FROM YOUR EDITOR

Many thanks to George Dodds for sponsoring the Selkirk stand again this year and to Jim Harris for his article on the recent HHC track day.
Found an old Washington Post competition where readers are asked to take any word and alter it by adding, subtracting, changing one letter and supply a definition. Here are some prize winners. The last two are my favourites!  ---- Helen

INTAXICATION: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realise it was your money to start with
REINTARNATION: Coming back as a hillbilly
FOREPLOY: Any misrepresentation for the purpose of getting laid
CASHTRATION: The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period
GIRAFFITI: Vandalism spray-painted very high
SARCHASM: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it
INOCULATTE: Taking coffee intravenously, when running late
HIPATITIS: Terminal coolness
OSTEOPORNOSIS: A degenerate disease
KARMAGEDDON: It’s like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it’s like, a serious bad day
DECAFALON: The gruelling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you
GLIBIDO: All talk and no action
DOPELER EFFECT: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly

GOODWOOD REVIVAL

Brian and myself went to this and it is certainly worth a visit. The races are for cars from the 1930s to the early 1960s - the whole event is geared to reproducing that ‘Golden Era’ and nothing modern is allowed in the grounds - the cash machines were even inside red phone boxes!
There were races that had Bugattis from the late 20s to early 30s and I don’t think they were replicas either. Others had Ferraris, Jaguar D-types, Bentleys, Ford GT40s and AC Cobras (real ones) all giving it laldy round the track - quite something to see and I wonder what the insurance for that costs or even if you can get it! Some had saloon cars - ranging from little A35s right up to Jaguars - and that was just as exciting.
There was a huge shopping area selling just about everything and you could have some serious retail therapy if you had the dosh - buying anything from Rolexes to cars - like the V12 with 6 Webers and a Vanwall body pictured above.

POLARS ON TRACK

Just imagine driving as fast as you like, for as long as you like, with no speed cameras and no caravans on a one way road with only invited cars and drivers sharing the same tarmac. Sounds like fantasy these days - but in reality another highly successful and thoroughly enjoyable Track Day as organised by Tony from Hexham Horseless Carriages.
The HHC Team even managed to organise the perfect weather to suit the cars, with a fantastic turnout including most variants of TVR, Lotus, Noble, Caterham, Ferrari, Aerial Atom and a couple of Tuscan circuit cars amongst others to enjoy - with people swapping rides and drives all day long on the 2.1 mile Croft Circuit.
The Novices got free one to one coaching from the Circuit’s Chief Instructor. Alistair from Lotus providing Exige S drive experience rides was booked solid all day.
HHC have organised a further two events for this year - Wednesday 11th July and Wednesday 19th September. We can thoroughly recommend these days as brilliant fun, excellent value, a real learning experience and a chance to discover the performance capabilities of your car. Give Tony a call and book your places, on 01434 601666. If you think your car might not be up to it, I am sure Tony can persuade you to consider something from his range of tempting toys.
Thanks to the HHC Team from the Yorkshire 4. See you on track soon!

SPOTTED

A Polar caught napping at Aberfoyle!

MOTOR NEWS

Philip and Sally have sold the white MGB Roadster and the rumoured replacement is a Lotus.

WELCOME

New members Paul Bonsall from Kirkby Stephen, Andrew Carrie from Livingston and David Bruce from Kirkliston. We look forward to meeting you all soon.

CONGRATULATIONS

Philip and Sally are engaged after 27 years of walking out together.
(Not sure if there is any connection with the change of motors.)

KNOCKHILL MOTORFAIR

I would like to say a very big “THANK YOU” to the Polars who turned up to the Motorfair on 12th and 13th May and braved the typical Knockhill weather – dreich at best on Saturday but Sunday brought soaking rain and wind. Immaculately presented cars were displayed by new members James McCherly (Lotus Esprit) and Graham Chappell (Honda S2000) who had come all the way from the Isle of Arran. Graham showed how to promote the Bears with the website address on the side of his S2000! More local members, Martin Whitelaw (Porsche 911) and Mike Webber (Ferrari Dino Rep) helped on stand duties as well as bringing their equally immaculate cars. Dick and Pat Nortcliffe stayed in Kinross for the weekend and turned up early on Saturday to help with erecting the stand before braving the Knockhill elements for the rest of the day. Brian and Helen Kirkness replaced them on Sunday to help with flyer distribution and our “Cool Wall”.

 

It had been Mike’s idea to display photos of all the cars we are expecting will take part in our Dream Rides at Thirlestane Castle on 3rd June and invite the public to donate 20p to get a blue dot to stick against the car they thought was “coolest”. This provided much entertainment for the Polars and the public with Martin taking every opportunity to educate young boys as to the merits of Porsche. Was it just coincidence that Saturday’s coolest car was a Porsche 997 GT3 while Sunday’s was a Ferrari F430 Coupe? We managed to raise £231 over the two days. I must also thank Knockhill Motoring Racing Circuit for providing the stand area free of charge and supporting our efforts to raise money for the children’s charity REACT which has been nominated to benefit from our Thirlestane Dream Rides this year.
Mike Webber was very generous with his car, allowing people to sit inside (above) and be photographed. I will always remember the mannerly young boy who, when he got out of the Dino, beamed at me and said "I'm in heaven!"
The main purpose of going to the Motorfair was to raise public awareness of the BVAC Motoring Extravaganza at Thirlestane Castle which our Dream Rides are to be part of it. BVAC provided £100 to cover the printing cost of our super flyers, designed by Mike Webber, which were handed out over the weekend. We are taking the opportunity of enclosing some copies with the Polar News and would ask that you distribute them around garages and other public places.
The display was a success in promoting "Sporting Bears Dream Rides" and I made several contacts who offered cars for future events. We also recruited one new member.
I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at Dream Rides, both as drivers and helpers. The club stand will feature our “Cool Wall” and will, I am sure, be even more successful in raising funds for REACT as well as helping the day to pass quickly and enjoyably. Let’s hope the weather is kinder to us than it has been over the Motorfair weekend! ----Fiona Davies, May 07