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SafetyFast! notes – December 2017

John York starting test 4

The MGCC South West 2017 season of sporting events has ended as usual with the Kimber Car Trial held on the slopes of Pagan’s Hill, Chew Stoke, just south of Bristol, on the morning of Sunday 15 October. There were 10 entrants from MGCC and from two other local motor clubs, giving an interesting mix of older and more modern standards and specials. Although the weather was fine and dry the four test routes up the grassy hill became increasingly slippery throughout the event.

The closest competition was in Class 3, where the VW Beetle driven by Paul Dickinson of the Classic and Historic Motor Club narrowly edged out John York in his MG Midget, with Dave Coppock’s MG TC third and Neil Lock in his MGB GT fourth. The cars in Class 4, including specials, were the most successful in the conditions with the Toyota MR2 Turbo driven by both Richard and Peter Turner achieving the most clean runs and becoming Overall Winner and Best Woolbridge MC respectively. Roger Metters’ Morris Marina special and Chris Leverett in his MG TD special were third and fourth. Full results will be available on the MGCC South West Centre website.

Our thanks go again to Tony Baker for permission to use the field, and also to the marshals who helped run the event. Ten marshals were enough to provide two for each hill and limited the amount of climbing up and down the slope to reach each car at the point where it stopped. This event completed the 2017 South West Drivers Championship, for which the prizes will be awarded at the South West Centre Annual Dinner which will be held at the Limpley Stoke Hotel near Bath on Saturday 24 February 2018. Further details will be available on the SW Centre website, and there are usually a number of rooms available in the hotel at special rates.

Please also join us in marking the end of one season and the start of the next at the South West Centre AGM, which will be held on the evening of Tuesday 6 March 2018 in the Old School Room, Compton Martin, Somerset, followed by the regular first-Tuesday Natter at the Ring o’ Bells pub.

All the South West Centre Natters are listed on the Centre’s website. Look out in particular for the very popular monthly Lunchtime Natters. In 2017 these have been alternately at the White Hart, Iron Acton, north of Bristol and at the Burcott Inn in Somerset, providing a great opportunity both to take your MG out for a gentle daylight run and to enjoy a good pub lunch with like-minded MG owners and their partners.

This month’s picture was taken by Simon Lott and shows John York and his Midget attempting one of
the hills at the Kimber Car Trial.

Mike Angwin

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