Beaulieu - 2005 ........ 43rd National Rally for Austin Sevens 3 July 2005 After the urine snatching of last year I tried to get an 'early bird' arrival picture again, it would have been quite amusing because you wait all the year for a 7 and then three come along at once. Myself, Mike N-H, and Juliet were the only cars on the field. However it all turned out a bit dark as you see. Very punctual these Solent types! Yes, a splendid day. I felt personally that I had met some of the great and the good. Son of Stanley Edge, Son of Pat Driscoll, also Sandy Croall, Ian Moorcroft, The Bonar and Wright act, Chris Gould, et al. Interesting to talk to Don Woldridge who is also playing with a fibreglass Chummy. I always seem to spend too much at the autojumble at this event, and this year was no exception. Perhaps we can play 'spot the purchases' at next Club night! Did anyone find that particular bit for which they have been searching for years? Did Solent win any awards this year, I got side-tracked at the prize giving, so if we had any winners let me know for future adulation. How splendid to see the European contingent with all those Dixis. It seems that my new red hat caused no little derision! I don't care. And in case you are wondering; the rat on the brim is radar sensitive. Since I have had him, I have not been caught in a radar trap - so he seems to work. On the way home I met Hugh Wright! About two miles up the road, on the edge of the Forest, there he was with a broken half-shaft! He had already phoned the AA. He had seen several of the others, including John Pike who had offered a tow, and Chris Gould also stopped. I stayed with him until the AA arrived and he was all loaded up. I managed to find a couple of cups of lukewarm tea (no milk!) whilst we were waiting. Actually the AA was very good, they sent a contractor with one of those drop-off-the-back bodies and he was not long in turning up either. Hugh rang me later in the evening to say that he had got home, and kindly enquired if I had also(!). Mike Whittome
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