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2015 SDMC AWARDS NIGHT
The front cover picture shows Chris Judge sprint his Jedi. Chris received the prestigious Presidents Award for his work on running the Association of South East Motor Clubs.
The SDMC awards night 2015 was a spectacular affair, with Colin Billings as Master of Ceremonies, bring life and excitement to the proceedings.
Rosemary (pictured) and Nigel
Mead worked very hard with
many other supporters to
organise the event.
The Awards were presented by
Chin and the great Steve
Pattinson, nine times former
winner of the Speed League !
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Sevenoaks and District Motor Club Ltd
PRESIDENT: John Symes
VICE PRESIDENTs: Vic EIford, Grahame White
ACORN MAGAZINE - February 2015
The Editor, Committee and Club do not necessarily agree with
items and opinions expressed within ACORN magazine
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MEMBERSHIP SEC: Andy Elcomb, The Cottage, Deans Hill, Bredgar, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8BB (Home) 01622 884856 [email protected]
SECRETARY: Tracey Niel, 35 Augustine Road, Orpington, Kent BR3 3JY (Home) 01689 602456 [email protected]
TREASURER: Clive Cooke, 1 Willow Bank, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5NH (Home) 01580 880568 [email protected]
DEP. CHAIRMAN & REGIONAL REP.: Chin, 36, Churchside, Vigo, Kent, DA13 0SJ (Home) 01732 823132, (Work) 020 8691 6221 [email protected]
COMPETITION SEC.: Ian Crocker, (Home) 01892 546006 [email protected]
SPEED LEAGUE: David Balderson, 17 Glentrammon Close, Green Street Green, Kent BR6 6DL (Home) 01689 601661 [email protected]
SPEED LEAGUE SCORER: Colin Spark
WITHOUT PORTFOLIO - Russell Giddings, 45 Castle Drive, Kemsing, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 6RW (Home) 01959 524837 [email protected]
TROPHY RECORDS KEEPER: Joy Waiton, 7 Baring Road, Croydon CR0 7DD 07568 169585 [email protected]
RALLY SECRETARY: Iain Gibson, 8 Knights Croft, New Ash Green, Kent DA3 8HT (Home) 01474 873573, [email protected]
CHIEF MARSHAL: Chris Scudder, 4 Northdown Road, Longfield, Kent, DA3 7QW (Home) 07711 078552 [email protected]
SOCIAL SECRETARY: Rosemary & Nigel Mead, 3 Heather Bank, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6BW (Home) 01892 832420 [email protected] [email protected]
PRESS & PR: Darren Tyre, 35 Augustine Road, Orpington, Kent BR3 3JY (Home) 01689 602456 [email protected]
CPO: Dawn Travers, 91 Carlton Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 2DE (Home) 01737 210377 [email protected]
WEBMASTER: Nigel Mead, 3 Heather Bank, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6BW (Home) 01892 832420 [email protected]
ACORN EDITOR: Alex Peters Castle Wood, Rhododendron Avenue, Meopham, Kent DA13 0TU 07980 210427 [email protected]
Website - www.sevenoaksmotorclub.com
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EDITORIAL
In this month’s edition of Acorn you can see the winners from our awards night – a magnificent occasion bought to life by the great show organised by Nigel and Rosemary Mead and an army of other supporters. I was very surprised and moved to be presented with the Trenham Cresswell trophy for my work on modernising the clubs communications, this has spurred me on to achieve even more.
Work on the 2015 yearbook is almost complete so you should be seeing this published very soon.
Please read the article about marshalling in this issue and go to the club forum to join the debate and let us all know your views in advance of a formal discussion at the AGM.
Colin Spark is doing a great job of rounding up people to join in the Speed League. This year we have more people signed up before the season starts than we had in total by the end of last season. You can see the profiles of the drivers and their cars in this issue. Who do you think will win? Place your bets now!
Happy Motorsport!
Alex Peters
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CHAIRMANS CHAT
Wow, it’s officially Spring but in typical British fashion 1st March was a very cold and windy affair at North Weald for Borough 19’s AutoSOLO. However that didn’t deter a goodly number of 7Oaks members from braving the elements and it paid off with Paul Sales & Lee Champion coming 1st & 2nd overall. Very well done chaps – what a shame I couldn’t be there…
At the moment there’s a discussion on the 7Oaks forum about the merits (or otherwise) of having some sort of marshalling or helping requirement included in championships to make a competitor’s score valid. This is a rather tricky subject and there are pros & cons to consider. Why not join in the discussion and add your 2p worth? We promise that it doesn’t matter what your view is, it will be respected and duly considered. However if you keep quiet on the subject it does make it hard for organisers to truly reflect the wishes of the majority.
Ok, so B19 went to North Weald pretty early this year again, but we won’t be far behind them as we are there for our sprint on 29th March. If you haven’t entered yet you’ll find entry forms on the website and the forum, but we will also need support from you guys to man the startline and marshal posts. Your help would be sincerely appreciated and of course as well a free burger, you’ll earn valuable Rose & Crown and Speed League qualification points. Please get in touch with me or any of the committee to offer your assistance.
The weekend before that though is our Trial at Stoneacre, near Maidstone on 22nd March. This is a National round of the MSA and BTRDA Trials Championships as well as our local Weald and ASEMC Championships so yet again it is vital that we put on a good show – and we can’t do that without your help. It’s still early days for the speedy people and hopefully the rally types haven’t yet started their summer hibernation, so do please come and either enter or help. See www.sevenoaksmotorclub.com/public/uploads/file/Basil_Elkington_Regs_2015.pdf
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7Oaks has now committed to running the Rushmoor stage of the Aldershot Rally for Heroes on Saturday 11th April. We will need lots of help here as we have to man the Arrival, start, Finish and Stop controls as well as various marshal positions around the stage. This event last ran in 2013 but Rushmoor will be a different format this time as we won’t be having the service area in the adjacent banger track. Instead the stage will include part of the track so will be quite long and involved. Should be great fun though – again, please offer your help for this very worthy event. Naturally this will also count for points! See www.aldershotrallyforheroes.com
Fancy running one of our AutoSOLOs? Come on, have a bash! As Barney lower will testify it is very rewarding and gives a good insight into what is needed to keep a motor club active. Dates available are 28th June and 30th August.
So, we have a lot to do in the coming months – and that’s without any mention of Crystal Palace (thanks indeed to those that have already promised their help there) – let’s ALL make 2015 a really good year, get out there having fun and DO things!
Andy Elcomb
COMMITTEE REPORT 4-FEB-15
Acorn - The printing and mailing has now caught up and the latest edition has a cover date of February. A test was carried out to see if reducing to 100gsm paper would give a saving .
TRK - Alex is currently working on a web version of the database
Competition – Forthcoming events
February: Scatter on 26th – Chin and Joy Waiton to organise
March: Sprint on 29th – Joy Waiton and Alex Peters will jointly act as Entry and Event Secretary and have had a
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meeting with Ian & Keith Crocker regarding this. The Permit has been received and the Regs have now been written. Andy Elcomb will visit North Weald in the next week to look at the condition of the track before deciding on circuit layout
As Barney Lower is now competing in Stage Rallies we do not know if he will be available to run his usual Solo this year, therefore we will need to look for another Clerk of the Course
Chief Marshall - Chris Scudder would like to stand down as Chief Marshal, but is still happy to help out as when he can. AP will put something in the next Acorn
Speed - Colin Spark is still in contact with event organisers and has 12 registered contenders for this year’s Speed League so far. As Chris Berrisford is now giving some sponsorship prices are being obtained to update the Speed League Car Stickers. It was confirmed that no SSL points will be awarded retrospectively if members are late with their registration
Crystal Palace - In mid-June the park will be taken over by a Private Co and at this stage we are unsure how this will affect us for next year. David Balderson will speak to his contacts at the council regarding this. It is important that we find new people to shadow existing roles this year in order for them to have the knowledge to move forward next year
Rally - It is noted that the London Rally for Heroes will be called the Aldershot Rally for Heroes in 2015. Andy Elcomb has been asked to run a SDMC Stage and requests help from as many members as possible
Social – Forthcoming events
January: Noggin & Natter on the 21st at the Bell, Kemsing. 7 of us turned up for this, the most there has been for a while
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February: Rosemary Mead is organising a Curling evening 18th February; 6 people have already booked 3 reserves.
April AGM on the 15th
MSA/Affiliations - The Coventry closed road Sprint will not go ahead this year as a licence has not yet been granted. Dave Town is organising a Clubmans Championship via The Weald for Non Speed events.
Membership - A non-electronic renewal reminder was used this year and the response has been fairly good.
THE JIM GIDDINGS FURNITURE TROPHY
By Graham Child
The JGF trophy is awarded to the best picture of someone with a copy of the Acorn magazine whilst in an unusual or exotic location. This month’s entry sent in by Graham Child is a bit of a mystery for our readers – the picture is of an old member of the SDMC, but can any Acorn readers recognise him? Please write in and let us know! Graham offers a bit of a clue that this member used to drive an MG B and a black midget.
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2015 SDMC AWARDS NIGHT
(Continued from inside front cover). The awards winners (in
Alphabetical order) were:
Alex Peters - Basil Elkington Cup,
PolkaCrest Local Trophy, Trenham
Cresswell Trophy and Speed
League 3rd Place
Andy Elcomb - Trog Trophy,
Chalky White, SDMC Diamond
Jubilee lifetime achievement
award and Des Quinn Trophy
(shared with Joy Waiton).
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Andy Webber - Rose & Crown
Trophy
(Not shown) Barney Lower -
Tyrrell-Fleming Non-Speed Trophy
Chris Berrisford - Tourist Trophy,
Neil Davison Trophy, Kentish
Times Trophy, Muller Cup and
Speed League 2nd Place
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Chris Judge - President's Trophy
(Not shown) Chris Penfold -1200
Trophy
Clive Leatherby - Speed League
10th Place
Darren Tyre - Seigle-Morris Trophy,
Jim Bate Trophy and Speed
League 6th Place
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David Balderson - MG Trophy and
Speed League 4th Place
(Not shown) Graham Child - Road
Rally Driver
(Not shown) Jack Brazil - John
Gott Trophy
Jim Giddings - Speed League 7th
Place
Jeff Wiltshire - Tyrrell-Fleming
Speed Trophy and Sevenoaks
Speed League Champion
Page 13 of 48
John and Pauline Miles - Elford
Bowl
John Rawlins - Speed League 5th
Place
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Joy Waiton - Boadecia Bowl, Mark
Dawson Memorial Trophy, Basil
Tye Trophy and Des Quinn Trophy
(shared with Andy Elcomb)
(Not shown) Kevin Ablitt - Jack
Kemsley Trophy
(Not shown) Kevin Lower -
Uniroyal/Steel Claw Trophy
Lee Champion - Bent Con Rod
(Not shown) Martin Brazil - Road
Rally Navigator
Martyn Ellis - Speed League 8th
Place
Page 15 of 48
CORRECTION – DOUBLE CHAMPION
In response to last months article on the TWMC all circuit Sprint cahmpionship, Acorn incorrectly printed that Malcolm Boorman was the first person to win the championship twice. We have received the following note fo clarification from Kim Adams:
Enjoyed Acorn as always but, without wishing to appear at all precious, I won the All Circuit championship outright in 2007 and 2008 in my Evo IX (attached).
Malcolm's double success should rightly be celebrated but he is not the first back-to-back winner.
I also have no idea if I was…
Malcolm and I enjoyed a good rivalry when it rained. His single seater was much faster in the dry but the Evo often just had the edge in the wet.
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SPEED LEAGUE 2015 CONTENDERS
The 2015 Speed League season looks like being one of the hardest fought and closely contested for a long time. Even before the season has started, Colin Spark, the Speed League scorer has signed up as many entrants as competed throughout the 2014 season. Here are the profiles of the drivers and their cars, due to the class structure of the Speed League any one of them could be a possible champion.
Name: Jason Andrews Car: Mustang GT350 Started SL: 2008 (Sierra Saphire Cosworth) Highest placing: 3rd (2011 Honda S2000) Class wins: Unknown Class: A5 Notes: Competed in Sierra Cosworth, Mazda Mx5, Honda S2000, Sunbeam Tiger, Mustang GT350. Car for 2015 1965 Mustang GT350, first year of real competition for me with this car. Aiming to look to compete in local rounds this year as I don't own a fuel tanker that could follow me round the country.
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Name: Chris Judge Car: Jedi Started SL: 1978 Highest placing: Winner (1979, 1980, 1982, 1988 driving a Mini Cooper in 1980 and Modified Mini thereafter.) Class: D14 Class wins: In the Jedi One FTD at North Weald and five class wins since 2002 (little used in 2013/14) Notes: Joined Sevenoaks in 1974 and competed/organised every year since then. My name is on 14 of the club's annual awards across different disciplines since joining. I was awarded a life member (Must be getting old then). Also, the Jedi is a race car from the Jedi Formula 600 race series. (Now just called Formula Honda with 1000cc engines) Purchased in 2002. I have circuit raced it, sprinted and competed at Crystal Palace. Best result circuit racing was a second overall in the wet at Lydden and two third overall. Have previously won two circuit races at Lydden in a modified mini.
Name: Tim Jeffrey Car: Alpine A610 Started SL: 2015 Highest placing: N/A Class wins: N/A Class: A5 Notes: I have never managed to contend a 7Oaks championship in earnest so this will be my first, I have been Sprinting and Hillclimbing in this 1994 car for 19 years all over the country. My 'Home' Track is Prescott with Lydden and Goodwood sprint favourites. I have won many championships, classes and awards over the years, the pinnacle to date being the 'Victor Ludorum' Bugatti award. Currently building a race spec 1987 GTA Turbo which was the model before this car. Contended Crystal Palace 3 times, best time 39.55.
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Name: Chris Berrisford Car: Subaru Impreza 1999 UK Classic Started SL: 2014 Highest placing: 2nd (2014) Class wins: Don’t know ! Notes: The car has been slowly modified over the last 2 years and is not far off its ultimate incarnation, I hope!! Hoping to take part in 14 – 16 events many of which overlap with other sprint series. Hillclimbs as well.
Name: Helen Currie Car: Renault Clio Trophy 182 Started SL: 2015 Highest placing: N/A Class wins: N/A Notes: Standard Car apart from exhaust and tyres, Not sure how many events I will enter this year but looking forward to my debut at Palace!!
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Name: Joy Waiton Car: Mazda MX5 Started SL: 2013
Highest placing: 14th (2014) Class wins: N/A Class: A1
Notes: My first year of competing in the Speed League and
Motorsport in general for that matter was 2013 coming 16th. In
2014 I managed to come 14th. But neither year have I competed in
more than 4 rounds. It is my intention to do better, my aim is to get
10th place this year. Needless to say I have never yet achieved a
class win. My first round will be B19 at North Weald 15 March. Well
if the car is out of the workshop. She's had 2 hard years with little
TLC and I'm paying the price now!!
Name: Jeff Wiltshire Car: Sylva Phoenix Started SL: 2010 Highest placing: 1st – 2014 Class wins: 48 Class: A8 Notes: The car is now fitted with a sequential gearbox and I’m looking forward to 20 or so rounds this year again. Will be double driving with Andy Elcomb so I’m going to have to up my game to come out in front.
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Name: John Rawlins Car: Davrian Mk8 Started SL: 1993 Highest placing: 5th (2012 & 2014) + Historic Trophy (2014) Class wins: 14 Class: B9 Notes: In the early days, I didn’t compete in enough rounds each year to be competitive in any of the championships I entered but, since 2010, I have increased my activity which has resulted in reasonable success in the Speed League, ACSMC, ASEMC and All Circuit Championships. For 2015, I am hoping to enter 8 to 10 events and my key preparation this year is simply a new set of soft Yokohamas.
Name: Alex Peters Car: Ford Mustang GT Started SL: 2013 Highest placing: 3rd (2014) Class wins: 5 Class: A5 Notes: The Mustang now has nearly 600BHP with improved brakes and chassis for 2015. I plan to enter between 16 and 21 rounds and challenge for the championship win !
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Name: Colin Spark Car: Hyundai Coupe F2 Evo Started SL: 2015
Highest placing: N/A Class wins: N/A Class: A2
Notes: Just like John Surtees, Colin is making the transition from two
to four wheeled motorsport. In the mid to late 90's he built and
raced two classic café racers based on Norton & Triumph
motorcycles. There will be more on this fascinating story in a
forthcoming Acorn article.
His four wheeled track experience includes two full days driving a
fully prepared WRC Subaru Impreza and track days at Silverstone
and Brands Hatch in his magnificent supercharged Jaguar XKR.
Colin’s ambition for the 2015 Speed League is not to come last !
Although Colin is a new member of SDMC this year, you should all
get to know him soon as he is already supporting the club by
accepting a position oin the committee as the Speed League Scorer
and Registrar. Straight in at the deep end !
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Name: Clive Letherby Car: Triumph TR6 Started SL: 2010
Highest placing: N/A Class wins: N/A Class: C13
Notes: No idea of finishes, it’s the taking part that counts. I am
entering Class C13 which means unless I have 500 bhp, four wheel
drive ABS fully sorted rally spec vehicle I can’t be competitive! My
ambition is to improve my own times and present myself with my
own trophy if I improve!
Name: Andy Elcomb Car: Sylva Phoenix Started SL: A million years ago... Highest placing: Never highly placed as never chased the whole championship Class wins: A few over the years in different cars Class: A8 Notes: Just intending to do some selected events in 2015 and to enjoy a car with a decent power to weight ratio for a change. Just hopeful the car stays in one piece...
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Name: Jim Giddings Car: 1979 Triumph TR8 Started SL: 1993 Highest placing: Winner in 2012 Class: A5 Class wins: I've lost count, it's been a long time.... Notes: I'm hoping to do 10 rounds this year to be in with a shout in the championship but with my forthcoming Marriage to Rebecca in August it might be challenging fitting everything in...
Name: James Silk Car: Honda
Integra type R (JDM DC2)
Started SL: 2012 Highest placing: 2nd (2013) Class wins: 15 Class: A2
Notes: New car for this year, looking forward to finding the limits
and any lurking rust. Hoping for but not expecting any
championship success!
Name: Russ Burton Car: Mazda MX5 Mk2 1.8
Started SL: 2013 Highest placing: Improved from 26th in 2013 to
joint 14th in SL in 2014 Class wins: N/A Class: A2
Notes: Car remains largely the same for 2015 but aiming to increase
rounds taken part in to 4 or 5 local rounds including a new venue to
me (Debden).
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MERCEDES WORLD
Report by Chris Judge
The recent ACSMC 2014 Championship awards presentation at Brooklands gave attendees the opportunity to walk around this historic site. But situated in a brand new purpose built building is 'Mercedes World'. This really is worth a visit as entry is free. There you can browse on virtually the entire range of Mercedes cars past, present and future, together with various Formula One and German Touring Cars etc.
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There really is a lot to do and see, plus you can have rides on the test track whatever your age. This picture is of a complete Formula One car showing every single component and hanging from the ceiling. Unfortunately we did not have our wire cutters with us. Well worth a visit. Go to www.Mercedes-benzworld.co.uk or you can take a look at www.brooklnadsmuseum.com for more info.
WINTER PREPARATION
By Jim Giddings
Following Alex's request for some Acorn material other than the red American muscle car here a brief summary of winter work on the old trusty Triumph TR8.
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Despite my early start on maintenance at the end of last season (for a change!), the engine is still out of the car hopefully going back in before end of Feb following a return to JE Developments over the winter for a rebuild. It's currently in the trusty hands of Dr Tony Mabb, M & T Autos West Kingsdown.
St Goueno Hillclimb in Brittany, the first corner of the 2 1/2 mile closed road event with the start line in the background. Don't know the French photographer to credit.
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So, work being done;
New bearings as after 4 years since last rebuild some wear showing. Engine builder said just in time.
Throttle bodies remapped as miles out of balance,
New 4 coils ignition system to provide better sparks I'm told.
Modified larger capacity sump to help avoid oil surge as I've noticed the oil pressure drop by half on long right handers.( See worn bearings above.....)
The 2 exhaust manifolds are away being ceramic coated to try to lower engine bay heat in search of GG's & get the heat past the sump without heating & thinning the oil.( see worn bearings above....)
Druids at Brands, looks like I know what I'm doing, in fact it bit me on the arse & I'm fighting to keep it pointing the right way.
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Replace the front subframe where the engine's been trying to tear the mounts out & large cracks appeared.
New discs as the others although only a couple of years old have worn away the surface grooves from the friction caused by abrasive pads & 6 pot callipers.
New quick rack as last year I installed electric power steering, should prove interesting until I get the hang of it
Body shop has tidied up the engine bay & boot after 35 years, with 20 plus years of hill climb & sprint abuse.
Photos of my exhaust manifolds custom made a couple of years ago by Hayward and Scott, removed to go to Zircotec for ceramic coating.
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So hopefully I'll be out for North Weald, but may be "running in please pass!"
Will it be quicker? I hope so but mostly preventative maintenance.
A snap of the trophy cabinet accumulated over 20 years. Some of the glassware champagne flutes and beer glasses get regular use and live in the kitchen cupboard as this one is bursting.
The picture on the back cover with tyre smoke is when my son Alex (Spike) entered a Sevenoaks North Weald whilst I was away in the States on holiday one time....The MSA picked up on this one & it featured at the beginning of the Speed section in the blue book one year.
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TWENTY-THREE YEARS WITH A DAVRIAN
John Rawlins explains
Despite a keen interest in motor sport from a very early age, it had always been as a spectator and I never considered the possibility that I would ever be able to compete myself. That was until the mid-eighties when a friend, John Weedon, offered me my first competitive drive as a second driver in his TR4 at a Goodwood sprint. I was immediately hooked and realised that this was indeed a real possibility rather than just a distant hope. However, despite a couple of test day outings later in the ‘80s in the same friend’s Mallock at Goodwood and Castle Combe (the former in a near hurricane, which was interesting to say the least), it wasn’t until the early ‘90s that I was able to take up the challenge in my own right.
Pat Longhurst and Bob Jarvis head for the grid at Brands Hatch
(Photo:Chas Parker)
Having lived for most of my early life in Kent, I had regularly attended race meetings at Brands Hatch and Lydden Hill in the ‘70s and it was at the latter venue in particular that my enthusiasm for the Davrian marque was ignited, watching the likes of Pat Longhurst and Bob Jarvis (Davrian works drivers) and others perform giant-killing performances against much more powerful opposition. So with this
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in mind, I started on the trail to find one of these spectacular cars for myself although in those early days, the idea of using it for competition had never entered my mind.
Davrian Mk8, chassis no. DI/8/046 as found in a Wales
Despite seeing number of Davrians in action during the ‘80s at venues such as Goodwood, Valence and Prescott among others, I had very little success in locating a suitable car . Then towards the end of ‘91, at a Castle Combe sprint, I struck lucky. There were two Mk8 Davrians entered, the Ford powered ex-Pat Longhurst car of Richard Devall and the Imp powered car of Martyn Heatley. Unfortunately, during one of his runs, Martyn had a minor off causing him to over-rev and damage his engine (he had disconnected the rev-limiter in an attempt to investigate a misfire) and this gave me the perfect opportunity to chat with him and his friend Martyn Morgan Jones, who told me of a potential car which might be for sale in
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Wales. I immediately contacted the owner, who, despite needing a little persuasion, eventually agreed to sell the car and in February 1992, I collected it as a rolling shell complete with a totally dismantled Imp 1040cc engine for the princely sum of £1,400. It was a very surreal moment, when it seemed that all the neighbours came out into the street to see the car on its way.
On the road - awaiting a well-needed respray
Once back in Sussex, I immediately started on the restoration of the car which had allegedly stood for the previous ten years out in the open in a field in Wales. Having been unprotected from the elements for so long, the original blue gel coat had faded considerably and the finish closely resembled a cloudy sky, so it was clear that at some stage a re-spray would be required. However, this would have to wait, as my first thoughts were to get the car mobile as soon as possible. It didn’t take long to realise that the previous owner had carried out considerably less work on the car than he had suggested during our negotiations, but over the following months
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The car following its re-spray in ‘93
I brought it back to a road-going state and in June of that year, fitted as an interim solution with an 875cc Imp Sport engine, it passed its MOT and I was able to re-register it with the DVLA, Meanwhile, the rebuild of the 1040cc engine continued and it was eventually completed and installed later in the year. I then headed for a test day at Goodwood, as an initial shakedown. I was pleased that it held together without any obvious problems but I was somewhat underwhelmed with the car’s performance: in hindsight, not too surprising as at that stage, it was running on standard 205-60-13 road tyres (of which the fronts were remoulds), twin CD150 Stromberg carburettors and a Janspeed small bore exhaust system. Unfortunately, though, the drive home was less successful, as a driveshaft bolt failed destroying the associated doughnut, leaving me stranded on the side of the road for several hours at the A272/A24 junction between the A24 and A272, before being rescued by fellow Davrian enthusiast Ken Banks.
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The following year, through a work contact, I was lucky enough to have the car sprayed at the Queen Elisabeth Foundation for the Disabled in Leatherhead for just the cost of the paint, although this wasn’t without its problems. On my first visit to collect the car, as I reattached the front and rear body sections to the central monocoque, it became clear that the paint mix for the removable front and rear sections did not match the main body of the car so I had to disassemble it again and return later once the error had been corrected.
Around this time, I also set up the “New Davrian Register” in an attempt to unite owners of the marque as, during the rebuild process, I had come to the realise that it would have been made considerably more easy if I had had more opportunity to call upon the expertise of other owners/enthusiasts.
Now the time had come to test the car in competition and, having spectated on a number of occasions at the Valence Hillclimb, I decided to join the SDMC and use this event as my starting point (as it turned out it was my one and only opportunity to compete there before the venue was lost to motor sport). The car was still in its Goodwood test configuration (although the remoulds had by now been replaced) so I wasn’t expecting great things. I don’t remember much about the event, except that having been delayed on the start line due to an off by the Escort in front of me, the heavens opened and I headed up the hill with virtually no visibility. My second event at Lydden, was no better as again the heavens opened just as I left the line on my first practice run and by the time I entered Chessons I could see nothing beyond the windscreen and had a partial spin which I somehow survived to successfully complete a very slithery run: At least, according to my son, my antics on track had provided the spectators with a little excitement.
Over the years, I have slowly but steadily carried out a number of upgrades and improvements to the car, including replacement of the Strombergs by twin DCOEs (What a change that made despite Pat Longhurst having insisted that the Stombergs could provide
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equivalent performance!), more suitable tyres (initially Maxsport intermediates and currently soft compound Yokahama048Rs), addition of a block strengthening plate, high capacity oil pump etc. etc. and a Quaife close ratio gearbox (more on that later) and as a result my times have steadily improved from season to season.
Lining up for a run at Debden
Nowadays, with the exception of the Brighton Speed Trials, I always trailer the car, but initially I used to drive it to and from events which usually numbered about five or six per season with the furthest being the Longleat Hillclimb and at that time was happy just to compete and compare personal best times. That changed in 2011 when , possibly assisted by the effects of the recession and certainly by the inclusion of more events in my competition season, I realised that I now had a chance of winning championship awards as well as having fun, gaining 10th place in the SDMC championship and 1st in
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class in the ASCSMC Sprint Challenge and this spurred me on to register with more championships and contend an increased number of events leading to further awards with each year.
As one may expect with motorsport, things have not always gone smoothly over the years: On one journey to Lydden, the clutch thrust bearing detached itself - making it the most expensive motor sport event I have ever attended as a spectator and during a practice run at a Goodwood sprint, all the brake fluid was ejected from the LH front wheel cylinder which I was lucky to discover as I lined up for the first timed run (strangely there was no trace of leaked fluid where the car had been standing in the paddock so the failure remains somewhat mysterious). It led to an interesting drive home and key lesson learnt “Do not use aftermarket parts were safety is involved”, as I believe that the failure was the result of a wheel cylinder rubber allowing fluid past under heavy braking! However the biggest issues I have had with the car have been transmission related: I had a clutch plate explode at Goodwood as I came out of the chicane which smashed through the bell-housing. Having repaired the bell housing, I then discovered, when I came to rebuild the transaxle, that one of the differential planet gears had lost a tooth. This eventually prompted me to purchase an upgraded transaxle equipped with Quaife internals and it was this decision that brought about my “missing years”. The new box would pop out of 2nd gear on overrun with the minimum of provocation and would even jump out of 1st occasionally under acceleration and despite countless rebuilds each of which only seemed to exacerbate the problem and an unsuccessful investigation by Quaife, I eventually abandoned the Quaife 1st and 2nd gears and reverted to the standard Imp items which worked fine until another Goodwood sprint in 2014 when gearchange issues were diagnosed as the result of a part of a crown wheel was roaming around inside the box, leading to yet another rebuild.
So what of the future? Assuming that I don’t win the lottery to enable me to fulfil my fantasy of owning either a Chevron B16 or Elva BMW, aside from the continuing search for more power, the key upgrade
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should probably involve replacing the standard Imp drum brakes with discs (which have lain in the garage all the years that I have owned the car), although I’m not sure how much difference this would make, as the drums seem to work pretty effectively over sprint distances.
More Davrians in Action
For more information on the Davrian and Darrian marques, visit the New Davrian Register website at www.john.rawlins.com/ndr1 or obtain a copy of Martyn Morgan Jones’ book “Davrian to Darrian”.
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ROGER HOLMES CAR TRIAL
Report by Chris Judge
Several Sevenoaks and South Eastern competitors travelled up to Harlton, a small village near Cambridge to take part in the annual ‘Roger Holmes Car Trial on 19th January organised by Cambridge car Club. They attracted a capacity entry probably because there is not much motorsport at the start of the year, but also as this was round one of the 2015 ASEMC Car Trial Championship as well as the new East Anglian Trials Challenge.
My nephew David and myself had entered a Citroen Saxo which we had bought cheap last year. David will sprint and autosolo it and I will have a play at most things if my other selection of quality vehicles are broken. We were entered in Class One for road driven cars and it took us a few hills to master the car, but it does have a lot more power
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than the trusty 1400cc Micra we’ve used and this came in very handy when the hills turned to sheet mud. The turning circle of the Saxo for instance isn’t as good as the Micra and the handbrake will need some attention before we venture out again. However, we appeared to do pretty well, with myself taking a class win with David tying with a Renault Clio for second after a mishap on the very last hill of the day, causing a heavy penalty. Never mind, we learned a lot about this particular car though. David Balderson was out with his Grand-daughter bouncing in a massive entry of 19 in class two. He was doing very well indeed and obtaining low scores, but as usual in trials if you do make a mistake when the competition is so close, you pay the penalty which is always difficult to recover from. Maidstone and Mid-Kent members Brian and Robert Sharpe were out in Brian’s autotest Micra, along with Dennis Usmar in a Citroen AXGT. Poor Ray Lane didn’t even get as far as the venue as his tow vehicle blew the head gasket on the M11! What a good start to the season.
Fellow Maidstone member Gavin Lane entered his Fiat 126 in the specials class but suffered from water loss near causing a retirement, but soldiered on to the finish. All in all a great days trialling. This event is very well organised but usually very muddy. I am still cleaning the Saxo. Full results on the Cambridge car Club web-site, but Sevenoaks/South East results were:
Class One
Chris Judge 1st
David Judge 2nd
Class Two
Dennis Usmar 3rd
Brian Sharpe 9th
David Balderson 10th
Robert Sharpe 15th
Class Four
Gavin Lane 7th
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BASIL ELKINGTON TRIAL
Sunday 22nd March
Stoneacre Farm, Bearsted
Calling All Club members If you are not entering Your club ‘Needs
You’ as a marshal!
MSA, BTRDA and ASEMC Championship Event. We will need a
minimum of 16 marshals for our Championship Car Trial on Sunday
22nd March. A fantastic opportunity for you to obtain your Speed
League or club championship qualifying points!
Full details are on the web-site at
http://www.sevenoaksmotorclub.com/regs-and-entries
or you can email Chris Judge or Dave Balderson
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SDMC CALENDAR 2015
The following events are organised by Sevenoaks and District Motor
Club or to which 7Oaks has a significant input / presence. Please let
Acorn know of any other events that are planned.
Date Event
26-Feb Scatter Rally 22-Mar Car Trial - Stoneacre 29-Mar Sprint – North Weald 10-Apr Aldershot Rally for Heroes (to 11-Apr-15) 16-Apr Scatter Rally 30-Apr Autotest – Brands Hatch 24-May Sprint – Crystal Palace 25-May Sprint – Crystal Palace 28-May Autotest – Brands Hatch 11-Jun Autotest – Brands Hatch 14-Jun Car Trial – Chapman’s Hill 25-Jun Autotest – Brands Hatch 28-Jun Autosolo – North Weald 9-Jul Autotest – Brands Hatch 2-Aug Autotest – Brands Hatch 30-Aug Autosolo – North Weald 17-Oct Sprint – Goodwood (co-pro TWMC) 1-Nov London to Brighton Veteran Run 6-Nov 12 car 10-Dec Scatter Rally
RALLY SCHOOL
This winter’s series of Rally Schools continues on the second Wednesday of each month (11th March 2015). All are welcome you just need a map (OS Landranger 188), a few soft pencils and a brain. If you know you’ll be attending please let Chin know ([email protected] ) so that he can print enough course materials. IT’S FREE !
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S&DMC SOCIAL EVENTS CALENDAR
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN ORGANISING A SOCIAL EVENT?
If you have any ideas for a future Social Event and wish to have a go at organising please contact Nigel or Rosemary Mead on 01892 832420 ([email protected] or [email protected] ) We will be happy to help and advertise the event for you. Also visit our website at www.sevenoaksmotorclub.com
Please contact The Bell if you will be purchasing food. The Bell, High Street, Kemsing TN15 6BN Tel. No. 01732 76155
Wednesday 18th
March 2015
The Bell, Kemsing
NOGGIN & NATTER
Wednesday 15th
April 2015
The Bell, Kemsing
SDMC AGM
CURLING NIGHT
8 SDMC members turned out for this event and had an enjoyable evening and by all accounts some did more sweeping in one night than they have done all year!!
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Well done to the victors Andy Elcomb, Joy Waiton and Lee Champion and his daughter !
WHATS ON IN OUR AREA
Sunday 01.03.15
Borough 19 MC
Autosolo North Weald CM
Sunday 01.03.15
Falcon MC Classic Reliability Trial
March Hare NB/CM
Friday 13.03.15
Bexley LCC Weald 12 Car Rally
CM
Sunday 15.03.15
Blackpalfrey MC of Kent
Regularity 12 Car
CM
Sunday 15.03.15
Buckmore Park KC
Kart Meeting
Buck more Park
CM
Sunday 15.03.15
Borough 19 MC
Sprint North Weald NB
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Thursday 19.03.15
Maidstone & Mid Kent
Scatter CM
Friday 20.03.15
Chelmsford MC
12 Car Rally CM
Saturday 22.03.15
BARC Midlands Centre
Sprint Rockingham NB
Sunday 22.03.15
Sevenoaks & DMC
Car Trial Stoneacre Farm
CM
Sunday 29.03.15
Sevenoaks & DMC
Sprint North Weald NB
Sat/Sun 04/ 05.04.15
Borough 18MC
20/20 Rally CM
Saturday 11.04.15
Eastbourne & RAM MC
Regularity 12 Car
Spring 100 CM
Sat/Sun 11/ 12.04.15
Southern CC/ Farnborough & DMC
Multi Venue Stage Rally
Aldershot Rally for Heroes
NA
Sunday 12.04.15
Maidstone & Mid Kent
Car Trial (Tyrwhitt Drake)
Otham CM
Thursday 16.04.15
Sevenoaks & DMC
Scatter CM
Friday 17.04.15
Guildford MC Weald 12 Car Rally
CM
Saturday 18.04.15
Chelmsford MC
Targa Rally MOD Wethersfield
CM
Sunday 19.04.15
Blackpalfrey MC of Kent
Regularity 12 Car
CM
Sunday 19.04.15
Buckmore Park KC
Kart Meeting
Buckmore Park NB
Sunday 19.04.15
Falcon MC Car Trial Ivinghoe Spring Trial
NB/CM
Sunday 19.04.15
Maidstone & Mid Kent MC
Treasure Hunt
CM
Friday 24.04.15
Chelmsford MC
12 Car Rally CM
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Saturday 25.04.15
Quinton MC Single Venue Stage Rally
MIRA, Hinckley NB
Saturday 25.04.15
Bognor Regis MC/Tun Wells MC
Sprint Goodwood NB
Sunday 26.04.15
Harrow CC/ Green Belt MC
Sprint North Weald NB
Wednesday 29.04.15
Maidstone & Mid Kent MC
Evening Autotest
Headcorn CM
Thursday 30.04.15
Sevenoaks & DMC
Evening Autotest
Brands Hatch CM
RANT OF THE MONTH !
Standardise marshalling points by Alex Peters
The SDMC has a regular problem in getting enough people to support events by marshalling. There are some mechanisms in place to try and deal with this by mandating that entrants in certain championships (Speed League, Rally Championship) have to marshal at events in order to qualify for trophies at the end of the season. However, there are two problems: as mentioned this still does not generate enough marshals, and secondly, people tend to leave it to the end of the year, so that no one is available to support events early in the season.
In an ideal world people would be happy to contribute some of their time to support the club in return for the events that it provides for them, however this does not seem to work. Many disciplines like Autotests need a large number of marshals to allow their events to take place, however there is no requirement for the competitors to support any other club events. This would seem an unfair and one way relationship.
I intend to propose some changes to this process at the SDMC AGM
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and would like to hear other people’s views. You can contribute to the debate on the SDMC forum at:
http://www.sevenoaksmotorclub.com/public/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=276
I suggest that we use the scoring of Chalky White points as a standard way to record peoples support for the club. As well as marshalling this can be used to record other activities such as tyre strapping or ticket selling at Crystal Palace for example. Currently the Speed League requires one full or two half days marshalling to qualify. This equates to at least two Chalky White points.
Proposal 1: Increase the qualification to four Chalky White points, requiring people to do the equivalent of two full days support. This means that there will be more marshals available and also they should start earlier in the season to ensure they can fit their days in.
Proposal 2: Require people in all disciplines to marshal in order to win any trophy.
I realise that some people don’t care about trophies and others really can’t be bothered to do any marshalling, but for the good of the club to allow events to be run, we need to look at these proposals. I welcome any suggestions from other club members on this subject.
COMING NEXT MONTH !
Features planned for inclusion in the next issue of Acorn are:
SDMC awards night 2015
Targa Rally – Paul Hebdens experience of a new kind of
motorsport
A guide to social media for the Graham Hill generation
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“2015 Awards night” – continued from inside
Paul Hebden - Consolation Cup
and Batturd Cup
Paul Sales - MX5 Challenge, Speed
League Best Newcomer Award
and Speed League 9th Place
Stuart Giles - PMJ Single Seater
Trophy
(not shown) Sue Jessop - Marvic
Trophy
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