A Brakpan spietkop pulls off a blonde in a new blue Toyota Tazz with ‘Badgirl’ stickers on the front, back and sides. "Marrem, can I see your draavers larsence please" says the spietkop. "What is a draavers larsence?" queries the blonde.   "Its dat little square fing" explained the spietkop, "Wif a picture of you on it!!"   The blonde scratches through her handbag and comes across a square make-up compact.  She opens it, looks in the mirror, closes it and hands it over to the spietkop.   He opens it, looks in the mirror, hands it back to her and says: “It's OK Marrem, you can go........... I didn't realise you is also a spietkop”

With that done, we can start our news letter.  

John Acutt has sold all his bits which went for a song and all you blokes that might need them in future have lost out. Only one of our club members contacted John and he got the lot.

I had no such luck. I had priced my ‘for sale’ bits extremely low, in fact giving them away. Not a bite. Now the guy at the city dump is contemplating building a 40 from the parts he picked up there. Now I am wondering, “Do all our members read the newsletter?” I mean after reading the news letter, pasting up the calendar next to the phone (that’s why it is perforated –maybe we should add glue – how about a peel & stick one with beer aroma), getting both e-mail and SMS messages, and still not knowing what’s going down??????

Has everyone paid their subs? Well, I suppose you have as you would not be getting this news letter if you had not. However, you may still owe the club for club apparel. Get hold of Nick Carter soon as you can if you ordered but have not paid. The remaining stuff will be auctioned off soon.

Now for something more positive. What do you think of the new cover? Gorgeous what? We have Ron Casteller to thank for getting the covers printed so beautifully. If you can’t find a piece of your car in the compilation on the back, please do not call me. Send your comments to any of our past members who have quit the club.

At our recent committee meeting, we again decided to ask club members to participate both in the (a) organized runs and (b) contributions to the news letter. Looking at (b) first, I am sure you guys out there have some great ‘motor’ stories that we can include. If you have something, please e-mail the file exactly like you would want it published to Doug Wishart. Doug will make sure it gets published and the committee will judge the best contribution and award an enormous prize. I am completely serious, just like the lady in the in the Polka Internet Service advertisement.

Of course (a) is the most important. We believe that all our members built or acquired their cars because they are so enthusiastic about Cobras or GT40s. What then can be better than joining a group of guys with similar cars for a run in your dream machine. I have heard via the grapevine that there are sports car owners that are scared to take their cars on a run in case something goes wrong. Well let me tell you, it won’t, if you can go to the local supermarket in it without the sub assembly falling out, you can go to East London or Midvaal or Swartkops or Tarlton. But even if for some reason your car did break down, you have a bunch of friends with you that are very willing to help. And they do. I know!

So what I’m trying to say is “join in on the runs!” we have long and short ones to suit everyone.

A point in case was the run to Richards Bay. Not what I would call a well attended run. Anyway, without going into details, those that did tear themselves away from mother-in-law’s birthday party, headed off up North where George Louwrens showed us the paint job and roof scoop on his Cobra, took us around the Casino in Empangeni and then to a nice little restaurant overlooking the Bay.

The company was great, so was the food, and after a good chin wag with our friends up North, the guys returned home to Durban without incident. Thanks to George.

Doug Wishart had jumped the gun with the surgery on ‘Karen’s’ GT40 and even had the new suspension welded in place by the time of his ‘official’ constructors. All that was left to do was for the rest of the gang to hoist the engine and transaxle into the rear of the chassis. It is looking good!

Seven of us piled into two extended cabs and drove up to Tarlton for the Cobra –Corvette shootout. The weekend was very successful and not expensive as we chipped in on the gas for the cabs and slept over in the Tarlton Boma. This may be the way to do it from time to time when funds are low.

The following weekend we were set up to display our cars at the 2004 Classic Car Expo held at Edgewood College. Chris Simpkin set up his caravan as ‘Command Center’ and the Cobras and GT40s were arranged in the form of a race start, having marked out the pole positions on the ground and facing some starting lights. Ron Allen and Sagren Naidoo had their Cobras up on stands as if in the racing pits. Sagren enjoyed himself using his remote starter to many spectator’s surprise. All in all a great weekend, the guys and dolls all sporting their new club shirts, jackets and caps. The cherry (or should I say cherries) on top, were the prizes your club managed to haul in. Our stand won second prize, Doug Wishart’s Cobra won third prize, and the top prize for the best car on show went to the blue GT40 and the proud owner, Bugs Teunissen. Congratulations to Bugs and Doug and a huge thanks to all those members who took the time to prepare their cars and to set up the display. Winning a 1^st, a 2^nd and a 3^rd prize is a great achievement for our club. This will inspire us to do even better next year.

I could not believe it. Such wussies. The weather was not that bad, but only two sports cars arrived at the Pav. for the short run and breakfast at Blue Zoo. The rest of the guys arrived in all sorts of ‘other’ (boring) means of transport.  The brave but determined Butch Bauer in his open top Cobra joined the only other sports car, my GT, to at least hold the club banner at half mast. The breakfast and chat was as good as ever, so, we thank Chris Simpkin for organizing this outing.

One of the best runs this year was the run organized by the ladies. A nice run up to the midlands stopping to have coffee and buy some needed ‘things’, culminated in a lovely lunch out in the open at Gunters on the Midlands Meander. I never new German sausage to be so good, not to mention the draught beer. Where was Allan? I think we need to get a ‘pub finishing construction meeting’ organized soon.

Ladies, especially Karen Wishart and Gayle Tatton, thank you very much for organizing such an enjoyable outing.

As this was the last run I will be participating in for a while (I am off to visit my Son in the US) I cannot give you any details of any of the next ones. I hope that some other committee member will fill you in during my absence.

This brings us to the activities planned for the rest of the year

Once the Barnyard show, the Poker Run, breakfast at Joe Kools, the Microlight joint run and  braai at Midmar is history, we intend to continue by meeting at 13h00 at Blue Galoon for a run up to Richards Bay once more. This will be for Saturday 27 November and the reason we are going is the Oval Track Racing in Richards Bay. We have been invited by Edward Michell to display our cars at the race in a prime spot and to parade them around the track at interval. Boy this should be exciting. Overnight accommodation will be organized at a reasonable rate. Put a big red Koki circle around this one on your calendar. The one you have stuck up near your phone (or maybe on the inside of you toilet door, I don’t care!)

Contact Paddy Tatton to book your place.

To come back a week or two, we invite our members to a showing of ‘Speedway’ in the small demo theatre at Mod’n Sound East Coast Radio Building, Umhlanga Ridge. We need to be there just before 13h00 on Saturday 13 November. It is a small demo theatre with a large screen and fantastic sound and therefore we may have to have two sittings. The Mug and Bean restaurant is just upstairs if we need to get refreshments.  You will be thrilled by the race cars around the famous US tracks. My suggestion is to meet at Blue Galoon at 12 noon to leave at the latest 12h30. In our Cobras and GT40s of course.

The next day, Sunday 14 November, we meet at 12h30 at the NPN Garage on St. Johns Road Pinetown. (sort of opposite the Knowles Supermarket) for a short run. Paddy Tatton is organizing a lunch somewhere  close, and only Paddy knows where.

The next time we get together will be at our annual Xmas Club party. This year, Doug and Karen have kindly offered their home as a venue. We intend having a few Webbers going with chicken, ham and beef sizzling and all members need to bring is a bowl of salad and/or sweet and their favorite sipping swill. You will be contacted about the former in due course. Mark down on THAT calendar 18h00 Saturday 4 December. We do hope to get a great turnout.

Please remember this one as well. It is our annual club AGM held once again at Nick Carters place of work (or does he?). Well you all know where that is, right next to the Thundersport Bank.

Once again, mark down this time and date, 14h00 Saturday 22 January 2005.

Because it takes a bit of time to get the new committee together to start the planning, this committee has already planned the first run of the year. We meet at Blue Gallon on Saturday 13 February at about 08h00 to leave at 08h30 for a drive through the city of Durban to land up at uShaka Theme Park for some hours of fun and spectacle. We hope to see you there in the new year.

Have a great festive season.

Cheers my gabbas,

Vic Wait  -  15 August 2004