a Sunday event at Lydden, competition doesn’t get underway until midday so it makes for a nice relaxed start to the day. Colin Rodger has very kindly stepped in as Secretary of the Meeting and regs will be out probably by about now?? They will also be posted on the website for downloading. I must point out one important thing as it has the potential to knock this event on the head for us. If you want to marshal at this event, then please phone Chris Scudder or email.
Circuit hire costs have increased by over 10% to £4700, which means that an entry for Lydden will now cost £89. At that figure we really need 91 competitors to break even, which on last year’s turn out will mean that we will be out of pocket. If the hire fees keep rising then it won’t be long before a three figure entry fee will be necessary and personally I feel that that is not on. We’ll have to wait and see what happens this year.
I mentioned the MSA fixture list booklet just now. Have you seen what they’ve done to it?? If I want to look for hillclimbs in June now, I’ve got to scour over two whole pages looking for the poxy letter H and then, then, look up the poxy club code in the back to see who’s running it!!! The word BO____KS springs to mind!!! Was anyone consulted over this poor redesign? Dolly the sheep may have been, who knows? Still, I suppose it’s as decipherable as the Blue Book is now!

Mark Dawson