CONTACT: Spring 1976
At the Annual Guild General Meeting of the Club held at the Club on Wednesday 21st January 1976, the following
were elected for the ensuing year:-
President B.R. Endall
Chairman
D.J. Parkes
Vice Chairman D. R. Horner
Secretary R. J. Fernie
Asst Secretary
S. R. Pink
Treasurer T. Murphy
C. J. Houghton,
J. Stanley, S. E. Wright.
Thanks were expressed by the Chairman for the valiant work undertaken by the retiring Secretary, S. R. Pink.
His enthusiastic approach to the arduous duties since the Club was re-formed in 1971 has done much to enable the Club to reach its
present Status.
The programme of events for 1975 were somewhat curtailed due to ever soaring inflation and a general slump in the car
industry; thus necessitating the cancellation of several of the factory visits planned.
The first event in this year’s calendar was
the Adult Annual Road Safety Competition held in conjunction with Colmore Depot Ltd. The competition took place on the 5th February
at the Lordswood Grammar School. The Club entered two teams of four members. The teams consisted of:-
|
(1) |
(2) |
|
G L Capener |
R J Fernie |
|
D
R Horner |
D J Parkes |
|
C J Houghton |
T Murphy |
|
S E Wright |
S R Pink |
The teams finished 5th and 7th respectively; a very disappointing result
considering that we have reached higher positions in previous years against stronger opposition - perhaps a question of complacency
- still, eyes down for the Highway Code next year.
Car maintenance classes have now finished until next autumn but I know that all
who have attended the lectures, which have been both of a practical and theoretical nature, have found them most informative and beneficial
and our thanks are again expressed to Mr B.W. Godwin for his excellent tuition.
Arrangements for the use of Fradley Skid Pan are in
the process of being negotiated and details will be circulated in the near future.
Two treasure hunts are to take place this year and
full details will be circulated nearer to the dates.
The R. E. Gillies Rally was held on Sunday 4th April and the route covered approximately
150 miles of road between Leominster and Shrewsbury. The results for the individual entries are still awaited but the penalty points
were very low and fairly high placings are expected. The team consisted of:-
C.J. Houghton &
S. R. Pink - Mini Clubman - 245 pts
B.W. Godwin & J.A
Cox - Allegro - 290 pts
D.J. & J.K.
Parkes - Cortina GXL - 379 pts
The Bank was placed seventh out of the fourteen
teams that took part - only the second time that we have finished in the top half. Our hosts, Merseyside and Mid-Lancs TSB, once again
provided a very fine meal and entertaining evening.
Full details of the Discount Purchase Scheme available to members will be issued
as soon as possible but at the time of writing, confirmation of discount rates are still awaited from several firms. Weekly visits
are still being made to the warehouse and anything in the motoring line can be obtained at discounts of 30% to 70 % off. Oil is now
available at £1-10p per 5 1itres (20W50). Members should contact either myself or Steve Pink for anything from the warehouse.
With
garages now charging terrific rates for car repairs, many members are tackling their own repair work. The Club has now started a Workshop
Manual Library, details of which are available on request.
Bearing in mind the impending law on the use of seat belts, best to make
a habit of using them even on the shortest trip - so remember to belt up
Bob Fernie,
Secretary.
CONTACT: Autumn 1976
The
first treasure hunt of the season was held on Sunday 25th July. 23 cars left Archer's Garage at Shirley and completed the 40 miles
through some of the most scenic countryside of Warwickshire and Worcestershire. The event finished at the Green Dragon Inn at Sambourne
and after refreshment had been taken, the prizes were presented by the Club's President, Mr B.R.Endall. The results were as follows:-
1st - A. Allen & Peter Taylor
2nd - Ian Rippin
3rd - S.E.Wright
Mr Endall's participation was not unrewarding when he was presented with a prize for amassing the
greatest number of penalty points.
The Solihull Golden Wheel Club invited our members to enter a team in a car rally which was held
on the evening of Wednesday 11th August. Unfortunately, the Club could only muster one entrant who finished a creditable 7th - not
a bad effort considering that out of 30 competitors, 21 failed to complete the course.
Plans to visit a skidpan at Fradley have been temporarily shelved as a recent visit revealed that the surface consisted of a mixture of oil and detergent, which although providing an excellent surface for simulating icy conditions, also sprayed the car. The task of cleaning the vehicle was somewhat arduous and due to the restriction on the use of hose pipes and car washes, the venture would be impractical at the moment - especially to the discerning motorist.
The second treasure hunt, organised by Dave & Jeanette Parkes was held on Sunday 12th September and covered
33 miles between Halesowen and the Stewponey at Stourbridge. The results were:-
1st
- J.O. Fraser & R.F. Parker
2nd - R.Cridge
3rd - B.W.Godwin
Booby - P.Dalton
The winners received a
vacuum cleaner, inspection light and battery charger respectively and the booby prize was a steering wheel glove. A prize was also
given for the entrant spotting the most pubs en route. This was won by S.R. Prince.
Members are reminded that the club meets on the
first Wednesday in the month at the Guild Club, Station Street, and anyone wishing to come along will be made most welcome.
The Discount
purchase scheme is doing very well and visits to the warehouse are at present saving members somewhere in the region of £50 per month.
So remember, if there is anything in the motoring line that you require, don't hesitate to contact either myself or Steve Pink. Some
members had trouble obtaining Anti-Freeze last year, so the Club holds a stock of 2 litre cans.
Bob Fernie.
CONTACT: Christmas 1976
On Saturday, November 27th Steve Pink and myself represented the Bank Motoring Club by acting as Marshalls on the first section of the Sutton Park Special Stage of the Lombard R.A.C. Rally. Unfortunately this particular section proved to be of little interest to both spectators and Marshalls alike and rather an anti-climax to last year’s event when we were actively involved marshalling a far more exciting and arduous section.
The proposed visit to the M & B Cape Hill brewery has been cancelled as the brewery's new policy
is to arrange conducted tours only for parties directly concerned with the licensing trade.
The Discount Purchase Scheme still continues
to flourish and weekly visits to the warehouse are made thus saving members up to 60% on many items. Discounts have been arranged
with several firms and discount purchase cards will be distributed with next year’s membership cards.
The A.G.M. of the Club will be held at the Guild club on Wednesday 19th January 1977 at 20.00 hrs and members are cordially invited to attend and air their views.
The
Club has again been invited to enter as many teams as possible in the Colmore Depot Road Safety Competition to be held on Thursday
3rd February at 19.30 hrs - details of the venue, etc., will be circulated as soon as possible.
Due to past lack of support car maintenance
classes have been shelved for the winter period but it is hoped that they will be resumed in the spring of next year.
Topical Tips
- Emergency Starting.
In an emergency a vehicle which has a flat battery can be started by connecting the battery, by means of jumper
leads, in parallel with the battery on another vehicle, the following precautions must be observed:-
1) Observe
polarity (i.e. Positive + to Positive +, Negative - to Negative -)
2 Ensure the two vehicles are not touching.
3) Jumper leads should not be less than 65/.012" cable.
4) Switch off all non-essential electrical loads.
Happy
Christmas and a trouble-free New Year.
Bob Fernie.