Newsletter, September 2018

Hello there,

We have had only a few comments regardng the new website – all good thankfully!   However no images or articles from members!  One waits in hope!  If you feel you have something that would interst members don’t hesitate to send it in.  The next VSMA event is the forthcoming Autumn Run in October (see details below).

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Here are few changes of members details since the last update, however, I’m not sure if I have sent these amendments below to you earlier?  All can be found in the Members List.

New Addresses:

• John More and Jim McGaughay

Email Address changes:  

• William Cowan new email address  : wgcowan@waitrose.com
• James Crichton new email address  : jamescrichton1952@gmail.com
• James McGaughay new email address  : james.mcgaughay@gmail.com
• Bill Struthers new email address  : billanann@hotmail.co.uk
• Brian Wilson new email address : bwilson586@yahoo.com

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Deaths which you might not be aware of:

• Helen Morrison wife of Sandy died on Friday 6th July.
• Anne Melvin, wife of John died in September 2017 having being in care for past 3 years.  Anne was a co-driver/navigator in John’s early days of Rallying.  Indeed they won the R.S.A.C. husband and wife prize in a pre-special stage Scottish rally in the 50s.  She had a quiet family-only burial in Eaglesham.

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New Members: 

I am delighted to welcome this new member into our fold:

• John Bennie from Glasgow

John’s details can be found in his profile in the  Members List.

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2018 Autumn Run – Sunday 7th October

      Put the above date in your diary for another event being run by Charlie Young:

……..In an effort to encourage enthusiasts from more northern and eastern locations, the event will start in Perth and finish in Kilsyth covering some 70 / 80 miles between venues – most in glorious Perthshire.

Food will be available at the start and finish venues.

Regulations and Entry Form will be sent to previous entrants, but here are two PDFs of the Releveant documents.  They will also be posted to the Caledonian Classic & Historic Club website.

2018 Autumn Run Regulations 2018 Autumn Run Entry Form

Further details are available from the Secretary of the Meeting:-

Charlie Young

1 Sandhead Road

Strathaven

ML10 6HX

Tel: 01357 521696 / 07955 905441

charlieyoung2009@sky.com

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Interesting YouTube Video:

Here is a video taken from films shot in New York in 1911 with an added sound tract.  Some marvellous old cars, etc. Enjoy

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Some Amusing Items:

• Here is a Youtube I received to day wihich I found engrossing  –  The Lucky Yellow Marble – it seem to go on and on.

 

• No Newletter would be complete without some funnies from our “Beloved Leader”!!

 Dublin’s contestant in an international quiz was waiting for his first question.  

 “First, what is your name and occupation?”  The compere asked.   “Pass” came the reply.

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 Casey…..”if you can guess how many chooks I have in my bag, you can have both of them.”   “Three?”  suggested Shaun.

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O’Toole was coming through the customs at the airport carrying a large bottle.

“What have you got there?” said a suspicious customs officer.  “Tis Lourdes holy water I am bringing home with me.” said O’Toole.  The officer took the bottle and tried some.  “Why, tis Irish whiskey to be sure” he spluttered.

“Lord Bless Me!” said O’Toole, “another bloomin’ miracle”

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 On his way home one right Regan dropped into the pub.

 The barman poured him a beer and asked if he wanted to be in a raffle.  What’s it for?” asked Regan.

“It’s for a poor widow with 13 kids,” said the barman.

Regan shook his head.  “No good for me, I’d never be able to keep em.”

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Well folks, that’s all for this Newsletter.  I wish you all well.

Yours aye

Stuart S I Parker,  Secretary, Veterans of Scottish Motorsport Association

Newsletter, January 2016

Dear Fellow member,

Compliments of the season.  I trust you have had an enjoyable festive season and, like me, looking forward to some Spring weather.

Firstly , we have been invited to the MGCC Caledonian Centre’s film show on Friday 29th January.  This will be held at Kirkintilloch Golf Club.  Barry Crichton’s wife Nancy is in charge.   Before the films a buffet supper will be available which will be served from 6.0pm, with the film show starting at 7.30   The programme should include some early Bo’ness material including MGCC member Donald Carmichael in his J4 special, some early MG factory films, some early MGA films, some Monte Carlo items & look out for Graham Hill & Raymond Baxter, & possibly some MG 6R4 items.  They are also hoping to get a film produced by the old Scottish Centre of a team of TFs they ran in the 1955 Scottish Rally.   Nancy is arranging some alternative entertainment for those who don’t want to watch a screen all night!  The cost for this evening is a very modest £8 per head payable when booking through our website  http://www.mgcaledonian.com/event/ladies-and-film-night-2016/

Correction – the date of Reunion is 14th October 2016 and NOT the 21st October as shown in the December Newsletter.

Derek Palmer sent me an email with a youtube clip of the first year of the Para’s first season of BTCC!!   If you remember Derek has been the Team Principal of the Infiniti Para Team throughout.  The video shows how they have done over the last season.  Have a look  at https://youtu.be/FCUlpoWjjDM?t=13

Finally, Bob Baillie has sent me all the info on the forthcoming Spring Run!  I have attached four PDFs including Bob’s letter to members, the A.S.R’s, The Entry Form and details of the Accommodation.  Bob suggests that you get your entry in soon as the accommodation is limited.  (Mine is already in the post)!

Before I go, here is a YouTube clip you might find amusing:  “Scots in lift” –   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FFRoYhTJQQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FFRoYhTJQQ

Yours aye

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Newsletter, June 2018

Welcome to our first real Newsletter since May 2015  when the old VSMA website “went down”.  It has taken all this time to get the site a new home while at the same time, trying to resurrect all the data, not just from the old site, but from my own huge collection of images and data sent in by members.  This has been an enormous task and not yet complete as there are quite a few images and members details missing.  So, if you find any errors or omissions, please let me know and I will do my best to rectify the problem.  Similarly, if you have any old images you feel should be included on the site please send them to me.

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You will soon notice there are quite a few changes on “how to navigate” the site compared to the previous site.  Can I suggest, once you have logged in to the members’ area, you go to the “How to use this Site”where hopefully “all will be revealed”?  You will find a few differences from the old site – just persevere. I would be very grateful if you have any difficulty navigating the site, where it is not obvious, please you let me know, and I will try to clarify the instructions for other users.

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Please look at your own “Profile” – let me know of any amendments are required or a complete update would be better, print out this Career Data  and send it to me – I will do the necessary.  Also, images would be vey welcome.

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I’m sure you will notice that a number of our members (75 in all) have an unusual email address, such as factitious000@tunaweb.com. This is because, either they don’t have an email address or they havn’t let me know if it has been changed.  Hopefully, this number will be reduced in due course.

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Recently I received an email from Jack Davidson who gave me an interesting tale about fellow member Andrew Jeffrey. While Jack had had a meeting with Andrew’s son Alex, to buy a new Toyota from the showroom he worked, Alex had observed the VSMA badge on Jack’s car and commented that his father Andrew was also a member of VSMA.  Getting back home,  Jack trawled through his extensive negatives and found a mono image of Andrew in his Formula Atlantic at the Ingliston Circuit, had it printed. He presented it to Alex who kindly purchased the image, had it enlarged, framed, and presented the package to father Andrew on his birthday. A nice story.  The photo below shows Andrew with the framed picture

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Newsletter December, 2015

Dear Fellow Veterans,

Another year has gone! We had our AGM on Friday evening which again was held in Tunnocks’ factory. As usual, Boyd had laid on a suitable repast for those attending! I have attached a PDF of the minutes of the evening. As you will see we had to have an election for 4 Board member places when we had five applications. The result was we lost Andy Watson after a good few years service, to be replaced by Mid Bruce, along with Duncan Paterson, Barry Crichton and Donald Gordon.

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May I welcome two new members Mike Murchie from Elderslie, and Andy Birrell from Kilconquhar.

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Some email changes to your address book:

Tom MacMillan  –     tommacmillan24@gmail.com
Alex Young   –     lewiss@scotseats.cp.uk
Peter Rae   –    irenerae147@outlook.com
Iain Mitchell   –     mvraccidentrepairs@gmail.com
Tim Thomson   –     tim@andypriaulx.com
David Swinton   –     dswinton258@btinternet.com
Gus Pattison   –    angus.pattison@tannoch.com
Doug Niven    –    doug@dougniven.co.uk
Stephen Cooper   –   steviepiper2@gmail.com

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Events to look forward to:

We will be getting busy early next year for our Reunion on Friday 21st October 2016, so look out for entry forms, etc in the Spring. Also, we off to the Borders for our annual Spring Run over the weekend of 22-24 April. Bob Baillie has some VERY interesting news on that – later!

Before that, however, we have been invited to a film night by the Caledonian section of the MG Car Club to be held on Friday 29th January – location and times, etc later.

Finally, may I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Guid New Year

Yours aye

Stuart Parker

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Newsletter August, 2015

Dear fellow Veteran,
As you will be well aware our website has not been running properly since the May 2015 Newsletter. I won’t bore you with the details of why this is so, but suffice to say that every effort is being made to get it back in proper order. Until then I hope to keep you posted by email on what ’s been happening in the VSMA world.

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New Members

Nigel Galvin from Grangemouth and Rab MacDonald from Lasswade.  Details of these two will be found on the website in due course.

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I have been asked to publicise the 50th anniversary of the Fintry Hill Climb on 15th/16th August details of which can be had at www.gac.org.uk A few of our members I’m sure will be competing there!

The other hill climb in which VSMA will again be involved in is the Bo’ness Hill Climb Revival. This is being held on Saturday/Sunday 5th/6th September. A number of our members will be competing and we will be manning a refreshment tent near the finish of the hill as usual. Bob Baillie will be in charge of the tent and he is looking for a few additional helpers on either day. If you think you could give him a hand please call him at 01290 550696 (Home) or 07721 755917 (Mob).

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I couldn’t close without an amusing anecdote which landed on my laptop recently……… it’s what I might call a highly intellectual joke!!

The Deaf Mafia Bookkeeper

A Mafia Godfather finds out that his bookkeeper, Guido, has cheated him out of $10,000,000.00. His bookkeeper is deaf but that was the reason he got the job in the first place. It was assumed that Guido would hear nothing and would therefore never have to testify in court.

When the Godfather goes to confront Guido about the missing $10 million, he takes along his lawyer, who knows sign language. The Godfather tells the lawyer, “Ask him where the money is.” The lawyer, using sign language, asks Guido, “Where’s the money?” Guido signs back, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

The lawyer tells the Godfather, “He says he doesn’t know what you are talking about.” The Godfather pulls out a pistol, puts it to Guido’s head and says, “Ask him again or I’ll kill him!” The lawyer signs to Guido, “He’ll kill you if you don’t tell him.”

Guido trembles and signs back, “OK! You win! The money is in a brown briefcase, buried behind the shed at my cousin Bruno’s house.”

The Godfather asks the lawyer, “What did he say?” The lawyer replies, “He says you don’t have the balls to pull the trigger.”

Don’t you just love lawyers?

Yours aye

Stuart Parker

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Newsletter September, 2016

Dear Fellow Veterans,

I’m still in the USA but due to be back in Larkie next Wednesday.  It is less than a month since the last Newsletter but I am including the Regulations and Entry Form for the “Ayrshire Bash” an event similar to the most enjoyable last Autumn’s run organised by Barry Crichton Autumn.  This time Charlie Young is in charge and looking at the Regs is sounds as if it will be just as enjoyable. It is scheduled to run on Sunday 23rd  October.  If you have problems opening or printing the attached PDF please let me know and I will arrange to send you printed copies.

We have had another new member since the last Newsletter.  We are pleased to welcome Peter Clingan from Lochmaben into our Association.

A reminder::   The Reunion is only SIX weeks away.  If you have still to send in your entry form, get a move on!

While in the USA I have had the advantage of using my daughter-in-law’s Subaru WRX STI as a “shopping car”.  What a machine – the torque is quite amazing – in every gear!  Anyway, I thought I should include a youtube of a WRX doing a full lap of the Isle of Man flat out – obviously a still faster machine than the standard road version – worth watching click the link below and watch in full screen!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7gmbQ8KxM4

Yours aye

Stuart Parker

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Newsletter August, 2016

Hi everyone

I’m presently sunning myself in upstate New York but I thought I should keep you up-to-date on things VSMA.

Firstly, a few changes to members’ addresses, etc:
Ron Smith – new address is now Glentarkie Cottage, Glentarkie, Strathmiglo, Cupar, KY14 7RU
Gordon Neave address is 64 Corstorphine Road Edinburgh EH12 6JQ
Kenneth Strachan – new email now is alliefreespirit427@gmail.com
Graeme Henderson’s email is graeme.henderson@kirksideguesthouse.co.uk

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Death of Members –
I got news recently that the following members had passed on:
                W.L. Ramsay Shaw died in October 2015
                Rusty Wilson died in December 2015
                Robben Christie died in December 2015

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I am pleased to welcome the following as members of VSMA:
                 Laurence Doonan from Penicuik
                  Graeme McGregor from Dundee

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EVENTS: VSMA will not be represented this year at the Bo’ness Hill Climb Revival on the weekend of 3rd/4th September. The Directors decided to give this year’s event a bye as we had too much to prepare for the next Reunion the following month. From the literature we received from BHCR it looks to be a great weekend. There is now a change in the track layout which will help the flow of spectators considerably. A good few of our members will be competing again. So, why not go along and support them!

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Just received an email from member John More, also a member of Coltness Car Club, suggesting that VSMA members might be interested in a classic cars run on Saturday 1st October. The route covers a range of interesting roads in South Lanarkshire, Scottish Borders and Mid Lothian. The start and finish (buffet ) are at the Dalserf Bowling Club, Ashgill with a lunch halt arranged at St Mary’s Loch. They are hoping for a good turn out of classic cars. If you are interested check out the details at coltnesscarclub.com or get in touch with John at more.john@blueyonder.co.uk or contact John directly at 07740 696166.

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You should all have had the”Regs” and “Entry Form” for the 6th VSMA Reunion on Friday, 14th October. I can report that we already have had a few submitted. Although the entries don’t “close” until 27th September, when the entry fee goes up to £50 per person, can I ask that if you intend coming along to the event send in your entry now.  In case you have misplaced the forms I have attached a PDF of these below.

And finally from Marlyn Jack…..
Food for thought or not

I was lying around, pondering the problems of the world, I realized that at my age I don’t really give a damn anymore.

If walking is good for your health the postman would be immortal.

A whale swims all day, only eats fish, drinks water, but is still fat.

A rabbit runs and hops and only lives 15 years, while a tortoise doesn’t run and does mostly nothing, yet it lives for 150 years.

And you tell me to exercise?? I don’t think so.

Just grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked, and the good fortune to remember the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference.

Now that I’m older here’s what I’ve discovered:

1. I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.

2. My wild oats are mostly enjoyed with prunes and all-bran.

3. I finally got my head together, and now my body is falling apart.

4. Funny, I don’t remember being absent-minded.

5. Funny, I don’t remember being absent-minded.

6. If all is not lost, then where the heck is it?

7. It was a whole lot easier to get older than to get wiser.

8. Some days, you’re the top dog, some days you’re the hydrant.

9. Kids in the back seat cause accidents.

10 Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

11. The world only beats a path to your door when you’re in the bathroom.

12. If God wanted me to touch my toes, he’d have put them on my knees.

13. It’s not hard to meet expenses . . . they’re everywhere.

14. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

15. These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter . . I go somewhere to get something, and then wonder what I’m “here after“.

16. Funny, I don’t remember being absent-minded.

HAVE I SENT THIS MESSAGE TO YOU BEFORE. Or did I get it from you?

Yours aye

Stuart Parker

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Newsletter June, 2016

Dear Fellow Veterans,

I thought I should let you know that there has been a little progress on the website front.  Don’t check it just yet as apparently still a lot of work to do on it.  The gentleman who was looking after the technical side of things has been unwell for some considerable time – hence the delay.  I will certainly let everyone know when the site is up and running again.

In the meantime, just a little news.  The Run we had down into Northumberland was very successful.  Our base was in Alnwick and from there we visited several historic sites as well as Andrew Cowan’s marvellous collection of rally cars.  These included most of his personal rally cars but also many of the World Rally cars when he was Competition manager of Mitsubishi.  All were in immaculate condition.  Linda, Andrew’s wife provided a light lunch for everyone – most enjoyable.

I recently received an email from member Eric Dymock requesting that I publicise his most recent blogs, one of which contains information on the late Alistair Ford.  Those of our members from the immediate post-war years will remember Alistair as a motoring correspondent – he was often to be seen in the back seat of various competition cars during events where he claimed to get the best info for his articles.   I’m sure everyone will enjoy Eric’s piece on Alistair.  Another piece on Stuart Turner’s latest book – which is not about motorsport but interesting none-the-less.  Both of these blogs can be found at  http://www.dovepublishing.co.uk/blog/2016/5/19/scottish-motor-sport-1952 and at  http://www.dovepublishing.co.uk/blog/2016/6/6/stuart-turner

Finally, a remarkable video clip I received from Bill Barr which I’m sure will amaze you.  One lucky trucker

cid:6FA3E18E-67B7-4983-AF84-81C4060D32BE/5EED9C7E-E534-48E0-B27C-AD14466568C5

Yours aye

Stuart Parker

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