February 21st saw the annual post-hibernation gathering of the SCC faithful for the AGM. This year saw a new venue, a new layout and a new level of organisation hitherto unknown in the anals of NSCC history (that would normally be annals, but I decided anals would be more appropriate). The venue was the Red Lion in Bispham, which happened to have a Premier Inn next door. Those were the tight buggers who, as the rooms filled up, doubled the prices on the remaining rooms. Hm, we'll have to remember that trick...
Anyway, part of the new programme meant that we had the nuts'n'bolts AGM and rule book discussion after lunch, in the hope that people would be slightly less pissed, which leads to long, circuitous and argumentative discussions about the same tired old crap. Even though some participants started drinking suitably early (lunchtime the preceding day), it did seem to work quite well. There was a bit of discussion about the rule that allows FWD cars for that competitor's first year - this was amended for 2015 to say that if the competitor qualifies the car in its first year, he can sign it up again for the second and so on. We're getting some interesting machinery in the FWD class, with some very enthusiastic owners, and no sign of the boom-tish-boom-tish race-around-the-retail-park crew that some people were worried it would attract.
Another rule that was amended was the one that allowed people to turn up to York in their NSCC car and claim show points even if they didn't sign up to race. On one memorable weekend in 2014, this meant that some of the pit-sitters actually scored more points than those who went out in the 1st round of eliminations! This year, you get show points for the WEEKEND, not per day, so if you drive your NSCC car to York but for whatever reason don't race, you get 1200 points plus 300 for the cruise. If you trailer it there but don't race, you'll get 300 points plus 300 for the cruise, or bugger-all if you don't go on the cruise. This rule will also apply should the event be rained off with no qualifying having taken place.
Two rules that weren't changed, despite reasonable protestations, were the ones that state that the car must have an MoT even if it's pre-1960, and it must be taxed. That means no trade plates, and even in the absence of tax discs, it's the work of 20 seconds online to find out if the car's MoTed and taxed...
The cruises remain the same, although only the first of the two monthly American Auto Mags Hollow Tree cruises counts for points, and Simon has changed the day of the Queen Adelaide cruise to the third Sunday of the month. As the last Knaresborough cruise happens AFTER the finals, it was decided that cruisers could score points at Knaresborough in March, but not September.
There's a fair old raft of shows on the calendar, too, starting with the Whitby Kustom one-dayer in April, adding Cumbria's Total Retro event in May, American Speedfest at Brands Hatch in June, the Phantoms Hot Rod Hootenanny in Scotland mid-July, and the Blackpool Classic & Custom Car Show in mid-August. The only thing that's dropped off the calendar is the NSRA Billing Fun Run.
There are 11 rounds of NSCC competition, or possibly 10, we're not sure yet. This problem arises from the UK Power Tour on the first weekend in July, and how York are working around them. Doubtless details will be forthcoming as soon as somebody works out what the sweet, sweet piggy-titties is going on.
And then the AGM was wound up! Hurrah, just time to tip the wee of excitement off your chair before dinner was served. Yes, somebody decided that a room full of NSCC competitors could be trusted with hot food and sharp cutlery. The meal didn't start well - I can only assume that downstairs in the pub people were putting their drinks on nachos, because I'm sure I got served a plateful of cheesy beermats. The steak was pretty damn good, although halfway through, as I was reaching for that very heavy earthenware bowl of chips in the middle of the table, I put my back out again. Could I sue them for that? Anyway, that meant I spent the rest of the evening waddling around as though I'd had a pick-axe handle jammed up my nipsy.
During dinner there was a bit of a quiz, followed by the Tat Auction. The idea was that people could bring various bits and bats of useful and useless stuff, and we'd auction it off for NSCC funds. There was, it has to be said, precious little tat and a lot of bloody good stuff. All in all, we raised well in excess of £200 for the NSCC kitty. And Damien, if you still have that VHS, I'll happily buy it myself! I wish I had bought it then, but my mind wasn't on the job, obviously. To illustrate, we had another brilliant offer of a lot to auction from CRD Performace, which I completely failed to include. However, if the offer still stands, I'd like to utilise that in some useful way during the course of the year.
Then it was time for the prizegiving, and having been appointed photographer I managed to plumb new depths even by my own low standards by managing to take five in-focus photographs. That's one of them above, of Simon Boot collecting his own trophy plus a few for people who couldn't make it!
That's Biff, picking up his award in his new Black Pig, plus a Green Party 'Endeavour' for preventing food wastage.
That's Andy Errington above, collecting not only his trophy for 7th overall but also a well-deserved trophy for best newcomer. Good man, who has already signed up for 2015 in his newly-acquired Mustang.
That's Rick Swaine looking as pleased as punch, not only for a well-deserved third place in the orange Viva, but also for the John Payne Spirit of the NSCC award. Not only was he most improved (from 2013 to 2014) following his Pinto transplant, he was also one of the crew representing the NSCC at off-calendar shows and events, and when he couldn't race his own car at the track he'd turn up anyway and crew for someone else. Top bloke.
That's a rear view of Nigel Henderson (take my word for it) picking up his trophy for second overall in the groovy little 105E Anglia, again proving that in order to succeed in NSCC competition, you need a car that's properly streetable. His little four-pot went everywhere last year, and he was only a whisker behind the 2014 Champion, James Murray, who added another trophy to the list of things he won't dust or polish.
Overall, I think the AGM was a success. I liked the format of having the meeting in the afternoon and an informal dinner in the middle, though some folk didn't think much to the fact that the venue was so far out of town and away from the nightlife - one chap did tell me that he had a kebab on Friday night, but as it required a taxi ride to collect it, it cost him £20. There are one or two other ideas on the table for next year's AGM already, so if you have any (constructive) ideas or feedback, make yourself heard.
Incidentally, this year's prizes were sponsored by James, c/o Megasquirt UK, the DIY EFI and ECU people, so you know where to go for engine management...
...and we've also had support offered from Pete at Chassis Tec, the chassis and cage specialists. Going under the 11.99 second barrier this year? You need to speak to Pete.
So remember, support those who support the sport! Easter and round one are less than four weeks away. Watch out for the IOPD and PDRC forms being posted on the Facebook page so you can get those filled in, sent off and done and dusted in advance. The updated rule book and calendar will be posted up on www.nscc.info just as soon as we get the early July York/Power Tour weekend details sorted. It's not far away ... are you ready?
Eugene
