CONTACT: Spring 1979
On Wednesday, 24th January 1979 the seventh Annual General Meeting of the Motoring Section took place at the Guild
Club, Station Street, and the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:
President: B.R. Endall
Chairman: D.J. Parkes
Vice Chairman: B.W. Godwin
Secretary: J. Fernie
Assistant Secretary: S.E. Wright
The course
covered some 150 miles of surfaced roads in Snowdonia and Anglesey and consisted of eight special stages all requiring varying degrees
of navigational and driving skills. The 'Rally' finished at the Bryn Howel Hotel in Llangollen where competitors attended the Annual
Dinner and Prize Giving Ceremony.
The ‘Bank team', consisting of three cars, was represented by the following drivers - David Parkes
(Cortina), Gordon Hancock (Vauxhall) and Ron Cridge (Mini). At the time of going to press the results were unknown but all drivers
were quietly confident of finishing in the top half of the team event, although no individual prizes had been obtained.
The first ‘treasure
hunt' of this season is planned for early June but as plans have not yet been completed, details will be announced in the weekly Newsletter.
Wishing
you trouble-free motoring throughout the summer holidays,
Bob Fernie,
Secretary.
CONTACT: Autumn 1979
Further to the report of the R.E. Gillies Rally, which appeared in the last edition of 'Contact', I am now able to confirm the results and the B.M.T.S.B.'s placings:
1st. Lancs. & Cumbria T.S.B.
2nd. Wales & Border Counties T.S.B.
3rd. North West
T.S.B.
Out of eleven separate entries from T.S.B.s throughout the country the Bank team finished a creditable sixth position - a very
worthy result considering that one of the entrants travelled throughout the night in order to reach Llandudno in time for the 9.00a.m.
start.
The Bank team was represented by Gordon Hancock, David Parkes and Ron Cridge who finished in 6th, 19th & 35th positions
respectively out of the seventy one individual entrants. A full report of the rally can be found in the 65th edition of 'Bank Notes'
dated May 1979.
The first Treasure Hunt' of the season, organised by David Parkes and Brian Godwin, took place on Sunday, 3rd June.
The event started from the 'Malt Shovel' car park at Stonebridge Island, near Elmdon Airport, and covered some 30 miles of the Warwickshire
countryside. The weather conditions were not ideal but all competitors completed the course without mishap despite having to solve
the ingenious ‘tulip section' which was introduced towards the end of the event and taxed the brains of both drivers and participants
alike.
The Treasure Hunt finished at the Greswold Hotel, Knowle, where a buffet supper was provided for the twenty drivers and their
passengers.
The results were announced at 9.00p.m. and the prize winners were as follows:
1st Susan Shade First Aid Kit
2nd. Brian Dipple Car Warning Triangle
3rd. Graham Davies Fire Extinguisher
4th
Andrew Dugdale Emergency Windscreen
Booby Prize
David Chancellor Car Polish
Congratulations to Susan Shade for being the outright winner.
The next Treasure Hunt'
will be on the north side of the city and is scheduled for early September.
Safe Motoring,
Bob Fernie.
CONTACT: Christmas 1979
The
second "Treasure Hunt' of the season - organised by Tom Murphy and Brian Dipple - took place on Sunday, 2nd September.
The event started
from Halesowen and finished at the “Gypsy’s Tent” public house on the Hagley Road. The route covered some thirty miles of the scenic
Worcestershire countryside and as the weather remained fair throughout the event, everyone was able to appreciate the picturesque
views as they travelled through the Clent Hills and surrounding villages.
Refreshments were provided at the "Gypsy's Tent" for the
22 drivers and their passengers. Ample time was available for competitors to discuss the various experiences encountered en route
before the prizes were presented by the Section's President, Mr. B.R. Endall.
2nd. D.J. Parkes (Fire Extinguisher)
3rd. S.J. Barnsley (Warning Triangle)
4th. R.S. Cridge (First Aid Kit)
Booby
A. Piggott (Car Cleaning Kit)
Topical Tip for winter
Most of us have probably been in the situation where the drive wheels of the car are trapped in slippery ground and when the car is revved up one wheel spins wildly.
The obvious tactic is to give the wheel grip using branches or even the mats from the car to get clear.
If that fails there is always the parking brake trick;- Every car has a differential between the driving wheels.
Due to this power distribution device, the wheels that have
the poorest grip will take the greatest share of the power from the engine.
As a result that particular wheel will spin and the other
will be stationary. The car will then have one-wheel drive.
So apply the parking brake a few notches until it is only just beginning
to grip. If the brakes are correctly adjusted the braking effect will be of the same magnitude on the driving wheel on each side.
Both
wheels will then be driving at the same speed and the car will have two-wheel drive again. This may make just the difference to get
you out of your predicament.
Remember not to apply the brake too hard or run power against the brake for too long, since this will
only wear out the pads.
The trick can only be used, of course, where the parking brake acts on the drive wheels. This is not always
the case with front-drive cars.
Safe motoring over the festive season,
Bob Fernie.