Editorial - Winter Sports??

Sometimes life can be perverse, a couple of weeks ago I was thinking of writing a piece on trackdays to follow Jonathan Baggott's piece on trialing as a suggested activity to entertain Monoposti in the non-racing season. One point was that trackdays enable an enthusiast to use racetracks throughout the year. This idea was overtaken by events as the UK came to a shuddering halt under a blanket of snow, for the second time in 2010; its not been a great year for off season trackdays. Our media seem to believe that snow related problems never occur abroad, From experience I know that they do, to the extent that we once built snowmen on the central reservation of the Motorway adjacent to Brussels when nothing moved for several hours. Even areas that insist that vehicles are fitted with either studded tyres or chains can be cut off. Ruth and I once left a cut off ski resort by ski, dragging our cases behind us. But being equipped for adverse conditions helps , I have been at ski resorts that insisted that all vehicles leaving used chains, I wonder how many UK motorists could comply?

Some racing drivers profess not to see the point of trackdays, but even they would probably understand the entertainment available if presented with the Nordschliefe, even better a snow covered Nordschliefe, and a rally equipped Lancia Stratos, it has happened, but for various reasons the event was unique, and probably will remain that way. In Janice Joplin’s words, 'Grab it while you can’.

Back to the perversity of life. In the summary of the November Minutes published in Startline a few weeks ago I asked for opinions on displacing the Forum to Facebook, this produced a nil response. But, as if to emphasise club members commitment to the current version of the Forum, a thread started on the Forum that eventually ran to twelve pages. Predictably this thread was in the Mono2000 section of the Forum. For some reason Mono2000 members generate more discussion than all the other classes combined. But the Forum seems not to be the favoured means of discussion with regard to the other hot topic of the moment, Simon's and Monoposto’s administrative role with regard to the MSV F3 Cup.

The above situation is a consequence of our successful liaison with MSVR. One only has to go back a few years to find that my editorials were complaining about the treatment of Monoposto competitors, as they suffered poorly timetabled races at meetings that caused them maximum inconvenience. There was an impression that Monoposto was being used to fill race programmes, and as a consequence our membership dropped. Nothing is perfect, but there is a perception that the current situation is much improved, MSVR have worked with us to optimise a Monoposto competitor's experience at race meetings, and membership numbers have markedly increased.

The deed of gift for most club trophies makes it obvious as to why a competitor has been awarded a particular trophy. It is less obvious in the case of the Committee Trophy,as the deed of gift simply reads:’ To the person doing much in the Club's interest'. This year directors have awarded this trophy to Peter Whitmore in recognition of the work that he put into forging the link with MSVR, the link that has contributed much to the present success of the club. Peter has long been a quiet, under-appreciated worker behind the scenes and it's good to see this recognised.

I trust that the vast majority of competitors can look back with pleasure and satisfaction on their 2010 season*, and are looking forward to 2011’s programme of quality circuits.

Merry Christmas, and I trust that you are eagerly awaiting an interesting 2011.

Patrick Huston

* I appreciate that the Tony may wish to delete this phrase.

Sebastian Buemi on ice in Canada

Rail Operator's nightmare - the wrong kind of leaf and the sort of snowfall which happens once in a lifetime.

Any excuse to show a Stratos. Chassis is like a Terrapin with bodywork.

Janice Joplin, grabbed it while she could until a heroin overdose. Last song was "Mercedes Benz" and this is her decorated 356 drophead. Some claim 356 handling is more dangerous than heroin. Click to link to "Summertime"

Asst ed's life savings after he discovered he couldn't drive in the wet.