• Soap Box Derby Rules & Guidelines

 

Social Pub Nights

@ The Rose and Crown

 

As mentioned at the last AGM, I am hoping to start a pub night, where we can meet up maybe once a month just to get together to discuss what’s been going on, in and out of the club, just have a social chat, invite new members along and possible new members so it gives people a chance to see what goes on and meet some of the other members of the club. The first one was held Wednesday 30^th January at the Rose and Crown on the A435, Alcester Road. The next social meet up will be the bowling night, if you can make this please come, bring friends and family if you like.

 

Party in the Park – What a Fantastic Weekend

 

The weekend was a hit from day one. Shame the weather couldn’t have been better but we did end up having one fantastic day. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, especially with the announcement of Steve Lees and Sarah Barons Engagement. Really happy for you both!

Right where do I start….

Friday was the main set up day as this is when we all get together to arrange the marquees, easier said than done. I had already started on my own tent that morning so half the marquees had been set up before I got there (sorry guys, it wasn’t planned) but eventually  we got there and all we had to do now was wait for the beer to fill it! Early that evening, Buster and the crew arrived with the beer and it didn’t take them long to set up the bar which was then propped up by a few members. What a good start to the weekend.

Saturday morning 8am, the first group to scruntineer went off. Once returned, as there was the Mark Woodward Land Rover show on as well, we were asked to do a talk in the arena about the history and the link we have with Eastnor castle, this was well done by Steve Cook and John Messer, as this was happening Russell Cook drove his Series I around the arena, this was great publicity for the club. Well done guys. Good job nothing embarrassing happened isn’t it!?! he he.

After this excitement it was back to scrutineering for the afternoon drive. Whilst all this was going on there was a pretty impressive display of thunder and lightning, I have never heard thunder so loud, it was quite scary and I didn’t really want to be in a tent at this point!! As the day went on I was preparing for the quiz and getting set up. 8pm arrives and the marquee is fairly full. I was happy with the turn out for the evening as the quiz seemed to be a hit, raising £37 for Jo’s Parachute jump from 10,000ft. Good Luck and we wish you all the best. Out of 7 teams the winners were Dripping Wet on 53 points (out of 70). Well done guys, not bad at all. Some of the instructors from Land Rover Experience came to join us for a drink after, which was nice, you’re welcome anytime guys!

Anyway, not so long after the quiz I was on my way to assisting a vehicle that was struggling in the field only to continue with the entertainment outside for the crowd in the marquee by driving over my own BBQ! This seemed to gain some attention and was to be the highlight of quite a few peoples weekend as they won’t let me forget what I had done! I was just happy I had eaten for the evening!! The night continued with a lot of chatter, laughter and drinking and soon the evening came to a close in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Sunday morning may have been a struggle for some as we were to be scrutineering for LRE at 8am again, this went very well. The morning went smoothly as I jumped into one of the LRE vehicles (Discovery 4) to see what was going on and everyone who helped out with scrutineering had a chance to go out in a vehicle as a thank you for their help. This was good fun; I think everyone who had gone out really enjoyed the ride! After a few hours out on the track it was back for some lunch and more scrutineering. As we arrived back to the deer park Richard Smith, Steve Lees and Mark Downes were getting ready for the soap box derby. I couldn’t wait. As we all made our way up to Castle View, excited to see what they had installed for us all, there was quite a turn out to watch this. As the course had been set out and tested it was time to put the first driver in the seat. Steve Lees went first, making his way down with as impressive finish as he managed to roll the soap box over through the finish line, this was all worth it as he made it down the hill in 19.4secs which was the winning score. Sue went next, followed by Ben and the soap box seemed to be getting slower and slower as it made its way down the hill, until Mark got in the seat and a few meters past the gate on his run it came to a stop, after some slight repair work he was back on the line and was making his way down the hill, from what I can say this time ‘the front axle’ must have given up as it came to a stop. Mark jumped out of the kart, picked it up and ran the rest of the way making it through the finish line in just under 27secs, well done you!! This was a great laugh and a shame no one else had made a kart to compete against this one. The bar has been set for next year now so we hope to see a few more karts going down the hill. Thank you to guys for lending the soap box out for others to have some fun with. Once this excitement was over it was back to camp where we set up the BBQ’s for a feast, I started one off and it wasn’t long before it was glowing nice and hot and ready to cook on, if I do say so myself….(Ahem) Tim…

It was nice to have everyone around cooking, laughing, relaxing and having a drink. This was a nice way to finish the day/weekend. After what was another long day and late night it was time to go to sleep. This time we hadn’t got to worry about an early morning, not that I’d let that get in the way of having fun!!! Monday came and it was time to pack up. I never look forward to this but the rain did keep off most of the time as we took the tents down. Couldn’t have asked for more than that really!

Thank you too everyone who came and made it an enjoyable weekend, I hope you all enjoyed it, I certainly did. A big thank you everyone who helped set up and pack away the marquees, and also to the people that volunteered a few hours to help scrutineer the vehicles for the Land Rover Experience self-drive.

Another thank you goes to Buster and Jo for their hard work and hours behind the bar supplying us all with delicious beverages!! And they were delicious too!! Think I’ll stop there as I feel like I have just won an Oscar or something with all my thank yous, though I am grateful because the weekend wouldn’t be the same without the people.

That’s it for another year, I hope to see you all again next year!

Get building those karts…

Sam Miller
Social Secretary

Hi

Some of you may know me and have seen me around as I like to get my hands in anything that is going and you may have seen driving around the field trying to dodge the trees in the R.T.V. My name is Sam I have taken on the role of Social Sec.

I am excited to be given this opportunity and would like to take on any ideas or feedback on any social events that occur throughout the year as it is your club also. I have helped out at a number of events so have met and know quite a few of you and would like to arrange something for everyone to enjoy as there is no reason doing a social event if no-one is going to turn up because it isn’t there scene. I enjoy a good knees up and a giggle and I am open to trying new things so please feel free to contact me at .

I am looking to changing and adding a few things which will hopefully attract new club members to join in the fun and making it a fun time for all to enjoy. Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Sam Miller