L AL E U Q R TO N ECEMBER/JA D 2 3 1 E U S IS
UARY 2019
CELEBRATING 70 YEARS
BY BRINGING TOGETHER SEVEN OF THE 991 CARRERA T SPECIAL EDITION
HIGH ALTITUDE CLASSICS Vince Dallimore on driving ultra-high passes in Pakistan
BUYING ON A BUDGET Stuart Thrumwood on why the 996 is the bargain of the century
100 YEARS ON At the WWI centenary, Andy Harris tours northern France’s memorials
WWW.TIPEC.NET LIVE & BREATHE THE MARQUE
For anyone who’s not visited it yet, The Porsche Enthusiast’s Club has a brand spanking new online store, hosted by UKCarclubs.com, the UKs #1 dedicated car club merchandise site. What makes us different? Well, we’re fellow petol heads, we love our cars and we started UKCarclubs as an excuse to go to more car shows (but don’t tell anyone) and it grew from there, today we have club stores all over the uk with members in the 100s of thousands. Today we dedicate ourselves to making sure that our club’s members get only the best quality merchandise, service and of course value. That’s why we are so excited abut the opening of your new store, because we’ve been working together to make sure you get ju that, a great range with everything from branded mugs and decals right through to the just finest quality lambswool sweaters and everything in between, all branded with the club logo, you’ve also go the oppon to choose the club logo that suits your model best as well as choose your region, logo colour and even personalise the items with your name, What is good club merchandise? We think it’s having things people want to wear or own and at the same me gives them the opportunity to support their club. We know you’ll love the store as much as we do, so why not have a look hhps:///pec.ukcarclubs.com
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All Torque 132 Dec/Jan 2019 All Torque is published bi-monthly by TIPEC (The Independent Porsche Enthusiasts Club) Text & images are © their creators. Front cover image: Porsche Centre Bolton’s 911 Carrera T in Martini livery. Photograph by Łukasz Dulski. All Torque is based entirely on submissions from TIPEC members. This is your magazine! Submissions for issue 133 (February/March) must be in before Friday 4th January 2018. Editor & designer: Tony Blow tony@typescape.com Flat 2, 2 Bowmont Terrace, Glasgow G12 9LP Printed by: The Lavenham Press Ltd, Suffolk (01787 247 436) Advertising in All Torque is managed by: Sean Smallman, Walnut Tree Farm, Grain Road, Lower Stoke, Rochester ME3 9RE (07500 332 790) Website: www.tipec.net Twitter: @Porsche_TIPEC Search for us on Facebook TIPEC Chairman: Sean Smallman (07500 332 790) sean.smallman@tipec.net Treasurer: Paul Bird (01922 428 409) paulpsb928@yahoo.co.uk Advertising & sponsorhip: Sean Smallman (07500 332 790) sean.smallman@tipec.net Media Director: Paul Ffelan (07391 510 054) paul.ffelan@tipec.net Membership Director: Sue Simmons (07530 312 700) sue.simmons@tipec.net TIPEC Membership: Lavenham Group (01787 249 295) membership@tipec.lpl-uk.com
I AM TYPING this month from Wetherspoons at the NEC, while I wait for Paul Bird and the rest of the volunteers to join me for breakfast. Our 25th Anniversary display looks amazing, with six exceptionally shiny silver cars creating a lot of interest before the show even opened.
we should manage our group pages and we agreed to purchase software to help the process. It was acknowledged that email is preferred by many and all regions committed to sending a monthly update.
It is a huge commitment preparing a car to go on display, as well as manning the stand and organising the logistics. I would like to thank the owners, Richard (Speedster Replica), Phil & Claire (928), Lindsay (911 Super Sport), Nick (944), Paul (996 TT). Paul Bird does a fantastic job making this happen and last but not least the volunteers that man the stand, which is exhausting. Neil, Paul F, Paul, Chris, Martin, Jarrod; well done everyone. We also had club members Paul & Sue Howman invited to display their stunning 993 on the prestigious Meguiars Showcase. More from this event in the next issue.
For the good of the planet, we have changed the polythene wrap that All Torque is delivered in. The new film uses natural biopolymers, consisting mainly of potato and maize starch which are fully sustainable. There is no polythene in this product so when it degrades there are NO microplastics left in the soil/ watercourse. It conforms to EN13432 so it is fully compostable in your household compost heap or food waste bin. It can be put in your household garden waste bin but not all Councils will accept it, so you will need to check with your local Council first.
In the last issue we launched the new clothing supplier, it would be an understatement to say that this could have gone better. Whilst the quality of the finished garments has been very good, the deliver y timescales and communication has been unacceptable. James has assured me that the issues are behind them and that all will be well going forward, as they have moved to larger premises. We will monitor performance closely and if you have any issues please flag them with your RO and feel free to copy me into any correspondence with the supplier.
TIPEC Valuations: valuations@tipec.net
All Torque & TIPEC are entirely independent of Dr. Ing. H.c.F. Porsche AG, Porsche Cars GB Ltd and its dealers. All registered Trade Marks owned by Dr. Ing. H.c.F. Porsche AG, including the word ‘Porsche’, the Porsche Crest and Porsche Script are acknowledged as such and are their property. Whilst all due care is taken in the production of All Torque; neither TIPEC, its officers or the editor can accept responsibility for the advice, information or opinions expressed herein. Opinions contained in any article published herein are of the author or editor and do not reflect the official position of TIPEC, its management or membership, unless clearly stated by a club official.
Last month I hosted a couple of meetings with the regional organisers, in the Peak District for the North and the outskirts of Oxford for the South. We had a good chat about the club and what we all needed from each other. It was no surprise that the main topic of conversation was communication, with Facebook taking up a huge chunk of both meetings. There was a general consensus on how
I will take this opportunity to thank two outgoing RO’s, Richard Scholl (North West) and Scott Allan (Scotland). Both have made a significant contribution to their regions and member numbers have increased during their tenures.
I try hard not to be too self indulgent in my column but I would like to personally thank the members of Kent region for making the weekend of my 50th birthday so special. Natalie & Grant Feddon organised a brilliant cake for club night and I had a very nice evening with Paul, Rachel and the family. It is nice to to have made such good friends in my adopted county. Best wishes for the festive season, Sean.
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News & updates Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble January 6th (Sunday) On a sunny October day, Porsches from all over the country descended on the wonderful venue of Bicester Heritage for the last Sunday Scramble of 2018. The event attracts more than 1,000 classic cars and many car clubs from all over the UK and welcomes more than 2,500 members of the public to view the cars and chat to likeminded enthusiasts. For the first time, a TIPEC parking area was reserved and we welcomed over 40 members from regions near and far to the parking display. We were joined by air cooled classics all the way through the Porsche ages to new GT3s and everything in between. The next event will be the first of 2019 and we are expecting an even bigger turnout. As before, we will have a dedicated area for TIPEC members to park in regardless of the age of your Porsche. General non-club parking sees cars newer than 1990 park in separate parking to the classic cars so if you’d like to park your Porsche on the TIPEC stand, please book using the code below. You will also receive a discount. See you there and wrap up warm! bicesterheritage.co.uk/whaton/sunday-scramble-january-2019 Click on the ‘Enter Promotional Code’ link towards the top of the ‘Tickets’ block on the booking page and input your club discount code TIPECJA19 in the box. The club ticket option will then become visible in the list of ticket options for you to select. Please note, if the Classic Vehicle ticket is purchased instead of the Club Vehicle ticket, there will not be a space allocated in the club parking display area.
Club shop Polo shirts We have a new club shop, run by UKCarclubs.com, a dedicated car club merchandise site. They offer a huge range of products, from the usual T-shirts and caps to mugs, umbrellas, high-quality lambswool sweaters, fleeces, and fully weatherproof outdoor jackets. Everything comes with your choice of TIPEC logo (featuring the silhouette of a 911 or a transaxle car) as well as your choice of region, and even your own name. All that can be in the colour of your choice. You can reach the shop directly at tipec.ukcarclubs.com or visit from our club’s homepage at www.tipec.net by using the ‘Shop’ link.
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Membership management Contacts for member queries We have a dedicated membership management agent. The contact details for and TIPEC membership renewals, changes of address, queries, etc. are detailed below. Please make sure you mention that you are contacting them about TIPEC, as they deal with multiple car clubs: 01787 249 295 membership@tipec.lpl-uk.com TIPEC Membership Arbons House, 47 Water Street, Lavenham CO10 9RN www.tipec.net Go to the membership renewals tab. Password: tipecmember
All Torque Submissions
TIPEC website www.TIPEC.net
Submissions for the magazine are always very welcome – All Torque is your magazine and we rely on your articles, reports and photographs to keep it full of varied, interesting, Porscherelated stuff.
You can use the TIPEC website to register or renew your club membership, advertise cars and parts for free, view old issues of All Torque, and keep up with events.
Anyone can contribute – we only ask that it is all your own work (both writing and photography). Email tony@typescape.com Sometimes there simply isn’t room for everything, so please bear with us if your piece hasn’t been printed in this issue – we’ll hold some over for the quieter months when less events are on. We really do appreciate the effort made by our club members and contributors, and value every individual submission.
At the top-left of the homepage, you will find a link to TIPEC’s online discussion forum. This is the place to trade banter with fellow club members on a day-to-day basis, ask questions and share knowledge with your fellow TIPEC members, up and down the UK (and worldwide!)
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News & updates Porsche 992 testing Next 911 hits the streets THE SUCCESSOR to the 991, currently codenamed the 992 (and it’s a fair bet that designation will remain) is undergoing final tests around the world prior to Porsche’s planned launch at the beginning of 2019. Porsche have been particularly open about their final testing this time around, releasing official photos to the press and discussing some of the extremes they take the cars to. In the Gulf states, for example, they run the cars in 50ºC desert conditions, checking for any problems, even as small as rattles and squeaks caused by materials expanding. In contrast, the cars run at minus 35ºC in Finland to check for obvious issues with the traction control and less obvious things like simple cold starts. Patt of Porche’s daily testing in China is to make sure the cars run happily on fuel of, shall we say ‘dubious quality’, as well as the endurance test of driving some of the world’s longest routes. It’s interesting to see how much effort Porsche put into maintaining their reputation as the ‘daily driver’ sports car, with usability across varied conditions being key.
Club AGM 2019 April 7th (Sunday) The provisional date for the Annual General Meeting is Sunday 7th April, venue to be confirmed in the next issue.
Simply Porsche June 2nd (Sunday) Can we beat last years record attendance of 1,600 Porsches? TIPEC’s annual event will probably be the biggest gathering of Porsches in Europe, it is a fabulous event set in grounds of the Beaulieu Estate.
NEC Classic 2018 Silver anniversary AT 132
TIPEC’s 25th anniversary stand at the NEC Classic Car Show was a success. Full report next issue.
SKID PAN
Lorne Campbell’s sideways experience on the low-grip surfaces available at Thruxton. ON SATURDAY the 22nd September I took my 944 S2 to try it on Thruxton Race Circuit's skid pan. If you wish, you can use your own car instead of theirs, and I wanted to find out if I and the 944 would be in tune in such slippery circumstances. Nowadays the skid area of skid pans is just a combination of a very low grip surface and water – not like the old days when they used an oily type of gunge which you would not want to get on your own car. Thruxton have two 25,000 litre water tanks for the fluid side of things but on the day I was there the rain bucketed down so the tanks weren’t needed. Thruxton’s skid pan is a large circular area around which you drive, alternating between a number of clockwise circuits and then anti-clockwise ones. There is also a low grip, nominally straight, lead in strip. I have been on Goodwood’s skid pan but Thruxton’s is larger and, in my opinion, better. At Goodwood you get one skid opportunity in every circuit – a slippery area in the middle of a circular route of normal grip – whereas at Thruxton you are constantly on the slippery surface, giving you much more practice. On the outside of the main skid area there is a ring of much higher grip tarmac so if you slide off the pan the high grip area gives you back control. Everything happens very slowly (ie. 10 mph maximum, usually less) so it is pretty safe. Now, when they say ‘low grip’ they aren’t kidding. If walking on it I think I would have found it hard to stay on my feet! It is like ice with extra slip added. One of their school cars is a front drive Mini, but it was hanging its tail out like a rear drive machine with no help from the handbrake. The pan is on a very slight slope and on those occasions when I lost it enough to have to come to a halt at the low side it was very hard to get enough traction to get the car moving again!
Now, apart from my Goodwood skid pan experience which I feel didn’t really teach me much, the last time I was on a skid pan was over 40 years ago and there was noticeably more grip – and, consequently, you needed to go faster. This might be more like real life but mishaps are more likely, I suppose. Everything to do with the car reaction was in slow motion at Thruxton, but this did not mean that you could react slowly. If the tail went AWOL the faster you reacted the quicker you stopped the slide, but as well as winding on opposite lock quickly you had to unwind it quickly, and at the right time, to catch the reaction throwing the tail to the opposite side. There was a lot of very high speed wheel twirling and there were numerous occasions when I was on full opposite lock with the steering on the stops; I was surprised that even then the situation could often be retrieved! The fact that you were running continuously round the pan; constantly catching the slide, only to have it go again, enabled you to start to anticipate the car’s reactions and how far you could push it. I did learn quite a lot. Two of the things I took home with me were one, how well balanced and forgiving the 944 is, and two, how reacting quickly enabled the whole slide to be brought under control sooner, with less steering lock needed. It was an interesting and useful experience. Second gear was used all the time but right at the low end of the rpm range. If there was one wish, I suppose it might have been to have a tiny amount more grip and thus have been able to go a little quicker. The main skid pan was extremely low grip, as mentioned, but, as well as the full grip tarmac around the perimeter, which stopped you sliding into the bushes, there were some intermediate grip areas leading into the main pan and, given more space, it would be interesting to make a ‘fast’ skid pan, using this material, to try everything out at slightly higher speeds. 7
BRAINWASHED IN BLUE BENJAMIN BAND’S GT3RS REVELATION
Author Benjamin Band Photography Benjamin Band
IT’S FUNNY how certain car brands can become an obsession – Porsche in particular having an extremely large ‘cult’ following. I couldn’t envisage buying any sports car now without the Porsche emblem at the end of the bonnet, which is odd considering the strong competition. It’s as if I’ve been brainwashed by a guru based in Stuttgart, and judging by the number of enthusiasts one meets at Porsche gatherings I’m certainly not alone. Having attended a car meet at Brands Hatch a while back I was completely smitten with the 991.1 GT3 RS cars on display. The wide body and huge wing looked so aggressive and purposeful I’d never seen anything like it. I found myself repeatedly going back to look at certain cars hoping to have a chat with the owners in order to gain more information and get their feedback. Eventually I bumped into the owner of a Lava Orange car, I asked him if the RS is a firm ride and difficult to live with on poor, bumpy UK roads … unfortunately he spent about 45 minutes telling me how utterly fantastic they are to drive and I knew my craving was not going to diminish any time soon. AT 132
Over the following weeks I went online and read every available review and watched every YouTube video featuring the 991.1 GT3 RS – the beauty of the Internet is that a huge amount of information is at your fingertips. Evidently the huge cartoon-like rear wing on the RS has the equivalent downforce effect as an adult man sitting on each of the rear wheel arches – with Porsche nothing is purely for show. Indeed at 186 mph the car achieves an overall downforce rating of 770lb. The redesigned front splitter and vents in the front wings mean the 991 GT3 RS amazingly has double the front downforce of the 997 GT3 RS 4.0lt that preceded it. Porsche engineers are certainly always taking huge strides forward with each new model. Obviously it is complete overkill for British public roads with lots of unused performance on tap, however, one characteristic of the car which really stood out in some of the reviews was how compliant the car is. I had assumed that being an RS meant it would be a special occasion European road trip / track car but Chris Harris and co all said it was not only blisteringly fast but also easy to live with at low speeds, comfortable and useable.
So, having discarded all sensible rationale telling me I didn’t need an RS in my life, I set forth scouring the classifieds looking for one for sale with the spec I wanted. I’d initially settled on Ultra Violet which was a colour strongly associated with the 991.1 GT3RS, being the model it was first available with as a special order, as was Lava Orange. My main concern was the fixed bucket seats that most RS cars had. Having spent 25 years driving John Deere tractors and being generally fat and unfit along with 6ft 2in tall, I suffer from back ache and pelvic pain fairly easily and assumed that the bucket seats would crucify my lower back with the lack of lumbar and side bolster adjustment etc. I decided that it would be prudent to go and sit in the seats before travelling all over the country looking at cars so I ventured to a fairly close Porsche specialist that had an RS in stock – primarily just to slump into the seat and check out the comfort.
The car they had in stock was paint to sample in Mexico Blue and as soon as I set eyes on it in the show room I knew that if I could tolerate the seats, I had to pull the trigger. To me it just looked fantastic. I’d never seen a 991.1 RS in Mexico Blue (apparently there are only around five UK cars in this colour) so not only did it really stand out visually but I also hoped it would maybe have slightly better residual value than the more plentiful colours such as white, orange or Ultra Violet. The bucket seats were far more comfortable than I’d expected and after some very depressing negotiations with a charmless salesman I owned my dream car!
The car had covered 5,000 miles which suited me – I wanted a car to drive so certainly wasn’t interested in any of the cars in the classifieds which only had delivery mileage on the clock after two years (and a price tag to match). There’s acres of talk on Porsche forums about the practice of flipping GT cars and the perceived unethical way Porsche Centres distribute their GT allocation to their best customers. The way I see it is in most business scenarios being expected to buy about seven cars each with a big residual loss in order to be gifted a £25,000 profit on an eighth purchase would not be a deal I want anyway!
It is a one owner from new 2016 car that has all the decent factory options including front axle lift, cruise control, and PCCBs. Sadly it’s difficult to access much of the available storage space behind the roll cage because of the fixed bucket seats – ideally the passenger seat would fold forward so bags could be stored in the back, however the front boot is large enough for a couple of large weekend bags. I guess no one buys an RS for practicality anyway!
The car really has proved to be a revelation to me in terms of its capabilities. It is considerably more compliant over bumpy local roads than my old 991 GTS was. With the rear wheel steering and crisp handling it feels a much smaller car to drive than it actually is. On open twisty B-roads it’s simply sublime. The throttle response is instant and the PDK is so accomplished I never yearn for a manual gearbox. It is perfectly happy cruising along in traffic, yet when you put your foot down it instantly transforms into a complete beast, with an engine noise to match.
Compared to some c ars with a similar performance it’s without doubt very useable however a friend and I recently called in at a local McDonalds drive thru and having ordered two Big Mac meals at window one, I was instructed to wait in a nearby parking bay for the order. I drove halfway into the parking bay and realised there was simply not enough room to park. I tried to reverse out but by now a white van was immediately behind me and behind him a dozen cars in a line … so the entire drive thru came to a grinding halt while some donut driving a GT3 RS tried to slowly navigate his way out of trouble. I had initially pictured myself in the RS cruising through the Swiss Alps or driving down to Monaco – not getting verbal abuse in a Peterborough McDonalds … but never mind. Since owning the RS several people have asked me if I’ve got rid of my other cars. I find that question rather distasteful … I mean, if you meet someone with a baby would you ask ‘have you got rid of your other kids?’ It’s so much fun to drive I definitely won’t be storing her in the garage all winter. as long as there’s no salt on the road she’ll see regular use. Don’t all cars run better when used often? I’ll be having one or two road trips abroad in the forthcoming months and I assume Stuart and the Peterborough TIPEC group will have the occasional drive out over winter which is always enjoyable. I’m certainly not monitoring the odometer – life’s too short!
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BARGAIN 996
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG? Thanks to a PPI claim Stewart Thumwood came into some money, so he started looking around for a Porsche – time to live those schoolboy dreams.
Author Stewart Thumwood Photography Stewart Thumwood
I had around 30k to spend with my savings and the PPI money and I was looking for a 997 to start with. I found one I liked and was about to go and view it, when I got a call from a friend asking “are you still looking for a Porsche?” He had a friend that wanted to sell his, so off I went. It was a 1999 996 C4 in Midnight Blue. The car had full history, memory seats, a sunroof and refurbished alloys. The owner had clearly spent loads on it and I thought ‘he will want blood for this’. We got talking – he was selling as the gearbox was making a noise. He said he had spend too much on the car and it had to go … so we made a deal. I said I would pay £100 more than We Buy Any Car. He agreed, so I had bought a 996 C4 for £7,200 – a bargain I thought! The next few weeks were not love at first sight. I hated the car. Did not want to drive it. I just couldn’t get on with it and started telling myself that I had to sell it on. My dream car was over, or so I thought. After around a month. I joined up to TIPEC’s Facebook page and got advice from a few people. I sent a few emails out and ended up speaking with Tony at Dove House Motor Company. After a few emails back and forth I took the car down to Tony to look at, and off we went for a drive in it. Tony was driving and trying to hear what was wrong with it. After a quick drive up and down the road he put it up on the ramp. Then he gave me the bad news: the gearbox needed a rebuild. I asked Tony how much I owed for his diagnosis;
“Nothing” was his reply. I could not believe he spent his time looking at my car for free – and what a nice bloke, so helpful. I took the car back home to think about what to do. Do I get it fixed, or sell for parts to get my money back? After a long night without much sleep I phoned up Tony and booked it in for the gearbox and a new clutch as well. I thought I might as well when the gearbox was out. I took the car down on the next Saturday to drop it off. Tony phoned on the follwoing Wednesday. Here we go, I thought, time for the big bill – but not at all. With everything done the cost was £2k. I was a happy boy and I picked the car up two weeks later. The drive home in a car that was working as it should made me understand what the car was about. That feeling. The smile on my face said it all. Now I could understand the hold a Porsche has over you. Then disaster. I was just putting the car on the drive when suddenly steam was everywhere – a water pipe had gone bang. Luckily I had already made it home. I phoned Dove House, then the RAC, and I got the car back to Tony on the Monday. Not a great start, but after that drive back home I knew I was keeping it. That car was not going anywhere. I picked my 996 up again the next Saturday, £400 pounds lighter. Turns out the heater had gone. I never thought the odd headlights would grow on me, but now love it. I call my car J-Lo – she is a bit old, she’s had a bit of work done, and she’s got lumps and bumps in all the right places. I have now joined the club and am enjoying my ownership. I still have a few bits to sort out with the car, but the help and advice I am getting from the TIPEC and the Facebook page is out of this world. I did the Bicester Scramble with the club,
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and a breakfast meet. I’m looking forward to next year and to putting some miles on the car. I’ve now begun to put some upgrades onto it – starting with a Pipercross air filter, which sounds really nice. I got a club discount on the filter as well, which helps. There are lots of 996s around to buy, and definitely some bargains out there. You really can end up with a cheap 911 if you shop around. They cannot stay at this price for long, but right now a 996 could be a better return for your money than leaving it in the bank – and with more smiles along the way. The only problem I now have is deciding whether one Porsche is enough! I’m looking for a Boxster to go with it. My dream that started to turn into a nightmare is back to being a dream. The joy of Porsche ownership. Thanks to everyone that’s helped me, from Tony at Dove House to everybody at TIPEC, my 996 is alive and kicking. She’s great to drive – brilliant on the B-roads. I know the C4 is not the sought after car, but that AWD is just great – it helps you out when you need it. The 996 makes a ideal first 911: Cheap to buy, cheap tax because of its age, and there are loads of mods you can make to it to put your own stamp on the car. For less than £10k, what’s not to love? It’s the only car I’ve ever had that can make me smile by just thinking about it.
THE SMILE ON MY FACE SAID IT ALL. NOW I COULD UNDERSTAND THE HOLD A PORSCHE HAS OVER YOU.
11
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BACK TO BRANDS Author Joe Croser / Photography Joe Croser
As September dawned I returned to Brands Hatch for the first time in 14 years to enjoy the season-ending Porsche racing. Not entirely sure why I’d left it so long! To beat the queues we agreed upon an early start so Sunny arrived at my house in his beautiful 997.1 C2S as the birds were still yawning. After a brief ‘ello’ we headed off to hook up with Martin and his son at the Peterborough Services before convoying south. We made good time and arrived at Brands Hatch soon after 8am. A fabulous fried breakfast and lashings of sun cream set us up nicely for a day which saw us wandering slowly through the many car parks lusting after the thousands of Porsches in attendance.
Many familiar faces were there: I bumped into my pal Ben and I enjoyed a good chat with Greig from RPM Technik. I caught up with Lee Sibley, editor of Total911 Magazine in the PCGB tent and I met Magnus Walker for the first time, who very kindly signed an autograph for my daughter. Mark Sumpter of Paragon drove supremely to clinch the 2018 title in his class and I have to say Sunny followed in great style as we participated in the parade lap as the sun was just starting to set. I don’t recall if we did three or four laps but I do recall that some sections were taken with great spirit and I managed to snap a few choice pics including this one of Sunny’s car’s hips and Martin’s fabulous 991.1 GT3. The drive home was without drama and Sunny dropped me back at my door just before 9pm. It was a long day but one of the best car-days in a while. Sunny and Martin were cracking company and for a change it was a real treat to be driven, proving that a Porsche 911 is almost as exciting from the passenger seat as it is from the driving seat.
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PORSCHE PRIVATEER
CAREL DE BEAUFORT, ONE OF THE LAST FUN-LOVING AMATEURS OF GRAND PRIX RACING Author Martin Broadribb Photography Ted Walker Archive
GRAND PRIX racing has always comprised those who get drives due to their outstanding ability and a smaller proportion who are there more due to their financial backing. Latterly the amounts of money involved in this end of motorsport have become so huge that bringing personal sponsorship can be the key to securing a drive, but back in the 1950s simply being wealthy enough to purchase the appropriate car and finance the entries, travel and so forth could put someone on the grid. Within this second tier of drivers there were still some who were a cut above the others and it is one of those that we shall be considering here, the Dutchman and great Porsche competitor Carel de Beaufort. In the 1950s and 1960s, as well as the F1 Championship races there were also plenty of non-Championship events and so the opportunities to race were not only much greater but with less top line opposition in some races so there were chances of better positions. For instance, in 1960 there were 10 GP Championship races but an additional 12 others, both series being spread throughout the season and the world. Jonkheer Karel Pieter Antoni Jan Hubertus Godin de Beaufort came, as you might guess, from a noble background and was really too tall and heavy to be a racing driver. However he exhibited a liking for cars from an early age and after the death of his father in 1950 when he was only 16 he inherited the family Maarsbergen estate. The private roads there allowed him to perfect his driving and he entered his first rally in 1952. After his military service ended in 1955 he bought his first Porsche, a 356 1500 and entered the Tulip Rally, only retiring due to a mechanical failure when a top five place looked assured. AT 132
Despite his rallying it was racing that really attracted Carel (as he had renamed himself) and for 1956 he bought one of the then-new Porsche 550s, which he soon began to enter under the Ecurie Maarsbergen name. He gained experience with this and a 356 Carrera over the next two years, scoring some results that were good enough to attract the attention of von Hanstein, the Porsche competition manager. This led to the first of many drives on behalf of the company in 550, 718 and 356 models, sometimes in partnership with some of the great Porsche drivers of the day such as Barth, von Frankenberg, and Linge. While continuing to compete in sports racing cars Carel began to realise his ambition to participate in Grand Prix racing. Initially using an F2-specification 718RS with its single central seat and then a Cooper T51, for the 1961 season he bought the 718/2 F2 that the factory had loaned to Rob Walker for Stirling Moss to drive the previous season. F2 cars had been allowed to run in GP racing since 1959 as a prelude to the 1.5 litre F1 specification introduced for 1961 and while the factory moved from the F2-based 718/2 models to the purpose-designed 804, Carel stuck with his old car – in which he would eventually compete 57 times – and also purchased another as a rarely-used backup.
Racing at this level was still expensive even then and Carel offset some of the costs by building a motel and petrol station. This also acted as a base for his team, although Ecurie Maarsbergen comprised only himself and his sister Cornelie. Born a year after Carel and still resident at Maarsbergen as I write, she fulfilled every team manager function from an office at the motel and also accompanied Carel to events to take care of all the practicalities such as timekeeping. Having started by converting the coach house at the family home into a garage, the cars were then kept in a shed at the rear of the motel and their maintenance was normally overseen by Arie Anssems, an accomplished mechanic who had been spectating at Le Mans in 1959 when he offered to help Carel after his helper deserted him, although Anssems and the others who worked under his guidance were never employed full time by Carel. Further looking to offset the expenses of racing, in 1963 Carel carried advertising for Pan-American airlines who took care of flying the cars to the more far-flung races, an unusual arrangement at a time when sponsorship was not common even at this level and certainly not among privateers. It was during one of his foreign sorties to the 1957 Venezuelan GP that he became friendly with an expatriate Dutch family and this led to him
registering his car-related interests there for tax purposes. Even his road cars carried Venezuelan registrations, their YV international plates probably being unique in Europe. As previously mentioned, Carel’s stature and build counted against him and he drove without shoes to lower himself a few extra centimetres, latterly even taking dietary and fitness instruction from Dutch Olympic judo champion Anton Geesink in pursuit of less weight. Ultimately though, Carel knew that in the GP circus he was just racing for fun and he never let its seriousness overcome his innate sense of humour, with pranks such as having a ‘butler’ present him his helmet and gloves when on the grid, or wearing a Beatles wig in the paddock. There was even something humorous about his 1959 accident at AVUS when his 718RSK crashed over the top of the banking, leading the organisers to assume that he had been injured or killed. However, the car smashed through the trees and shrubs and ended up on its wheels in the paddock below. Rapidly exiting the car expecting it to catch fire, nothing happened so Carel got back in and rejoined the race. It was a few laps before the astounded officials black-flagged the battered car! Unfortunately for everyone the music eventually has to stop and for Carel this came at the 1964 German GP. Even he seemed to realise that his 718/2, while one of the few cars able to accommodate his ample frame, was by now severely outclassed and his GP programme had been greatly reduced. However, he was experienced with the notorious 14-plus mile Nurburgring and felt confident that he could pull off another of his surprising performances, but on only the fifth lap of practice the car – for reasons that have never really been established – crashed. The impact left it virtually undamaged but Carel was thrown out and although he initially survived his injuries he died that evening. He was just over 30 years old. The family home at Maarsbergen had been the scene of drivers meetings which led to the formation of the Grand Prix Drivers Association and of post-Dutch GP parties and many of those that had attended those events returned there for Carel’s funeral. His coffin was carried by a white 356 cabriolet and on either side there walked a line of his motor sport contemporaries, headed by Husche von Hanstein and Graham Hill. It was only fitting that so many of his friends turned out to honour one of the last fun-loving amateurs of GP racing and a great Porsche enthusiast.
Far left: A fine impromptu portrait snapped during a non-championship F1 event at Mallory Park in 1960. Top: Carel making his surprise reappearance at Avus in 1959 after crashing his 718RSK over the top of the banking. The damage is evident and when officials recovered from their shock he was black-flagged. Bottom: His head well above the windscreen and fairing of the 718RS60 at the 1969 Nurburgring 1000Km, Carel sports a casually open collar and spare goggles. 15
7T YEARS OF PORSCHE
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THE PRODUCT planners at Porsche aren’t daft. Their brief was simple: take a ‘basic’ 991 Carrera, add lightness, offer a few bespoke options with one or two model specific details and, perhaps most importantly, re-introduce a model designation not seen since the early ’70s (there’s that number again) and punt the cars out to an adoring audience.
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And, believe me, adored they are. Of the seven cars featured hereabouts, five of them are in private hands, the owners having chosen their ‘T’ to run instead of, or alongside, some pretty special machinery (such as a track-orientated Lotus, a late model M5, a British Legends 991 GTS, a 997 GTS, and suchlike). At a recent regional level club pride-of-ownership event, one of our ‘T’s turned more heads and created more interest than any of the other 25 Porsches in its company.
Chatting to the owners reveals a common theme: they see the Carrera T as something more than the sum of its parts. Less outrageous than a GT3, but very much a driver’s car. Not an in-your-face road-racer, more a clubman’s sports-tourer. Something special within the model range, without the ‘speculators only’ tag that sometimes accompanies 911s with a ‘GT’ badge on their engine cover.
Club member Dave’s Carrara white T (L3 DAG) started life as a dealer demonstrator. Dave jumped in it with 30 miles on the odometer and ran that total up to 107 miles on his test drive. Deciding to buy it there and then he was drawn in by the car’s specification – it’s almost exactly as he would have asked the factory to build had he chosen the spec, including carbon ceramic brakes, and he’s only added an alcantara steering wheel and gear lever surround. This car replaced a 981 Boxster GTS and Dave is quick to point out that his T is a ‘keeper’; he sees it as something of a ‘purists’ car with its relatively light weight and back-to-basics feel, adding than he liked it when he got it, but has grown to love it!
Jamie’s T is another Carrara white car (J2 WYL) which was purchased new from dealer stock. Jamie reports that he considered three different cars and chose this one because its spec suited him best. Coming from a ‘gen 2’ 997 Carrera S, Jamie says that his T feels faster and more refined than the 911 that went before, noting that he likes the T’s retro touches which he describes as being ‘classic Porsche’.
Chris is a new club member and also new to the Porsche brand and chose his T (75 CJH) to find out what modern 911 ownership is all about. He wanted GT silver paint when choosing his spec and a sunroof. He admits the roof goes against the ‘lightweight’ ethos of the design brief but backs it up by telling me “l like sunroofs!” Chris loves the bucket seats he chose, and reckons the car is a ‘keeper’, citing the narrow body as being a key feature. At six months old, it has covered 4,000 miles and has done 750 of those miles on track. This car is also specced with the factory front-axle lift kit and carbon ceramic brakes like Dave’s. Although not a ‘daily driver’ Chris points out that he uses the car every week and will do so throughout the coming winter.
*OR, HOW TO CELEBRATE 70 YEARS OF PORSCHE CARS WITH SEVEN CARRERA Ts … Author Richard Sholl Photography Łukasz Dulski
Rob’s Racing Yellow T (MF18 DWN) is another car ordered to personal spec, with Rob noting that “Racing Yellow was the launch colour. So I had to have it”. Rob has been around Porsche cars for some time now and his T replaced a much-loved 997 GTS. It’s not a ‘daily driver’ but has covered 6,000 miles since first registration in March this year with some of those miles clocked up in France when Rob visited the Le Mans Classic event. He sees his car as an ‘end of an era 911’ and like Chris, notes the narrow body as being a key feature.
The last of our ‘owner’ cars is Andrew’s Racing Yellow T (Y4 YVY). Another serial Porsche owner, this car was again ordered to personal spec, but the factory managed to omit the painted washer jets and leather dash inserts! There’s no sunroof (much to Chris’s disappointment) and no rear seats. Andrew has taken time to gel with his T over the 2,500 miles he’s covered and wasn’t totally happy with his car’s handling. A recent visit to his Porsche Centre revealed that a service campaign to replace ‘suspension brace bolts’ was outstanding on the car. Now suitably ‘tweaked’, Andrew suggests that he’s far happier with the handling but is yet to be convinced that it’ll surpass his previous Cayman R.
Our last two Ts are, at the time of writing, for sale at Porsche Centre Bolton. One’s a cracking GT silver car, the other is Carrara white with added Martini stripes. Both feature the ‘Sport Design Package’ (note the front bumper differences between our featured cars), manual seven speed transmissions, 918 style bucket seats and 370hp each! Thanks to our five owners for bringing their cars along for this feature. Thanks also to Jon Challis, Service Manager at Porsche Centre Bolton, for providing our location and the two sales cars. Lastly, thanks to our photographer on the day Łukasz Dulski who rocked up in a 928 and provided the images you see here.
Łukasz Dulski would be happy to discuss any automotive photography projects with club members via dulski.lukasz@gmail.com 17
THAT DIFFICULT MIDDLE PERIOD
Cars, even Porsches, usually reach what might be termed a mid-life crisis. Beginning as expensive and desirable objects, progressively their values sink to a fraction of the original figure while their running costs stay the same and their maintenance expenses continue to increase. Author Martin Broadribb / Photography Martin Broadribb LIKE LINES intersecting on a graph, there comes a point where their notional affordability allows them to fall into the hands of owners who lack the true interest or the financial ability and/or commitment to continue to maintain them correctly and so they slide into a poor state of repair and consequent unreliability and MOT failure. From here it is a short step to being abandoned or weighed in for their metal value, although the latter situation sometimes leads to parts being available to keep others alive. Desirability often also forms a part of the above equation and certain models can sometimes fall prey to being seen as less worthwhile than others. It often takes quite a long period for cars to recover from this and it can finally be overcome by potential owners of a different age group looking at them afresh or the variants that are seen as more desirable moving out of the financial grasp of the majority, leaving the once derided types as the only way into ownership.
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There have been many Porsche models that have ridden the value and appreciation rollercoaster, but in more recent times there have been a few that have stood out for their changes in fortune. The 924 has been with us for over 40 years and got off to a rather shaky start as something of a surrogate and then adopted child of Porsche. Being the vanguard of what was to turn out to be a front-engined invasion of what had been a rearengined preserve for almost 30 years meant that it attracted a fair amount of prejudiced comment – often from those with no experience of it – and this has dogged the model to the present day, despite the way in which it evolved and its competition successes. Latterly things have been changing though and good examples are being sold at figures that they have not realised since their earliest days. The usual situation of mass neglect has of course dramatically reduced numbers, helping to increase the rarity value of survivors and perhaps younger owner who see the car differently helps too. It is certainly a car whose styling has aged very well indeed and its common parts help to keep ownership costs down.
Like the 924, the cheapness of the Boxster has made it a popular choice on the racing circuits. It too was a revolutionary up-ender of accepted Porsche thinking and – again like the 924 – it has had to suffer from the attentions of ill-informed detractors. The fact that it played a major part in saving the company and allowed it to still exist is usually overlooked by those who refer to it as ‘a hairdressers car’, as is the placing of its engine in the ideal location first chosen by Dr Porsche. The fact that there have been so many Boxsters made – the Valmet tractor company in Finland even manufactured them on behalf of Porsche in the model’s early days to help satisfy demand – seems to be something else held against it, but history shows that the more common a car is the sooner it will vanish from our roads, even if being prolific is only relative in this instance. The problem with all Porsches is that whatever price the car sinks to its proper maintenance and repair is always related to its starting figure and this is certainly true of the Boxster. Early models, although very popular in Porsche terms during the first few years of production, are already becoming an uncommon sight and as with the 924 most of the ‘on the edge’ cars have fallen over it.
Even the hallowed 911 has suffered from ‘undesirable syndrome’. There was a time when the 912 variant was simply relegated to ‘why would you bother?’ status, but as the really desirable 911s have become astronomically expensive so this has affected values throughout the range. As the 911 is the aspirational Porsche for so many, once again the values of models long seen as range makeweights – though not necessarily justifiably – have begun to climb and the 912 has been reappraised and welcomed back into the fold from which its existence had almost been written out. The 911 Targa is an equally good example of changing fortunes. I’ve always found the original Targa (after the first ‘soft window’ cars) a good-looking and cohesive piece of design and was long puzzled by its vociferous detractors. However, like the 912 it has been pulled upwards in the wake of rising prices for other models and has undergone a striking renaissance due to this. At least increasing values mean that expenditure and even fullscale restorations on cars that would otherwise have become (at best) donors is now justified, although it is sad to consider how many of all of the above models have been scrapped during their years of non-appreciation.
EVEN THE HALLOWED 911 HAS SUFFERED FROM ‘UNDESIRABLE SYNDROME’, BUT AS THE REALLY DESIRABLE 911S HAVE BECOME ASTRONOMICALLY EXPENSIVE SO THIS HAS AFFECTED VALUES THROUGHOUT THE RANGE.
I was astounded at just how many 924s and 944s were traded in under the last Government car scrappage programme, but as it gave their owners their only chance of realising an amount of money for the cars way above the market would offer who could blame them? The same thing would be unlikely to happen to almost all of the models mentioned above today though, with the possible exception of the Boxster. It is unfortunate that so many cars – and not just some Porsches – have to become generally unloved before being welcomed back into the fold, but it seems to be a pattern destined to be repeated. It is fortunate that there is always a body of perceptive owners willing to stick with their cars throughout their unpopularity and give them the future that they deserve as much as the more obvious candidates.
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VINCE DALLIMORE DRIVES
THE KHUNJERAB PASS THE HIGHEST BORDER POST ON EARTH AT 16,010ft
IN JANUARY 2018 Helen and I were invited, by friends in Lahore, to join a classic car rally from Islamabad to the Khunjerab Pass border post with China, at 16,010 feet above sea level. Due to security issues in Pakistan, the convoy of 15 cars had to be organised by a travel company who could pre-book the hotel stays and security presence for each leg. It is a journey which could not be undertaken independently due to the need for clearance at frequent border checkpoints.
The initial plan was for me to drive a friend’s classic Mercedes, but the car’s prep was not completed in time. Subsequently an ’80s 911 Targa was offered by a friend of our host and I drove this from Lahore to Islamabad, 234 miles AT 132
away. Unfortunately, on arrival in the city as darkness fell, we discovered a faulty alternator and the Porsche was abandoned. I had to share driving in various vehicles en route; this turned out to be not such a let-down as I might have expected! The day of departure, the party gathered early morning for the first leg of the journey to Naran, 180 miles away, and an elevation of 7,900 feet – a journey of some 11 hours. A rest day was then taken in Naran, which included a jeep ride (on a goat track – an experience not to be forgotten!) to the nearby glacier-fed lake, 2,000 feet above the village.
The next day, we drove to Gilgit via the 90 mile Kaghan Valley and Barbusar Pass topping out at an elevation of 13,700ft. The
regular landslide damage to road surfaces, meaning the journey slowed to a snail’s pace. Gilgit was a beautiful green valley, famous for fruit production thanks to its location in a bowl of high walled mountains, which means the average temperature is much warmer than would be expected at 5,000 feet. 9,000ft descent towards Chilas and the Indus River via never ending hairpins is greater than the Stelvio in Europe! This journey brought us to the section of the Karakoram Highway that follows the Indus river and the old Silk Route for some 100 miles to Gilgit, at 4,900ft. En route we reached an amazing viewing point, where the confluence of the Indus and Gilgit rivers sits below the meeting of the three highest mountain ranges on earth: the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kush. During the journey, we viewed Nanga Parbat, the Western anchor of the Himalaya and ninth highest mountain on earth at 26,660ft, notorious as the ‘killer mountain’, due to its climbing challenge and sheer vertical Rupal Face of some 15,000 feet. This section of the drive was very difficult due to
After another rest day the convoy proceeded to Hunza – home of apricots, apricot oil and some of the world’s oldest people, many descended from the Mongol hoards in China – for a four-night stay. The first day included a visit to the viewpoint of another famous mountain, Rakaposhi, a 25,550ft peak, the only mountain in the world to rise from base fields to the peak in one continuous slope (of over seven miles!)
Author Vince Dallimore Photography Vince Dallimore
of arriving at such altitude was that the classic cars, including some from the ’60s, suffered no noticeable effects of low oxygen – unlike the drivers!
The following day was the final push to our ultimate destination of the Chinese border post, in the Khunjerab Pass, at 16,000 feet, via a 112 mile journey through barren but majestic mountain scenery, over a five hour period. This section of the trip took in the recently completed tunnels, built by the Chinese, to bypass Attobad Lake. The lake was formed in 2010 when an earthquake caused a landslide that blocked the Hunza River and subsumed 12 miles of the original KKH (Karakoram Highway); an incredible project, completed in only six years, during which all freight and car traffic had to be ferried across the lake. At the summit, the Pakistani and Chinese border posts sit in a moonscape-like plain, overlooked by snow-c apped peak s and glaciers. One surprising feature
The older cars that completed the trip to the summit were an MG Midget, an MGB GT, an Austin Healey 3000, a Cadillac Eldorado, and a Mercedes 280SLC. The more modern cars were a Boxster, a Mercedes SL, and several SUVs as support vehicles. The tour company provided a team of mechanics and a low loader which was called into use on occasions! The journey up took a total of seven days; the return trip of eight days incorporated a two-night leisure stop at Nathiyagali, a beautiful verdant area frequently visited for long weekends by city dwellers from Islamabad and Lahore.
A significant difference between this road trip and a typical trip to the Alps was the need for military and police escorts – provided by the government, since six of the participants were European visitors. Whist they a necessary facility, the Gilgit Baltistan Tigers (No Fear!) slowed the convoy do as our tour speed was dictated by the Toyota Hilux escorts carrying our armed protectors!
The most surprising aspect of the expedition was a better understanding of the countr y of Pakistan and the northern mountainous regions which embrace some 30% of its land area, a complete contrast to the hot and humid low lands between Karachi on the Arabian Sea and Islamabad in the foothills. The history of the mountain natives as descendants
from Mongolia and China, with their own languages and customs, was a revelation. The autonomous region of Gilgit Baltistan is under the supervision of the Agha Khan, who supports the maintenance of the indigenous culture and in par ticular advancement of women’s rights and education.
The actual driving was in no way comparable to a typical tour of Europe; the landscape and roads are harsh and the actual building of the Karakoram Highway is referred to as the eighth wonder of the world, due to the incredible topography of this part of Pakistan.
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PORSCHES ROUND PICARDY ANDY HARRIS TOOK HIS PARENTS (AND THEIR BOXSTER) ON A TOUR OF MEMORIAL SITES IN NORTHERN FRANCE Author Andy Harris Photography Andy Harris WE DECIDED to take Mum and Dad with their lovely 986 Boxster on a tour of Picardy, Northern France – not only for a long weekend of great driving but also to revisit some of the Great War battle sites and remember a lost relative, William Henry Bloyce who died on the Somme in March 1918. Our trip started with 100 miles to drive between Reading and Folkestone, leaving early enough to miss all the traffic on the M25 and M20! Goodbye British roads, for a few days anyway! We arrived in Folkestone with plenty of time for breakfast and coffee before our Eurotunnel crossing to Calais. Our destination was the village of Contalmaison. As with many villages in this area of France, Contalmaison saw a great deal of fighting and was one of the allied objectives in the first Battle of the Somme. We decided to take a roundabout route from Calais to Contalmaison taking in the French town of Armentieres on the Belgian border. Armentieres suffered heavily during both World Wars and received two Military Crosses along with the Legion d’Honneur. In the month of April 1918 German forces shelled Armentieres with mustard gas, resulting in the evacuation of British troops. German troops couldn’t enter the commune for two further weeks due to heavy contamination; the liquid mustard ran down the streets! Today, Armentieres is a beautiful little town with its motto being Pauvre mais fière – Poor but proud! Having had a good fill of fine French cuisine we headed back to the cars and set our destination for Contalmaison, a further 100 kilometers away. This route took us around the towns of Lens and Arras and then onto the Bapaume to Albert road taking in the villages of Courcelette and Pozieres, all of which suffered heavily during the conflict of 1914–1918. Pozieres is also now a beautiful little village, during July and August 1916 it was completely destroyed. This battle was to become known as the Battle of Pozieres and amongst the British and Commonwealth forces who fought at Pozieres, over 5,000 Australians were killed, wounded or are still AT 132
missing. The Australian flag flies over Pozieres in recognition of the sacrifice of the ANZACs. An English composer, George Butterworth who attended Eton and studied at Trinity College, Oxford, was a lieutenant in the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) with many miners of County Durham serving alongside him. As part of the 23rd Division, the 13th DLI was sent into action to capture the western approaches of the village of Contalmaison with a number of trenches being successfully captured near Pozieres on 16th and 17th July 1916. Butterworth was wounded in action and awarded the Military Cross. On the 4th August 1916, having recovered from wounds, the 23rd Division was ordered to attack a communications trench known as Munster Alley. The soldiers dug an assault trench and named it Butterworth Trench in honour of their officer. During the night of 4th and 5th August, Butterworth and his miners captured Munster Alley, albeit with heavy losses. On 5th August, amid German attempts to recapture the position, Butterworth was shot through the head by a sniper and killed. His body was buried by his men within the side of the trench but was never recovered for formal reburial.
The centre of Albert is dominated by the Basilica of NotreDame de Brebieres, designed by Edmund Duthoit, a white brick and stone neo-Byzantine-style building topped by a 70 meter tower culminating in a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus sculpted by Albert Roza and dubbed the Golden Virgin. The statue was hit by a shell on 15th January 1915 and lay in a near horizontal position where it remained until further shelling in 1918 destroyed the tower! The British said that whoever made the statue fall would lose the war, whilst the Germans thought the opposite! Albert was, during 1916, situated three miles from the front lines with the leaning Virgin becoming especially familiar to the thousands of British soldiers who fought at the Battle of the Somme.
George Butterworth is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, the road between Pozieres and Martinpuich has been named Chemin George Butterworth or, George Butterworth Lane and the B&B that we stayed in is now called Butterworth Farm – a lovely tribute to a brave man.
Albert was recaptured by the Germans in March 1918; the British directed their bombardment at the church tower to prevent the Germans from using it as a machine gun post with the Basilica being destroyed and the statue eventually falling in April 1918, the British then reoccupying Albert until the end of the war. Albert was rebuilt after the war along with the Basilica according to its original design by Eduoard Duthoit, the son of the architect who oversaw construction in 1885.
Having checked into Butterworth Farm, it was time to find an evening meal and the town of Albert, about seven kilometers down the road, is where we were heading. Having visited Albert a few times now, we know the ‘Corners Pub’ serves great food and the local beer isn’t to be sniffed at!
We had a cracking start to our second day, with lovely weather and a good breakfast setting us up nicely for the day ahead, a day for our own little family story and a good excuse for a Porsche drive out. As we wouldn’t be doing too many miles, I decided that my 996 would become a ‘family’ car for the day… 23
William Henry Bloyce was born in 1883; a son, a husband and a gardener by profession before joining the 8th Bn. Royal Berkshire Regiment as a Private and serving on the Somme. G e ne r a l Lude ndor f f ’s pl ans pushed for an offensive along the British front, north of the River Somme. The objective was to separate the French and the British armies and push the British back into the sea. On the 21st March 1918 the German’s spring of fensi ve began. Oper ation Michael was launched from the Hindenberg Line in the vicinity of Saint-Quentin and was intended to break through the Allied lines and seize the Channel ports. The offensive ended at Villers-Bretonneux to the east of Amiens where the Allies managed to halt the German advance. Much of the ground being fought over was the wilderness left by the Battle of the Somme in 1916. The French called this battle the Second Battle of Picardy. Reinforcements from the United States of America replaced our casualties, however the German army was unable to recover, marking the beginning of the end of the First World War! Our William saw action and was killed on the first day of the battle, 21st March 1918. He was 35 years old. William is still missing and is remembered on panel 56 of the Pozieres Memorial along with 14,657 British and South African soldiers who have no known grave. In total, 177,739 British and Commonwealth men were either killed, wounded or missing during this battle, 21st March to 5th April 1918. As a tribute to William, a plaque has been made in his honour and laid on the wooden boardwalk which runs around the top of the Lochnagar crater. Many fortifications, originally dug by the French had now been given Scottish names with the arrival of the Black Watch in La Boisselle during July 1915. The Lochnagar mine was dug by the Tunnelling Companies of the Royal Engineers under a German field fortification known as Schwabenhöhe or AT 132
Swabian Height and named the mine after Lochnagar Street, the British trench from which the gallery was driven. In total, 19 mines were placed beneath the German lines to assist the infantry advance at the commencement of the Battle of the Somme. The Lochnagar mine was sprung on 1st July 1916 and left a crater 30 meters deep and 100 meters wide, now preserved as a memorial. Having stopped for some lunch at the ‘Old Blighty Tea Room’, about half a mile from La Grande Mine (Lochnagar Crater), we decided to walk up to visit William’s plaque, along with hundreds of others, and take in the Lochnagar memorial. The site is beautifully preserved by the Lochnagar Crater Foundation, a voluntary group called ‘the friends of Lochnagar’ with over 50 volunteers regularly giving hundreds of hours each year to support the site. Their aim is to Conserve, Commemorate and Reconcile, a truly moving place to visit. Having spent an hour or so here it was time to head off to our last objective of the day, Delville Wood at Longueval. The village of Longueval enclosed a crossroads running southwest to Montauban, west to Bezentin, north to Flers and east to Ginchy. Longueval was occupied by the 26th and 27th Brigades of the 9th (Scottish) Division and 1st South African Infantry Brigade who used English place names such as Sloan Street, Clarges Street, Pont Street, Dover Street, Princes Street and Piccadilly to name but a few, as these were more meaningful than the French expressions! The control of the wood was essential to ensure the capture of the village and the continuation of the offensive towards Flers. As with many villages in the area, Longueval had been turned into a fortress with re-enforced cellars, underground tunnels, and machine gun posts, manned by German soldiers who had been told not to yield a metre of ground! On the 14th July 1916, the 2nd Battalion of the 16th (Bavarian) Infantry Regiment was in line in Longueval. After over a month of heavy fighting Delville Wood was entirely in the hands of the Allies and remained in the first line until 15th September 1916 when, for the first time, tanks where used to take the front eastwards and northwards. The South African National Memorial at Delville Wood was designed by Herbert Baker with the sculpture by Alfred Turner, it consists of a flint and stone screen either side of an archway, with a shelter at each end of the screen. On top of the arch
is Turner’s bronze statue of two men and a war horse. The two male figures, symbolising Castor and Pollux, represent the two white races of South Africa, British and Afrikaans. We left here and headed back to our B&B thinking somewhat of a generation lost but hopefully not forgotten. A day of roads, rubber and flatsix engines… It was time to put some miles on our Porsches’ and so a 165km drive-out to the old Circuit du Reims-Gueux was on the agenda for today. I had visited the circuit during July 2016 with friends on a previous Porsche road trip and thought it would be great for Dad to realise the history of the circuit and to have a ‘spirited’ rundown past the pits and grandstand in his Boxster. His run wasn’t as fast as mine! The 7.8km circuit is a triangular configuration of public roads formed between the villages of Thillois and Gueux and became known as one of the fastest of the era with two long straights. Motor racing commenced here in 1926 for the first Grand Prix de la Marne organised by the Automobile Club of France. The first official Formula 1 course was used in 1950 with the last Formula 1 race taking place in 1966. The last competition took place in 1972 when the circuit was finally closed due to financial problems after having hosted 14 French Formula 1 Grand Prix races. Today the circuit is still mostly drivable. Most of the buildings are in disrepair, however the pit boxes, grandstand and other buildings remain and les Amis du Circuit de Gueux is working to preserve the structures and actively support historic meetings. From here we ventured into Reims town to find a spot of lunch before the 165 or so kilometer drive back to Contalmaison, both cars running extremely well.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was fought in April 1917 with four Canadian divisions fighting alongside each other for the first time and successfully capturing Vimy Ridge. After the war, the highest point of the ridge was chosen as the site for the memorial to all Canadians with France granting Canada 107 hectares of land. Work began in 1925 and completed 11 years later, unveiled by King Edward VIII in July 1936 with more than 100,000 people attending along with 6,000 Canadian veterans. The memorial is to the 54,000 Canadian servicemen who gave their lives in France and Belgium and bears the names of 11,000 servicemen who have no known grave. An awe-inspiring sight.
This has been more of a Great War history lesson than a Porsche article, but I hope you have enjoyed it. If you are interested in the battlefields and the stories behind them, this trip makes for a fabulous drive.Your Porsche will love it, with great roads and not as many miles as you might think.
Leaving Butterworth Farm having had three lovely days with great hosts and remembering our relative, it was time to head on home. We decided on a 60km route taking in the Canadian Memorial at Vimy. 25
Regional round up R2
Scotland
R20
South Central
R25
Cumbria
R8
Anglia & North Essex
R4
Yorkshire
R11
North London, Herts & South Essex
R5
North West
R12
Kent & South East London
R18
Cheshire & Staffs
R13
Thames Valley
R26
Shropshire & Mid Wales
R9
Surrey & Sussex
R6
South Yorkshire & North Notts
R21
Hampshire
R24
Peterborough
R23
Southern
R19
East Midlands
R22
Bristol, South West & South Wales
R7
Central
R15
Cornwall & Devon
R2
R25 R4 R5
R18
R26 R7
R22 R23
R6 R24
R19
R8
R20 R13
R11
R21
R9
R12
R15
R2
SCOTLAND
scotland@tipec.net RO wanted ARO West wanted ARO East wanted (Outgoing RO Scott Francis Allan) Search Facebook for ‘TIPEC Scotland’ Meetings are held first Wednesday of every month 7:30pm for an 8pm start in the 007 bar, upstairs at Bo’Ness Motor Museum, Bridgeness Road, Bo’Ness EH51 9JR. www.motor-museum.bo-ness.org.uk The first weekend in September saw Margaret Adey and Brendan Mullan taking to the track at the Bo’ness Revival and Hill Climb, supported by over 20 regional members. Margaret pipped Brendan to the finish line with third overall in class and Brendan close behind in fourth. Midweek track action quickly followed the adrenaline filled weekend with over 30 Porsches on track at Knockhill Race Circuit, a two hour spectacle of novice track stars and stalwarts alike. Everything from the 944 Turbo to 991 GT3RS and even a twin turbo race car, all flying around the track on a slippery autumnal evening. From the reactions of all who attended this event will be one to remain on the calendar, hopefully at least twice in the year ahead. The end of the month saw members partake in the Selkirk Vintage Rally, an infield classic car show in the borders. Well attended and enjoyed by those who did. An impromptu run at the end of the month, organised by new member David Clelland, was AT 132
A taste of the last few months from TIPEC Scotland
the talk of the steamie, again something that the membership has asked be added the calendar for next season. 10 cars met at Stirling Services on an overcast Sunday morning. Off we went along the Stirling bypass and up through the hillfoot villages as far as Yetts o’ Muchart. From there it was along Glen Devon to Gleneagles, Crieff, Gilmerton, and up through the Sma’ Glen to Amulree. We climbed over the hill to Aberfeldy and travelled the full length of Loch Tay to Killin, past the Falls of Dochart and up to Lix Toll at the head of Glen Ogle. From there it was a straight run through Glen Dochart, Crianlarich and past The Green
Welly at Tyndrum to our lunch stop at Bridge of Orchy Hotel. We retraced our steps back to Lix Toll and Lochearnhead and then along Loch Earn to Comrie. We said our goodbyes there and at Greenloaning we slipped onto the A9 to head our different ways home, having travelled about 170 miles. No car related events were planned for October so the members headed off to Doner Haus in Glasgow for some upmarket kebabs, beers and banter. Another tick in the box for venues to return to.
R5
NORTH WEST
RO Richard Sholl • 07970 147 779 n22rks@googlemail.com ARO Darren Pollard • 07761 270 052 darrenpollard1@hotmail.com ARO Colin Hammerton • 07500 908 091 col.hamm@hotmail.co.uk More pics from the last few months with TIPEC Scotland
Our November meeting was dedicated to the TIPEC Scotland Regional General Meeting with a review of our recent member survey prepared and presented by Neil Baird. The information gathered will be used to shape the calendar for 2019 together with discussion on RO and ARO positions going forward. At the time of writing no nominations have been received for the positions of RO or ARO, be they East or West. Russell Burton has confirmed he will not be continuing as ARO East and I will be stepping down from the position of RO at the end of the season. It has been both a privilege and pleasure to be Regional Organiser for the past two years. Having been part of the organising team for the three years, I feel the time has come to hand over to others who can take the region into 2019. Voting has been received and results complied for the TIPEC Scotland presentations. The winners and runners up will be announced at the Christmas Presentation Night. John Davidson, Russell Burton and I would like to wish all our regional members a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. December 5th (Wednesday) Club night at Bo’Ness Motor Museum December 8th (Saturday) Christmas presentation night For more information about events, meetings or more involved with our region, log onto our Facebook page at TIPECScotland. Regional Sponsor: www.spautobahncars.com
R4
YORKSHIRE
yorkshire@tipec.net RO Chris Grayson-Pedley RO Laurence Parkin Facebook: The Independent Porsche Enthusiasts Club Yorkshire Meetings are held third Monday of every month 7:30pm at The Red Lion, Main St, Burley in Wharfedale, Ilkley LS29 7BT. December 17th (Monday) Club Night and Christmas meal (Venue to be confirmed)
R25
CUMBRIA
RO Paul Ffelan • 07391 510 054 paul.ffelan@tipec.net ARO wanted – contact Paul if interested Meetings are held last Thursday of every month from 7pm at Gilpin Bridge Inn, Bridge End, Levens, Kendal, Cumbria LA8 8EP. As we move to the close of a busy year and the nights draw in I would like to thank all our members for their support and time through 2018. Thanks also to Steve Bailey as he steps down to concentrate on exciting projects at home – we still hope to see you around on club nights even though the Cayman has moved on to a new owner. Moving on, November club night will be our traditional Quiz with one or two prizes up for grabs, so please do make the effort to join us for some fun at The Gilpin Bridge. Would be great to see you all before Christmas. The region looks forward to joining up with TIPEC NW for an end of season breakfast and run on 18th of November. Please keep an eye on the webpage/Facebook for further instructions. Given the timing of what would be a December club night between Christmas and new year, we will skip this one rather than cause any family disharmony! We will of course join NW for the traditional new year run – details TBC. After discussions at prior club nights we will have our Christmas meal in January – I am working on details of this and will update the web in the very near future. This will be the first club evening of the year. For 2019 season we will change our regular club night to first Tuesday of every month, starting in February, which hopefully will be an easier date for people to manage.
Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month from 7pm (with club business dealt with at 8pm) at The Bowling Green, Preston Road, Charnock Richard PR7 5LA. We held our annual Pride of Ownership event on 16th September, hosted once again by the Hammerton family in Great Harwood. The club is indebted to Colin, Kath, Rachel and Tobias for opening their doors to 50 people and providing parking for 26 Porsches. Our biggest Pride of Ownership event to date, this year saw Douglas Ogden’s lovely 981 Boxster GTS take top honours. Judged second, but almost universally admired, was Dave Shankland-Gort’s 991 Carrera T with Lee Shepherd’s phoenix-like 997 Turbo coming in third place. Our judges on the day were Darren Horrocks of Unique Porsche Specialists in Westhoughton and ‘friend of the club’ Ian Cooke: they did a great job of interpreting the judging criteria and the club extends its gratitude to them both. The prestigious ‘visitors choice’ vote went to Kevin Dodd’s Carrera GTS. Absolutely no surprises there … 23rd September saw several of us gathered at The Phantom Winger in Preston for breakfast at the Sports & Supercar Meet. I think we mustered nine club cars in the autumn sunshine, all from Colin’s ‘last minute’ post on our Facebook page. Gmund Cars in Knaresborough held an open day on Sunday 7th October and we took 11 Porsches for an early drive to Yorkshire from the Ribble Valley, picking up Tony and Phil en-route in their 911SC and 912 respectively. After lots of coffee, cars and, err, owls at Gmund we took a gentle drive home, via the long way round over the moors. Apart from Ben, who went to Flamingo Land … rock’n’roll, eh? Our October club night on the 9th saw us descend in high numbers upon Porsche Centre Bolton. The wonderful staff there hosted our meeting, told us all about their ‘resto-racer’ series victory, showed us around the recently extended showrooms, workshop and dialogue bays and fed us with a tasty homemade paella.
If anyone in the region is interested in getting more involved in the club via the vacant ARO position please do get in touch with myself or the NW team! December 27th (Thursday) Club night at the Gilpin Bridge Inn December TBC Christmas meal
Lee’s British Legend 911 at the Pride of Ownership 29
December 8th (Saturday) Christmas Lunch December 10th (Monday) Club night with annual quiz January 6th (Sunday) New Year Run (provisional/weather permitting)
TIPEC NW on location at The Phantom Winger
January 14th (Monday) Club night February 11th (Monday) Club night R18
Marion, Jo and Diane at the Gmund Cars open day
Adam Calvert, parts manager extraordinaire, even had a nigh-on impossible Porsche quiz prepared. Young Ben Heys got more questions right than anyone else and bagged the generous prize of a minor service. I’m guessing his dad, Chris, will ‘borrow’ that for his 911 T! Attendee numbers were strictly limited and places pre-booked: I’m delighted that our members played by the rules, but saddened that we had one gatecrasher from another club who took advantage of Bolton’s generosity. There’s a chance you’re reading this ahead of our Christmas lunch on Saturday 8th December and our club night on the 10th. It’s our annual quiz at The Bowling Green on the 10th so why not come along and join in? We’ll also be considering ‘club officials’ for 2019 – I’m standing down as Regional Organiser so feel free to discuss that or the Assistant RO positions with me or Colin beforehand.
CHESHIRE & STAFFS
RO Chris Hulme • 07775 794 291 chris@claytonhulme.co.uk ARO Stefanie Mahan • 07776 132 389 ARO Gareth Aldridge • 07881 228 944 gj.aldridge@yahoo.co.uk ARO Ian Highfield ianhighfield@talktalk.net facebook.com/groups/TIPEC.CS Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month at 8pm at the Kilton Inn, Warrington Rd, Knutsford, WA16 0PZ. As the Autumn months have fast approached we have continued to have a busy calendar of events. A few of our region members joined Fuzz Townshend and Tim Shaw at the Car SOS workshop open evening. There were a variety of beauties in the car park and it was lovely to meet both Fuzz and Tim once again as well as to be able to have a look around their fantastic workshop – though no sneaky peek at what ‘projects’ for the show they had hiding in the spray booths! Speaking with Fuzz made you realise even more that they do a FULL nut and bolt restoration with no corners cut. Also congratulations to Car SOS for their recent award – truly deserved.
As this is my last report, I’ll finish by thanking every active member in the North West for being part of the region’s recent success. In three years we’ve grown from around 45 members to over 100, we’ve been to Wales, Scotland, France, Holland and Germany. We’ve done shows and track days. We have provided prom night transport and wedding cars. We’ve been caving, clambered over rocks, messed about in dark lime kilns, tasted cider, taken photos in a true model-village and driven coast-to-coast just because we could. We have fulfilled a bucket-list wish (and attended the, sadly inevitable, subsequent funeral). We’ve had chippy tea runs, curry nights, Sunday breakfast runs, longest day runs, new year runs, end of season runs and Northern-ish Gatherings. I’ve been supported by the best ARO in the game, and between the two of us we’ve got the club’s best regional webpage and regional Facebook group. It’s been a blast! AT 132
Cheshire & Staffs members on the Halloween drive
For some years now Cheshire & Staffs region have supported Galloway’s Visually Impaired and Blind Society at their twice-annual driving experience. As always it was a humbling day supported by the club with nine Porsches and a Peugeot – the passengers’ insight into how they perceive our cars and their experience of our beauties is very different to how we percieve or see it to be … They are strangely more in connection with the road, surroundings and noise than we are, with our full vision. They could also tell us when someone was overtaking, as well as wanting us all to go faster! If you wish to join us in 2019 at this truly amazing event then please let the region organisers know. Our October club night saw both a full car park of Porsches and a full room of their owners and co pilots for our model car quiz, kindly done by region member George Price. There were even some classic models that stumped our very knowledgable region members. Lots of discussions were had regarding future planning of events and our region weekend of the year – watch this space for more information. Club night also welcomed four new members too. Our spooky Halloween drive around the Peak District saw a fantastic sight of 14 cars on an autumn morning. It was lovely to see some region members in their other classics too, as their Porkers are off the road at present. We aren’t precious in Cheshire and Staffs and welcome any member in any set of wheels. A crisp morning gave us the perfect picturesque drive around the moorlands with many spectacular views to admire, with a few stop offs along the way before finishing off at the Knockerdown Inn for a scrumptious Sunday roast, with some trick or treats too! Not only did we have a fantastic turnout but many also joined in the spirit of Halloween – cars and owners alike were dressed up – it was a spooky sight with three witches, Morticia and Gomez Addams and Scream!
We have a few events planned for the remainder of 2018 and many plans for 2019 – please look out for all planned events below, on the club website and Facebook page. Look out for us on Instagram too – please also take a look at our region page. December 09th (Sunday) Christmas Drive and meal December 18th (Tuesday) Club night at the Kilton January 6th (Sunday) New Year Drive Out January 15th (Tuesday) Club night at the Kilton
R26
S HROPSHIRE & MID WALES
RO Richard Simmons • 07972 811 221 richardjjs@yahoo.co.uk ARO Deana Simmons Meetings are held first Tuesday of every month from 7pm at The Fox & Hounds, Shawbury SY4 4JB. We had a great second meeting at the Fox and Hounds in October. The weather was not good but we still had a good turn out. John Parry, Chris Hulme, Rob Scarlet and I spent quite a lot of time discussing the woes of John’s car but as Chris and Rob said ‘do one thing at a time’. All’s well that ends well though, so big thanks to Porsche Wolverhampton for sorting out John's Boxster. He got water in his passenger side rear compartment which destroyed the central locking control unit. Porsche Wolverhampton had the car two days for a new ECU, two new keys and drying out the carpet. Car looks like new for less than £1,000.
John Elliott spent some time explaining the woes on his incredible 1985 911 3.2 Carrera with 915 gearbox, although he is hoping to get this sorted – interestingly another main ECU problem. Carol and Trevor drove down from Mid Wales so we really will look at the other side of Shrewsbury early next year. We had a brilliant run out through Wales with breakfast at Coed y Dinas and a run out to Welsh dams. The breakfast was brilliant at £5.95 including coffee. We had 11 cars at breakfast and nine cars headed out via Newtown and Devil Bridge for coffee, then down the Elan Valley. We had to miss the Red Kite Farm – just not enough time. Maybe more driving and less talking on the runs and more talking at the meetings. We will learn! We lost three cars at the turn off for the dams; heard them go past, but they caught us up later. December 4th (Tuesday) Club night at the Fox and Hounds, Shawbury December 16th (Sunday) Run up to Snowdon, meeting for breakfast at Moreton Park Garden Centre, Chirk January 1st (Tuesday) Club night at the Fox and Hounds, Shawbury February 4th (Tuesday) Club night at the Fox and Hounds, Shawbury
R24
PETERBOROUGH
peterborough@tipec.net RO Stuart Wand • 07725 328 183 ARO Michael Walter • 07975 542 981 facebook.com/groups/PeterboroughTipec Monthly meetings are held second Wednesday of every month from 7pm at The Golden Pheasant, 1 Main Street, Etton, Peterborough PE6 7DA. The second Sunday in September was a particularly busy one for Peterborough team with two major events on the same day; Purely Porsche and Festival of Porsche at Brands Hatch.
Shropshire & Mid Wales cars lined up
Stuart and a couple of the guys slummed it over at Blenheim while the more race-oriented ventured down to Brands. Purely Porsche was a great event with a large display of both TIPEC and PCGB Porsches arcing around the lakeside in the glorious sunshine. There were numerous other cars of interest ranging from Ferraris to a Bugatti Veyron to a Brabham BT62 race car which Jodie Kidd seem to be really interested in.
Incredible scenery on the run through Wales
Festival of Porsche was just as it says a festival of all things Porsche made even more special with the 70th anniversary. A posse of club members attended this major event revelling in the fantastic show of gorgeous cars, watching
Inter-region krting event at Corby
classic and modern race cars including the 919 tackling this demanding track and participating in the parade laps. We organised an inter-regional karting event at Corby with teams from East Midlands, South Central and Peterborough. The race took the form of an endurance race with six teams of three people. Each driver had 10 minutes continuous racing at a time. The track could be described as challenging with its own version of a corkscrew. Congratulations to the winning team aptly called ‘Bourne Winners’. It was a great event which we’re looking to repeat in the new year. Thanks to all who competed. DW Performance opened their doors again for their ever-popular Cars & Coffee open day. Although the weather was changeable a large number of cars descended on Kev’s workshop in Wellingborough. We were treated to view (and climb into) a lovely looking GT3 racecar from the Carrera club series. Grant can attest to how easy it is to get out of the car! Old and new friends mixed in the Porsche-friendly surroundings. A great turnout as usual. This quarter has been a quite interesting with a number of new cars being introduced to the group – Martin’s 991 GT3, Ben’s lovely Mexico Blue 991 GT3 RS and Kevin’s gorgeous Panamera. A special mention has to go to Michael who has now achieved a lifelong dream of owning a 997, and lovely it is too! Well done to all. I’m sure we’ll see plenty of these cars in the coming months. Hopefully we’ll see everyone at the Christmas meal on the 12th December December 12th (Wednesday) Christmas club meet January 9th (Wednesday) Monthly Club meet January 12–13th (Saturday–Sunday) Autosport International February 13th (Wednesday) Monthly club meet
31
R6
S OUTH YORKSHIRE & NORTH NOTTS.
number above – I’d love to talk to you about what the club can do for you in the East Mids. As ever, if anyone has any suggestions for future club events, please give me a shout.
RO & ARO wanted urgently
December 5th (Wednesday)
Meetings are held first Sunday of every month at 7pm for 7:30pm start at Ye Olde Bell Hotel, Barnby Moor, Retford, Notts, DN22 8QS
Club meeting, The Packe Arms
Keep up to date at www.synn.org.uk or look for us on Facebook as ‘Porsche Enthusiasts Club - South Yorkshire & North Notts (TIPEC)’ R19
EAST MIDLANDS
east.mids@tipec.net RO Jim Stevens • 07879 885 260 ARO George Acquah • 07958 057 582 ARO Jack Littlemore • 07759 775 705 Meetings are held first Wednesday of every month 7pm at The Packe Arms, Rempstone Road, Hoton, Loughborough LE12 5SJ. As autumn turns to winter, the pace of club activities naturally slows down. The end of the best summer for decades hasn’t stopped us getting out an about in our cars though. Despite the turning of the weather and the changing of the clocks, we had another well attended monthly meet at the Packe Arms in October. We welcomed a couple of new members, as well as Tony Brealey and Glen Paston from Nielsen Chemicals who came along to have a chat with members about all aspects of car detailing in advance their cars and coffee event for us on Saturday 27th October. Tony himself is a keen Porsche enthusiast and we enjoyed hearing about his Porsche tractor as well discussing how to keep our cars shiny. We had a
Members being trained in the dark arts of polishing
great chat with Tony and Glen about the products that they offer as well as their wider business. Despite Saturday 27th being the coldest day of the year so far we had a great turnout for the morning at Nielsens. Tony & Glen made us very welcome, with plenty of coffee to warm the cold fingers as well as demonstrations of their detailing products and how to use them. A number of members returned home with much shinier cars (and slightly emptier wallets). A number of members also attended a new car meet that has just started up in the area at the newly revamped paddock cafe at Donington Park (called ‘Garage 39’). There was a great turnout of cars from all eras and plenty of quality Porsches too. Definitely one to keep an eye on for the future. Speaking of the future, we’re going to change the date of the January meeting as the first Wednesday falls on Jan 2nd. We’ll give you a chance to recover from your hangovers and move the meeting back a week to January 9th. This will also be the date for our post-Christmas buffet so please save the date. I’m aware that there are a number of East Midlands members that have not yet been to one of our events. If any of you are reading this, feel free to shoot me an email or call me on the
January 9th (Wednesday) Club meeting and annual new-year buffet, The Packe Arms February 6th (Wednesday) Club meeting, The Packe Arms
R8
A NGLIA & NORTH ESSEX
Ian Jones • izzy.spyder@sky.com John Briggs • john.briggs@charcoal.uk.com Yvonne King • yvonneking@hotmail.com Adam Jiggins • adamjiggins69@gmail.com facebook.com/groups/618348854957396 Meetings are held fourth Tuesday of each month from 7pm at The Woolpack, Fornham St Martin, Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk IP31 1SW. 01284 753 380 www.thewoolpackfornham.co.uk The Warren Classic & Supercar Show The forecast was grim as we arrived at our meeting point for breakfast, but a few no shows and one mutiny later, we were off to a very wet and soggy Warren Golf & Country Club. We slipped and slid our way in! The show itself is a great venue with a great mixture of old and new from a Ferrari 250 GTO to a Bugatti Chiron. But I’m afraid after a quick dash around in the pouring rain, it was back to our cars to practice our skid control skills, leaving to find a drier venue for a good old fashioned Sunday lunch. Such a shame about the weather as this had been fantastic the previous year. Battlesbridge An early start, meeting up for breakfast, then we were off in convoy to the Grand Motorbilia day. All was good until the directing marshals split us up on entry, sending us in all directions. Eventually we all ended up in the right spot after much waving of arms. With flags and pop-ups deployed we were ready for the masses. A great day again, weather was fine and a few even braved shorts. After the previous monsoon at the Warren, all was good.
Plenty of Porsches at the Garage 39 meet AT 132
Bicester Scramble With the weather on the turn as Autumn descends again, a few of us decided to chance a run over to the Bicester Scramble. With tickets booked, and as none of us fancied an early start, we travelled up and stayed over. As the Saturday arrived it was pouring down and was blowing a hoolie, but with a sunny Sunday forecast it was full steam ahead! A scenic route was chosen. We were off on yet another adventure. We’d booked ourselves into a great looking old people’s home (whoops, hotel – to remain unnamed). Not being ageist, but the average age of guests must have been up in the
R7
CENTRAL
tipeccentral@outlook.com RO Lindsay Brown • 07768 442 050 ARO Steve Jones • 07775 581 044 ARO Neil Smith • 07899 961 429
Bugatti Chiron in the mud at Warren Classic!
Meetings are held second Monday of every month 7:30pm onwards at The Bull’s Head, Birmingham Road, Shenstone WS14 0JR. www.vintageinn.co.uk/thebullsheadshenstone Here we are at the end of the year again. 2018 has been a great year for Central Region, club nights have been well attended with 24 cars for our annual Show & Shine and more than 10 cars on regular club nights. The Sunday morning breakfast meets are going from strength to strength, and it has also been great to see the wives and girlfriends turning up more and more – in fact at Donington the gazebo was turned into a Prosecco tent by the ladies, with a wonderful picnic.
924 Le Mans at the Bicester Scramble
80s along with the decor … oh well, it looked great online! That evening we absconded and found sustenance in a rather quaint traditional English inn before sneaking back to our rooms. A bright and chilly start, and after a rather superb breakfast we were off to find the end of the queue. Considering the number of cars attending, it was only a short wait until we were in. Parking marshals were ignored as they didn’t have a Scooby Doo, we then parked in the club parking area only to see Mr Smallman had already setup camp. Well, all I can say is what a fantastic venue, with anything automotive you could imagine. Without a doubt this will be on the list to be revisited in 2019. Not un-doable as an early bird day out but much more relaxing as an overnighter! Club meeting With the last meeting before the clocks go back evening tyre kicking ends for another year, unless candlelight is your thing! We had a good turnout of 20 despite the turn in the weather. Cars & Coffees at PIE Performance A great variety of cars turned out from a brand new GT2 RS to a 912 and anything inbetween. Thanks to Chris for allowing us to set up our very own club stand, which got a good amount of interest. This was followed by our regional planning committee for the forthcoming year. Please contact any of us with any thoughts and ideas you have for the region.
Along with the usual events we’re hoping to add a couple of more diverse events to the 2019 calendar, including go-karting, and I’ve also recently been in contact with a local OPC to see if they can host a couple of events for us. We will need member support for the OPC to host these events. If anyone has any fresh ideas we will be willing to listen and add them to next year’s events listing. This year’s events have all but finished, although we did go to the first breakfast meet at Donington Park recently. Because of its success more are in the pipeline, so if you like an eclectic selection of cars come along, you won’t be disappointed. The annual Classic and Sports Car Show at the NEC will have been and gone by the time you read this. If you visited hopefully you will have popped onto the stand and said hello, it really is a great show. We have decided to have our Christmas meal at The Bull’s Head again. Last year’s wasn’t great but with new management the food has vastly improved so we will give them another chance. I would like to thank all those that have supported Central during 2018, and hope they will continue to support us in 2019. I know it’s a bit early but I would like to be the first to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year.
R20
SOUTH CENTRAL
south.central@tipec.net RO Nick Papé • 07801 881 170 ARO Gary Howard • 07856 723 196 Instagram: @tipecsouthcentral Facebook.com/groups/southcentraltipec Meetings are held first Thursday of the month from 7:30pm at The Green Man, Lavendon MK46 4HA. This update will take us to a year since the region relaunched and what a year we have had. Thanks to all those who have supported us and more importantly thanks to those that have attended our events. Firstly, welcome to our new members that have joined us in the last few months. Look forward to seeing you at a meeting soon but please get in touch with Gary or me if you’d like to know more. In October we visited one of our local Porsche Specialists, DW Performance. Kev and the team put on a great morning of coffee and bacon to be enjoyed by all. The 911 racecar on view was impressive and it was good to see familiar faces and new ones too. The talk from the Millers oil man was very interesting and I now know about ZDDP and viscosity moderators. Well, I’ve at least heard of them now! October also saw the Bicester Sunday Scramble and it was great to host so many cars on our pitch from other regions and the Porsche community. We had well over 50 cars parked with Porsches from all colours and eras. The weather was fine and also great to see the Club chairman spend the day with us too. We have booked another pitch for the January Scramble and you can book online at bicesterheritage.co.uk/whaton/ sunday-scramble-january-2019 with promotional code TIPECJA19 – be sure to select a ‘Club Ticket’ to reserve a parking space on the TIPEC stand.
December 10th (Monday) Christmas meal at The Bull’s Head December 16th (Sunday) Breakfast meet at Donington Park
Porsches at the Scramble
January 14th (Monday) Club night at The Bull’s Head
Well I’ll sign off for this year wishing everyone the very best over the Christmas season and looking forward to a busy 2019.
January 27th (Sunday) Breakfast meet, venue tbc
January 22nd (Tuesday) Club night
February 11th (Monday) Club night at The Bull’s Head
January 26th (Saturday) Post-Christmas get-together and Italian night
February 24th (Sunday) Breakfast meet, venue tbc
Good mix at the Shuttleworth meet 33
Our two breakfast meets couldn’t have been more different. A few of us braved the almost tidal conditions of a rainy Sunday to the Super Sausage Café in Towcester and were rewarded with a sunny drive on the way home. We also had a breakfast meet at Shuttleworth near Biggleswade a month later on a beautiful autumn day and managed to take some fantastic photographs along with enjoying the gardens and museum. We are very fortunate to have such lovely venues in our region.
R12
kent.sel@tipec.net RO Paul Greer • 07799 412 870 ARO Stuart Watson
August’s Ace Café gathering
Our club nights at the Green Man in Lavendon are well attended and very informal. Please do come along on the first Thursday of the month for some top Porsche chat, food and drink.
At the Shuttleworth Museum with the Boxster club
December 3rd (Monday) Club night at the Green Man, Lavendon January 3rd (Thursday) Club night at the Green Man, Lavendon January 6th (Sunday) Bicester Sunday Scramble 9am at Bicester Heritage. Check above (previous page) for our promo booking code. February 3rd (Sunday) Club night at the Green Man, Lavendon
R11
N ORTH LONDON, HERTS & SOUTH ESSEX
Helen & Vince at the Khunjerab pass, Pakistan
Due to holidays and family commitments, we didn’t make the Goat over the summer, but reality returned with the first winter outing on the 4th November.
NLHSE@tipec.net RO Vince Dallimore • 07798 630 649 ARO Peter Musk • 07734 769 953 facebook.com/groups/1217447545000223
The Ace Café gathering in August was bright, dry and well attended. Peter made the visit in September and we both attended the end of October fixture.
Two informal monthly meetings: first Sunday 10:30am (open marque) at The Goat Inn, Vicarage Causeway, Hertford Heath, SG13 7RT. Last Monday 6pm (Porsches only) at The Ace Café, Ace Corner, off the A406, Stonebridge, London NW10 7UD.
We were invited to join the Boxster owners club, Central region, and Peterborough for a Sunday breakfast meeting at the Shuttleworth Collection Museum near Biggleswade on Sunday October 20th. There was an excellent turnout of cars and a great full English was had by many, followed by a discounted entry to the museum exhibits.
The summer has been and gone! Peter and I have both been busy, so have been missing from some of our regular meetings, but hope you have all been enjoying the extended summer? Our North London, Herts and South Essex Facebook group now has 41 members registered; forthcoming events are posted here for your convenience, as well as being noted in All Torque, where events will be posted to aid communication with you all. You can find the Facebook group for our region and also send a request to join up at: facebook.com/groups/1217447545000223 AT 132
Meetings are held first Monday of the month from 7:30pm at The Carpenters Arms, Three Elm Lane, Hadlow, Tonbridge TN11 0AD. www.carpentersarms.net It’s seems crazy that we are now looking back on 2018 in a reflective way. There is no doubt that we have enjoyed a long year of favourable weather. When I look back through the regional page of the TIPEC website, it seems that the sun shone on us for a majority of the time. We have crammed so much into the year, that it would be impossible to give every event a mention.
We are finalising our program for next year so please keep an eye on Facebook, email and the website or indeed drop Gary or me a call on our numbers if you prefer. Enjoy your winter break and all the best for the New Year from us at South Central.
K ENT & SOUTH EAST LONDON
No matter where you live within our region, it is a virtual certainty that we have held or attended an event within a 20 minute drive of your home. Car shows, driving trips, and visits to dealerships have all featured. We’ve been to Brands Hatch, Beaulieu and further afield, including Europe. So many of you have done something to help other members this year that we cannot name you all, there just isn’t enough space in this article. In each of these cases, words seem hardly adequate. Whether you arranged an event or did something in the background to help enhance an event which had already been arranged, we are very grateful, and ‘thank you’. What often goes unnoticed when we look back on a year like the one we’ve just had is the huge amount of support each of you have given in encouragement, help and advice – not just to the three of us, but to each other. No amount of research on the internet can give the
Peter and I were very impressed with the venue and the possibility of constructing a drive out in the 2019 season for NLHSE; detailed proposals to follow for a breakfast and possibly a visit to one of the many air shows at Shuttleworth in 2019. My road trip with Helen in September, driving the old silk route, via the ‘Karakoram Highway’ through the foothills and mountain passes of Pakistan to the Khunjerab border post with China is the subject of a separate report, but we both enjoyed our experience on some of the highest mountains and roads on earth, coupled with great company with local car enthusiasts.
John & Jim at the Porsche Centre workshop
reassurances you get by talking, face to face, with other enthusiasts. You’ve all helped each other in that respect, probably more than you realise, and we thank you for that too. When we send out emails telling you about meetings and events, it can be time consuming to collate the numbers and details of those of you who are attending. For about a year now, the Scottish region have been using an internet tool called Doodle to try and help speed the process up. In light of their results, we’re going to be using it too. You don’t need to sign up to anything or download anything, but you will notice in some of our emails, a link to Doodle. Simply click on the link and answer the question. The whole process takes you no longer than five seconds, but it helps us because the results are all in one place. You guys and girls are the region. Your involvement and participation are what makes it work. The 2019 calendar is taking shape nicely and we can’t wait to get out on the road with you. In the mean time Paul and Rachel Greer and Stuart Watson wish you and your family all the very best for Christmas and the new year! December 3rd (Monday) Club meeting at Porsche Centre Tonbridge December 15th (Saturday) Christmas party at Brands Hatch January 7th (Monday) Club night at The Carpenters Arms, Hadlow January 20th (Sunday) Ten pin bowling January 27th (Sunday) Breakfast meeting Please check our Facebook page for the calendar and also keep an eye out for email updates.
R13
THAMES VALLEY
thames.valley@tipec.net RO Andrew Harris • 07812 146 999 ARO Graham Driver • 07799 625 279 Meetings are held second Tuesday of every month 7:00pm at The Bell & Bottle, Bath Rd, Littlewick Green, Maidenhead, SL6 3RX. Our September meeting at the Novello was unfortunately a damp and miserable one unlike all the ‘enthusiasts’ that made it along. A great night was had, thank you for joining us and for bringing your Porsches out to play! We had one very happy Barry Hunter with his newly purchased 996 C2 coupe, we wish you many miles of happy and trouble free motoring. Rain, rain, go away … but unfortunately it didn’t, and made for a very soggy breakfast run to the Blackbushe Café on Sunday 23rd September! To both mine and Graham’s surprise, as the skies were so dark and the roads so wet, we still had a good turnout at the Novello with six cars ready for a ‘steady’ drive-out. A really good morning was had by all. If you haven’t already joined us on one of these little breakfast runs, you really should, they are great fun and the breakfast is always good, as is the company! Following this, we had another wet event at the Thatcham Classic Car Show on Saturday 6th October, this however did not stop half a dozen of us braving it out in the pouring rain. There was a nice selection of ‘other’ vehicles too and I am sure if it had been dry with a little sunshine, the field would have been full with some wonderful motors. Fingers crossed for next year. Sunshine on a Sunday for the Bicester Heritage Scramble on the 7th October. What a day, we had a fabulous turnout for our club stand, I think even PCGB might have been a little surprised! Thank you to Nick and Gary from the South Central region and to Sean for arriving early to organise the pitch, excellent job done. This is a wonderful event, I think there were more Porsches than everything else put together! Sunday 6th January 2019 will be the next Scramble, a date for your diaries. Our monthly venue has had a name change, it is now the Bell & Bottle, I can’t get used to saying that, I think I might just keep calling it the Novello! We had a dry evening for our October meeting with another good number in attendance, a few new faces and plenty of familiar ones too! December 7th (Friday) It’s Christmas party time…. December 11th (Tuesday) Club night at the Bell & Bottle (Novello) – I feel a quiz coming on! January 6th (Sunday) Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble January 8th (Tuesday) Club night at the Bell & Bottle
Rare 959 S at Bicester Heritage
Barry & Kat snuggling up!
January 27th (Sunday) Breakfast runout to the Blackbushe Café, TBC February 12th (Tuesday) Club night at the Bell & Bottle Throughout the year the Thames Valley region endeavour to put on a number of little outings along with our summer ‘themed’ monthly meetings at the Bell & Bottle (Novello), please keep an eye on our diary page of our website at: www.tipec.net/regions/thames-valley or our Facebook page, Porsche Enthusiasts Club – Thames Valley Region. It would be great to see you. If you are unable to attend any of the events, please feel free to pop along to our monthly meeting at the Bell & Bottle, it is always an enjoyable evening with lots of friendly and knowledgeable people, the food is good too!
R9
SURREY & SUSSEX
surrey.sussex@tipec.net RO Bob Stephens • 07548 306 803 ARO Terry Rockall • 07771 511 433 facebook.com/groups/ tipecsurreyandsussex Meetings are held second Wednesday of every month from 7:00pm at The Bolney Stage, London Road, Bolney RH17 5RL, 10 miles south of Crawley off the A23. On a rather fresh Sunday morning at the beginning of October we held a joint German Car Clubs breakfast meeting with the local branches of the Mercedes and BMW clubs. This took place at Shoreham (Brighton City) Airport with breakfast served in the picturesque Art Deco terminal building. Approximately 65 cars turned up for the event, which filled our allotted parking area requiring us to spread out into the adjacent areas. 35
R23
SOUTHERN
RO Gordon Collins • 07783 103 327 gts.collins@gmail.com ARO Jim Tarrant • 0120 260 1886 jim.tarrant@consequia.com
Diversity at Shoreham!
One feature of this event was that we had a ‘People’s Choice’ vote where everyone attending could vote for their favourite car of the day with voting open for everyone to vote in all three makes. It may have been a local event but the winning Mercedes, a 1955 Ponton, came from North Wales, the winning BMW was an 840 and the winning Porsche was a 1969/70 911T belonging to Gary Lloyd from East Sussex. We also had a professional photographer on site and pictures can be seen on www.milnerpics.com. The photo with this report was taken on my iPad, so just a snap, not professional! Renaissance Classic Cars in Ripley has been established for many years but about 18 months ago it changed hands and the new owners have revamped the premises with a greater emphasis on sales and service. On the 14th October they welcomed us to a breakfast meeting including pre-booked car inspections, with the showroom and workshops open and staff on hand to discuss all aspects of their work. I picked out a BMW 6 series cabriolet that looked promising but Terry (our Beemer expert) explained that it had the less desirable engine so I decided to pass on that one, though one member there did try a DB9 for size, not sure if he bought it. One side effect of the meeting was that we established contact with the resident detailing expert and have arranged a hands-on demo on the 24th November. December 7th (Friday) Christmad dinner dance, Wickwoods Country Club, Albourne December 12th (Wednesday) Club night at The Bolney Stage December 19th (Wednesday) Fairmile Porsche Meet, Cobham, Surrey January 1st (Tuesday) New Year’s Day Classic Car Gathering, Brooklands Museum, Weybridge January 9th (Wednesday) Club night at The Bolney Stage January 16th (Wednesday) Fairmile Porsche Meet, Cobham, Surrey All details of our regional events can be found on our regional section of the TIPEC.net website. AT 132
Meetings are held first Tuesday of every month from 7:30pm at The Three Legged Cross, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 6RE. Meetings are normally held at the The Old Thatch, Wimborne. But due to some redecoration this venue was closed so the region decamped to the Three Legged Cross (Ringwood Road, Wimborne). Subsequent meetings are being held at the Three Legged Cross whilst we wait for news regarding the old venue. I hope members can look at the two venues and decide if they want to relocate permanently or even alternate between them. This being the build up to Christmas and the party season, the region has been quiet of late. There is a Christmas party organised for the 4th of December, this will be at the Three Legged Cross. As I have just become the new RO for the region it may be useful if I introduce myself. I am Gordon, I have had a few Porsches in my time: 944s, a 911 SC, and I now drive a big fat daily Cayenne and a Boxster 2.7. I will confess that the Cayenne is a tow car for my … caravan (there, I have said it) and an all-purpose workhorse whilst the Boxster suffers no such privations. I am a bit of a polish-o-holic but not obsessed. I am a qualified nurse and a Care Home manager. Aside from Porsches I am a keen gardener with three allotments to take care of. I really would appreciate members in the region letting me know what they want from their club. I can organise things but I want to organise the things you all want and enjoy. Some ideas may be things like Easter run outs with an Easter egg hunt, we could try to arrange visits to areas that interest members such as trimmers workshops etc. We can combine some of your other interests with a drive out (I am sure you would all love to come and help me dig an allotment … No? Not even if I promise a barbeque?) Many of you do some really interesting things other than Porsche and it would be great to think about how we can combine the two. We will have Porsche on the Esplanade at Weymouth as a big event in the summer and I really hope the club can have a big turnout there as it is a fun show and Weymouth is a nice town to visit.
have to be Porsche related as any businesses that are prepared to help members are always happily received. Please join us on the Facebook page which is ‘Southern Region Porsche Enthusiasts Club’ and is easy to find via the search bar. It is really useful for disseminating information, sharing interesting posts and just general banter. I really do think we have a good year ahead of us and I hope we can make the membership experience a good one for everybody. December 4th (Tuesday) Christmas Dinner at The Three Legged Cross, Wimborne. Contact us if you would like to join in. Please visit our region’s part of the website at www.tipec.net/regions/southern as we are continuously updating our events page. Members will also receive email notifications of upcoming items.
R21
HAMPSHIRE
hampshire@tipec.net RO William Batchelor • 07941 034 422 ARO Andrew Morle • 07450 435 347 Meetings are held first Wednesday of every month from 7pm at The Links Tavern, Portsmouth Road, Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7EF. We had some new members attend our meeting in October and good attendance is continuing, thank you to everyone. It is very informal and a good opportunity to share knowledge and tips about our Porsche cars and experiences. If you haven’t attended a regional meeting yet, then do try and come along to find out for yourself. Ideas for runs out and events are welcome. I had a good run out in the Porsche visiting six countries and my first time visiting the Swiss Alps and the great passes. A wonderful experience, the highlight of being able to push my Porsche along the German autobahns to the acceptable limits! Travelling through European countries and enjoying the different cultures and people met on the way. It was good to go along to the Renaissance Porsche breakfast morning in Ripley, for a free car inspection and the chance to meet other Porsche owners.
Another thought is the continuation of the big summer barbeque which I know Sam, Nick and Jim have managed over the years. I also want to say a big thank you to them for the work they have done to keep the region active.
It was a lovely breakfast run out to the Departure Lounge Cafe in Alton on October 21st, with full breakfast and a hot drink for just £6.99. There was a car boot sale and plenty of cars to look at. Thank you to those that turned up, good company and conversation. Another chance to try the lovely food and good hospitality will be on January 13th.
I am hoping to put together some lists of suppliers and specialists etc to go in a quarterly newsletter, so if you know of anyone who would like to be included please let me know. It doesn’t
A steak night has been arranged for members in November, and also a Christmas Dinner and social evening with live entertainment featuring Creative Covers band.
Stunning view of many fantastic Swiss Passes
Hampshire RO William in Switzerland
December 5th (Wednesday) Monthly Meeting at the Links Tavern, Liphook December 8th (Saturday) Christmas Social for members January 1st 2019 (Tuesday) Brooklands New Years Day Gathering Hundreds of Classic cars are expected for this annual event, one of the largest gatherings in the South East. All classic cars welcome, 9am ’til 4pm. January 3rd (Wednesday) Monthly Meeting at the Links Tavern, Liphook February 6th (Wednesday) Monthly Meeting at the Links Tavern, Liphook Further updates can be viewed online at: www.tipec.net/regions/Hampshire R22
B RISTOL, SOUTH WEST & SOUTH WALES
RO Sue Simmons • 07530 312 700 sue.simmons1@gmail.com ARO Debs Bradshaw • 07423 436 503 debbradshaw@sytner.co.uk ARO Sarah Hughes ARO Mick Simmons • 07793 905 918 mjs019@gmail.com Meetings are held first Tuesday of every month from 6:30pm at The Plough, Pilning, Nr Bristol BS35 4JJ. www.theploughpilning.co.uk The last two months saw our region with two main events, as well as very well attended club nights, with discount Porsche goodies brought along by Porsche Bristol – there was much haggling and bargains snapped up.
Bristol, SW and South Wales cars at a very chilly Castle Coombe
So first, the big event of the year was our weekend away in Mid Wales. There were 18 cars and 33 people for this trip and our base, after meeting and driving from Raglan, was The Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells. A better hotel you would be hard pushed to find. Owned by generations of the same family since Victorian days, we were treated like VIPs. The rooms, the bar, the staff and the owners were all fabulous and the feedback has been unanimous. Thank you Metropole! The hotel is close to the Elan Valley, and I must admit this was an area I was not aware of – but I am so glad we went there and drove round all the beautiful reservoirs. It’s a real treat for a great drive out. The area is also blessed with a multitude of Red Kites and a small group of us were fortunate to arrive at a Nature Reserve after visiting Devils Bridge just as the rangers were putting down food for them, and literally hundreds descended to create quite a spectacle across the lake. I am often reminded what a small world we live in and never more so than when on finally choosing a café for a coffee on a wet Sunday in Aberystwyth we happened to sit next to some of our fellow Porsche Enthusiasts from Kent – they were in Wales on a motorcycle weekend and staying really close to us in Llandrindod Wells – yes it is a small world! The second event, organised by Martin, was Castle Combe on October 6th. I think that was the first day of winter! It was freezing but thankfully it did stop raining. Not to be deterred the gazebo and flags were erected and we had a good turnout with great amounts of food and drinks – thanks to all those that contributed to keeping our spirits up. The temperature has fallen but we continue to run our club nights right through the year with December 4th our last one and January 8th – YES January 8th not Jan 1st – as our first date for 2019. I’ve moved January by a week as I thought members would be too hung over on Jan 1st to a) remember and b) turn up, plus there are other New Years Day events if you want them. Then
The region’s weekend away in Wales
we’re back to first Tuesday of the month – all at The Plough, Pilning. I’m already gathering raffle prizes together for our Christmas lunch and I know that our members’ generosity will mean a good donation to the Great Western Air Ambulance. Other news is that Sarah Hughes has agreed to become an ARO for the region, focusing on South Wales events, suppliers, and dealership relations. Well done Sarah – as anyone who comes along to events will know your role also includes Star Baker! Please contact me for any info you need on sue.simmons@tipec.net or 07530 312 700. See our regional page on tipec.net and see our Facebook page for details of more things to do. December 4th (Tuesday) Club night at The Plough January 8th (Tuesday) Club night at The Plough
R15
CORNWALL & DEVON
RO & ARO urgently wanted For now, c/o Sue Simmons • 07530 312 700 sue.simmons1@gmail.com Merged with Bristol, South West & South Wales until a local RO is found. 37
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