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We occupy a warehouse / office that John owns and previously we were based in the building where John ran his Surtees team from. We share some space with the John Surtees and the Henry Surtees foundation. He wasn't in the office often but he couldn't have been nicer and more helpful when I occasionally spoke with him Sadly he had been gravely ill for a few months now and it was only a matter of time but still very sad when his PA emailed through the news. What he achieved on two wheels would have made him a great but add to that his car achievements as a driver and a team owner and all that he has done since is very remarkable. Yet so humble and a gentleman at the same time. He had recently been very concerned at the growth in paying drivers in F1 at the expense of raw talent and it was amazing to see his passion for the subject when chatting to him about it. I once briefly discussed his Ferrari days and he recalled how Enzo was a huge fan of minis and he had a chauffer driven mini that he sent to pick John up from the airport and they then went out in it together ;-). He had no end of fascinating tales and knowledge of a bygone era. In fact John is the only driver to have ever left Ferrari that Enzo asked to come back again but he never did. The Goodwood Revival was very much helped get off the ground by John's contribution. I expect he will be honoured by Lord March in some way this year. He recently bought Buckmore park Kart track and was very active encouraging young talent. I hope that this is renamed as Surtees and as part of the HS foundation this work can continue. David

You'll both be pleased with the results from BLiNK.

I made a short video last week using my new drone and go pro etc, hope you enjoy!

Think I'm starting to loose the will... After having to SORN the car for the past few months, (almost unheard of me), I finally re-taxed it last weekend, insurance renewal was last Thursday, so thought I'd grab an hour and try and find some mojo again. Car started beautifully first time after two and a bit months, headed out towards the petrol station and got a mile or so before starting to run rough. Nursed it to the petrol station, by now, 2000 rpm idle, and very strange running, sometimes clearing above 3500 rpm or so, other times all over the place. Get to the petrol station, b*****k*, the bl**** cap won't unlock. Give up after five minutes, as I didn't want to snap the key off in the lock. Limp home still rough as ****, but not deteriorating. Feels almost like running with a cylinder down, but not. (As in not the power loss with only running on three). Look under the bonnet once home. For gods sake, the bl**** adjuster spring and bolt off one throttle body, (that links to the main body) is completely missing. So although the bodies are sort of linked together, the linkage on one pair has to move 5mm or so before it starts moving the lead body. So, game over for the weekend until I can speak to Omex on Monday and get a replacement. Now just to get the damn petrol cap unlocked.

Sorry, I just need to hog the post for a moment, squeak a lot, and tell you that we bought, squeak, the MX5. I just need to know now how to get the thing around Blyton, novice with a capital N here. It's a good job Barnsley was on the way to Lincoln ( it could be, but not if you live in Chesterfield!). Enough of this, back to the original topic, we met Martyn and Sue for a 'light lunch' light? there was nothing light about it was there Glen? After a laugh and a catch up we went to Andrew's house, where it was time to show our cars to Alex and Connor, and eat cake. I thought that I would eat one of everything and two of my favourite, which was the little chocolate buns with a white chocolate button on top, delicious and thank you to Clare for baking them. Andrew took me for a run in his V8, I have never been in one before, oh the noise is so exciting, so when he offered me a drive the temptation was too much. Andrew is 6ft odd tall, his Westfield has a lowered floor and obviously a V8 bonnet. I pulled the seat forward and Andrew warned me that it doesn't locate very well, at a junction I shot backwards and finished the journey dancing the pedals with my tiptoes, it was hilarious, I enjoyed it immensely and thank you for your generosity, Andrew. Next, a 5 litre Mustang arrived, he used to own a Cobra, but it was not family friendly, so he has swapped to the Mustang. He was keen for a run out in a Westfield so he jumped in with me, Andrew grabbed a youngster and off we went. Wow, Zetec versus V8, we should have filmed it, and I thought Lincoln just had straight roads. I can confirm that my brakes are working well and the accelerator pedal goes right to the floor, it's a good job Mr Mustang is not faint hearted, oh and don't mention it to Glen. It was soon time to head for home and Andrew suggested a different route to the straight, flat one we came in on, Martyn agreed, so off we went. Wow, I have changed my opinion of Lincolnshire, it was very curly. The signs are a bit hit and miss though, some tight bends do not have chevrons on them, and a few switch straight back the other way, we had a whale of a time. It all finished off with a nice relaxing drive on the straight local roads in the dark, with the birds tweeting, on this still and pleasant evening. Thanks everyone for your contribution and lets hope we bought a bit of light into Alex and Connor's life.

Now only seven weeks to go. I'm getting that excited I'm thinking of making the misses a cuppa.

Me too right on my doorstep that

Sold to the handsome man with the cable ties

OK folks, here's the list you've been waiting for, your 58 runners and riders for the 2017 WSCC Speed Series (sorted by class, novice / expert, and with T-shirt sizes added just to wind up people): I just wanted to say "good luck" - we're all counting on you.

Yay \o/ winter chores all finished off this morning. Seats out, tunnel top re-covered, oil & filter change, new washer bottle and pump, USB charger fitted, washed, polished, stripes changed from white to black (white is soooo last year), tyre pressures checked, seats back in, all washed and a bit of polish. Phew. Just in time too as I'm booked in for new Protech shocks & springs at BLiNK soon. Went for a run too as it was sunny. Filled up with fresh fuel and called in at Shrewsbury Town

Nice! Im not far off too - nose restyled (slats removed and grille in its place), silicon hoses, alternator lowered, new water pump, 82 degree thermostat, cam belt changed, new radiator fan temp sensor, new Toyo R1-R's, oil and filter change, rear disks and pads, new front pads and to finish off mine also booked in to Blink for Protech's and geo in a couple of weeks

Weather permitting I'll be coming along. I work with another member (not on the forum often) who lives practically next to the junction so he'll be coming too.

Thank you David. Moving to hear first hand accounts of great men like him. What a sad loss to the world, as well as his family.

Will do, thanks.

Yeah, I think we decided on reflection that having people hungry and sober in the AGM was better for a constructive meeting than having them stuffed and oiled!

Thanks guys. I was just after tough idea out of curiosity. I'll try a phone app for now. Not sure I want to invest in a proper tool. Maybe be we can have a group 0-60 timing session at stoneleigh

Please note Re Stoneleigh info in the mag: page 12 in MINUTES OF WSCC COMMITTEE MEETING/SHOWS &EVENTS, it says "It was agreed that for 2017 the timing of the AGM would be made later to allow members to eat first before meeting". The above is ^^^^ superceded by the below vvvvv page 4, it says under SUNDAY WSCC MEMBERS MEAL AND SOCIAL "we have scheduled the meal in straight away after the AGM". To confirm. AGM 5:30pm Hog roast 6:30pm

I'll take that, Thanks John

Come for the whole weekend, will be another three Westies going over on Friday as usual.

So who's the only one daft enough to go out in their Westfield tonight then? Just got home before the rain started.