Just spent a very pleasant three weeks with my son and his wife in Ithaca, which is located in northern New York State. Unfortunately, the weather was the same as in Scotland – cool and wet for the first two weeks! However, the last week has been glorious 84 and NO clouds! However, we’re back home on Wednesday and looking forward to the next couple of months with a visit to the Bo’ness Hill Climb Revival this weekend and the 5th VSMA Reunion next month. So, lots to do. The Newsletter this month is pretty brief – we have too busy!!
Address changes – All members’ addresses, phone numbers and email addresses can be found in the “Members and details” section.
Fraser Anderson now has a new email address.
Jack Davidson, has moved to “Havendale”, 14 Hillend View, Winchburgh, West Lothian, EH52 6WB Tel: 01506 890846
David Seaton, now resides at 3 Medwyn Park, West Linton. EH46 7HA, Tel: 01968 660074
Death of Members – I am sad to report the death of the following members:
Billy Chapman died on 9th April 2014.
Ian Cunningham died suddenly on 9th November 2013.
Iain Provan was killed on 1st June 2014, while spectating on the Jim Clark Rally.
Tom Legget died on 14th June 2014
You may have already been aware that when a member has died his/her entry will no longer appear in the “Members and their Details” section. All information about them where known, apart from their address details, will now have been transferred to the “Past Veterans” section. Clicking on one of the names above will take you to the appropriate place in that section.
New Member – On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome a new member from Kingswell, Aberdeen – namely John Plenderleath.
Here are some of the other items of news this month –
Interesting Stuff from Members
“Depart d’Ecosse”
Amusing Bits and Pieces
Eric Dymock emailed me with his daily blog which he felt might interest members. The article makes great reading even after such a number of years. In it, he relates to his escapades in the 1964 Spa-Sofia-Liege rally as a junior Motor staff reporter, and incidentally reporting on a few of our members including Stuart Turner, Johnstone Syer and Logan Morrison. Stuart Turner who was the BMC competitions manager at that time, could not conceal his delight. He had not only scored the second win with a big Healey but also “We broke the sound barrier – we got a Mini to the finish of the Liège.”
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Pat Smith also emailed requesting confirmation of a couple of photographs in her local motor museum in Moray in Elgin where some of her own memorabilia are on display. We were able to identify one of the photos as that of Tom Bicket in the 1970 Scottish Rally but the other was of a Rally plate from the 1959 Tulip Rally. It was suggested that it might belong to a F.W.Attwood (British) in an MG TF.
Unfortunately, we know no more about F.W.Attwood. Can anyone help Pat?
‘Depart d’Ecosse’
Just received an email from Douglas Anderson promoting his new book ‘Depart d’Ecosse’ which highlights on the Scottish Connection to the Monte Carlo Rally. You may not be aware that Douglas was the main instigator of the return of the “Rallye Monte Carlo Historique” to Glasgow as one of the starting points. The book will be launched on Thursday 6 November 2014 at the Blythswood Square Hotel, Glasgow in the Monte Carlo Suite, from 6 pm – 8 pm and we are invited to attend. As part of the launch, the official Automobile Club de Monaco video of the 2014 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique will be shown in the Monte Carlo Suite cinema. However, Copies of the book can be pre-ordered by on the attached PDF form for the special offer price of £30. Pre-ordered copies will be available for collection at the book launch when the book will be released. Please write on the order form if you wish to collect your copies at the launch.
Copies of the book will also be available for sale at the book launch on 6 November at the launch price of £35. After the release date, copies will be available in selected booksellers, including Waterstone’s, at the price of £39.99.There will be a print run of 1000 copies. To secure a copy, please return the order form to the publisher, Argyll Publishing, as soon as possible. Perhaps a Christmas present for a friend or for yourself. Click on the image on right to reveal a PDF for printing out the Form.
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Interesting Youtube clips: Just a few, which are best viewed in ‘Full Screen’
| For those lovers of Italy………………..How go tell the time in Italy…….! | Click here |
| Toys for grown-up boys………………….Alan Carlaw will love this I think? | Click here |
| Strickly for service crews…………….How to change tyres while driving | Click here |
| Finally …………………………………….. For those who love a bit of’60s music | Click here |
Bits and Pieces which may amuse : Can’t remember who sent these – Probably Malcolm Parkin and our Chairman – if not my apologies.
Lonely Heart Advertisements (From Malcolm Parkin?)
Fun-loving but overweight Buckie based turf-cutter, presently unemployed,
Gemini, seeks nimble sexpot, preferably South American, for tango
sessions, candlelit dinners, and nights of screaming passion.
Must have own car and be willing to travel. Box 09/08
***
Heavy drinker, 35, Glasgow area, seeks gorgeous sex addict
interested in booze, fags, Celtic football club, and starting fights
on Sauchiehall Street at three in the morning. Box 73/82
***
Bitter and disillusioned Dundee man, recently rejected by long-time fiancée,
seeks decent, honest, affectionate woman, if such a person still exists
in this cruel world full of unreliable two-faced bitches. Box 53/41
***
Ginger-haired Kelty troublemaker, gets slit-eyed and stroppy after
a few scoops, seeks attractive, wealthy lady for bail purposes,
and maybe more. Box 84/87
***
Artistic Edinburgh woman, 53, petite, loves rainy walks on the
beach, writing poetry, unusual sea-shells, and interesting brown rice
dishes, seeks mystic dreamer for companionship and more,
as we bounce along like tumbling clouds, on life’s beautiful
crazy journey. Strong stomach essential. Box 12/32
***
Chartered accountant, 42, seeks female for marriage. Duties will
include cooking, cleaning, plus attending business and social
functions. References required. No timewasters. Box 23/45
***
Bad-tempered, foul-mouthed old bastard, living in damp cottage at the arse end of Orkney, seeks attractive 21-year old blonde lady with big chest. Box 40/27
***
Satanist, Alloa area, seeks like-minded lady for wining
and dining, good conversation, dancing, romantic walks, and
slaughtering animals at midnight under the flinty
light of a waning moon. Box 52/07
***
Attractive brunette, Gartcosh area, winner of Miss Wrangler Jeans
competition at Framptons Nightclub in 1978,
seeks nostalgic man, not afraid to cry, for long nights of
comfort-drinking, and listening to Abba records. Box 30/41
***
Govan man, 32, muscular build, piercing blue eyes, seeks alibi for
the night of October 24th. Box 60/45
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Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the U.K. Economy by spending your ‘Winter Fuel’ cheque wisely:
*If you spend the money at Asda or Tesco, the money will go to Gibraltar, Ireland & Luxemburg.
* If you spend it on ebay your money will go Ireland.
* If you spend it on petrol your money will go to the Arabs.
* If you purchase a computer it will go to India, Taiwan or China.
* If you purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Kenya, Spain, or Morocco.
* If you spend it in your corner ‘Asian mini-mart’ no tax will be paid, it will be used in drug deals and eventually will be conveyed to Pakistan in a large suitcase.
* If you spend it on ‘cheap’ cigs it will end up in Rumania or Bulgaria.
* If you give it to Oxfam 20% only will go abroad and 80% will remain in the hands of the administrators, who will spend it on fact finding missions to Cayman Islands, Thailand & Mauritius.
* If you buy an efficient car it will go to Japan or Korea.
* If you buy a luxury car it will go to India or Germany.
* If you pay off your credit cards or buy shares, it will go to management bonuses and they will hide it offshore.
Instead, keep the money in the UK by:
1. Spending it at car boot sales
2. Going to night clubs
3. Spending it on call girls
4. Buying cider, beer or scotch
5. Getting yourself a Tatto
6. Visiting a bookie
(These are the only UK businesses still operating in the U.K. )
Conclusion:
Go to a night club with a tattooed call girl that you met at a car boot sale and drink beer day and night ! It’s the patriotic thing to do. No need to thank me……just glad I could be of help. (Ed: You can tell this is definitely from our Chairman)
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Something definitely from our Chairman:
The following is a series of actual quotes taken from insurance or accident forms. They are the actual words of people who tried to summarize their encounters with trouble.
“I collided with a stationary truck coming the other way.”
“The guy was all over the road; I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him.”
“I pulled away from the side of the road, glanced at my mother-in-law, and headed over the embankment.”
“In my attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telephone pole.”
“I had been shopping for plants all day and was on my way home. As I reached an intersection, a hedge sprang up obscuring my vision. I did not see the other car.”
“An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my vehicle, and vanished.”
“The indirect cause of this accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth.”
“I was unable to stop in time, and my car crashed into the other vehicle. The driver and passenger then left immediately for a vacation with injuries.
If you have got this far, can I remind you to get your entry in for the Reunion next month. If you already have, my apologies. If you have misplaced you entry form, just let me know and I’ll send you another one.
That’s all folks………………. !
Stuart Parker, September 2014