September, who’d have thought it. And I gather spring has arrived, in NSW at least, which is encouraging, after another rather dull winter. Good excuse to get the car out of hibernation (and yourself for that matter).

Huge thanks are due to Craig and Cathy Shephard and all the motorsport committee for putting on round 4 of the CSCA sprints, and thank you to all the volunteers who kindly made the day happen for the competitors. And for those able to make the Shannons Classic, thank you for doing so to represent the club.

In more news from August, I’m delighted to confirm that my Eleven is staying in Australia, albeit heading south to Victoria. The new owner is having the car trucked south as I write this, and although it is with mixed feelings that I say goodbye, I am delighted that he is going to get more use from it than I can.

Over here in Blighty, we are having an Indian summer, with temperatures in the early 20s and clear blue skies and sunshine. Let’s hope it remains this way for Revival, which is this coming weekend (8-10th September). I gather there are a few friends over this way for the event, so I’m looking forward to that.

Closer to home, September means the All British Day on 17th (following Tyre Kick on 10th), so if you haven’t got your ticket, have a look in your emails for the prompt and details! It’ll be a blast, having not been on for the last few years, so make sure you are there in my absence!

In rather less happy news, my friend, navigator and all round gentleman, Giles Cooper, passed away last week. He had been on a circumnavigation of Australia in the VW Fastback he had lovingly restored over Covid. Such a shame that it was to be his last adventure; the last in a long and illustrious list, and his passing leaves a big hole in many lives, but at least a sense of a life well lived. The photo here of the two of us in the Gobi desert during the Peking to Paris rally probably says as much about when Giles was at his happiest as any words can.

Looking slightly further ahead, we will need to pull together the AGM and Christmas Party once I return to Australian shores in early October, so if anyone has any good ideas for a suitable location for our Christmas Party this year, I am all ears!

And by then we will be in the middle of the summer we’ve not had for some time (he says, fingers firmly crossed!) so perhaps some weekend drives might be in order..

Do let me know if you have any thoughts or preferences, and I look forward to seeing some of you at the first Tyre Kick in October, by which time I will be back!

Meanwhile, keep safe, upright and on the blackstuff (most of the time).

Pip pip,
Ashton