There we go, 2004 already. Now you may have checked out the cover
page and noticed that nothing has changed. You may blame this on
Allan Stacey. He was the one who made the call to keep the 2003
committee unchanged for 2004, and the rest of the members present at
the AGM unanimously agreed. The committee humbly accepts this
decision and expresses their thanks for the support and faith. This
means you continue to read my ramblings for yet another year. I do
hope I can inform and entertain you over the months to come and am
delighted to note that other members are now forwarding material to
be included in our news letter.
We
only managed three news letters last year. The August issue covered
just about all we had planned for the year. I must therefore delve
quite far back into 2003 to try and report on some of our
activities.
The last day of August saw us gather quite early at the Polo Pony
grounds to display our cars at the show being held there. At 11h30
we hived off to Kloof station to catch the steam train into the
hills finishing off with a lovely braai under the trees. Thanks go
to Ron Allen for getting this organized.
September was a lean month for the club, having just one official
activity, and that being the Ten Pin Bowling at the Pavilion.
However, V8’s were once more in force at the Hazelemere dam braai.
No I don’t mean a damn braai, I mean a braai at the dam. This was
very quiet and pleasant, the weather just holding out and therefore,
cool, or as they say nowadays “coo’el”.
The lunch run on 9 November was a no starter. I was at the Pav., so
was Doug Wishart and Dave Burton, but no-one else!!! I am not sure
why the support was so thin. The upshot of it was that Dave and
Jenny went off to visit family while Doug, Karen, Jan and I
proceeded to the Jungle Nursery for breakfast. Nobody else?. Far to
close to Xmas???, give us some feedback.
However, the dinner show on 23 November at the Barnyard Theatre was
well attended and the show itself, ‘G – String’, was excellent.
There was also a lack of interest among the guys for the run to the
East London Races and Drags. This run has proved to be a highlight
in the past number of years and I ponder on the reasons for this
lack of interest. Although I did not make the pilgrimage in December
2002 due to other commitments, reports from those members who did
were very positive in spite of problems with cars and wrong routes
on the way back. Something I did pick up on during discussions was
the fact that the East London event was now run by a different group
of people and that this had changed the ‘flavour’ of the event
somehow. Is this it? Let me know your feelings.
I
also need to get some feedback on a possible run and display at a
Wheels Expo in George during September 2004. This will be quite a
long run, but could prove to be a long and relaxing one. With enough
interest, I will try to get lodging thrown in as part of the deal.
Please come back!!
The final event of the year, as usual, was our Xmas dinner. Chris
and Nanette Simpkin had offered to host this years event at their
home. The decision and the turnout was excellent. A very big thanks
to the Simpkins for their hospitality and to Fiona and Allan Stacey
for the donated beer barrel (full to start off, empty to take back).
The ‘lamb on spit’ was great! This Xmas Dinner has proved to
be one of the best in years and we hope that the club will be
invited to a repeat performance this year.
To
more serious matters. The AGM.
James Carter, in the absence of Nick Carter who is still floundering
around the Caribbean, made available the Carter Medical facilities
to host the 2004 AGM. As previously mentioned, the committee team
makeup remains the same as for 2003. This was put to vote by a good
turnout of members. Dave Burton made a suggestion that the club
re-look at the affiliation with the Cobra Club of SA. This has been
discussed at the first committee meeting and the consensus is that a
survey be made in due course to ascertain the members feelings on
this. Why not SMS your feelings about joining the Cobra Club of SA.
to André or Doug as soon as possible.
As
you read this, three of our activities for 2004 (apart from the AGM)
will have already taken place.
The first, our mystery breakfast run on Sunday 18 January,
culminated in a breakfast at the Cato Ridge Flying Club. This was
very pleasant with Ron Allen and yours truly being taken for a flip
by Nick van der Merwe, an ex GT40 owner and past member of the club.
There is a possibility that we do a joint exercise with the flying
club soon. That must boggle your brain! Thanks to André for
organizing this one.
On
Friday 30 January, those of us who were able to get off, climbed
aboard a few extended cabs and after meeting at Polo Pony filling
station, set off for Johannesburg and the ‘Golden Age of Motor
Racing’ event held at Swartkops Raceway on Saturday 31st.
Along the way, Allen Stacey held a braai. This was a novel activity
on route but one that proved to be excellent. It gave one the
opportunity to stretch your legs and fill the spaces in your tummy
while having a hearty chat. Something the guys really get into. Our
thanks to Allen for this terrific idea and also for looking after us
at the race with yet another braai at the track. Each group of guys
had organized a place to stay over. My group was put up by John
Botha the owner of GT40 Developments and the designer and builder of
the latest GT40 chassis and add-on rear suspension. John has painted
his 40 in the colours of the original GT40 that won Le Mans in 1968
and 1969, complete with Gulf stickers and the No. 6. We followed
John to Swartkops the next morning. What a day it turned out to be.
The weather was perfect, too hot for some, but at least no rain to
spoil things. We spied 66 Cobra and 6 GT40 cars among many other
exciting ones during the parade. The highlight of most of us was the
International Sports Prototypes and One Hour Le Mans type GT races.
An original GT40 driven by owner Chris Chiles (UK) was engaged with
a GT40 replica driven by Peter Bailey (SA), with Peter beating the
original car. This surprised many of us. I take the point that Peter
was driving on slicks while Chris stuck to tyres that were
representative of the time (60’s). Peter Bailey markets his GT40
creation, supplying chassis, bodies and parts under the banner of
Bailey Edward Cars. One point I want to draw attention to is the
fact that both original and replica GT40 cars were given as 1966
models. This in both cases was wrong. The Chris Chiles car is
chassis No. 1042 which left the FAV factory on 4 January 1967
missing the Kyalami and Killarney races that year, but in time for
its first race, the 24 hour Daytona (4-5/2/67), and 12 hour Sebring
(1/4/67) races. It missed the Le Mans trials (8-9/4/67) but did race
at Le Mans on 10-11/6/67 but did not finish. Peter Bailey’s replica
however, is a new replicant version which has proved to be very good
on the track.
The weekend was a great success and I’m sure will become one of our
highlights of years to come.
To
get the rust and dust blown out of our dream machines, we will be
meeting at the Polo Pony filling station at 10h30 Sunday
22 February to leave at 11h00 sharp for lunch in
Pietermaritzburg.
On
Sunday 14 March, meet at the Pav. At 08h00. Please do not
arrive late as this is our Club Rally and we need time to explain
and give out information. All this in time for the first car to
leave at 08h30. We will land up at a venue for lunch.
Once again we meet at 08h00 for an 08h30 departure from the Pav.
on Sunday 28 March. This time it is a run through to
Port Shepstone. Dick Crosbie will be requested to organize a
lunch in his area.
Sadly our efforts to secure a venue for a getaway over Easter has
proved to be fruitless. Even at this late stage in life (speaking
for myself that is) one never ceases to learn. If we want to get
away for a weekend we have to plan well in advance especially for
long weekends and the numbers of people we anticipate.
We
are asking Butch Bauer to organize a lunch in the Pmb. area. Butch
comes down to Durban on many of our runs and we would like to
reciprocate. This will also allow some of our country members to
take part in a club activity.
We
therefore will, this time at the Polo Pony filling station at
16h00 on Saturday 24 April. Yes this is a Saturday and
also an evening run to Pmb. We leave at 16h30 sharp in our
gas guzzlers to spend an evening and dinner with our organizer
Butch.
Pietermaritzburg features highly in our calendar this year as the
next Club activity is the well loved Cars in the Park show.
This takes place on Sunday 16 May and we plan to gather at
the Pav. at 06h30 for a 07h00 departure. Yes it is early, but
we have to get to our spot before the Durban Dash guys take over.
Once again the club will sponsor a brunch. Just bring along some
drinks.
George Louwrens will be asked to organize a lunch in his neck of the
woods, just as Butch and Dick will have done. As George and Hillary
now reside in eSikhawini, be prepared to have lunch somewhere
in this area.
We
meet at Blue Galoon (ask Chris Simpkin if you are not sure)
at 08h30 for a 09h00 sharp departure on Sunday 30 May.
What promises to be a great afternoon will be held at Doug and
Karen Wishart’s place at 14h00 on Saturday 12 June. We
call it the ‘Cut and Weld’ constructers (or
destructers) get together. I have recently seen what Doug has done
to the GT40 chassis front end. It looks really great. Let us help
him get the rear end sorted out as well. The cutting will be done
before any drinks are served. Be there or remain square. Maybe we
will watch the Le Mans start!
Once more we intend invading Tarlton Raceway. The Cobra
-Corvette Shootout will be held on Sunday 27 June. We
will meet at Polo Pony for a departure at 07h00 sharp on
Saturday 26. We hope to sleep over in the Boma at the Tarlton
track and head for home on the Monday morning. Since Allen Stacey
did so well looking after us in January, we are hoping that Allen
will do the same for us at Tarlton. What do you say Allen? Remember
to bring warm clothes, it can get freezing!!
A
big event is planned for July. This will be the repeat of the very
successful show at Edgwood College Campus held last year. The
2004 Classic Wheels Expo is expected to be bigger and better
this second time round. Start polishing or finishing your build. We
intend having a great stand this year. Let us know if you would like
to display your pride and joy.
The show is over the two days 3-4 July (Saturday –Sunday).
That is as far as the planning for the year goes. Further activities
will be included with our next newsletter.
PLEASE GUYS, LET US HAVE YOUR SUBS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
After some discussion, it was decided to bring in one Lady committee
member. This is not to chaperone the committee members but to help
in deciding what activities to organize. At this stage we call for
volunteers. Contact our chairman André Roodt.
Somewhere attached to this newsletter, you should find a
questionnaire. This document is to ensure that we have all the
relevant and correct information on our members. Please complete and
send or fax to the address as indicated.
John Acutt has some parts for sale. Here follows a list. Any
reasonable offer will secure. Contact John on 031 207 7024 or 082
443 8083
Complete XJ6 front & rear suspension with 3.07:1 diff.]
Four pot front, two pot rear calipers, electrogalvanised,
overhauled& fitted with SS pistons by Grant Desham of Natal Re-sleeving.
Offers on R6000
XJ6 brake pedal box, overhauled and cleaned. Offers on R300
One pair of rear over-riders for Cobra. From Aurora Parts (UK) New.
Offers on R800
The following parts for GM V8 or V6 engines:
TCI No. 240900 “Breakaway” Torque converter (new) R 2344-00
Accel No. 8081 “One Wire” Alternator (new)
800-00
2X Tilton Mini Starter Motors (new)
2650-00each
Moroso Thermostat Housing & Filler neck
(new) 350-00
Have a great year
Cheers my chinas*
Vic Wait 19 Febuary 2004
*
Replace with ‘Gabbas’ if you prefer
No
jokes this time. But see what happens in the next issue!
