The first SE Centre Evening Autotest was run on 21st May at a farm close to Capel in Surrey. After all the weeks of dry weather, the first signs of some rain were forecast for the afternoon, but dry during the evening. The forecast was almost right apart from thunder storms between 4.00-5.00pm just as we were setting out the coned test routes.
Fortunately, the sun broke just as the entrants started to arrive and we ended up with a very pleasant bright and sunny evening.
We should have had 14 cars including 4 from our friends at Sevenoaks and District Motor Club. One entrant had to drop out at the last minute and another did not finish the tests. But 12 cars completed the event arranged into 3 classes, namely
- SDMC – Post 55 MG and other cars
- MGCC – Post 55 MG and other cars
- Production Car Class which allows passengers to be carried
Whilst some of the MGCC entrants had entered the Filching AutoSOLO, none had entered an Autotest. The tests had a fairly simple arrangement but with enough turns and detail to make them interesting. Several MGCC entrants ended up with wrong tests but the scoring arrangement did not preclude them from achieving results and in fact the MGCC – Post 55 MG class winner had experienced wrong tests in his winning score.
Five tests were planned with entrants having to runs on each with best time counting. One test proved quite slow and we ran out of time to complete the final test before the impending sunset arrived. This is why the results show scores for four tests.
After the event, we retired to the adjacent Dorking Brewery Tap Room and enjoyed an excellent pint whilst the scores were computed. The event results are appended to this report.
Entrants were enthusiastic for another event this summer and we will be exploring whether one can be organised for late June or early July hopefully at the same venue.
The overall Fastest Time of the Day went to George Zippo in his VW Golf. George was one of several entrants fromt the Sevenoaks & District Motor Club who were invited to join us for the evening.
Report and pics John Morgan and Austin Banner
