Dec 2009 - MG Car Club Newcastle

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C L U B T O R Q U E Page 10 boost’ED’ Melancholy best describes how I feel at the moment. Not only is the white flag out waving for me signalling my last publication as Editor before the chequered flag, but yesterday was the last ever CSCA Supersprint at Oran Park Raceway signalling the end of an era – even my MX5 has a tear in her headlight as she loves and performs well at this track (and is faster than Mal Roach’s Escort). At least I still have the logged data and video footage to look back on. Oran Park is casualty during the war against urban sprawl – just like Amaroo Park. Wakefield Park may never be affected but who is to say that Eastern Creek will never be absorbed by the multiplying warehouses surrounding it ? While we continue to create boring street circuits and don’t support our existing purpose built circuits there is always the risk of extinction. Yesterday was a great day – A bit overcast in the morning, 30 mins of very light drizzle then followed by an afternoon of sun ; 105 cars and the day ran so smooth and seamless that there was opportunity to run 6 times if you wanted to. No major incidents, the usual excellent camaraderie between MGCCN members, as well as other CSCA club members, and everyone there for one purpose – to have fun (although some may argue it is purely to get away from their better half). Overall, for me, it has been a great year of supersprinting, entering the last round yesterday with a 10 point lead in my class. The CSCA series is wonderful for anyone wanting to step up from hillclimbing or similar, there is always a diverse range of cars competing – old and new – so there is plenty to look at and it is surprising how fast some of the older cars actually go. Compared to the NSW CAMS Supersprint series I chose the CSCA series only because I would be more competitive and not just running around at the back of the pack – personal choice really – but there are many series to get involved in. Whilst the feeling associated with winning is always pleasurable, all too often we forget the primary number one reason for participation is for enjoyment; a win or place is just the icing on the cake. When it is no longer fun and enjoyable then you know it is time to give it away. As mentioned previously, this is my last publication on behalf of the MG Car Club Newcastle as the clubs Editor. Due to changing work and personal commitments I was unable to pledge my skills to another year at the editor’s desk. You may be thinking that I am drafting this article quite early, but as mentioned last month, I will be unavailable in late November when this publication normally comes together so I am completing as much as I can to ease the burden on the people who will piece it together when the time comes – my sincere thanks in advance. I cannot depart from this position without briefly sharing this year’s experience with the dedicated readers.
S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 I nominated for the role knowing nothing about desktop publishing processes or software, layouts and printer, and even less knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes at the MG Car Club Newcastle. Frustrating, exigent, demanding and rewarding best sum up the experience this year – when you see the end result of Clubtorque in print or Smalltorque on the web, and the great feedback from members, it makes overcoming the challenges all worthwhile. In the second half of this year we pioneered sending electronic newsletters to our members that are created using Microsoft word in an attempt to eliminate the need for the editor to be competent at using commercial desktop publishing software, bring more up to date information to our members, reduce operating costs and help the environment, albeit in a small way. I have worked closely with our Webmaster to bring our Website up to date and have dipped our toe in the technology puddle and started a Facebook page for the club. As a club we have greatly improved our communication methods and presence in the “world wide web cloud” of exposure. As a visionary, and with the committee’s support I was able to introduce improvement via change in a very traditional club, which has benefitted and been appreciated by many members. Change is possible, embrace it and make it for the right reasons – don’t just assume that because tasks have been done the same way for so long that there is not a more modern or better way to deliver the service. So what have I learned this year ? I have learnt new technical skills in desktop publishing, I have learnt it takes committed volunteers to make a successful club work, no matter how hard you try you cannot please everyone, there are people willing to help you if you need it, more members read the club publications than you think. I have one final request as editor – please support my successor as you have me. Keep striving for improvement where you think it can be beneficial, and most of all, keep writing articles and features and sending them in – without articles from committee to keep members informed, and without interesting feature articles and pictures from members, there will be no content to make a newsletter or magazine and, like Oran Park, it will become just a memory. Thanks everyone for a memorable year. Brad Smith Deadline for JANUARY Smalltorque Newsletter submissions is 31 December 2009 (Please email pics separate to article rather than embedded into the article - this allows the pic to be printed) Page 11
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Page 5 and 6: S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 FEBRUARY 2010 E
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Page 19 and 20: SPEED EVENTS S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 I
Page 21 and 22: RALLY REPORT S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 I
Page 23 and 24: C L U B T O R Q U E F I N A L E V E
Page 25 and 26: S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 the holiday. Tu
Page 27 and 28: C L U B T O R Q U E MG CONCOURS - N
Page 29 and 30: S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 The current mod
Page 31 and 32: S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 On the Monday w
Page 33 and 34: J U L Y 2 0 0 9 ! "#$$%!
Page 35 and 36: CONCOURS RESULTS S U M M E R 2 0 0
Page 37 and 38: S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 Tyre Torque (co
Page 39 and 40: S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 Proposed New Cl
Page 41 and 42: Enjoy the Club’s venue S U M M E
Page 43 and 44: S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 I am pleased to
Page 45 and 46: S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 MOTORKHANA AND
Page 47 and 48: S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 LAND PANEL REPO
Page 49 and 50: S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 HE SAID, SHE SA
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Page 53 and 54: CAPTAINS CORNER THE END. . that may
Page 55 and 56: CAPTAIN’S CORNER (continued) JUNI

Dec 2009 - MG Car Club Newcastle

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