Are you getting this news letter or not? I mean, you may be reading a copy sent to someone else. There could be at least two reasons for not receiving your copy.

No. 1: You have not paid your subscriptions or No. 2: You have not updated your information, especially your postal address. If the latter is the reason, it is easily resolved by contacting Doug Wishart immediately. If the former is true, you are in trouble. You have forfeited your membership and if you would like to rejoin you will have to submit a new application form (in quadruplicate, no copies please), sit an entrance examination and pass through a gauntlet of club members bearing all sorts of workshop tools.

Now that does not mean that you, who are reading your own copy of the news letter, are off the hook. You may be one of those sports car owners who are not too keen on taking your car out for a drive with other club members. You may get it scratched or you may get it wet, or heaven forbid, you may get dust on it. Well let me tell you, that builds character. Your car gets character!! And you build up character mixing with a bunch of other characters i.e. other club members and their families. (and what a bunch of characters there are)

What I am really trying to say is, “Please join us on our runs” If you take a look at the turnout over the last few activities, you will notice that, apart from a few stalwarts, the runs comprise of committee members. Is it because committee members plan activities that only they, (a small group of characters) enjoy? Well, that should not be the case. We have repeatedly encouraged members to come forward with suggestions on activities for the club. As far as I can remember (and that’s not so far) Gerald Everett is the only member that has put forward some suggestions.

 One of them is running a little number raffle for free breakfast or lunch on our runs. The committee did consider this. While it was a good idea and could stimulate more participation, the club could not afford this at every outing and if the free munchies were won on the first run of the year, the incentive goes out the window.

I think, actually I don’t, but I do know, that members love getting together to have a good chat about cars and all the other stuff that we chat about. That is why we generally battle to get going on our runs, our anchors sounding off loudly about the waste of time etc.

We need to come up with an activity that involves a short run (with the price of motion lotion today) and plenty of chat time when we get wherever we are going.

IN OTHER WORDS: CONSTRUCTORS MEETINGS  Come on guys, think about hosting one. Give me a call 082 8714370 and pledge your support.

What a good turnout of club members, and others, for the meeting at Powerkote. I was so impressed. After the demo I immediately supplied them with my new ‘bundle of snakes’ headers and collectors. The first run of ceramic coating was not that great and I insisted upon a redo. The second run was much better and I was satisfied. Brian Tarboton has also had his GT40 headers done with much better results. The upshot of it all is, don’t rely on the Powerkote sandblasting. Prepare your pipes to your best ability then have them coated. You will most probably be satisfied. We thank Johan Smith for making time available on a Saturday morning.

Our old spot at Cars in the Park was regained, much to our satisfaction. The egg and bacon roll supplied by the club and the BYO braai at lunch time went down very well with the splendid weather and array of interesting cars and other motor stuff. Meeting up with most of our members, including a few from Northern KZN, made it a very enjoyable day. We thank Doug Wishart and Paddy Tatton for their valued input.

The delayed constructors hosted by Brian Tarboton also proved to be a winner. Brian displayed (with pride) all the GT40 bits he has collected for his build including his own designed and built chassis. Doug brought along his BF Goodrich shod BRM wheels for his 40. What a sight.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Butch Bauer and family for organizing such a delightful little rally in and around Pietermaritzburg. Boy did some of us take some wrong turns. The problem is, when you see another club members car approaching from the opposite direction, you are not quite sure who is traveling in the right direction. It was good fun for all though and a wonderful buffet at the Boston Grill finished off the day rather well. All the participants received some sort of prize but the top prizes went to Nick Carter & Brian Ness-Harvey (1^st), Ron & Vicki Allen (2^nd) with Doug & Karen taking 3^rd prize. Congratulations to all.

I organized the Mug and Bean breakfast parade and mini burnout. Well, in fact it was just a little motor revving down Palm Avenue. It was a little early for most members it seems as well as shoppers as the streets were quite empty and our turnout of members cars could have been better. I wish Allan’s pool will get finished soon.

The Historic Wheels Show never materialized. My personal feeling was that last years show coincided with the Durban July and the House and Home Exhibition, and this resulted in a low spectator turnout. What can you expect?

After some interesting F1 motor races, where we had to follow six cars around a track!, we find ourselves heading for the year end and some exciting activities.

Here we go.

Talking about the ladies, they are busy planning the ‘Ladies Run’ into the Midlands for Sunday 24 July. We meet at Polo Pony at 09h00. Be there or be square. We will land up at a real nice place for lunch, trust the ladies.

Now for some more serious motoring stuff. We have decided, as a club, to support the Masons Mill car activity on 21 August. We need to get there early and therefore we meet at Polo Pony again, this time at 08h00. If there are any of you who would like to take part in the races, please contact Tubby Sonnekus (Chairman of the East Coast Cruisers). I do not have his number but I’m sure Thundersport will help out. Be prepared for stringent rules brought about by the unfortunate accident the BMW club had at Gateway. We will not take our sports cars so it will be easier to bring some comfortable chairs and grub.

On Saturday 27 August, Paddy Tatton is organizing the Club Dinner. SMS messages and e-mail will be going out just before with the details. Tie a red string around your finger so that you will not make any other arrangements.

We will have to keep it to an early evening as there is an important activity the next morning. WE are displaying our cars at Cars by the River in Amanzimtoti on Sunday 28 August. We have a new meeting place when traveling South. We meet at 07h30 (yes I know it is early) but the organizers want us in place by 08h00 when the public flock in. This new meeting place is the Amanzimtoti Golf Academy (golf driving range) which you will find on your left as you cross over the N2 after taking the Moss Kolnick (M37) turnoff. I think it is off ramp 41. Anyway, it is the same turn off we took to Powerkote. See you all there.

Doug will be sending out details of our weekend run to Clarence in the Free State. If you intend joining, you must have a non-refundable deposit of R150 per person with Nick Carter by 3 September. After that you are on your own. We intend leaving Polo Pony at 06h00 Saturday morning 17 September, stay over in a B&B in Clarence and return on Sunday 18th. Man, that is freezing early, but we want to get to our destination early enough to take a good look around. For those who have not been to Clarence, you will find a very interesting town full of galleries and art shops and a few lovely little pubs to spend the cold evening in. We are hoping to meet up with our motoring friends from East London. This is a sports car run!!!

On Sunday 16 October, we meet at Toti Golf Academy to leave at 10h00 for lunch at Hill Billies Port Shepstone.

Then things hot up. We placate the spouses with a breakfast at Cutty Sark Hotel leaving Toti Golf Academy at 08h30 on Sunday 6 November. The reason being, that on Friday 25 November we intend taking four days off to see the Grand Prix races at Kyalami. Doug will be organizing tickets and B&B for Friday, Saturday and Sunday so that we can make a leisurely return on the Monday (28^th) We will not be taking sports cars but getting four up each in an extended cab. Please get hold of Doug asap to book your space. This is going to be a very good weekend.

Between the two activities outlined above we are squeezing in another. Yes November is full. Brian is once again hosting a constructors at R&M electrical. By this time Brian is hoping to have progressed quite far with his GT40 build. Meet at R&M at 14h00 Saturday 19 November and remember it is a BYO braai thereafter.

This year, Sagren and Krishnee Naidoo are hosting the club Xmas Dinner. This will take place on Saturday evening 3 December. I need to get numbers. Please remember to contact me if you are attending. Please contact me no later than 15 November. The cost has not been worked out yet but will be subsidized by the club. Each member and spouse will be required to bring along a gift of approximately R35 marked ‘male’ or ‘female’. We have our customary draw by numbers during the evening.

Then it is on to the new year with a Chairman's run on 15 January. Watch your phone and listen to your e-mail for details.

This serves as a notice of our Cobra GT40 Club AGM which will be held at 14h00 on Saturday 21 January 2006 at the premises of Carter Medical (few doors up from Thundersport).

And that I’m afraid is it.

Talking of advertising. I have lots of scrap metal bits lying at home, among the trash I have modified Ford Granada rear swing arms for GT40, springs (two sets) and some Sapphire and Alfasud rear brake calipers. Also a 2.5  VW Combi front master cylinder and booster. Two stainless exhaust silencers and 38mm stainless exhaust manifolds are also lying around. Come take them away!

My son watched his daughter playing in the garden. He smiled as he reflected on how sweet and innocent his little girl was. Suddenly she just stopped and stared at the ground. He went over to her and noticed she was looking at two spiders mating.

“Daddy, what are those two spiders doing?” she asked.
“They’re mating.” my Son replied.
“What do you call the spider on top Daddy?” she asked.
“That’s a Daddy Longlegs.” He answered.
“So, the other one is Mother Longlegs?” his daughter asked.
“No,” my Son replied smiling, “Both of them are Daddy Longlegs.”
The little girl thought for a moment, then took her foot and stomped the spiders flat. “Well, it might be OK in San Francisco or L.A. … but we’re not having any of that shit in Kansas.
Drive carefully.

Cheers my gabbas,
Vic Wait    11 July 2005