Newsletter, July 2019

Newsletter, July 2019

Let’s not mention the weather.  We are off to Islay for our annual sojourn there. This time for just a week with my daughter and her family.  For the past 50 years it has been one of our favourite destinations.  Now my daughter has taken it for the grandchildren.  They get so much freedom there compared with Singapore where they presently live.

The above image was taken in the 1976 Scottish Rally. Brian Culcheth’s Triumph TR7  with Johnstone Syer – notice that the engine exploded while in mid air.——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

V.S.M.A. Reunion – Friday, 25th October 2019

Although it is about 15 weeks to our 7th Reunion, entries are slowly coming in.  As I mentioned in an email I have amended the Entry Form to allow you to fillet in online and email it back to me, provide you have paid the monies to the VSMA bank account by BACS (which I am assured by Chairman Jimmy is very easy)!  The VSMA Bank details are on the Entry Form.

As to the Reunion its self we have managed to get Brian Culcheth as our Principal guest.  Those in the rallying side of our sport will remember that he had an amazing career, and is said to be a good after-dinner speaker. In addition to this attraction we have managed to acquire three vintage Rally cars (70’s to 90’s) for display in the reception area of the Reunion, along with the usual display motorsport boards.  It all looks good.  So, if you haven’t managed along before give it a try – you will be certain to enjoy what’s offer PLUS meet up with old friends.  Here are the appropriate “Regs and Entry Forms” to download, along with details on how to book accommodation in the Hotel if you are considering staying-over for the night.

2019 Reunion Regs.    2019 Reunion – Entry Form.    2019 Hotel Info

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New Members:

I am delighted to welcome Ian McRae, Gartcosh, Lanarkshire to membership of the Association.  As usual, some details on his Motorsport career can be found on clicking his name in the “Members List” on the website 

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New Email addresses:

Ken Rundle’s email address is now :   krundle009@gmail.com

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To make you smile again (I hope) but please don’t take it to heart!

Love this Japanese Doctor!

Q:  Doctor, I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can  prolong life.  Is this true? 

• Heart only good for so many beats, and that it… Don’t waste on exercise.  Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster.  Want to live longer?  Take nap.

Q: Should  I reduce my alcohol  intake?   

• Oh no.  Wine made from fruit.  Fruit very good. Brandy distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way.  Beer also made of grain. Grain good too. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

• Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one.  If you have two body, your ratio two to one.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program? 

• Can’t think of one, sorry.  My philosophy: No pain…good! 

Q:  Aren’t fried foods bad for you?    

• YOU NOT LISTENING!  Food fried in vegetable oil.  How getting more vegetable be bad?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?

• Oh no!  When you exercise muscle, it get bigger.  You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.

Q:  Is chocolate bad for me?  

• You crazy?!?  HEL-LO-O!!  Cocoa bean!  Another vegetable!  It best feel-good food around!

Q:  Is swimming good for your figure? 

• If swimming good for figure, explain whale to me.

Q:  Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?  

•  Hey! ‘Round’ is shape!  Well… I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

• And remember:  Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways -Chardonnay in one hand – chocolate in the other – body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO-HOO, what a ride!!” 

•  AND…..  For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health.  It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies. 

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.

2. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.

3. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.

4. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.
   

CONCLUSION: 

• Eat and drink whatever you like. 
• Speaking English is actually what kills you.——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

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That’s all folks………………. !                          Stuart Parker, July 2019                                                                                   Back to top

Remember, older news items can be found in the “Archived News Items” page.  We would welcome additional photographs for any of the pages, but in particular we would love to be able to insert “mug shots” of people on their own page.  This would let other members put a face to a name.   So, if you have not already done so, dig out a recent photograph of your self and send it to me (in digital format by email or send the original by post which I can copy and return to you).

Newsletter – February 2019

Newsletter, February 2019

You should know that since the Newsletter in November we have two lots of sad news.   Firstly, was the death of John Smith, husband of Pat and more recently the death of Kenny Allen.   You can see details for both these gentlemen in the Past Veterans section.  The image above taken some years ago, shows Kenny Allen working at his desk with his famous Lotos Elan in the forecourt of his garage in Crossford. A good many members were at Kenny’s funeral, both at the Church Service in Crossford and later at the Crematorium in Holytown.

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2019 Spring Run

Already, Bob Baillie has had 19 rooms confirmed for the Hotel headquarters.  One of the major highlights of this Run is a visit to M-Sport in Cumbria. Anyone who has visited this establishment raves about for a long time thereafter! If you are considering coming to this event I would advise getting your entry in ASAP before Bob runs out of accommodation!   In case you have misplaced  the Entry Form, etc, here they are again

• 2019 Spring Run ASRs   
• 2019 Spring Run Entry Form
• 2019 Spring Run Hotel Booking Form

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7th V.S.M.A. Reunion 2019

If you remember from a previous Newsletter our next Reunion will be held in the Hilton Dunblane Hydo Hotel on Friday 25th October, 2019.  Details will be issued at a later date, however if you wish to reserve accommodation for the Friday evening clicking here will take you to the appropriate page.

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New Member:

I am delighted to welcome the following to membership of the Association.  Their details can be found on clicking their name in the “Members List” on the website:

Tom Wilson, Lanark

Frank Lethbridge

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Member’s contact changes:

Geoff Stone has changed his email address to mail4gps@gmail.com

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Member’s Stuff:

Just received member Eric Dymock’s latest Blog on the Morgan Plus 8.    Those with Morgans will surely find this an interesting read!

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Bar Codes:

Here’s a few interesting things you might want to know about Bar Codes or really where stuff actually comes from.  With all the food and pet products now coming from China , it is best to make sure you read the label when buying products especially at Tesco / Asda. The whole world is concerned about China-made “black hearted goods” but can you differentiate which one is made in Taiwan or  China, or elsewhere for that matter?  Nowadays, Chinese businessmen know that consumers do not prefer products “MADE IN CHINA “, so they don’t show from which country it is made.

Many products no longer show where they were made, only   give where the distributor is  located. It is important to read the bar code to track it’s origin.

If the first 3 digits of the barcode are 690 691 or 692, the product is MADE IN  CHINA.

However, you may now refer to the barcode – remember if the first 3 digits are:

• 690-692 …   Then it is MADE IN  CHINA
  

• 00 – 09 …    USA   &  CANADA
  

• 30 – 37….      FRANCE
  

• 40 – 44...        GERMANY
  

• 49 …    JAPAN

• 471 ….     Taiwan

• 50 …      UK

SO, if you want to BUY ‘BRITISH’ by watching for “50” at the beginning of the number.  Perhaps, it mat be worth printing this and cutting it out to have in your wallet or purse

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Some YouTube and other funnies to hopefully brighten your day!

Where did I Park – Bill Barr.rtfd

Tom Rush – Remember Song

A Lucky Yellow Marble!

A Classic One Ronnie Sketch – For Computer Geeks

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From Marylin Jack:

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.

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That’s all folks………………. !                                                               Stuart Parker, February 2019

Newsletter, December 2018

Xmas will soon be here, so just a few words of cheer!  I felt the above image of Sandy and Logan Morrison in the 1962 Monte Carlo Rally was perhaps quite appropriate. We have had 3 new members since the last Newsletter –

Ian Buttery from Larkhall

Carol Cooper from Kilsyth

James Pinkerton from Glasgow

Clicking on one of the above will reveal their details.

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14th Annual General Meeting – 7th December, 2018        –      

This was again in Tunnock’s Uddingston premises, curtesy of VSMA member Boyd Tunnoch.  As usual, it was a very brief and unremarkable affair. There were 19 members in total who managed to attend! As expected, there was no change in the Board of management, the following being re-elected to join standing Ordinary Board Members Duncan paterson, Barry Crichton, Ian smillie and Donald Gordon.

Chairman – James W. McInnes    

Vice-Chairman and treasurer  –  Robert Bailie 

Secretary  –  Stuart S I Parker

Ordinary Board Members  –  Mid Bruce, Charlie Young, Adele Paterson and Hugh MacKinnon

Following reports from the Chairman and Secretary, Treasurer Bob Baillie confirmed that our financial affairs were quite in order, and he went on to describe what was in store for us in the Spring Run in April.  In particular he stated that we would be more than impressed with our proposed visit to M-Sport in the Lake district.

Chairman Jimmie closed the meeting with a thanks to all for attending and also to Tunnock’s for providing an excellent repast (as usual)!

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MG Car Club (Caledonian Section) Film Night

Following last year’s enjoyable evening Nancy Crichton of the MG Club has invited our members to their 3rd Film Night at Kirkintilloch Golf Club on Thursday 24th January from 6.30-9.30pm. The Golf Club are providing a light meal for £6.50 with a choice of Fish and Chips Lasagna or Macaroni Cheese with tea/coffee. We are cordially invited to join them. The instructions on their website (www.mgcaledonian com) are quite explicit for non members.

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Finally, Bill Bar sent me an amusing YouTube video clip which I think will bring a smile to your face PLUS a happy feeling at this time of the year!

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Stuart Parker, Secretary V.S.M.A.

Newsletter, November 2018

November is upon us – and soon it will be Xmas!!  Before that however, is a very important event, the Annual General Meeting of V.S.M.A.  As before this will be held in the staff room of Tunnock’s factory in Uddingston on Friday the December at 6.00pm. Below are details in relation to the AGM.

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An additonal item to this Newsletter is the information that Bob Baillie has just released details of the 2019 Spring Run.  Here is his invitation to you and below that are PDFs of the ASRs, Entry Form and Hotel Booking Form, to allow you to enter the event.  PLEASE NOTE THAT ENTERIES FOR THIS EVENT WILL BE TAKEN ON A “FIRST COME FIRST SERVED”BASIS.

 November 2018 

Dear Member, 

Spring Run 2019. ——- Friday 26th. April – Monday 29th. April 2019.

We have reached the time of year for organising the Spring Run.  For 2019 we are venturing into Cumbria with the highlight being a visit to the headquarters of M-sport near Cockermouth.

The Newby Bridge Hotel have reserved 20 – 25 rooms for us for the weekend and these will be allocated on first come first served so please get your entries in early to avoid disappointment.

The rates for the hotel per person on a Dinner, Bed and Breakfast basis are as follows :                                     

2 Nights – £119.00       3 Nights – £169.00

The official proceedings will start with us meeting in the Dumfries area at a Garden Centre yet to be decided. We would be aiming to leave Dumfries by 11.30am. The morning run will simply be from our meeting point down to M-sport for a tour around the premises. The set up here is mind blowing.

Due to numbers, we will be divided into two groups with tours one after the other.  The tours will last approximately an hour and a half and there will be a break between tours.  Refreshments will be available on site before and after the tour.  

                                                                                  

On Saturday morning the run is very short taking us to Lakeland Motor Museum and this is followed by a sail from Lakeside on Lake Windermere to Bowness-on-Windermere. After time for browsing Bowness, the  boat returns us to Lakeside. Transport from Lakeland Motor Museum to Lakeside and return is by coach.

Sunday will involve a trip to the Stott Park Bobbin Mill followed by the Crystal Factory at Ulverston and the Docks Museum at Barrow-in-Furness. The return from Barrow-in-Furness to Newby Bridge will be via the Coastal Route.

On Monday we leave after breakfast and, since there is no set route to follow,  you can choose your own way back home. 

This is just a broad outline of the weekend and could be subject to change. I hope that you find the proposed Spring Run of interest. The numbers able to attend are restricted and I would stress again the need for early booking.

Yours sincerely

Bob Baillie,   Vice Chairman VSMA.

2019 Spring Run ASRs                            2019 Spring Run Entry Form                 2019 Spring Run Hotel Booking Form

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Annual General Meeting:

This will start sharp at 6.0pm when a light snack has been laid on, courtesy of Boyd Tunnock.  Here is the Location.   All members are more than welcome to attend this important event.  If you are unable to attend, please complete the Proxy form and send it to me. Here is the Agenda, Proxy and Nomination Forms  which will give you all the information you require for the evening.  Can I point out that the Nomination Form, duly completed, must be in my hands by 16th November 2018 at the latest.

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New member:

I welcome another new member since last Newsletter, namely

• Graham Smith for Napton, Southam in Warwickshire

All Graham’s details can be viewed in his profile page in the  Members List.

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New email addresses:

• Ian Forrest’s address is now :  i_forrest@bitwisegroup.com
• Kenneth Gunn address is now:  williamgunn546@yahoo.com

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2018 Autumn Run:   –  Sunday 7^th October 2018 – The Story

This would be the third Autumn Run organised by Charlie Young and Eddie Hawke and the plan in moving to a Perth start was hopefully encourage VSMA members further North and East to participate. This unfortunately was not to be the case.

In starting our final reccie and on route to Perth, we received a call from our finish venue – The Boathouse Restaurant in Kilysth. This to inform us that they had ceased trading the previous evening and could we call and they would return our deposit. A good way to start the day!!

Anyway, to the event and starting at Dobbies Garden Center just to the West of Perth proved an excellent venue, where the management could not have been more helpful for the assembled lowly fourteen crews. The numbers were to be further reduced when firstly Chris & Mary Paton phoned to say that his Cooper S had ground to a halt near Kinross whilst heading for the start. Removing the rocker cover revealed a sheared rocker shaft and hopefully no further damage. Second casualty was the Porsche Boxster of Margaret & Ian Smillie – simply they got their dates wrong and were convinced that the event was the following weekend.  So, we are now down to twelve starters.

The Route:

The first car left at 12.00 on the dot, heading West past Huntingtower to turn right onto 8083 at Methven. The promise of sunshine in glorious Perthshire was not forthcoming with the weather starting to deteriorate and rain falling. From Methven they turned left left signposted Fowlis Wester then straight on over the offset crossroads at Fowlis Wester, past Quarter Bank and Raith before turning right at Kinkell Bridge and left at the next T junction and almost immediate left at Drumness – still no road numbers!!

From Drumness straight over the crossroads with the A823 (a road number at last) and then T junction left onto the A822 and almost immediate right on the unmarked road at Kaims Castle and the old Roman Fort before turning left at the crossroads onto the old Military Road and down into Braco.

Side road right in Braco onto the B8033 took the crews down past Wester Feddal and Mid Cambushinne to Kinbuck. Continuing on the B8033, then a hard left onto the main A9 next to the Queen Victoria School for a short drive down to the main roundabout at Dunblane. Taking the second exit, they were heading now on the old A9 for Bridge of Allan and looking for a sharp right onto the unmarked road sign posted Old Keir. This was a cracking piece of road taking crews past Craigarn Hall / Easter Row and Hillside of Row before T junction left onto the B824, and then T left onto the A820 into Doune. Through Doune, crews were looking for the B826 on the right and heading for Thornhill. Before Thornhill, they took a left at the T junction onto the A873, turning right onto the B8031 past Craighead and South Mid Frew,and turning left onto the A811

Passing  Boquhan Home Farm they were then onto a side road right to an offset crossroads left and right. Past Glentirranmuir / Auldhall, down past Craigend and then T left onto the B822 and then T left in Fintry onto the B818. Continuing left on the B818 the crews were now onto the Carron Valley road before taking a right turn onto the Tak Me Doon Road

Located almost at the end of the Tak Me Doon road was the new finish venue – Kilsyth and Lennox Golf Club where again the Club Manager and staff were very extremely help full .

The choice of several one courses with tea and coffee was well received and the day was finished off with a quiz.

 All in all a good run, on good surfaces and some seventy plus miles enjoyed by all. The promised views of glorious Perthshire had not materialised with the weather turning really nasty by the time the crews had reached the finish.  Good luck to next year’s organisers!!

Charlie Young

Many, many thanks to Charlie and Eddie for another enjoyable run – pity about the numbers, and of course thanks for the above narrative.

Stuart Parker

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Goodwood Festival of Speed:

Eric Dymock sent in this YouTube video for your interest.

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Amusing YouTube Clip:

This I’m sure will make you laugh!

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I’m running out of “funnies” but here is an old one from/for our beloved Charman:

Perks of reaching or being over 65

Perks of reaching or being over 65 and heading towards 80 and beyond!

1.  Kidnappers are not very interested in you.

2. In a hostage situation, you are likely to be released first.

3. No one expects you to run — anywhere.

4. People call at 9 PM (or 9 AM) and ask, ‘Did I wake you?’

5. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.

7. Things you buy now will never wear out.

8. You can eat supper at 4 PM.

9. You can live without sex but not your glasses.

10. You get into heated arguments about pension plans.

11. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.

12. You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the room.

13. You sing along with elevator music.

14. Your eyes won’t get Much worse.

15. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.

16. Your joints are more accurate than meteorologist or the national weather service.

17. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can’t remember them either.

18. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to a manageable size.

19. You can’t remember who sent you this list. And you notice these are all in big print for your convenience.

Forward this to everyone you can remember right now!

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING:  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill, and a laxative on the same night!

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That’s all folks………………. !                                     Stuart Parker, November 2018

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Newsletter, July 2018

I have had a few comments since the re-birth of the VSMA website – most, fortunately being complimentary, which was pleasing!  I have added a few Youtube videos for your interest and hopefullu, enjoyment!

I am still making changes to the site – hopefully improvements.  One of these is the enlargement of most of the thumbprint images which occur in groups within the various section, such as those within the previous Runs and Reunions. I suppose they should now be called handprints!!  Anyway, have a look to see what you think.  I wil continue to enlarge the images within members’ profiles if necessary. As before, the large group of images can still be further enlarged by clicking on any one of the images within the group. You may find that because of these changes some sections may be a bit slower to load.  Please let me know if this the case and I will have a rethink. 

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One other improvement, I think, is the creation of another section “Images from other events”. If you look at it this section you will see the reason why it was created. If you have groups of images of such events which you think may be of interest to members, please let me know and I would certainly consider including them within this section.

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Already some members have submitted changes to their profile, which I hope  Hopefully membership data is now up-to-date.  However, if you feel you would like to add or amend your own data, please use the method I suggested in the last Newsletter, namely use the Form Career Data , or if you have a change of address just send me an email.

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2018 Spring Run

The picture above show some of the members departing from this year’s Spring Run. Details of this can be found in the Events Section.  All the images in this section were kindly given by Margaret Smillie. For those memebrs who were there, could I ask you to send me photographs you had taken on the event and I will include them with others (provided they are not liable!)

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Member Eric Dymock has just released an updated book Jim Clark – Tribute to a Champion. It is on sale at bookshops and also signed copies can be obtained through the Jim Clark Trust. It is also available as an ebook at https://dovepublishing.co.uk/jim-clark-tribute-to-a-champion  available though Amazon. The text is much the same as the one before but has been but updated and completely redesigned.  Read Eric’s blog, which covers his recent trip to Mar Hall. https://goo.gl/Fo7ho9 gets straight into it.  A Royalty on every copy is being donated to the Jim Clark Trust.

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Here are some of our esteemed Chairman’s amusing Irish tales –

I don’t know where he gets them from and you may have heard them before –  maybe I shouldn’t be publishing them now in our new PC world, but here they are:

“Your glass is empty O’Flaherty, will you be having another?”  “And why would I be wanting two empty glasses?” replied O’Flaherty.

 

Two tough union men were working on a building site when O’Grady fell from the second floor scaffolding.

“Are ya dead?” cried Gallagher from above.   “To be sure I am,” replied O’Grady.

“You are such a liar O’Grady that I don’t know whether to believe you or not!” called Gallagher.

“That proves I’m dead,” said O’Grady’s voice from the rubble below,  “because if I was alive you wouldn’t be game to call me a liar!”

 

Callaghan arrived home late from the pub, well oiled and ready for trouble. 

“Is that you Callaghan?” called his wife.  “Byjasis!  It damned well better be!”

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And now Some Videos………….

If you enjoy really good jugling – Watch this from youtube.

This shows you how not to become too greedy  – Beware of this Black Hole!!

Be entertained with  Dancing at the Movies

Enjoy this flight attendant’s safety  – she may perhaps may be joining Ryanair from  South WestAirlines

If you enjoy some clasical operatic stuff   The people of Sabadell, Spain are treated to some awesome classical music in this entertaining flash mob created by Banco Sabadell to celebrate their 130th anniversary.–   Watch and listen here

Or if you just enjoy jazz on a guitar  – Watch

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

Yours aye

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