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Massive thank you from the loti group for a great event. Was great to meet lots of you over the weekend. Emma

back home and getting ready for a soak.... well done guys and see you next year!

Some thoughts on ambition............. A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village and an American tourist asked the fisherman how long it took him to catch his fish. “Not long,” answered the Mexican. ‘So why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more?’ asked the American. The Mexican explained his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family. The American asked: ‘But what do you do with the rest of your time?’ “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings I go to the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar and sing a few songs. I have a full life.” The American interrupted: ‘I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you. You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. ‘With the extra revenue you can buy a bigger boat. With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second and third and so on until you have a fleet of trawlers. ‘Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe open your own plant. ‘You can then leave this village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles or even New York. From there you can direct your enterprises.’ “How long would that take?” asked the Mexican. ‘Oh, twenty, maybe twenty-five years,’ replied the American. “And after that?” queried the Mexican. ‘That’s when it gets really interesting,’ answered the American. ‘ When your business gets really big, you can sell stocks and make millions.’ “Millions? And then what?” asked the Mexican. ‘After that you will be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife, and spend your evenings drinking and playing the guitar.’

I only attend a few meets and leave posting on the forum to my geeky Onliestsmeg, but felt I really wanted and needed to say thank you to so many people for making this weekend so brilliant. As an Events Manager I was really impressed with the organisation of it all, but what I felt was so special is that everyone I met was friendly and extremely encouraging. Although initially I was quite apprehensive, I thoroughly enjoyed the Track day and didn't want to give the car back and even wanted to race on Saturday and Sunday! So thanks to Onliestsmeg for letting me hijack the car (and being brave enough to get in with me...that's love!) thanks everyone who was patient on the track whilst us novices had a go (great idea) and thanks to Adam for the instruction it helped immensely. Panda's encouragement to get involved and take on roles over the weekend meant I really got a chance to understand what was going on and got a great view from the Control Room and spend time with and learn from the lovely John (Race Controller) and Jane Algar. I met loads of fantastic and inspirational people, including Emma in the lotus who was gutsy and after a bit of sticking up and new wheels got straight back out there, and of course Nick with his record breaking runs...so glad I was there to see those. So thank you to everyone - Panda the organiser and team, participants and supporters, the venue hosts (and catering ladies of course) who all worked together to make this an absolutely fantastic weekend. x PS Thanks for the Vodka Gummi bears Phil x

Audi S8 and wifes got a Q7 4.2 TDI - In matching boring grey. We worry about our carbon footprint

I've been thinking about this thread, and the interesting contributions. What we're all saying is that you need to make enough to be happy and not to sacrifice enjoyment at the altar of promotion and pay rises. Mike F's post above is spot on in that respect. I suppose one of the things that's making me think is 16 year old son. Bright, computer games obsessed, hormonally challenged in the true 'Kevin and Perry' tradition, but I have no idea what he wants to do with his future although he's murmured about becoming a recording/sound technician. We have never pushed him to do anything just because it is expected - if he goes to uni, fine, but if he's happier with an apprenticeship I'd be equally proud. I suppose the only thing I would want him to do that I did was to go as far as he could and to know what he was capable of. My fear would be of him getting to my age and looking back thinking 'if only.....' but I don't see any spark of ambition yet, and I don't know if I should be worried or not. I knew from the age of 10 that I wanted to join the RAF and got to a fairly senior level. I was working at the ragged edge of what I could do without burning out - I just missed out on being the staff officer who would have carried the can for the whole 'Iraq body armour' scandal when I turned down the post so I could see more of my family; a decision which effectively meant I jumped off the promotion treadmill. If I'd taken that job and come out in one piece I could have achieved at least one more promotion, but I would probably have been the embodiment of the 'Peter Principle' i.e. being promoted to a level of incompetence, and only then being found out. My professional satisfaction is in the most part realising that I know I went as far as I could go, so I had no regrets on leaving the mob and doing something I wanted to do, but which had a lot less money and prestige. In truth, I've not noticed the lack of either. I just hope my kids get that opportunity, particularly my son, because at the moment I don't see where the same opportunity for professional satisfaction will come from. All the jobs seem to be open plan office/call centre hell while all of the interesting decisions are made by machines, not managers and all the interesting things are made by CNC or 3D printers rather than skill of hand.

I know there has been a few thank you's... but i could not have done it without special mentions (no Particular order) Sprint School Terry Everall Paul Morcomm Adam Read Sprint Weekend ​​Nigel​ Curry - Paddock Marshal Andy Banks - Paddock Marcus - Paddock Dave Eastwood - Start Line Tricky - Start Line Marcus Barlow - Paddock Ian (gadget) - start line Wendy Richings - in Course Control Janye Algar - in Course Control Julie Hodder- Club Stewart John Fisher - Club Steward Nick Algar - Mentor Sally H - Signing on Mrs Panda (Lousie Williams) - putting up with it all! and if I forgot anyone I'm sorry I'm about to hibernate, I do look like a panda tonight! So next year.... if you fancy joining the team in what ever the way please do, your club needs you

Couldn't agree more with everything that's been said before. A massive "Thank You" to John and his team of panda cubs for a wicked weekend. My only comment is, why do we only do this ONCE A YEAR when everyone enjoys it sooooo much ?

Thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, well done to the team and thanks for an excellent job well done

Well done Panda and all the helpers, brilliant weekend again It was great to be driving

I would have thanked you too John, but you threatened to hug me Saturday, didn't want to lead you on I'm happily married! Seriously, many hands make light work, big boots to fill replacing Nick, but I feel it went as smooth as last year, well done all.

In chronological order: Deano - sump Lee (locost) - throttle cable Craig - alternator belt (although a running repair saw him rejoin us) Jim - cycle wing (but like the old battler that he is, he just whipped it off and carried on!)

Great weekend! - you missed somebody very important off the list Panda - YOU well done

Yes, well done John Williams - you filled the big shoes great

I'm in that same boat. I run a 15 year old silver Avensis.. it just keeps going and going and going. Owned it for nine years and been towing with it for at least seven. I actually still quite like it. At a recent trackday:

Was a great couple of days. Nice to put faces to names and thanks to Panda for what must have been a significant about of time to organise such a well run event. Mike

Not long home and packed away having left, just as early lunch kicked in. Timed it perfectly to catch every single rain shower on the way back down south Yet another great weekend at Blyton, only sorry we could not stay all day today but work get's in the way now and again... Thanks to John and the organising team for this years effort. Thanks to the Blyton staff for looking after (and putting up) with us. Thanks to Adam for showing my Brother the ropes - never done a track day and never driven a Westy before but did OK and did even better after Adams help. Also thanks to Adam for popping over to chat and fixing our suspension set-up, two completely transformed cars on track in the afternoon track day session Finally, thanks to Nigel, the stalwart of these events. It was a pleasure to work with him Saturday and this morning on paddock duty, a very well run paddock he keeps too

£20 bid from me

nice to meet you Julie and Mr OCLO :-)

Forecast looking 'ok' for today so far!

Twas a great day for pottering about, nice Bacon Butty & a couple of cups of coffee with some like minded peeps..... Then off to Monkey forest for a nice walk in the woods.... and we got home in time for some decent grub at our local.http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/NemsWestfield/media/IMG_1760_zpsx2cwpplr.jpg.html][/url] http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/NemsWestfield/media/IMG_1777_zpsbogzodgi.jpg.html][/url]

hi mark sent you a pm will definitely have the side panels thanks neil