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| May 2002 |
Austin Healey Club
Thames Valley Centre
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SPRING GREETINGS
Spring is with us already and the clocks have sprung forward, allowing us the opportunity to get home before dark and do some work in the garden - or the garage. Now is a good time to sort out the MOT and apply for your free road tax to get the Healey back on the road in readiness for the greatest celebration this club has ever seen - the 50th Anniversary of the Austin Healey marque.
Comprehensive details have been published in "RevCounter" over the winter months, so we trust you are all clued up with what's going on. The week-long accommodation package at Wokefield Park is just about sold out (really splendid news), but there is still plenty of space available for the weekend 'Longbridge' package. This offers you first class half-board accommodation at Wokefield Park on Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd August, an opportunity to attend the Gala Dinner (extra cost), plus entry to Thruxton circuit for the Enthusiast's Day on Friday and Race Day on Saturday - and all for £200 per person.
If you don't wish to invest in a Longbridge package then you can (indeed must!) buy a one or two day ticket for the Thruxton events - but please book in advance otherwise the Club will receive no benefit from your entry fee. Thruxton ticket costs are as follows:
- Friday £14 per person
- Saturday £12 per person
- Both days: £22 per person
GO-KART CHALLENGE OPPORTUNITY
As part of the 50th Anniversary celebrations, the annual inter-centre Go-Kart Challenge normally run by Thames Valley Centre has been 'upgraded' into an international challenge to be held at the new Thruxton Karting circuit on the afternoon of Thursday 1st August. This new 1100 metre circuit is one of the best outdoor circuits in Europe, but is still suitable for novices. The Biz Thunderkarts we will use feature a 390 cc Honda engine delivering 13 bhp - enough to keep experienced drivers happy while also being beginner-friendly. All UK Club centres are entering a team, as well as sponsoring a team of overseas visitors.
Now here's your opportunity. Thames Valley need 6 to 8 drivers to join the TV team and the committee would like our members to volunteer their names to be entered into a draw to select the lucky participants. There will be a nominal entry fee of £20 per person (a small fraction of the actual cost). If you would like to volunteer to help by taking part in this unique event, please complete the simple entry form enclosed with this newsletter and send it to Gerald Westcott at the given address. Entries will close on Saturday 1st June and the lucky draw will take place on the evening of Tuesday 3rd June at our regular first Tuesday noggin venue at the "Queens Oak", Church Lane, Finchampstead, near Wokingham. All entrants will be notified of their fate by post or telephone. Better still, why not come along to witness the draw yourself. Cheques will be returned to those unfortunate enough not to be chosen.
INVITATION TO AH50 GOLF CHALLENGE, 29th July
One of the events being held at Wokefield Park, near Reading, during our week-long AH50 celebrations is the Golf Challenge on the afternoon of Monday 29th July. Tee-off time is 1.00 pm. This event is open to all Club members - you don't have to be taking part in other Wokefield or Thruxton events in order to enter. So if you live locally and would like a round of golf in the company of other members of the Austin Healey Club, plus a chance to win the AH50 challenge trophy, please send your entry in now using the special entry form enclosed with this newsletter.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2002
Click on link for the updated Calendar
LONDON CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW, MARCH 2002
The London Classic Motor Show was held at its regular venue, Alexandra Palace, over the weekend 9th/10th March. As usual, Thames Valley Centre represented the club, ably assisted by members - and the display car - from Eastern Centre.
A report on the event will be found in the May issue of RevCounter, together with some photographs. Suffice it to say that we had a great time. The stand was based on a replica of the Healey stand from the Earls Court Motor Show of October 1952 when the Hundred was introduced. We succeeded in grabbing the attention again, and though we didn't win any prizes, we were pleased to receive a brief visit from Sir Stirling Moss who graciously stopped by for a photo call and to reminisce on his Healey experiences. For photos, see our website.
The Club is intending to recreate the stand again at the 50th Anniversary celebrations at Wokefield Park and Thruxton in the summer. For this, we need a nice ice blue Hundred for the static display. If you can lend your car, please contact Nigel Unsworth by telephone on 0118 958 9180 (home) or 0118 913 3610 (work) or by email on nigel_unsworth@fwuk.fwc.com as soon as possible. Thank-you.
THAMES VALLEY COMMITTEE 2001- 2002
NOGGIN & NATTERS
Nigel Unsworth (Chairman)
© Austin Healey Club Thames Valley Centre
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