Gloucestershire Area
Gloucestershire is one of England’s larger counties, bordering
Wales and the River Severn in the West and running from just North of
Bristol in the South to the Cotswold towns of Moreton-in-Marsh in the
North and Cirencester in the East. In between are some great roads,
Prescott hillclimb course (near Cheltenham) and Caterham dealers
Millwood, just outside Dursley, and run by the ever-helpful Jon Vicker.
The area meets up at The Highwayman, just off the A417 between
Cirencester and Gloucester, where John and Sam look after us with fine
beers, excellent food and real log fires in the winter. The pub itself
is an old coaching inn dating back to the 16th century, and
you may have spotted the replica coach (you can’t miss it – it’s bright
yellow!) in the capacious car park as you (low) fly by on the by-pass
that now by-passes the pub too.
As
an area we are a pretty laid back bunch – but we encourage partners to
join us, are very supportive of members and run a number of events every
year. July sees us help Millwood with their open day (Sunday 22 July
this year – make a note in your diary), we meet up at each of the
Prescott races (1pm by the spectator bridge, paddock side) and attend
many club and other events as well as head off to places further afield
such as Torquay (our second trip there planned for the end of March will
have taken place by the time you read this), Shipton-under-Wychwood for
a rolling road day at BTEC Racing or a visit to ex Renault F1 engineer
Neil Garner’s facility near Kemble airfield. In August we blat to join
Dave Jackson’s Welsh warriors, who meet the same day as us, and they
visit us earlier in the year.
Competition-wise we tend to favour sprints and hillclimbs, club
competing regulars including Gavin Craig with his Superlight R, Graham
Ford’s mega Vauxhall-engined machine (currently undergoing a rebuild),
Steve Gatward (also VX mounted, often joined at our monthly meetings by
son James and mate Dave), Andy Isherwood (Superlight) and my own
crossflow engined car.
Others are happy enjoying track days (stand up Martin Phillipson,
Superlight R400 and Noble) or simply enjoying their cars. Other top
regulars include Alan Terry (who also sprints a Formula Ford and has
just bought a Morgan three wheeler), Simon Reynolds (OMS single seater
and Exige), John French (crossflow car built in the Williams F1 factory
no less), Peter Brown (ex Mini Challenge circuit racer and Exige), Hugh
Roberts (VX) and Dave York, who is currently building a Cobra Daytona
replica. Many others visit us too, more or less regularly, and I haven’t
even mentioned the many partners who attend and help ensure we don’t
simply discuss camshafts all night (especially – in alphabetical order -
Carmel, Heidi, Helen, Hilary, Lindsey, Marion and Sheena). Apologies if
I’ve missed anyone out!
We aim to be a friendly bunch and to welcome new members so do drop
in and join us. As we edge towards summer a blat from further afield
even makes sense too so set the SatNav and head for the Highwayman
(don’t worry – we discourage ‘stand and deliver’ tactics these days, and
they’ve been replaced by Gatsos anyway…).
Andy Couchman
