Sep - Sevenoaks and District Motor Club

On the opposite of the camera for a change
THE ACORN
September 2012
Last of the Summer Autotest Series

Sevenoaks and District Motor Club Ltd
PRESIDENT: John Symes VICE PRESIDENT Vic Elford
The Editor, Committee and Club do not necessarily agree with items and opinions expressed within Acorn
CHAIRMAN, Andy Elcomb,
MEMBERSHIP SEC andyelcomb@yahoo.com
magazine.
Officers and Committee
SECRETARY: Tracey Niel, tracey.niel@ntlworld.com
TRK: Chin chin@btinternet.com
TREASURER Clive Cooke, clive.v.cooke@virgin.net
ACORN EDITOR Sue Jessop
COMPETITION SEC, Ian Crocker
suesiw.7oaksacorn@gmail.com
WEBMASTER ian@seight.com
SPEED LEAGUE Russell Giddings,
CHAMP CO-ORD russ@jimgiddingsfurniture.com
RALLY SECRETARY Iain Gibson,
rallyep3@hotmail.co.uk
CHIEF MARSHALL Chris Scudder,
chris .scudder@virgin.net
SOCIAL SECRETARY Rosemary and Nigel Mead,
mead.nigel@virgin.net
PRESS AND PR Steve Thompson,
stevthom1@hotmail.com
CPO Dawn Travers,
dawn.travers@ntlworld.com
COMMITTEE MEM. David Balderson,
balderson@ntlworld.com
WITHOUT PORTFOLIO Darren Tyre,
WEB ACORN Ralph Travers
darren.tyre@ntlworld.com
ralph.travers@ntlworld.com
Website—www.sevenoaksmotorclub.com

WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER’S CHAIRMAN’S CHAT.
As I write this I’m gearing up for a busy Bank Holiday weekend as I’ve entered our sprint at North Weald
on Sunday 26 th and will be along to Brands Hatch on the Monday to help Chelmsford MC with their stage
rally. I’m pleased to see a good number of 7Oaks crews or part crews on the entry list and trust you all
have a great day, even if the forecast is for a typical Bank Holiday….
Fortunately the sun shone strongly at Brands for the autotest final on 12 th August and again at Kemsing
for the Bat & Trap & BBQ on the 18 th which just added to the smiles of all those that attended – great fun
both.
September offers the chance to go back to North Weald for more AutoSolo action – you might even have
an online entry system in place for this too. Just hope it isn’t quite as wet as Barney Lower’s ‘Solo. Maid-
stone will be holding their Wings autotest on 2 nd September and I hope to throw the black MX5 around
Headcorn airfield if it survives a good thrashing at North Weald.
As you will see elsewhere, Chin has topped up the Trophy Record Keeper’s files but he is very light on
speedy results so do please let him know what events you have done. It doesn’t matter what your result
was – you’d be surprised what even a lowly position might do to the tables. After all, if you put in some
results and another doesn’t then you win! If you aren’t sure what the awards are all about then I know
chin will be pleased to explain them so just ask. We may have a Yearbook soon which does cover all our
trophies in depth and gives the winners since they began – there are some famous names in there!
I’m also very pleased to welcome so many new members recently, most of whom have been out to play
at the autotests and all seem to be related or mates of Lee Champion or Barney Lower. Very well done
chaps – keep up the good work!
I hope that some of the new faces will join us in the lanes of the South East and have a go at our Scatter,
12-car and 2020 Rallies. If you aren’t sure what is involved, then I recommend a visit to Chin’s Rally
School at the Bell, Kemsing, every 2 nd Wednesday of the month (but best check with him first).
In October we hope to have another go at running the Weald Trial. This is a multi-venue mixture of auto-
tests and trial sections that takes a fair bit of work to set up and run and a number of the local clubs get
together to help. But it does need a greater number of entries to make it worthwhile and you can’t just
turn up on the day so if you have had a communication from Chin asking if you might be coming out to
play then do please respond either way so we know where we stand. If you haven’t heard anything yet,
but are interested in entering (or marshalling) then do please get straight on the phone or email to Chin
or myself and let us know. It would be such a shame if it didn’t happen.
Your Editor will be on holiday for the next Acorn so I’m going to have a bash at producing it. Haven’t done
it before so I’ll need all your help with any interesting articles, pictures, jokes or event reports – please!
That’s my lot for this month – see you out and about!
ANDY ELCOMB
THE PHOTO ON THE FRONT OF THE AUGUST ACORN, WAS SUE’S SCHOOLFRIENDS
HUSBAND WHO TOOK ACORN ON TOUR!!

WELCOME TO THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS
Garry Collins
Mark Hill and Kate
Billy Biles, Liam and Ashley
Andy Porter
Joy Waiton and Cleo
Richard Proctor, Wendy and Daniel
Matthew Aves
Butho Siwela, Sabela and Xolani
Jonathan Alder
Maddy Dadson, Paul and Angela
Mick Parnell, Anita, Zak and Todd
Chris Hunt
John Pickersgill and Maureen
Michal Momot
Daniel Neuwert
Paul Hebden and Kim Charnley

DATE EVENT ORGANISING CLUB / CONTACT LOCATION STATUS
8 Sep 12
Sprint (Brighton Speed Trials)
9 Sep 12 Regularity 12 Car
15 Sep 12 Sprint
23 Sep 12 Autosolo
23 Sep 12 Sprint
28 Sep 12 P&H Novice 12 Car
30 Sep 12 Mercury Car Trial
7 Oct 12 Sprint
7 Oct 12 Regularity 12 Car
7 Oct 12 Scenic Tour
Brighton and Hove MC Contact Len Wooler email:
tj@tjbrighton.com or lencob427@live.co.uk
Eastbourne & RAM MC
Contact Tim Smith Tel: 01424 222662
SEMSEC (TW MC & Rochester MC) Contact Ken Greenfield
email: ken@semsec.plus.com
Sevenoaks & DMC: Contact Keith Crocker Tel: 01732
860099 email keithcrocker@btinternet.com
Shelsley Walsh Company Contact Roger Thomas Tel:
01886 812211or email: secretary@shelsley-walsh.co.uk
Sporting Car Club of Norfolk Contact David Bell email
percy@sccon.co.uk
Eastbourne & RAM MC
Contact Tim Smith Tel: 01424 222662
Herts County AACHerts County Auto & Aero Club Contact
Tony Staines email pete@3arc.com
Eastbourne & RAM MC
Contact Tim Smith Tel: 01424 222662
Blackpalfrey MC of Kent Contact Tom Ash
the_ashes@tiscali.co.uk
EDITORIAL RAMBLINGS
I hope you have all been enjoying the weather lately, we were very lucky on our last Autotest, and at
the Bat and Trap with BBQ. Both of these events were great fun, and it was good to see some of the
newer members of the club there. I am going away in September, going to my son’s wedding, so that
means I will be handing over the Acorn to Andy, so any copy between now and the 20th September,
can you send to Andy please. After the 21st can you send it back to me as I will be starting on the next
Acorn as soon as I return. Thanks for all your help. See you soon SUE
Brighton NB
Map 199 CS
Brands Hatch NB
North Weald CS
Shelsley Walsh NB
TBA CS
Burwash CS
Debden NB
Map 199 CS
Tour of Kent CS
For more information on SDMC events, contact
Ian Crocker, Competition Secretary Tel 01892 546006 email: ian@seight.com
Speed League contact: Russell Giddings Tel 01732 762111 email russ@jimgiddingsfurniture.com

S&DMC SOCIAL EVENT CALENDAR
(Contact Rosemary or Nigel Mead, Tel.No.: 01892 832420)
e-mail : mead.rosemary@virginmedia.com).
Please contact The Bell if you will be purchasing food, Tel.No.01732 761550
WEDNESDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER
NOGGIN AND NATTER
At The Bell, Kemsing
FRIDAY 5TH OCTOBER
VISIT TO CROSSWAITE AND GARDINER
Please note this visit is now fully subscribed.
WEDNESDAY 17TH OCTOBER
FILM NIGHT
At The Bell, Kemsing.
WEDNESDAY 21st NOVEMBER
SPEED LEAGUE FORUM & AUTOTEST AWARDS
At The Bell, Kemsing.
WEDNESDAY 19th DECEMBER
SEASONAL NOGGIN AND NATTER
At The Bell, Kemsing.
TUESDAY 1 st JANUARY 2013
NEW YEAR'S DAY WALK
Details TBA.
WEDNESDAY 16 th JANUARY 2013
NOGGIN AND NATTER
At The Bell, Kemsing.
DEAR EDITOR,
Does the SDMC have a historian who might have results for the SDMC Valence School Hill Climb held
July 15th 1964?
I am a Morgan historian and Ian Cumming tells me he did well, winning a class. I just seek these results.
Yours Faithfully
JAKE ALDERSON

WITH THE NIGHTS DRAWING IN IT’S TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE DARK SIDE OF
MOTORSPORT!
Rally School
We run a Rally School each month on the second Wednesday to which all are welcome (members or
not) where we give an insight into the black arts of Navigational Scatters, 12-cars, 2020s and Navigational
Rallies.
CHIN
Location: The Bell, Kemsing 188/555587
Time: 8.00pm
What you need: OS Landranger Map 188
2B or 3B pencil
Eraser
Romer (if you don’t have one don’t worry)
BRAIN
Next meeting: 12 th September 2012
Borough 18 Motor Club Presents the Weald Motor club
ROUND 1 OF THE ROD WRAY 12 CAR SERIES 2012-2013
Friday 12 th October
Start from and finish at Newnham Court inn 188 781570
7.15 for 8.01 first car
All on map 188 c3 2005
50ish miles of good north weald roads
Entry £10 + insurance available at start
Entries and marshals to dave clark 01474 833496 eve
Or by email to da_jr.clark@btinternet.com
First come first taken with entry form

TALES FROM THE BANJO!
For the uninitiated the Banjo is a point used on the Sprint at North Weald, Emma and Richard Olsen
were marshalling here, but as this was about the only place that everyone got it right, they decided to
start marking cars on Style, or lack of it.!!
These are their observations. 3rd Run
4 Saxo Keith Warnell Good Pirouetter on 3 wheels
23 Clio Matt Randle Good 360 on 3 wheels. Good air
25 Clio Lee Forster Smooth—not much air
14 Saxo Carl Warnell 3 Wheels and smoke
26 Puma Marin Ellis Nice wave with smoke
34 MX5 Jim Bryant Very neat turn
35 Clio Matt Randle Dramatic Lawn Mowing
39 Lancia Robert Wadsworth Just nice Car
43 MR2 Mike Druce-Smith Slightly late braking
48 Subaru Melvyn Poolman Pop-pop, Bang-bang, wheel lifting
58 Caterham Stephen Laing Squirrely
60 Relard James Smith Wot no smoke! Or just a bit!
65 Mini Ben Norfolk Shouting at it , does no faster
82 Dax Gino Cuomo Brought his own cone, not much slower
91 Jedi Chris Judge Nice Slalom
96 SRG Stuart Giles Smoky braking, awesome sound.
4th, 5th and 6th run.
5 MX5 Andy Elcomb Slow in , Fast out
21 MGF David Balderson Slow in, slow out
23 Clio Matt Randle Lovely 3 wheel turn
26 Puma Martin Ellis Bit busy to wave in, wave out
35 Clio Bob Hoare Nice Wave
36 Ferrari Geoff Dark TOO late, Smokey Smoke and WR
43 MR2 Melvyn Poolman Wave out the roof spoils aerodynamics
55 Westfield Chris Hardman Sideways in, sideways out
58 Caterham Stephen Laing Like that
5 MX5 Andy Elcomb Roofdown does not help, see you shaking head
24 Alfa Mike Stark Sqeeeeeeeeeeel!! On limit of grip
25 Clio Lee Forster Recovery of the day
26 Puma Martin Ellis Hands too full to wave, nice smile
60 Relard James Smith Good 3 Wheels—but front off the ground
85 TR6 Clive Letherby Very fast in, quite fast out
5 MX5 Andy Elcomb Nicely done with a smile
43 MR2 Mike druce-Smith Even later breaking
48 Imprezza Melvyn Poolman Flames
55 Westfield Chris Hardman WHOOPS –but put in right
EMMA and RICHARD OLSEN

WALLY PRATT
Hi,
I'm not sure if you can help but if not hopefully you know somebody that can,
I own Wally's old Fiat Abarth BCG690C it's undergoing a full restoration. I'm trying to track down as many
old pictures and history of the car as possible, I've obtained some as times gone by.
He was a very successful member of your club at lots of hillclimbs and sprints, would it be possible that
somewhere in your club archives you have some good pictures of the car in action?
It would be great if you could help?
Thank you for your time reading this email.
NIK BAKER.
The story of this car began when I was about twelve seeing it in a special fiat feature magazine as an
award winning sprint and hill climb car but also an everyday road car, already being a small fiat fan I
wanted it!!! Fifteen or so years later a guy that I knew said of a small fiat 500 Abarth that had been sat in
his friends workshop with a good so say racing pedigree. I called them to arrange a look and went straight
there the next day to find out it wasn't a Fiat 500 it was the blue Fiat 600 Abarth of Wally Pratt that I'd
wanted from years ago!!! So as you can guess I bought it straight away. Already knowing that it was in a
poor abused condition I began to restore it.
I think this must be one of the worst condition fiats in history other than those that sank in the ocean upon
delivery!!! Due to other commitments the project has been on hold for some time, while gathering
parts needed to restore it to a small Duckhams sponsored fiat Abarth that surprised many people in far
bigger cars at places like Lydden hill, Valence, Goodwood and Bodiam!!!! Hopefully this story may remind
people of the days when Wally used the car as a member of your club at many an event, there is many a
story about this car on many forums when you Google his name and Abarth. I'm hoping some more photos
from archives and personal collections will arise to help me build more history on what i have acquired
so far, the car was also Car and Car Conversion magazine car of the year in 1970.

THE MARSHALS POST / BEYOND THE GRAVEL TRAP
Well the end of July and the beginning of August were certainly very busy for me. After coming back from
my placement halfway through July it was straight onto team Faith Camp for the two set up weeks and
then helping run the event for the actual week of Faith Camp. The two set up weeks consisted of anything
from loading toys for the children’s groups into articulated trucks to setting out almost 5000 chairs in the
main arena at the Peterborough showground. During the week of Faith camp I was stewarding in the
main arena which was great fun and such a privilege. The week seemed to fly past though and we were
soon saying goodbye to the students that were traveling directly home from camp while me and a few
others came back to Roffey for a few last days to help pack away and wait for flights. Over the next few
days I gave most of them a lift to Gatwick to catch flights back to Switzerland, Germany, France Bulgaria
and Italy.
The first event I managed to do after Faith Camp was the all-day autotest at Brands. Unfortunately the
Peugeot’s MOT ran out while I was away on placement and I didn’t have chance to sort it out before the
event so I turned up to marshal in the warm sunshine. Fortunately the gentle breeze was blowing the
dust away from us throughout the day’s competition and the day seemed to be enjoyed by everyone. I
would like to thank Stacey Thompson and everyone else that has helped organise and marshal the events
over the summer, unfortunately due to college and placement I couldn’t be there for all of them but I
thoroughly enjoyed the ones I did get to.
The weekend after saw me back at Brands Hatch, but this time marshalling on the Grand Prix loop for the
Lotus Festival which was being run by MSVR. It was two very hot days and there isn’t much shade at Haw-
thorn’s, Post 14 where I spent the two days. The best racing of the weekend was provided by the produc-
tion BMW’s and the Elise on track trophy with very full grids being provided. The project 8 racing saloons
were good to watch too, although most of their sessions were blighted by stoppages and safety cars. Dur-
ing the race on the restart after the safety car had gone in I was quite happily waving a green flag as the
leaders came into view, unaware that the gantry of lights in front of me was showing red due to a big inci-
dent at the bottom of Paddock hill. The race leader at the time C. Tester (driving a black Serria, the name
sounds familiar, does anyone know him?) was a little puzzled. There is no repeater light on the back of
the warning lights so I only knew the race had been stopped when the previous post- who could see the
lights- put a red flag out. The time table for both days was very tight and the last race of the day on Sun-
day had to be cut short although this was the third 25 minute GT cup race of the weekend it wasn’t con-
sidered a great loss, especially as there were only six cars in each of the races that had on the most part
got rather strung out.
Right, by next month I should have a MOT on the Peugeot and will have been out on an Autosolo if all
goes to plan. Play safe!
I’ve developed a phobia of German sausages, I fear the Wurst!
PHIL FAWCETT

HOW THINGS CHANGE
Having enjoyed 90,000 miles in 28 months driving a Mercedes C220 diesel I decided that the replacement
would be the same, but this time an estate. I didn’t really miss the estate yet having had estates for so
many years there is no doubt they are handy!
So it was that I found myself sitting in the Merc dealer for an hour or so during which time I overheard
something like 5 or 6 sales enquiries. There was a time when the first question asked about any car was
“How fast will it go?”. No longer is this the case for in every case, without exception the first question was
to enquire about the fuel economy, “How many miles to the gallon does it do?”.
Over recent years great strides have been made with both diesel and gasoline engines, modern cars delivering
fuel economy figures that a few years back would never have been dreamt of. Memory is that when
I first hit the roads whatever the car it was unlikely to do much better than 30mpg. Certainly my Cortina
1600E delivered a little over 30mpg and no more. A 3 litre Capri could deliver 28mpg, if driven gently but
25mpg was more realistic and if you drove it like a hooligan you could get down to around 17mpg. At the
time such figures were considered perfectly reasonable. I don’t recall the 2.8 and 2.9 Capris that followed
being much different although an Escort XR3i did a bit better.
For both gasoline and diesel engines the increase in fuel economy comes down to increased efficiency
and whilst better machining, improved lubricants, better combustion chamber design etc. all contribute
the biggest factor is the incredibly efficient control over the fuel/air mixture.
It is interesting to compare the two C220’s, the old one did a reliable 42mpg and if driven to be economical
it could do 45/46mpg without too much trouble. The current one is turning in a consistent 46mpg and
if you cruise it on the motorway at 70mph it nudges 50mpg. Comparing the two cars we now have a 7
speed gearbox as opposed to a six speeder, it’s all about keeping the engine speed in the sweet spot.
Come to a halt and the engine cuts, restarting automatically on either releasing the brake or touching the
throttle. Otherwise the only difference is apparently re-mapping the ECU and slightly different injectors.
An interesting question is then should it be gasoline or diesel? Diesel engine cars generally cost an extra
£1,000 or so and diesel fuel is circa 5p a litre more expensive. Diesels tend to be more expensive to repair
so it is not a straightforward question. Over the last 5 years or so undoubtedly diesels have been popular
but it seems the tide is turning and gasoline engines are starting to take over once more. When you do
the sums unless you do a very heavy mileage over a short period of time for most a modern gasoline car
is highly likely to be the better option. The recently launched 1,000cc Ford Focus is very impressive for it
performs like a 1,600cc car and does well over 60mpg. For a long time it has looked like the future is
smaller capacity, forced induction, high efficiency engines and there is probably more development left in
the gasoline engine than there is the diesel.
JOHN SYMES
WHY DOES ALL OF THIS MAKE SENSE?
As I was lying in bed pondering the problems of the world, I rapidly
realized
That I don't really give a rat's hiney. It's the tortoise life for me!
1. If walking is good for your health, the postman would be immortal.
2. A whale swims all day, only eats fish, drinks water, and is fat.
3. A rabbit runs and hops and only lives 8 months.
4. A tortoise doesn't run and does nothing, yet it lives for 450 years.
And you tell me to exercise?? I don't think so.
I'm retired. Go around me.

Chris (11-Tenths) Fulke Greville
Honda Integra R 2012 Season.
Event 13,June 3rd.
Snetterton
I arrived at the circuit for 6.30am,it had rained all the way up from Surrey. A brief pause in the rain allowed
us to get set up and scrutineered, but by 8am the heavens where shedding the wet stuff.
The first practice was very wet with torrents od water running across the circuit that made the Integra
aquaplane on every straight and every corner.
The single seater boys had no grip even with specialist rain tyres fitted, with most of them not even bothering
to take the car off their trailers because of the conditions.
I still managed to be over 20 seconds clear of the Renault Clio Cup cars in my class and knew I would win
the class with ease.
Ha, I talked too soon. On the first timed run I still went for it pulling well over the 90mph mark through
Hamiltons. As I entered the right hander to go up to the hairpin, I tried to turn in and nothing, the car
went straight on, I knew I had made a right cock up. I tried everything within the space of a second to unbalance
the car so it would slow, but no way was this bloody car stopping. I hit the grass still going
straight, with the pretty cut grass going slightly down hill, I realised the tyre wall was so very near and
getting nearer by the millisecond.
I hit it at about 70mph head on, the car bounced back and slung to the right.
Being more interested with the well being of the Integra I waved the medics away and concentrated
getting the car back to the paddock, where we found the bonnet stuck up in the air and front corner
pushed back. Expensive this motorsport lark eh!.
With the help of a tow truck and rope we pulled the damaged panels away from the tyres. The tank tape
that held it all together was supplied by John Ridgeon and Stephen Reynolds, thanks lads.
I decided to leave for home and drove 150 miles back. Within two miles the Integra was driving pretty
straight, and I was regretting that I should have stayed to do the final run to beat the very slow Renault
Clio Cup car who won the class.
The Integra was driven to TGM Motorsport who repaired the car over the next two weeks, during which I
bought out the trusty Toyota MR2 I used in 2011.
My car injuries was expensive but I was bruised in quite a few places for the next week or so.
Event 14 June 9th Abingdon.
I entered the class with the MR2 and gave it my best during all the runs but could not finish higher than
3rd overall.
The MR2 was quicker on some of the runs than the more modern machinery but the engine mount was
broken and on tight left corners it was not allowing me to get 1st and second gears, so I lost out by just a
couple of hundredths of a second.
Event 15, June 16th
Goodwood.
I entered the standard Toyota MR2 again determined to retain the class lap record even thou I didn't
have the Integra.
In 2011 the MR2 managed a 105.39 seconds in the A2 class, winning the class and beating all the new Clio
Cup cars that where more powerful.
I managed a 108.87 seconds in practice, then a 107.12 second lap on my first timed run.
The second timed run was achieved in a 106.01 seconds, then I went round on the final run and did a remarkable
104.72 second lap, and that for a bog standard 21 year old Toyota MR2 was bloody brilliant.
I pulled 105 mph through Madgwick and I entered No Name at 124 mph, and I went through the chicane

At 65mph.This MR2 went round on rails, although a bit loose to say the least.
If it had a bit more power in the engine department I reckon this car would get near the 100 second mark.
Event 16 July 12th.
Lydden.
The Integra was near ready after needing a bonnet and hinges, front bumper, lower splitter, front panel,
front body support brackets, front wing, front lights which where very expensive as they had computer
HD packs on them, so bang went my budget.
I collected the Integra R, fully painted on the Friday from the bodyshop and entered the event hoping to
do well, she was very quick until I went through Chessons and found the engine cutting out on every lap I
did. I checked the sensors, loose wires, and for anything that may be causing the problem.
I lost over 3 to 4 seconds a timed run, so I didn't get the fast times I wanted.
I still managed to win the class thou.
Event 17 July 8th.
Debden
The Integra was mixing it with a Clio and another Integra of Jon Williams.
The conditions and track surface had a lot to be desired on the day, with rain threatening to drench us.
But all of us in the class did battle. Jon led the class because I spun out at the left hander up to the hill and
the Clio got cocky.
I went for it on the second timed run and what happened, the engine cut out again, big time as I was going
thou the top corners.
This fault was getting me on every fast on the limit right handers, so it had to be fuel or a damaged wire
near the accident area.
I got back and I had missed beating Jon by just over a second, so I knew I could have been another 3 seconds
quicker.
The final run saw everyone go out in a downpour of rain that made rivers everywhere.
My Integra didn't miss a beat and took several seconds off everyone in my class and the overall competitors
times, I got my fastest time in the wet and only just managed to lose the class by a tenth to Jon's dry
run.
I have missed Hethel and a couple of others as Charlotte my eldest got married in Thailand, so bang went
another load of money sending 17 family members over there for a two week holiday.
See you all at the next event, and I hope by that time I have cured this intermittent misfire on the Integra.
CHRIS FULKE GREVILLE
“Good god, I must stop eating those Vindaloos”
JIM GIDDINGS
AUGUST CAPTION COMPETITION REPLY.

WHEN Tony Gaze sits behind the wheel of the old green FX, one hand on the gears, he
shifts into reverse -- 59 years.
That's when the dashing WWII fighter ace and two cocky Aussie mates took on the world in the Monte
Carlo rally in a 48-215 (FX) Holden, the spitting image of this one. Surprising everyone but themselves,
they gave the race a bloody good shake -- and history is set to repeat next year, 60 years on.
In 1953 he, race legend Lex Davison and Stan Jones (F1 champ Alan's dad) pushed the upstart car through
ice and fog and across the line, just to show they could.
And when in January this version of an FX hits the road to Monaco, more than Aussie pride will ride with
it. Mr Gaze's dreams will be riding shotgun and Richard Davison, Lex's boy, will be driving.
"As it gets closer the reality of what we're going to do comes home to roost," Richard says. "It was a lot
more than a motor sport event. It was Australians showing what we're made of, the desire to succeed
against all odds and take on the world's best."
With him, sharing the 3500km and not much sleep, will be Gary Poole, who built the duplicate Holden,
and a mate of the Davisons from his teenage go-kart days, now V8 hero Craig Lowndes.
Mr Gaze, 92, a three-time Distinguished Flying Cross winner, recalls: "I was the only one in the car who
had driven in the ice and snow . . . there were some nasty accidents in the fog."
The project began when Mr Poole met Mr Gaze and his wife, Diana, also an intrepid driver, at a Holden
drivers' reunion in 2008.
"Diana said to me that nobody seemed to be interested in the Monte Carlo," says Poole.
"Well, I was. I had a spare body, a spare car, and started looking at it."
And the rest is history, a wonderful piece of it revving back to life.
Here is some breaking news relating to Tony Gaze. that might be worth a mention in Acorn.
Personally I have my doubts if he will get an entry as the cut off year is 1956 and Holden probably not
on the list of eligible makes/models.
Cheers
MIKE KNAPMAN

The Brighton National Speed Trials on Saturday 8th September for cars and motorcycles
have been included in this year's Sevenoaks Speed League Championship.
Several 7Oaks members have entered including myself. See entry list:
http://www.brightonandhovemotorclub.co.uk/files/speedtrials/st2012entrylist.pdf
THE BRIGHTON SPEED TRIALS
The Brighton Speed Trials, in full The Frosts Brighton National Speed Trials, is commonly held to be the
oldest running motor race. The first race was held July 19–22, 1905 after Sir Harry Preston persuaded
Brighton town council to tarmac the surface of the road adjacent to the beach between the Palace Pier
and Black Rock in order to hold motor racing events. This stretch was renamed Madeira Drive in 1909 and
the event is still held there, normally on the second Saturday of September each year. In 1936 Motor
Sport described the event as: "undoubtedly the most important speed-trials on the British Calendar."
The event is currently run as a quarter mile sprint for both cars and motorcycles, held under the auspices
of the Motor Sports Association. The event is organized by the Brighton and Hove Motor Club, with the
Sprint Section of the Vintage Motorcycle Club in charge of the Motorcycles.
Entrants run individually, although in earlier days vehicles would race side by side. This practice was
stopped following a number of accidents. The course length has varied over the years, generally becoming
shorter to keep terminal speeds manageable as cars got faster.
The speed trials form a unique event, where vintage and exotic classics meet the latest in street and racing
cars. Public access is allowed to the paddock and start line 'funnel' allowing visitors to get much closer
to the action than at most events.
The first event, July 1905
GRAHAM PRYME

AUTOTESTING
This is my first year with Sevenoaks Motor Club at the tender age of 39. I joined primarily to do some
sprints and hill climbs, but I noticed on the website the summer Autotest series running at Brands Hatch.
It particularly caught my eye as I noticed that it was open to kids aged 14 years and over. I was lucky
enough aged 15 back in ‘88 to do my first grasstrack race, via a youth club in their trusty old mini. I now
have a nephew, Jake who is 15 and thought he might like a try. And it helps get youngsters into motorsport
as 14-21 year old compete for free, £12 per event for us grown-ups.
We turned up at the first round completely unaware of how they worked, and in my road legal Swiftune
1380 mini set up for Crystal Palace complete with Yoko 32R cut slicks! It was very wet and muddy, so we
did not get very far.... I did not even think to lower the tyre pressures, completely wet behind the
ears! On arrival Andy said that Jake was not permitted to ride in the car with me, but I had to passenger
him being a junior. I pointed out he had never driven a car in his life and was not competing. Andy countered
with “ There is a field, you have 30 minutes before the start I suggest you teach him...” So I did, just
stop / start, 1st gear, reverse gear and DON’T CRASH INTO ANYBODY! Needless to say we both came last
in our classes but had hysterical fun and wanted to come back better prepared next time...
Over the next few rounds I introduced around 10 people to Autotesting, several of which show an interest
in progressing through Autosolos then Sprinting hopefully. But all want to compete in the full
Autotest series next year, so things look good. Gradually me and Jake stopped coming last, albeit second
to last (!) and thanks to his Nan’s bank account and me on a wine-fuelled eBay session we have a dedicated
Peugeot 205 to compete in ( £181.49p worth of 205 I have you know!) With another couple of hundred
spent on decent tyres, t-cut and stickers she looked the part at least going into the final doubleround
at Brands in August. With about a dozen family member there to cheer Jake on, we both got 2nd in
class and a trophy! Jake has a shelf full of football trophy's but apart from some karting I have never won
a trophy in my life so I was WELL CHUFFED!
We are now looking forward to Jake moving into Autosolos after his 16th birthday and doing a Gymkhana
and some road rallying together soon. The Autotest series was fantastic and thanks to all the marshals
that make it all happen, there would be no events without them. And we end each round with a drink in
the pub, so its even better! Get involved, you need no special vehicle, safety gear or MSA licence, its
cheap and immense fun!
LEE CHAMPION
Champions by name, and
Champions by nature!

HUTTON KITCHENS SPECIAL STAGES BRANDS HATCH
After 8 special stages and from a start number of 47 out of 85 cars
entered, the Team TR Motorsport Golf GTI Mk2 2litre of Terry
Luckings/Russ Burton finished in 22nd position overall.
Apart from a very light shower and intermittent raindrops in the
morning conditions remained warm and dry.
The car behaved itself apart from a slight scare when a wire became
detached from the starter motor and another charging problem which
subsequently turned out to be related to the alternator.
A first stage delay from a slow Subaru Impreza in front of us lost us
some initial time and possibly prevented us from reaching a top 20
position but generally the stages flowed nicely and the organising
team turned round the stages quickly so that the event was completed
by 5pm. The last 2 stages were very quick with virtually unimpeded
running from Paddock Hill bend round to Clearways, almost a sprint
and
particularly exciting through Paddock and round Druids bends, chicanes
being through the section through the pits and paddock area behind
them.
John Indri in the Darrian won the event in a close run thing from
similarly mounted Mark/Jeremy Straker by 1sec.
Fellow class C Sevenoaks Motor Club member Ian/Andrew Gibson
finished
24th in the Honda Civic Type R about half a minute behind us. Friend
and local Bexley LCC member Geoff Martin in his class D Escort Mk2
finished in 32nd place.
For full results see www.brandshatchstages.co.uk
RUSS BURTON MOTORSPORT
SEPTEMBER CAPTION COMPETITION

DOES IT MAKE SENSE?
The Daimler SP250 fraternity much enjoyed Motorsport at the Palace and soon after some of the guys
went up to Beamish for the DLOC International Rally. The latest issue of the DLOC magazine contains reports
from these two very different events but there is one thing common to both reports.
As we all know, at Crystal Palace the landowners stipulate that “for reasons of Health & Safety all display
cars are to be in position by 9.00am”. No surprise that not all managed this but at least at Crystal Palace
everyone eventually managed to get to their stand, even Peter at 12.30 having struggled with overheating,
a burst coolant pipe etc. delaying his journey. Not quite the same at Beamish. On a day of heavy
rain and folk travelling considerable distances it was inevitable that some didn’t make the deadline. Did
they get in? No. Are they upset? Yes.
We have to remember that the title of these sort of events usually includes the word “show” which says it
all and generally the show needs to be in place before the audience arrives. To argue that a few stragglers
cannot responsibly and carefully get to their stand, “Health & safety mate”, is a nonsense.
At Crystal Palace there were spectators wandering the car show, there were spectators wandering the
competitors ‘ paddock. In the competitors paddock cars could toddle about responsibly and without
problem. In the car show not so, although thanks to Shelly, common sense prevailed and the late comers
got in.
There is no argument that everyone should aim to get in by the deadline but there can be no problem in a
small number of cars responsibly getting in position whilst a few pedestrians are about. Not a lot different
to Tesco’s car park really, parked cars, pedestrians and cars moving in and out, doing so without supervision.
It is an illustration of what irritates me about the “Health & Safety industry” where so often an attitude of
“one size fits all” and of imposing unrealistic restrictions prevails. Risk management is all about evaluating
the risks arising out of an operation and imposing conditions to manage that risk to an acceptable level.
The law requires you to do what is practical and reasonable to manage the risk, no more, no less. If the
greater majority of cars are in place before the public invade and a few latecomers are allowed in with a
suitable speed limit it is suggested appropriate measures have been taken. It is all too easy to manage a
risk by simply not allowing the activity to take place. Taken to extreme we do nothing, stay at home and
wait for the roof to cave in!
JAS

RALLYDAY, CASTLE COMBE - 18-08-2012
My alarm rang out at 5am I awoke in almost total darkness in a holiday home on the Isle of Wight. I crept
out with my bag leaving family members to sleep and collected my “co-driver” Adam Ellis from his
family’s Holliday let next door & we set off on foot down the beach to the Yarmouth to catch the ferry.
Everyone else on the 5:55 ferry looked like I felt! It was like some sort of Zombie film with the exception
of the occasional child bouncing around. We got off at Lymington got in my car & set off for Castle
Combe.
We arrive at 8:30 with no paperwork or tickets to get in, as I wouldn’t have been at home to receive it. So
after a couple of phone calls a member of my owners club bought me over my entry ticket, stand pass
and my track time voucher. I drive in & go straight to noise test, fly through that & then park where I’m
instructed to on the GT4OC stand (GT-Four Owners Club). The GT4OC had kindly block booked a 10
minute Track Day session for club members only so I head off and get all the typical paperwork signed off.
The track briefing is delivered in a friendly manner but with the firm reminder that Castle Combe has lots
of fast corners & very little run off. Allegedly 20% of all accidents that happen on UK circuits occur at
Quarry corner. I think is a white lie to make people respect it. At the end of the briefing I get another
wrist band & then I’m ready for the session. It’s about 9:30
At 9:55 I leave our clubstand ready for our session that starts at 10:00. I rarely see another GT4 on the
road, so to be sat in the pitlane at Combe staring at the back of another one & having a mirror full of 20
odd GT4’s just added to the anticipation and excitement. The 2 cars in front of me head off & we are
away! Typical trackday; the guy in front has the same power as me so is as quick in straight line, but as it’s
his 2 nd time at Combe he isn’t quite so brave on the brakes or in the bends. The last thing I want to do is
to have a lock up trying to prove I’m quicker in the bends & run out of talent and crash into him! So I keep
a respectful distance & lift early for the breaking zones so I can still enjoy attacking the corners. A couple
of laps in it is soon apparent there are a couple of more powerful cars that have caught up pretty quickly
approaching quarry, so I get the indicator on & get out the way pretty quick. One of the cars is Gary Le
Coadou and Paul Hollingham in their rally prepared Celica 185, I hoped for a repeat performance of Garys
crowd pleasing style from the same event in 2010 (see below).
He did indeed go across my rearview mirror sideways, but sadly I’m yet to find a photograph of this years
entertainment. The session seemed to be over in a flash I think I did 8 or 9 laps, but by the end it was very
warm inside the car, Adam was certainly very quiet but I think he had enjoyed the ride. I came through
the chequered flag and dropped off to 80% pace for the in lap.

As I approached the pitlane entry at 30ish MPH a marshal was leaning over the pitlane furiously waving
his yellow flag, I wondered what was up? Was 30 a bit quick? Then I spotted the car I’d been behind all
session coming backwards round the track! It later transpired that having missed the pitlane entry he
didn’t want to get in trouble for doing an extra lap, so decided to pull a U-turn!!! He told me that quite a
few marshals and other officials had had a few choice words to say about it. I’ll reserve judgement as he’s
rarely on track & it wasn’t spelt out in the briefing, but I’d have been very upset if we’d come together.
I parked my car back on the stand & proceeded to exchange stories with a few of the other owners, but
most of the discussion seemed to involve mocking the guy who pulled the U-turn, I don’t think he’ll be
doing that again!!! Ross Martin had come along to spectate & found me on the club stand, so we set off
with Adam to do some spectating. A few more trackday session went through, then a couple of Rallycross
Demo’s which included some extra corners where cars were diverted the cars across the grass. The grass
bits were slow, but looked like lots of fun, especially for the chap in the Rallycross prepared Lotus Elise. As
soon as they had finished the marshals rearranged the temporary plastic barriers to form some additional
chicanes & the “Special Stage” was ready.
Rallyday is a completely non-competitive event; it’s an opportunity for cars & drivers to show themselves
off a bit. 2003 WRC Champion Petter Solberg featured quite heavily showing off some skills in a Ford
Fiesta RS WRC. There were plenty of British champions including Jimmy McRae, Russell Brooks and
Johnny Millner. There was a host of cars I’ve never had the fortune to see driven competitively, but a mix-
ture of replica and works cars such as Ford RS200’s and Audi Quattro’s being driven pretty hard was a joy
to see and hear. There were lots of interesting non-turbo-nutter cars out too; a number of Escorts, Sun-
beams & Chevettes plus real Minis. I then spotted a SDMC Speed League sticker, it was Nigel Patten in his
Renault R8 Gordini. I was suddenly quite chuffed for him & the club.
Later I managed to catch up with Nigel in the Paddock, he was busy knocking up a paella for lunch but I at
least managed to say hello & put a face to the name. I stayed at the event until about 3:30 then set off for
Kemsing as it was the SDMC Beer/Bat&Trap/BBQ event. The motorway was pretty slow & monotonous
but I was glad to get to the Bell for a cold cider about 6:30 and catch up with some SDMC members.
Rallyday isn’t about competitive driving, but it was still a great day out & it was fun being part of it. I’ll
have something to compare it to as I’m going to watch some real competitive Rallying at Brands this Mon-
day at the Hutton Kitchens Brands Hatch Summer Stage Rally. Looking at the entry list there will be a few
more SDMC memebers at this event.
RUSS GIDDINGS
Me at Quarry Corner 2012; it seems to be a favourite spot for photographers.

Cars from left to right, The Shoveit, The Pug, The Audi and the RS 200.
RUSS GIDDINGS
The following article appeared in New Zealand's Taranaki Daily news brought home by my father in law
following a visit out there in June this year.
NAILGUN EXPERIMENT PROVED BRAINLESS
Ever wondered if a nail could pierce bone - probably not!! A Masterton man apparently did, so he placed
a nailgun against his forehead and pulled the trigger to find out.
The nail shot into his skull, pinned his beanie hat to his head and came to rest behind his nose.
"He actually walked himself into the hospital and was laughing about it, " said Vicki Hookham charge
nurse manager at Wairarapa Hospital Emergency Department "I think he thought it was quite funny."
He was transferred to Wellington Hospital where the nail was removed, leaving him without sight in one
eye.
"It turned out him and a bunch of fellow intellectuals on the building site were seeing if it
would go through bone." Ms Hookham explained. "Needless to say, there wasn't a lot of brain function
going on before or after that decision.
Recovering in hospital after his near death experience the gentleman concerned said he had learned his
lesson and that next time he would concentrate on pinning his feet to a scaffold board to preclude any
chance of getting to a hospital and further wasting the medics valuable time.
I made the last paragraph up but it seemed an appropriate ending.
NIGEL MEAD

BBQ BAT & TRAP AFTERNOON SAT 18TH AUG
The Bat & Trap BBQ gathering was blessed with the best of summer weather and made for a very pleas-
ant afternoon. 20 club members braved the scorching sun to tackle a sumptuous BBQ laid on by John at
The Bell (I wish he wouldn’t do that!) which more than adequately prepared them for the afternoon’s
sport to follow. If you can call standing between two posts with a glass of your favourite tipple, waiting
on the off chance that one of the opposing batsmen will actually make contact with the ball sport!
The proceedings were kept ticking along by the very kind efforts of referee / adjudicator Phil Horn who is
in reality the only person involved with the faintest idea of what’s going on. For the second year running
Phil has travelled from Pembury to keep score and uphold the rules of the game for us, so a big thank you
to him.
All I can say is that a good time was had by all and not wishing to name names Team A emerged victori-
ous from the best of three games (which didn’t include Jim. Simon, Martyn, Maddie, Christine, Angela,
Paul, Chris or Martin) Ooops!
NIGEL MEAD

DOUG JENNINGS
Older members will be saddened to learn of the passing of Doug Jennings, who recently lost his battle
with cancer. Doug was never a member of 7oaks & DMC, always a TWMC man, although as a young man
he lived in the Brighton area so returned to Brighton and Hove on his move to Henfield following his
retirement.
Doug held a number of TWMC committee postings and for more than ten years was a major player in the
ASEMC. His competition driving was driving tests, as autotests were then called, and trials although he
also dabbled a little with rally navigation. It was these activities that he championed for many years
frequently clerking or being secretary of events in these disciplines. He was involved in the earliest days
of rallycross, heavily involved in autocross having persuaded his employers, “The Courier Group”, to
sponsor a championship and then got involved in circuit racing and truck racing. He always remained a
grass roots man and was known as a “regulations man”. His ploy was always to understand the regulations
and then use them to achieve what he wanted to do.
Recently there has been a flurry of excitement in some MSA Committees with talk of a new form of
motorsport. I listened to the outline of what was proposed and remarked, “It’s called the Kent & Sussex
Trial, created and run by Doug Jennings 30 years ago!”. Another Jennings idea was the consortium principle
whereby clubs shared equipment, resources and buying power to run bigger events and make savings.
In more recent years he was the prime mover in forming SEMSEC to run car events at Lydden, originally
a partnership between TWMC and BEMSEE it soon became a solely TWMC operation which remains
active today.
Away from motorsport, Doug was an accomplished artist and also had a great interest in photography. In
later years, with wife Pauline, he set up PMJ Engraving which soon became the source of the greater
majority of trophies for motor clubs in the South.
The following is a quote from John Webb, Brands Hatch boss for most of the time when Doug was actively
involved in motorsport, “He was not only knowledgeable but a devoted and reliable man who worked
unceasingly for the good of motor sport”.
True words indeed, our sympathies go out to wife Pauline, herself in the clutches of the big C, and
daughter Wendy.
JOHN SYMES

DOUG JENNINGS
Doug’s activities in motor sport have spanned more than 50 years and he has been a competitor, marshal
or senior official at over 1250 events. It began when he and fellow Senior and Rover Scouts from the 1st
Hove Group were recruited to act as checkpoint Marshals on some Treasure Hunts and Rallies and were
given 12 months complimentary membership of the Brighton & Hove Motor Club for their services. When
this membership lapsed, Doug’s motor sport participation was put on the backburner, apart from attending
some Goodwood Bank Holiday Race Meetings and the Brighton Speed Trials, but it was resumed when
he and Pauline married, left Hove for their first home, a flat in Guildford, and met Roger Bailey who had
one of the other flats. Roger was working on the competition cars for John Cooper’s Racing Team at the
time and this was the catalyst for Doug’s subsequent involvement in all aspects and levels of motorsport.
Having met and become friendly with Roger, Doug and Pauline were frequently able to visit the Cooper
Racing Team’s HQ and Ken Tyrrell’s premises, were given passes to go into the Paddock at Goodwood
when the team was racing there and met everyone involved; both at the circuit, the premises and at the
flat. This led to Doug offering to organise some Treasure Hunts and Driving Tests etc. for the Sports & Social
Club of the company he worked for, and this led to the formation of a motoring section, which became
the Billings Car Club when RAC recognition was obtained. The BCC then started organising proper
RAC permit competitions and accepting invitations to co-promote events with several other local clubs,
and when he was not organising events Doug. entered Rallies, Autotests and Production Car Trials. When
Doug and Pauline moved from Guildford to Tunbridge Wells they joined the TWMC and the VW Owners
Club and quickly became involved with both clubs. After helping with the organisation of several events
Doug was elected to serve on the TWMC and VWOC SE Centre Committees. This led to his regularly being
the Secretary of the Meetings or Clerk of the Course for Autotests, Production Car Trials, Autocross, the
Annual Brands Hatch Sprints, Race Meetings, the original World of Sport Rallycrosses and Stock Car Race
Meetings for Spedeworth - at both Brands Hatch and Lydden. Over a period of some 10 years Doug
served TWMC as Competition Secretary, then Chairman and served several terms as Secretary and Chairman
of the ASEMC and was appointed as a RAC (now MSA) Steward. He had the ideas for the “Kent &
Sussex Trial” – a multi venue, multi discipline event which compressed elements of six different types of
club motor sport into one day, and the formation of the TWMC, 7Oaks & DMC, Rochester MC and B19
Motorsport Consortium. He also persuaded the MD of the Kent & Sussex Courier Group to give the green
light for sponsorship of an Autocross Championship – The “Courier Champagne Trophy Autocross
Championship”. His active involvement with TWMC and the ASEMC was reduced somewhat when he became
more committed to circuit racing; as a Club Steward and Clerk of the Course for the BRSCC, the
newly formed Brands Hatch Racing Club and an increasing number of RAC Stewarding appointments for
National, International and FIA events. For a short period he also served the British Truck Racing Association
as Secretary General, but resigned when John Webb & John Symes asked him to join Brands Hatch
Leisure Plc. as the Group’s Competitions Manager. He took up this offer and then divided his time between
that and running PMJ Engraving with Pauline.
During his periods with the BHLRC and BRSCC he officiated as FIA Steward, MSA Steward, Race Director,
Clerk of the Course and Club Steward at over 500 race meetings - at Brands Hatch, Lydden, Thruxton,
Pembrey, Castle Combe, Donnington, Silverstone, Mallory Park, Snetterton, Cadwell Park, Oulton Park
and the Goodwood Festival and Revival Meetings. And also managed to fit in being Assistant and then
Chief Timekeeper at ‘The Pylons’ for several Veteran Car runs.
Soon after Nicola Foulston became Chief Executive of Brands Hatch Leisure Plc she wound up the BHLRC
and entered into a Joint Venture with the BRSCC, so Doug joined the BRSCC staff for a short time, to assist
them integrate all the BHLRC championships and race meeting dates into their programme. Once this
was up and running Doug. became involved in the formation of SEMSEC, as a joint venture between
British Motor Cycle Racing Club, TWMC and BARC SE Centre at Lydden, but Semsec’s first year was made
particularly difficult by a somewhat obstructive influence so the TWMC took over total control and sole
responsibility for SEMSEC.

The Bowling Social, although they said they were good!, can not see
much bowling going on