Booby prize on the gymkhana

I've tried to come up with a good excuse, but it just boils down to the fact that I can't throw hoops over poles whilst hanging out the window of a car! Hants & Berks Motorclub once again organised their gymkhana, a chance to take part in a variety of tests all at low(ish) speed in the safe confines of a field. At just before 10am on a rainy sunday morning we found ourselves tucked under the gazebo with my brother and his girlfriend Janet as we waited to walk the course.



Soon enough the rain stopped and the sun shone down as we walked in a group and struggled to make sense of the instruction sheet we'd been given. There were six tests in total. Points could be lost by striking cones, taking the wrong route or failing to get hoops over poles. With some idea of what we had to do we clambered aboard the Beetle, Kim and Lily in the back, me up front.



The first test we came to was "I am evenly parked" stopping between two sets of cones with as close to equal distance front to rear. 10" out wasn't a bad start (though one chap scored a near perfect 1") From there were attempted to limbo under a bar, the height set by the driver from a distance of 30m. The bar just touched the tall arch of the Bug and more points were dropped.





From there it was onto the complex slalom challenge. Misread notes and an overeager right foot saw us with a quick time, but penalties for a wrong route! My pain was further compounded by total failure to get hoops over poles.



After a semi successful reverse challenge that saw me a few inches from the pillar it was the final test, "The Roundabout" A circle of cones topped with tennis balls and a rope that needs to pass over each one whilst being held out the window of a moving car. Looks tricky, was actually very easy once you'd got the turning sorted.





With a very poor second from last place I handed driving duties over to Kim while I snapped some shots for the club. She faired much better with a little help on a couple of tests (we just added one notch to the limbo after my fail!









Elsewhere on the field, Darren and Janet were flying round, also unable to get hoops over poles they at least went the right way and managed to avoid hitting bars.









Other club members were having a much better time of things, years of practise meant hoops flew where they were meant to and posts weren't knocked over (well almost)








With the first runs over and the BBQ smoking away it was time for a break and the scores. If I hadn't clipped the bar, gone the wrong way or managed to get a hoops over a pole it would have been a good score. I consoled myself with a go in the organisers buggy. A college project powered by a MX engine, high reving with no suspension it was an interesting ride. I exacted my revenge on a cone with my last run!





We feasted on meat and sat in the sun for a bit before the afternoon session started.



Same tests again but with the added bonus of the rope roundabout being done in reverse. I again dropped points for my hoop failures but did pretty well on the others. Kim again had a good run and was at least able to get one hoop over to lead the day. Infact, ladies led in both couples with Janet inching ahead in only her second time in the 7.







With all the tests over it was ice cream time for Lily before the prizes were handed out. I wasn't last....just and got a couple of hi-viz vests as a consolation.







With lots of fun had and a promise to read the instructions and take it a bit slower next year we headed off home. I've got a year to practise throwing hoops over a post whilst parked on the drive!


Steve.

Monsoon at the Woodley Carnival

It was Carnival day in Woodley today. Last year we had a big LTV stand, but with short notice from me they were sadly unable to help this time. Instead our friend Steve in his Porsche (is it a classic or just a Porsche) joined Kim and Lily in the Beetle and me in the Camper for  Flat 14 convoy. After the thunderstorm last night the field was surprisingly firm with only a mini duck pond in one corner to avoid. We parked up and headed for the precinct for a cuppa and walk round.





Back on the stand and with the Carnival about to start the rest of the classics had arrived and been parked up around the hilly corner of the field. Hants & Berks MC had done a grand job enticing people out with a huge variety of cars on show. With the nearby Basingstoke Classic Car Club providing a large number. Using the Camper as a base we wandered around.





I really liked this Thames van, with the same owner since he bought it new in 1958.





An unusual badge combination.



Feeling peckish we wandered back past the Camper towards the food stands and nabbed some foot long dogs.







While wandering back the heavens suddenly opened. Rain lashed down and we scurried for shelter under a gazebo at one of the stalls before a final dash for the Camper. With twenty minutes it had stopped and the sun returned. We carreid on our walk and even had a train ride too.









Back once more by the Camper we quenched our thirsts and had another look around the rest of the cars. The Stag and Portafold caravan combo in matching mustard yellow was so very 70s.





Lily had an ice cream and seemed to be wearing most of the field and it on her shorts.





Soon after the path was closed for the procession to return, club regulars provided transport for the kids and the floats lumbered along.







It was hands on action back at the cars, we asked the owner of the 1927 Ford if Lily could try the hornout, he let her on the running boards and she honked away. If the rude man who we found opening the back of the Beetle up had asked or the little child that smeared an ice cream handprint down the side of the 911 had been more careful, us Steves wouldn't have been so grumpy at the end of the day!





As the day came to an end the club awarded one of the Jenson "Car of the show" I was on hand to get some photos for the clubs magazine. The owner very chuffed with his silverware.





And then with a very tired Lily it was time to head home. Apart from the shower in the middle it was a scorching day once more. Hopefully we'll be back next year with a few more cars. There are lots more photos from the day here.

Steve.