July 2009 ASOC Track Day and National Day

Early July.

A weekend.

The car has been serviced.

The Zymol polish has been applied.

The trailer is packed with tent and associated gubbins.

Friday evening, straight after school.

We're on the road to Lichfield.

So far, so normal for the ASOC National and Track Day weekend.

Only this time, its hot, its sunny. Now that's a bit wierd.

A fun weekend with the kids and a big suprise at the end to finish it off with!

Picking up from school with the Sunbeam and a kindly loaned trailer (thanks so much again Howard!) packed to the gunwhales with camping kit and a few luxuries (mainly the kids' scooters) and we headed off along the A55, down the A51 and onto the A34 with the Beacon Park in Lichfield in our sights.

We took a break near Stone for some pub grub then arrived at Beacon Park around 8pm. The ASOC National meeting this year was again part of the Rotary Club's Cars In The Park classic car show (www.carsinthepark.com).

Pitched up on the edge of the showground.
Saturday was another dry and reasonably warm day. So we were off to Curborough for the annual thrash around the track. Its short, twisty with second and third gear corners which can be fun for a bit of sideways action. With scrutineering and noise sorted, the 'beam was 22nd in the queue for action. As usual, it was the atmosphere of fun and no pressure that made the day so good to be part of. No one's under pressure to perform, some go daft, some go steady, some as fast as their wheels can carry them (regardless of if this is fast or rather more sedate) and some who are fortunate enough for their car to be a bit too fast for this track (thinking here of the brilliantly prepared "other" red and silver sunbeam - Paul Norris' Cosworth Turbo powered tarmac racing machine which is putting out something in the region of 500 bhp which is phenominal to watch and listen to - its got the suspension, tyres and brakes to cope with this too).

MEP was great fun, but I wish I had a bit more confidence to get the slides going on the entry to the big sweeping hairpin - power sliding out is great, but drifting would be even better! Gotta get home again somehow of course. Passengers for a couple of sessions too - hope you enjoyed the ride boys, despite the limited talent at the wheel. K & C are desperate to be old enough to get out for a ride, but in the meantime they were really good at occupying themselves and spending time with the other kids present. C had a go with the video camera with some vaguely interesting results!

Flambouyant

Martyn Ballantyne's Recently Finished Rally TI (winner of the track day award)

Back on the showground for the evening we walked into Lichfield to seek out pizza. Only about 15 minutes walk into town and there was plenty of choices of places to eat (but buying a bottle of milk was a bit more of a challenge!). We chose a small chain restaurant with a bright and funky interior where the pizza turned out to be good enough and the kids really enjoyed the ice cream. After that K & C were off to bed (its a bit of an adventure for them, this camping lark) and small groups of club members chatted over a beer or two.

Sunday was another great day weatherwise, and the showfield soon filled up with over 1100 cars on show. There was activity in the ring and a 4x4 show to keep us entertained.

Custom

Callum's Great Photos of the 4x4 Machines Driving Over a Skip


ASOC Competition / Modified


ASOC Sunbeam Lotus Series 2

ASOC Avenger Estates

ASOC Avenger Tigers


ASOC Sunbeam Lotus Series 1

Sometimes the unexpected happens. All the members vote for the cars on the ASOC stand in various categories and then trophies are awarded for runner-up and winner in each class. Well, the new mudflaps must've impressed because MEP was voted runner-up in the Sunbeam Lotus Series 2 category. Great result and the kids were so pleased to be getting a trophy for their car! So we were really pleased with that.

But sometimes ever more unexpected things happen. In addition to the members' vote, the committee also vote for a couple of additional prizes. So the best part of our weekend was still to come - MEP was awarded Best in Show for ASOC! Amazing. K & C couldn't believe it (and neither could I) - what a result!

Awarded

So thanks to all those who put so much effort into organising the weekend - at the track, the ASOC committee and volunteer helpers and the Lichfield Rotary club too.