News 8

News Letter 1 - 2001

A very big welcome to the year 2001 to all our members and friends. Going on my experiences over a period of half a century and more, this year will pass by even quicker than the last. The moral of my story is, do it now and enjoy life to the full. That is what we aim to do, just as we did last year.

We started off with our AGM, once again held at R&M Auto Electrical. This time the weather was good although a little hot and humid contributing to downing a few drinks, be they cokes or beer, and furthering the friendships that have been cultivated over a number of years. Although fourteen of our members together with a few spouses and friends attended, I have a sneaking suspicion that there are members out there that forgot about the AGM completely. Well who can blame you? With time flying so fast!!!!. Anyway, let us hope that we have a really good turnout at our first run and a continuation on subsequent events. On behalf of the Cobra GT40 club, I thank Brian Tarboton for his hospitality. Although Brian has sold his Cobra (the mean green machine) Brian confesses that he enjoys the company and remains one of our members and a pillar of strength in the club. With a little time and a firm twist of the arm, I think we can get Brian to build a GT40. Brian must be tired of building Cobras by now as he has built three. I believe he can build the best GT40 on the road.

At last some new blood. Doug Wishart, Chris Simpkin, and Andre Roodt were cajoled into the committee, Doug taking the helm as chairman, Chris assisting as vice-chairman and Andre taking up the portfolio ‘events’ organizer.

Past chairman Nick Carter retains the treasurer portfolio, yours truly Vic Wait remains as scribe and Ron Allen makes up the required six members as technical advisor ( although I also know him as ‘chaser’)

We thank Nick for his hard work and dedication over the last two years and wish Doug all the best and pledge our support. Also a warm welcome to our new committee members who replace George Lourens and Ron Casteller. George has decided to stand down as he now works in Zululand and cannot attend the meetings. Ron has stood down, as business often takes all his attention. Ron has however offered to continue printing our newsletter. Thanks to both these gentlemen for their support over the past few years.

I need to get the following over with, so here it is. . . . . .

There will be no calls made to remind you and there will be no invoices sent out to members for the year 2001 subscriptions. Most members have already settled at the AGM. The subscription remains R100 and if you have not paid, please get your money to Nick Carter as soon as possible. Otherwise, this will be your last newsletter as the cut off date is the end of February. Also check your details in the members list and forward any changes to Ron Allen. This is very important.

Now there are some members we have not seen for some time and their memberships may have lapsed. The problem is, they will not be getting this newsletter. What Doug has decided to do is to write them a letter asking them to

join us again. We certainly would like all our old members to join in the fun again.

Going back to our last year’s activities, I have to report on an event gone wrong but rescued by the excellent relations amongst our members.

We (I can’t recall exactly who) booked a boat trip instead of the Bluff/Wimpy run. There we sat patiently waiting for our boat to turn up when finally we realized that we had been stood up. But no one burst into tears, instead an alternative was quickly organized and we spent a nice morning having brunch at Thirsty’s, watching the marine traffic through the channel.

The annual Wild Coast Sports Car Run was very well organized last year and ended up with a very pleasant lunch at the Wild Coast Casino. A Top End Run at Margate Airport was once again allowed and high speeds set up by some rival cars. Tony! the luncheon arrangements were dead right and you can count on our support in future. Doug was thrilled to win third prize for the best replica.

A new force to be reckoned with, is the ruby red Cobra built by Dave Burton.

Dave managed the best top speed for V8’s at 184 Km/Hr.

Similarly, the arrangements for the Durban Motor Show were excellent and we managed to display five cars on a good stand, which I believe attracted quite a few admiring visitors. On behalf of our club I thank all the members for the time and effort spent in making it one of our best displays yet.

The ‘Cars By The River’ at Amanzimtoti had to be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. Talk had it that the show had been postponed till February this year. This is no longer the case but the committee will take up the duty to call all other members when a new date is set.

Then, the highlight of the year. Apart from the thick, brown, alkaline, Kei cutting dust (and some had it mixed with a dose of water truck refreshment) the trip to East London and the drag racing there was great. Dave Burton once again showed us what a brand new Cobra could do. 13.99 sec. for the standing quarter mile. Not bad !!! With four GT40’s to spice up the day, what else do you want? No mishaps? Well they could have happened, but not on the track. All the little near misses were happenings around inebriated pedestrians, goats feeding kids in the road and a bus parked across the N2 on a blind rise. Yes there were the inevitable taxis, but those we are sort of getting used to.

Thanks to George for lending me a bungee cord so that I could drive with the door half open on the GT40. I had thrown an air con compressor belt, and without cooling the GT40 can be very uncomfortable.

The Xmas dinner was well attended. With a two man band that kept us on our toes and high spirits up until midnight. You just have to see the boogie boys letting the hair down. Great company, and great fun.

Now we get to the important part, this years activities. Some considerable planning has already taken place during a committee meeting last Wednesday.

Here is a description for the first three months.

On Sunday 11 February we meet at 07h00 at the Pavilion for a combined car club run starting at 08h00. The run is in aid of the SPCA and each car will be levied a sum of R10. The run will be in the form of a rally and you can expect to cover around 60 Km.

Andre has been busy organizing our first and subsequent monthly dinners.

The first one is at the normal 19h00 on Saturday 24 February and will be at Charlie Crofts.

We meet at 08h30 at the Pavilion on Sunday 11 March for a drive to the midlands and a great lunch at the Swiss Manor, Mooi River.

Dinner for March will be arranged at Coimbra Portuguese Restaurant (031- 205 5447) at 19h00 Saturday 24 March. We have had dinner, a birthday bash and Xmas dinner at this restaurant before and have always had a great time.

On the Sunday 22 April, bring along your driving skills and a good navigator. Meet at 08h30 at the Pav. where you will once again be given your rally instructions. Lunch is a secret at this stage for obvious reasons.

This takes us through to our monthly dinner, this time, down at the point again to a new restaurant Moby Dick’s Pub and Restaurant (031 337 0220). See you there on Saturday 5 May.

You may have noticed that dinner dates have changed from a usual Thursday to a Saturday. Saturday seems to be a better bet as we have had the best attendance on these dates. We would also like to arrange a dinner in the Pietermaritzburg area so that our up country members can attend. We need a volunteer to arrange it. This will be for late June. Will someone please contact me.

In between the dates above we have also organized two constructors meetings and BYO braai. The first will be at 14h00 on Saturday 17 February at the home of Bugs Theunissen (GT40) 9 Majuba Street, Ashley, Pinetown. (H: 031 7022954)

The next constructors and BYO braai will be held by Mike van Es at Western Electric, 30 Umbilo Road. (031 305 7824). Make sure you are there for 14h00 on Saturday 21 April.

These constructors meetings are very popular and tend to be a great help to the builder and prospective builder alike.

Then we have another great event, Cars in the Park – Pietermaritzburg. This year the show will be held on Sunday 13 May. We have not drawn up any plans yet but we normally meet early, 07h00 at the Pavilion so that we can all get to our spot, that Tony Day reserves for us, together. Lay in some polish for this event.

In the next few pages you will find the ‘chairman’s chirp’ as well as information on the lawsuits that seem to be getting up to steam in the USA. Both are interesting to read.

Have a great year. Drive carefully.

Vic Wait

28 January 2001

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