by David Champ

Poor weather forecasts and competing events conspired to keep the turn out down at this year’s GTD40 Car Club AGM.  'Poor' predictions indeed as I managed to get from mid-Hertfordshire to Kent and back without encountering a drop of rain.  Perhaps everyone was not so lucky and it’s not a pleasant, or even entirely safe, driving a GT40 at speed in heavy rain - but surely worth taking the chance.  Is it only me who thinks there has been a sea change in forecasting since the great storm of 1987?  It seems that the weather people now always predict the worst to avoid later censure. I find conditions normally turn out considerably better than predicted!

There has been a decline over the last two years at this event, which is a shame as it’s always been an interesting and relaxing end to the season.  Unfortunately no 750 motor club this year, so no chance to scare yourself going up and down 45 degree slopes in a trials car.  In the event I guess the furthest traveller was probably Ian Goodwill (two tone green 40) who came from near Portsmouth and the shortest journey must have been Malcolm Kerr who must have moved his car about 50 yards! 

In spite of a blustery wind the barbeque was kept alive and the excellent usual range of post prandial sweets were freely on offer – I refer to the sumptuous carrot cake!  

The short row of GT40s was book-ended by two other high performance cars – namely a beast of an Ultima sports coupe and a Ferrari in an unusually subdued shade of dark green.  Marshals need to get the formation better next year :)  I couldn’t take photos without the non-40s dominating the view!  Below, the late arriving Desmond Finnan and his lovely-looking Gulf-liveried GT40 added welcome colour to the proceedings.

AGMs can be variable, but this was very enjoyable.  Lively discussions were had on the cost of membership, joint projects with the GT40 Enthusiasts Club, an increase of social events next year (a perennial effort) and the ever increasing cost of track days.  A few parts were on view such as adjustable height engine mount brackets (a swappable item for GTD chassis) and fabricated front uprights which take the bigger and better bearings.

This was the last year we will be at Malcolm Kerr’s residence for the AGM, which is a disappointment because as you can see it’s in a tremendous setting.  A big thank you must go to Mac and Trudi who have been such great hosts over the years.  However I understand we will be at Andrew Fordyce's next year which is a more central south location for hopefully a bigger turnout.

David Champ