STAG PARTY
The Magazine of Herts County Auto and Aero Club
Founded 1903
Issue 501 August 2007
Brian Horne in the Mallock – 2nd in class Summer Debden 2007
Stag Party Editor: Tony Staines
CLUB OFFICIALS
President / Graham ScarboroughChairman / Chris Wilson / Quickswood Farm, Clothall, Baldock, Herts SG7 6RP
Tel: 01462 790369
Honorary Treasurer / Gerry Cannon / Church Grove, 8 Church End, Arlesey SG15 6UY
Tel: 01462 734127
Honorary Secretary / Donald Duncan / C/O Quenby Brothers Ltd., High Street, Baldock SG7 6AZ
Tel: 01462 499930 Mob: 07860 692306
Membership Secretary / Derek Staines / 103a Cuffley Hill, Goffs Oak, Herts
EN7 5HB
Tel: 01707 875898
Competition Secretary / Steve Muir / 23 Woodland Rise, Studham, Dunstable, Beds LU6 2PF
Tel: 01582 872599
Stag Party & Website Editor / Tony Staines / 14 Larksway, Bishops Stortford
CM23 4DG
Tel: 01279 503314 Mob: 07768 961488
Committee Member / Brian Horne / “Foxes Walk”, The Retreat, Hutton
Essex CM13 1AN
Tel: 01277 219745
Committee Member / David Gibbs / 56 Connaught Avenue, North Chingford, London E4 7AA
Tel: 020-8529-0616 Mob: 07850736630
Committee Member / Harry Metson / The Old Coach House, 29 Bovingdon Green, Bovingdon, Herts HP3 0LB
Tel: 01442 832137
Committee Member / Lionel Reeves / 21 The Moat, Puckeridge, Ware, Herts SG11 1SJ
Tel: 01920 823195
Monthly Club Nights - From 8.30pm
The second Wednesday of each month at:
Rose & Crown, High Road, Essendon, Hertfordshire AL9 6HW
Editorial
Welcome to the August edition of the “Stag Party” magazine.
We were blessed with good weather for the Summer Debden Sprint… at least until the prize giving when it rained so hard the paddock was an inch or so of running water!
Regs for the October event should be enclosed with this magazine. If you want to enter don’t delay as the October event is usually over subscribed. If you lose your regs they can be downloaded from the club website or alternatively contact the event secretary, Lionel Reeves on 01920 823195.
Photos from the Summer Debden event are now on the club website, along with photos from all Debden events in 2006 and 2007. If you have any suitable photos of yourself competing then please email them to me, or post them and I’ll convert them to digital format – I’ll send your originals back.
And now a request for HELP! As you maybe aware I am the magazine editor, website editor, committee member, involved with a large amount of the admin for the 3 Debden events and I even get to compete a bit! With an increase in my ‘real’ work commitments I have to reduce my involvement in the club. As a result I am looking for someone to take over the club magazine by the end of this year. If you fancy a go at producing the club mag please get in touch.
The deadline for articles is the end of September. Until then happy motoring …
Tony Staines
Tel: 01279 503314 Mob: 07768 961488 (before 9pm please)
Email:
New Members…
There have been 2 new members recently, Mick Davis and Tim Baker. Mick tried his hand at the recent Debden event in his Suzuki Swift… and hopefully Tim will out at a future event with his Allard J2. Welcome to HCAAC.
Some feedback from the ‘Summer’ Debden…
“Thanks for a great day at Debden. Weather was planned perfectly!”
Matt Carter – Farnborough DMC
“Cheers for good event and my best overall yet :) ”
Darren Russell – Sevenoaks & DMC
“Give my congratulations to your team for a superbly organised event, shame about the downpour at the end!”
Richard Kirby – Green Belt MC
“Please convey my thanks to the organising team for a really nice
day on Sunday, a good course, nice people and some good motoring”
Stuart Kingham – Wickford Auto Club
“Great day. Very well organised Thank you”
Gerry Houghton – Borough 19
Summer Sprint at Debden - 15th July 2007
Much hard work was needed to make the track useable, which was a mild surprise as it had been OK for the May event. The kart club portacabin office had been vandalized and subsequently removed by the Army, but they left much debris, which we felt should be moved before the sweeper could do a reasonable job. Derek Staines, Lionel Reeves and I did that on Tuesday. Derek spent at least 2 long days filling potholes, some with concrete, others with tarmac. The Regiment was very strict about the airfield gate key, perhaps as a result of recent vandalism. So half a dozen cars waited across the road at 2 o’clock on Saturday before being let in and getting on with setting up.
Sunday started with dry weather, but 10 minutes after the gate was opened at 7.30 there was a heavy shower to dampen the spirits of early arrivals. However the road was virtually dry when first practice got under way shortly after 9.30. The start marshals were using staging lights rather than the old wooden contraption to set the cars a very few centimetres behind the timing beam. Bill McKenna’s Porsche 996 suffered gearbox trouble on its first run and was soon on its trailer. Just before lunch James Carter left his braking too late for the sweeping right hander before the kart track and skidded in to the tyres surrounding “Roger’s” tree, damaging the front end of the shared Scimitar to such an extent that it took no further part. Lunch break was taken at noon, and timed runs started promptly at 1pm.
Rain had been forecast, but fortunately only the occasional spot fell during competition runs. 79 drivers came to the start line, 24 of whom were Herts County members. Tony Staines (Reynard Formula Opel) put himself under some pressure with a cone penalty on his first competition run, but made no mistake next time to get FTD by more than 3 seconds. Scott Caffull suffered penalties on 2 of his runs, but finally, on his second competition run, managed a clean one and a decent time in the red Mallock. Brian Horne, back in the driving seat for the first time in many months after health problems, was soon in the groove and pipped Scott in the shared car.
All competition runs were finished by ten past three, so third “fun runs” were offered and taken up by most drivers. Just before the awards presentation a very heavy shower started and became a quite violent thunderstorm with so much rain that water was inches deep in parts of the paddock. Everybody got soaked. Half an hour later most of it had drained away. A less than perfect ending to what had mainly been a successful day!
The results show most of what else happened. The best Herts County award was given at the discretion of the Clerk of the Course, for what he considered the most meritorious performance by a member. Jonathan Gibbs’ third in class, and getting within a second of Dad’s time in his second try at sprinting, was surely that. He is a great help with the setting up and clearing away too!
Steve Muir
Debden Spring Sprint 15th July 2007 Results
FTDTony StainesReynard F. Opel 1998ccHCAAC58.32s
Best Herts county AAC member
Jonathan GibbsMorgan 4/4 1905cc71.89s
Class Winners
0Richard KirbyCitroen Xsara 1998ccGBMC72.88s
1Bruce AitkenCitroen AX GT 1360cc B19 MC70.63s
2Chris Fulke-GrevilleVauxhall Astra GSR 1998cc Sevenoaks DMC 68.67s
3Kim AdamsMitsubishi Evo IX 2000ccT Tunbridge Wells MC 64.67s
4Paul BowdenCaterham Seven 1588ccGBMC63.03s
5Andrew SilmanSiltech Westfield 1998cc Farnborough DMC 60.86s
6Bob GibsonAlpine A110 1397cc7oaks 66.52s
7Darren RussellCitroen Visa Gti 1905cc7oaks67.15s
8Mike BlackmoreSubaru Impreza 2498ccTB1962.92s
9Adrian GodingVauxhall Nova 1998cc HCAAC73.49s
10Phil JohnsonOMS 2000M 1275cc Peterborough MC 65.38s
12Tim AyresMorgan Plus 8 3995cc Morgan SCC 66.21s
Other Herts County AAC members
0Steve MuirHonda Civic R 1998cc74.32s3/5
1Tony LevittSmart Roadster 698cc79.23s2/3
Richard LevittSmart Roadster 698cc81.88s3/3
2David GibbsMorgan 4/4 1905cc71.06s2/8
Jonathan GibbsMorgan 4/4 1905cc71.89s3/8
Scott DuncanHonda Civic Vti 1598cc74.36s4/8
3Donald DuncanPorsche 911 RS 3600cc65.79s2/13
Paul ColtonSubaru Impreza 1994ccT67.63s6/13
4David CraigCaterham 7 1700cc69.39s5/6
Graham PerryCaterham Seven 1700cc73.37s6/6
5Howard DawsonCaterham R500 1798cc64.76s3/10
Graham Scarborough
Lotus Elise 1798cc68.60s4/10
Graham MorrisCaterham 1800cc71.66s5/10
Lindy Scarborough
Lotus Elise 1796cc72.96s6/10
Sally FitzgeraldCaterham 1800cc73.34s7/10
Tony GattusoCaterham 1800cc74.69s8/10
Khan BusbyCaterham 1800cc81.00s10/10
7Mitchell PerryRenault Clio 1998cc76.03s8/10
11Brian HorneMallock Mk21 1700cc63.65s2/5
Scott CaffullMallock Mk21 1700cc63.79s3/5
12Paul BryanMorgan 4/4 1900cc73.12s2/6
Marshals Draw
£10Jim DuncanMP2 Left hander
£10Vic ChampnessMP1 Roundabout
£5Julian KnappittMP4 Right hander
£5Brad WaltonMP5 Chicane
£5Mick O’BlathStart
TRANSLATING THE HAYNES MOTOR MAINTENANCE MANUALS…
Haynes: Rotate anticlockwise.
Translation: Clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer anticlockwise.
Haynes: This is a snug fit.
Translation: Clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer.
Haynes: This is a tight fit.
Translation: Clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with a hammer.
Haynes: As described in Chapter 7...
Translation: That'll teach you not to read right through before you start.
Haynes: Prise off...
Translation: Hammer a screwdriver into...
Haynes: Undo...
Translation: Go buy a tin of WD40 (giant economy size).
Haynes: Retain tiny spring...
Translation: PINGGGG - "Where the hell did that go?"
Haynes: Press and rotate to remove bulb...
Translation: OK - that's the glass bit off, now fetch some good pliers to dig out the bayonet part (and maybe a plaster or two).
Haynes: Lightly slacken...
Translation: Start off lightly and build up till the veins on your forehead are throbbing then clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer.
Haynes: Weekly checks...
Translation: If it isn't broken don't fix it.
Haynes: Routine maintenance...
Translation: If it isn't broken, it's about to be. We warned you!
Haynes: Compress...
Translation: Squeeze with all your might, jump up and down on it, throw it at the garage wall, then find some molegrips and a hammer...
Haynes: Carefully...
Translation: You are about to suffer serious abrasions.
Haynes: Retaining nut...
Translation: Yes, that's it, that big spherical blob of rust.
Haynes: Get an assistant...
Translation: Prepare to humiliate yourself in front of someone you know.
Haynes: Difficult to reach ...
Translation: Assembled at the factory and never meant to be touched.
Haynes: Refitting is the reverse sequence to removal.
Translation: Yeah, right. But you swear in different places.
Haynes: Prise away plastic locating pegs...
Translation: Snap off...
Haynes: Using a suitable drift...
Translation: Clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer.
Haynes: Apply moderate heat...
Translation: Unless you have a blast furnace, don't bother. Alternatively, clamp with molegrips then beat repeatedly with hammer.
Haynes: Index
Translation: List of all the things in the book, bar what you need to do.
Haynes: Everyday toolkit
Translation: RAC Card & Mobile Phone (but don't forget your molegrips and hammer!)
Annual Award Scores 2007 as at 24th July by Steve Muir
Event A B C D E F Total Events
Tony Staines 12 7 0 8 8 16+8 59 5
Mitchell Perry 0 6 12 8 0 6 32 4
Graham Scarborough 0 0 0 18 0 14 32 2
Steve Muir 8 4 6 4 0 9 31 5
David Gibbs 0 0 0 15 0 16 31 2
Donald Duncan 0 0 0 12 0 19 31 2
Paul Colton 0 0 0 18 0 11 29 2
Howard Dawson 0 0 0 10 0 16 26 2
Tony Levitt 0 0 8 8 0 8 24 3
Scott Caffull 0 0 0 15 0 9 24 2
Nick Duncan 0 0 0 22 0 0 22 1
Jonathan Gibbs 0 0 0 8 0 14 22 2
Scott Duncan 0 0 0 9 0 12 21 2
Paul Bryan 0 0 0 6 0 14 20 2
Graham Morris 0 0 0 6 0 12 18 2
Adrian Goding 0 0 0 4 0 10 14 2
Richard Levitt 0 0 4 4 0 4 12 3
Peter Wyman 4 8 0 0 0 0 12 2
Sally Fitzgerald 0 0 0 4 0 8 12 2
Brian Horne 0 0 0 0 0 12 12 1
Tony Wildman 0 0 0 11 0 0 11 1
Graham Perry 0 0 0 6 0 4 10 2
David Craig 0 0 0 4 0 6 10 2
Lindy Scarborough 0 0 0 0 0 10 10 1
Tony Gattuso 0 0 0 0 0 6 6 1
Peter Moore 0 0 0 4 0 0 4 1
Kahn Busby 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 1
Mick Davis 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 1
The events scored above are:-
A Borough 19 MC Sprint at North Weald18th March
B Sevenoaks & DMC Sprint at North Weald1st April
C Green Belt MC Sprint at North Weald22nd Apr
D Herts County AAC Spring Sprint at Debden14th May
E Sutton & Cheam MC Abingdon CARnival Sprint9th June
F Herts County AAC Summer Sprint at Debden15th July
Thank you to those who have sent me results. Please keep on sending them to me:-
Steve Muir, 23 Woodland Rise, Studham, DUNSTABLE LU6 2PF
Dates for your Diary
Aug 8th Club night
Sept 12thClub night
Oct 10thClub night
Herts County AAC Sporting Events in 2007
Oct 7thSprint at Debden (National B)
Invitation Events
The following invitations have been accepted by Herts County AAC for 2007.
Aug. 5thHarrow CC Photo Phrolic
Oct. 14thFalcon MC Production Car Trial at Great Brickhill
Nov. 4thFalcon MC Guy Fawkes Production Car Trial
Area Association Events
Sprints and Hillclimbs
Aug. 5thBorough 19 MC Sprint at HethelAE, CS, SE
Aug. 11thBARC (Midlands) Sprint at CurboroughAE, CS, SE
Aug. 11/12th Camel Vale MC Hillclimbs at Castle, Lostwithiel CS
Aug. 18thClassic TCRC Sprint at Silverstone (Stowe)CS
Aug. 26thSevenoaks &DMC Sprint at North WealdAE, CS, SE
Sept. 1/2nd Plymouth MC Hillclimbs at Wiscombe ParkCS
Sept. 8thTunbridge Wells MC Sprint at Brands Hatch AE, CS, SE
Sept. 16thBorough 19 MC Sprint at North WealdAE, CS, SE
Sept. 22ndWoolbridge MC Hillclimb at LongleatCS
Sept. 23rdHarrow CC Sprint at North WealdAE, CS, SE
Sept. 30th Farnborough DMC Sprint at EelmoorCS
Oct. 6th BARC (Midlands) Sprint at CurboroughCS
Oct. 7th Herts County AAC Sprint at DebdenAE, CS, SE
Oct. 27th Rochester MC Sprint at LyddenAE, CS, SE
Stage Rallies
Aug. 18thSouthern CC Wugging Stages at ColerneSE
Sept. 30thKings Lynn & DMC Stage Rally at Sculthorpe AE
Oct. 12/13th Jersey MC&LCC Jersey RallySE
Oct. 20thExeter MC Smeatharpe StagesSE
Oct. 28thDukeries MC Premier Stages in Sherwood Forest AE
Nov. 10thSutton & Cheam MC Tempest StagesAE, SE
Nov. 18thGreen Belt MC Sculthorpe StagesAE,
Dec. 8/9thMiddlesex County AC Rockingham StagesSE
Road Rallies
Sept. 8/9thOxford MC Bullnose RallyCS, SE
Oct. 13/14th South Hams MC Harvester RallySE
Nov. 10/11th North Devon MC Ilfracombe RallySE
Nov. 24/25th Chelmsford MC Pheasant Plucker RallySE
Autotests
Aug. 5thMaidstone & Mid Kent MC Grass testsSE
Sept. 1stLoughborough MC Grass testsSE
Sept. 2ndBath MC Grass testsSE
Sept. 9thFarnborough DMC Grass testsSE
Autocross
Aug. 12thSouthsea MC Autocross at MeonstokeSCAC
Aug. 26thWitney MC Autocross at BucknellSCAC
Sept. 8/9thCentral Sussex MC Autocross at LindfieldSCAC
Sept. 23rdSouth Hams MC Autocross at HonitonSCAC
Oct. 7thNorth Devon MC Autocross at SugworthySCAC
LCA = London Counties Association of Motor Clubs
CS = Association of Central Southern Motor Clubs
SE = Association of South Eastern Motor Clubs
AE = Association of Eastern Motor Clubs
SCAC = Southern Counties Autocross Championship
Herts County AAC is affiliated to the Area Associations listed above. Our members may take part in these events usually because all members of affiliated clubs are invited. Occasionally the invitation is only open to registered contenders in that Area Championship.
Further Details from Regs.
Photo Phrolic Treasure Hunt - 5th August
This light hearted event is organized by Denis Crome for Harrow Car Club with several clubs including ourselves invited to take part. The start will be at Toddington Services (northbound), sign on by 10.15am. Crews will need to cover about 60 miles mostly on minor roads, but there is no specific route. Route checks will be defined by photocopied photographs that give sufficient information for the location to be found on OS map 165. The finish will be at the Black Horse pub in Great Missenden, where crews must arrive by 5pm. Entry fee is £12.50 per crew and a buffet will be available at the finish for £5 per person. Entries and buffet requests close on 1st August. Secretary is :-Denis Crome, 10 Idenbury Court, Downs Road, LUTON LU1 1QW Tel. 01582-723132
The Lotus Hethel Sprint - 5th August
Borough 19 MC and the Lotus MC share the running of this popular event. Last year the list was full several weeks before the closing date, which is 29th July this year. 1.2 kms. Of the Lotus test track constitute the sprint course. Entry fee is £80. Secretary is Christine Sharp, 10 High Street, Rowhedge, COLCHESTER CO5 7HG Tel. 01206-728272 before 9 pm
Castle Hillclimb - 11th and 12th August
These are separate events run by the Camel Vale MC and open to our members through our affiliation to the ACSMC. The hill is 820 yards long and rises 350 feet. The surface is “a very high standard” and it must be amazingly fast as the present record climb took just 22.33seconds, that is an average speed of 75mph ! Entry fees are £60 per event or £110 for both days.
Secretary is:- Tristan White, 16 Margaret Crescent, BODMIN PL31 1JJ Tel. 01208-75183 Email
Silverstone Sprint - 18th August
This was originally a BARC date but now it is being run by the Classic Touring Car Racing Club. Their regs state it is a National B event yet is open to members of any MSA competition club. The course is 2 laps of the Stowe Circuit making it 1.592 miles. Entry fee is £65 and close on 7th August. They can take only 65 drivers, so I guess they are sharing the circuit with the Racing School that day. Secretary is Peter Edwards, Homeleigh, London Road, Bolney, HAYWARDS heath RH17 5PY Tel. 01444-882737
North Weald Sprint - 26th August
Sevenoaks & DMC pay their second visit to North Weald this year. The course is 1600 metres defined by cones as usual. They can take 100 drivers at an entry fee of £55.
Entry secretary is Suze Bisping, 44 East View, St. Ippolyts, HITCHIN SG4 7PD Tel. 01462-457887
Five Clubs Wiscombe Hillclimbs - 1st and 2nd September
Wiscombe is a very challenging hill just 1000 yards long. The sloping grass paddock can be interesting too especially when it rains. Our members need to have registered for the ACSMC Hillclimb Championship to be eligible to enter. The classes (25 of them!) and tyre regs are very different from those we are familiar with. Each day will be a separate event, with its own entry fee of £65. They can take up to 135 drivers. Entries secretary is Mrs. J. Hayes, 8 Statham Grove, TAUNTON TA1 5AG Tel. 01823-279064
Brands Hatch Sprint - 8th September
Tunbridge Wells MC are running this half day event before an afternoon race meeting. Practice will be 2.5 laps and competition runs 1.5 laps of the Indy circuit. Only 75 drivers can be accepted at an entry fee of £150.
Secretary is:- Gary Goodwin, 48 Napier Road, Hawkenbury, TUNBRIDGE WELLS TN2 5AT Tel. 01892-516365