The first piece of news is that one of our fellow Directors, Andy Watson, has just been honoured by the MSA by being presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. He was presented with this award by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent. The award was given “in recognition of his unrivalled and unique contribution to British motor sport.” Everyone in VSMA will wish to congratulate Andy. WELL DONE INDEED ANDY.
Some things you may not have noticed – the updated public Home Page just before you logged into the members’ section, it now shows a few details of the forthcoming Reunion in October. In the Links section of the Home Page I have added the link to Ian Provan’s online magazine which details what’s happening in Scottish Motor Sport.
Here is a list of other items of news this month –
Members’ Database updates
Thoughts from Malcolm Parkin!
New Jim Clark Museum
Knockhill Anniversary British Touring Car Event
Photos from an early le Mans event
Interesting YouTube clips
Bits and Pieces which may amuse
Members’ Database Updates:
Please note that the following members have now got new email addresses which can be seen in the Members and details section or just click on each name below to get to their page – Bob Callander, Jim Grant, Jock Millar, Martin Pieraccini, Johnnie Thomson and Donald Carslaw.
Following the article in the 2014 January Newsletter on Graham Millar’s 40 years in Motorsport, you may have noticed that the article has now been populated with some of Graham’s images. These images can also be seen on Graham’s own page on the website and a few are also in the Public Picture Gallery.
Bob Gillespie has now updated his page with a few photographs and have a look at some interesting entries in the results page from the 1986 Valentine’s Rally!!
Thoughts from Malcolm Parkin:
I was thinking back to when our Honorary President brought the Tyrrell 003 F1 car to Ingliston in 1971(?), at his personal expense I believe, to give a demonstration. He actually stalled it twice on the line, in spite of his mechanics putting some very low gearing into the car when they saw the circuit, but he eventually got into the swing of it and put in a cracking couple of laps within 0.5 of the outright Formula Libre record, which I think Tommy Reid held at the time.
What was interesting, was that he was actually accelerating through the Clock left hander, before the right hander in front of the grandstand, where most people were either maintaining speed or braking. It was absolutely astonishing to watch.
The Clerk of the Course on the day was the late Ernie Herrald as I recall. The date may be wrong, so some research with members such as Graham Birrell or Ian Scott Watson could confirm.
I don’t think anyone had the sense to take photographs at the time. I have never seen any.
Malcolm Parkin 27th January, 2014 (By email)
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A New Jim Clark Museum:
This ventured is being planned by the Jim Clark Trust in partnership with The Scottish Borders Council and hopefully will be opened during 2018. It is the result of the continued interest in one of the greatest drivers of all time and a hero in Scotland. Expansion of the present site was deemed necessary. I have attached a PDF of the letter we received from our own Doug Niven and Ian Calder explaining in more detail their plans for this worthwhile venture. Click here to read it.
Also, Doug and Ian have just opened The Jim Clark Trust website on Monday 7th April, 2014, which shows in graphic detail what they have in mind. Do have a look.
Knockhill Touring Car Event – Sunday 24th August 2014:
Although V.S.M.A will not be there officially at this event, I’m sure many of our members will be attending. As you can see from the attached flyers from Knockhill, the event will celebrate the 40th year of Knockhill racing and also the 50 year celebration of Jim Clark’s BTCC win. Knockhill are kindly donating 20% 0f the BTCC ticket sales towards the Jim Clark Trust Museum development. So if you are going please remember to quote the code JIMCLARK50 when purchasing your tickets.One special item may be of interest………..The Forth Road Bridge is being closed for Knockhill on Thursday 21st August for a parade of six Jim Clark’s cars (F1, F2 and Lotus Cortina’s) across the Bridge at 11am. There will be a public showing of the cars from 9am to 10.30am, then the spectators will be asked to move to their vantage points from 10.30am onwards with the parade taking place at 11am.In addition Knockhill hope to have the 2014 cars crossing side by side!
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1959 Le Mans Images:
Pat Smith (Pat Allison as she was then) was at Le Mans in 1959, hanging around the pits with friends at Lotus and Ecurie Ecosse. Wendy Jones and she shared a room in a pension that year. Below are a few of the photographs she recently unearthed from her loft which she thought would be of interest to members.
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Some YouTube Clips:
Please click on any underlined coloured title below to view the YouTube clip. They are best viewed on full screen –
A novel way in “How to stack tyres“ – this came clip from Canada via Bill Barr.
How we might resolve traffic jams in the future – might even be cheaper than the Edinburgh Tram Network!
Now you can see German efficiency in action – “Re-Laying rail track”
And finally for those who like magic tricks – This “Chinese Magician” is quite amazing!
Hopefully, these from Chairman Jimmy might amuse!
IRISH JOB INTERVIEW
Mick had applied for a Fermentation Operator Post at a famous Irish firm based in Dublin.
A Pole had also applied for the same job and since both applicants had similar qualifications, they were asked to take a test by the Manager.
When the results were in, both men had scored 19 out of 20.
The Manager went to Mick and said, “Thank you for coming to the interview, but we’ve decided to give the Pole the job.”
Mick said “And why would you be doing that?” “We both got 19 questions correct.” “This being Ireland and me being Irish surely I should get the job.”
Manager, “We have made our decision not on the correct answers, but on the question you got wrong.”
Mick, “And just how would one incorrect answer be better than another?”
Manager, “Simple. On question number 7 the Pole wrote down, ‘I don’t know'”
“You put down, ‘Neither do I.'”
(Our very sincere apologies to our Irish friends………..Ed}
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Logic from uncluttered minds:
A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child’s work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, ‘I’m drawing God.’ The teacher paused and said, ‘But no one knows what God looks like.’ Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, ‘They will in a minute.’
Five Pearls of Scottish Wisdom
1. Money cannot buy happiness but somehow, it‘s more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes Benz than on a bicycle.
2. Forgive your enemy but remember their name.
3. Help a man when he is in trouble and he will remember you when he is in trouble again.
4. Many people are alive only because it’s illegal to shoot them.
5. Alcohol does not solve any problem, but then neither does milk
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Gentle Thoughts for Today –
Birds of a feather flock together . . . .and then poop on your car.
A penny saved is a government oversight.
The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat have got to be really good friends.
The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.
He who hesitates is probably right.
Did you ever notice: The Roman Numerals for forty (40) are XL.
If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.
The sole purpose of a child’s middle name is so he can tell when he’s really in trouble..
Did you ever notice: When you put the 2 words ‘The’ and ‘IRS’ together it spells ‘Theirs…’
Ageing: Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.
Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know ‘why’ I look this way. I’ve traveled a long way and some of the roads weren’t paved.
When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to your youth, think of Algebra.
You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.
One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young. Ah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth . . .. . . . .AMEN
That’s all folks………………. !
Stuart Parker, April 2014