AUTO-GYMKHANA 2006 - Fun, games & the odd burnt sausage!

Sunday August 20th, Copythorne Scout Hut was the venue for our Annual Gymkhana. We had extended invitations to 1020 Bournemouth & Poole, 1012 Sarum and Dorset Midget & Sprite Club to join us for some car games, mind games and a barbecue / picnic.  An early start for the stalwarts to set out the course at 09.00, but an unexpected bonus was that Kris and Roy again sallied forth into the kitchen and, with help from others, produced bacon butties AGAIN! You stars, praise is not enough really!

Having set up, with a couple of test runs to make sure cars fitted around the 3 driving tests, it was time for coffee and Sunday papers.

It was at this point that Tania wandered amongst those sat round the telegraph pole (why was that the focal point?) handing out picture puzzle and well known saying sheets to be filled in.

It quickly became apparent that one by one the Sunday papers were being put aside and the sheets became the focus of everybody’s attention.


At about 11.30 the first crew ventured forth in a car to tackle the Gymkhana course. Andy and Harry Pendle dipped their toes into the water and tried the buzzing wire, jousting, fan belt hoopla, gasket darts, spare parts skittles, blind reverse parking, cone and ball slalom and reverse driving with spare wheel roll, the last two being timed events, the cumulative time for both giving a finishing order. In all 16 drivers took to the course over the next couple of hours, with much laughter to be heard across the field, the odd argument as to which was the best way to tackle a test and some who needed a sit down after rolling the spare wheel around.

Andy and Harry Pendle tackle the blindfold reverse parking test. This caused much fun as some co-drivers didn’t know their left from right, but then again, neither did some of the drivers!		The cone and ball slalom was another test with a twist, crews having to chose their own route around the cones. Here Gordon and Scott Maxwell are putting the balls back after having collected them all.

The gasket darts proved a bit of a challenge... the darts wouldn’t stick in the board! 1020 Honorary Secretary Nigel Hedges and wife Ann on the Ockee, so to speak. It was amazing the number of judges that appeared for each test as Nigel made his way around the field.		My personal favourite though is the jousting and, boy, did that have a little sting in the tale! The hoops had to be collected in order 1 to 8, but number 8 was slightly behind 7 on a turn, all to be gathered without stopping forward momentum. Here Lucie and Richard complete the run in Lucie's LHD American spec ‘B’ roadster.

New this year was the spare parts skittles, sounds easy enough from 10ft away, but incredibly hard sat in a car. Chris and Annabel Harrison really do relish a challenge though and , as Annabel shows it is even harder in a Midget with a hard top on, not much room to swing the arm.		Of course, after all that driving, exercising the little grey cells and rummaging through the feely bags, it was time for some sustenance. The barbecue was fired up - as we all know, and can plainly see here, the best barbecues are always cooked by committee!

Once everybody had consumed their lunch it was time to mark each crew's score cards. Tania being the chief scorer and adjudicator, she beavered away to quickly come to a result.

To the surprise of all those gathered, and even to the victors themselves, 1st place went to Nigel Knowles and Stephen Churchill from 1012 Sarum Moonrakers. Nigel is the branch's Honorary Secretary and I think he was pleased to take the trophy back to Salisbury, some retribution for 1009 winning most of the prizes at their recent quiz and barbecue, perhaps?


They beat runners-up Lucie and Richard by a single point, but I suspect our own Gymkhana specialists will be back next year to reclaim the trophy they’ve come to regard as theirs! (only joking Lucie & Richard, I think!).

To the victors, the spoils of victory. Nigel Knowles (right) and Stephen Churchill show their reward to an appreciative audience.		Of course, there has to be a strongest crew, you know, the one that holds all the others up. Jon and Pauline Holt  with the very strong wooden spoon.

So next year it will all happen again... new games? BE THERE, IT’S FUN.