Trials and Tribulations

For some lucky people Christmas Eve was a day of happiness and joy. For Team Fortnight it was a day of sorrow as "Nymphie" their trusted steed decided that after 30 years of competition enough was enough.

Although she decided to start, the thought of another trailer ride was just too much. So with very expensive noises coming from the front of the engine Team Fortnight decided to switch her off and press into service Michael's blue Mini 1275 GT. The event being the 750MC/Sutton & Cheam Boxing Day Bounce at Cameron's Field in Dorking. Other Stalwarts joining the festivities being Big Bash Simon and Maxi Green representing Team Spirit (ably supported by their Number One driver - the one and only Elya Gold). This time they had left their Peugeot behind and were Fiesta and Skoda Scud mounted.

For those of you who remembered Boxing Day it was atrocious - even the Calibra got stuck getting into the paddock - yes you've guessed it, it was even wetter than Goodwood!! The good news was that it meant that if you floored the accelerator there was a good chance that the car moved. In the Mini the speedo said 45 mph (i.e. flat in second) whilst outside a very wet snail moved even faster. Unfortunately there was not so much progress in the Team Spirit camp. Simon seemed to keep remembering it was his mum's car and kept treating it really very gently. Ian on the other hand was having a really bad day with his Green Scud getting no where at all. His score at the end of the day would have made any English cricketer envious.

Lunch time arrived with Big Bash setting up the Primus to cook a really great lunch of soup, followed by sausage and bacon. The organisers adding to the meal with some very potent warm mulled w**e. A look at the scores indicated that the Austin Sevens were really enjoying themselves with a Chummy maintaining a clean sheet up until they displaced a tappet and had to take a couple of 12's. In Class A, Team Fortnight were leading the field closely followed by John Bennett‘s Renault 4 GTL. Team Spirit however were some way behind, both having already scored a century.

Other cars out for the day included numerous Austin 7's; various Fords, a Marlin, Renault 8 and even a Disco, which having dropped 27 points more than Michael decided enough was enough.

The afternoon became a replica of the morning, only worse!! Eventually Ian decided to retire - something that he had never done before. There really is no fun when you can't make the start line and its really p*****g down with rain. True sport as he is he did stay to the end to see Team Fortnight collect first and second in class and help push some of the luckless competitors and marshals out of the field. I suppose it was better than staying at home and drinking, eating, drinking etc, etc.

Like the fools that we are I'm sure that some Team Southern stalwarts will be back again next year.