Just a short note to remind you about the AGM and Awards evening at the Chequers next Saturday (18 March). The AGM gives you an opportunity to have a say in the running of the Club while the Awards allows us to reward our top drivers. Andy Williams is also going to tell you about the exciting new Club App. So please, please, make an effort to attend. It is not too late to put in your food order.
By popular demand you have been given the chance to order off the Chequers extensive Main Menu rather than a carvery. This is a little more difficult for the Pub so mealtime may be a little longer this year. Because of that I am outlining a timetable below. The “sit down” time is quite critical!
18.00 to 18.30. Arrive at Chequers
18.30 Sit down to your ordered meal
20.15 AGM commences
21.15 Awards presented by our President Terry Weaver
My wife, Alison, will be helping the waiting staff to get the right food to the right people. UNLESS YOU NOTIFY US BY 09.30 ON FRIDAY YOU CANNOT CHANGE YOUR CHOICE OF FOOD OR CANCEL. SO NO SHOWS ON THE NIGHT WILL HAVE TO REIMBURSE THE CAR CLUB WHO WILL BE LIABLE FOR PAYMENT.
Puddings need not be ordered in advance and can be chosen on the night.
On a different subject, the 2023 Sandown Sprint, is looking good. Final entries are likely to be just over 90. Inevitably we are still getting a few withdrawals and late entries. If you have time to spare on Thursday (23 March), from 08.00, we could still use some extra hands, mainly on traffic control.
Hopefully to see many of you on Friday at the AGM/Awards Meeting.
The 2023 IOWCC AGM will be held at the Chequers Inn in Rookely.
The format has changed slightly for this year.
If you wish to have food before the meeting arrive by 6:30 and order form the menu
you can find the menus on their website www.chequersinn-iow.co.uk
PLEASE EMAIL THE CLUB YOUR CHOICES FROM THE MENU – THIS IS TO ENSURE THE CHEQUERS INN HAS A GOOD IDEA OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ORDERING AND WHAT TO HAVE IN STOCK.
please email smalcolm222@gmail.com
There is no need to pay in advance, just pay the Chequers directly on the evening.
After we have enjoyed our meal and the tables have been cleared we will start the AGM.
You will find out how the club has done in 2022 and our plans for 2023 – this is also the perfect chance to ask questions or voice your thoughts on how to help the club move forward.
After the AGM the presentations will begin, issuing trophies and awards to our 2023 winners.
You do not have to attend the entire evening if you do not wish to, so just pop along and enjoy the evening at any point.
Every year in the off season, the IOWCC like to organise some events that are just for fun, family friendly and a great social.
This year’s Treasure Hunt ticked all those boxes.
Andy Williams not only set a scenic route to follow, with a list of things to spot and find, there were also some funny photo challenges and IOWCC stickers to locate.
The event started at the Ambassador Snooker club in Gunville with a late breakfast or an early lunch for those who wanted them before teams were being handed their questions and route and set off at intervals.
This is not a speed event, so no need for a fast car. In fact the trick is not to drive fast, that way competitors have time to look for items on the list such as – what can you buy for £2:50 (answer – a bundle of wood kindling) or how many white posts are along this road (answer -20, two lots of 8 and 4 at a house at the top of the road).
Some of the funniest things to do or find out included having to WhatsApp Andy a photo of your entire team in a wooden boat (bonus prizes for funniest photo) and how many car parking spaces were in the Range carpark in Northwood. Seeing everyone run round counting and having different answers must have baffled the Sunday shoppers. (answer 188).
Reigning champions Team Gas Racing were triumphant for the 3rd year running. What is it that this team have? Is it detailed knowledge of the Isle of Wight, an ability to seek out answers like a crack team of detectives or just a determination to win? Whatever it is they seem to have so much fun doing it and after all that’s what these events are all about.
Thank you so much to Andy for organising such a great afternoon of fun.
Our next event is a non-championship forward only autotest on the 12th of March at BAE Systems.
Have you always wanted to have a go at Motorsport? Well here is your chance – The Isle of Wight Car Club is holding a non championship taster event.
Just like a normal club forward only autotest, A simple course will be laid out in cones in a large car park. each driver will have 6 attempts to complete the course and their fastest time of the day will be added to the over all result.
There are different classed depending on the engine size of your car or the level of modifications made to it. So even if you drive a completely standard 1000cc car there is a chance you may drive away with a class win.
Entry to this event is a bargain at only £20
DRIVE AT 14 YEARS OF AGEThe IOWCC are encouraging 14 to 17 year olds to join the club and compete in the new youth championship series.
A member can drive at one of our events as young as 14 years of age, as long as they have a passenger with a drivers licence who is experienced in autotesting. The car must be a production touring car (i.e. back seats and a roof) under 2000cc. Members as young as 12 years old can be a passenger with an experienced driver with a current driving licence.
In addition all competitors and passengers must have a valid Motorsport UK RS clubman licence – this licence is free and can be applied for via the motorsport uk website
You do need to be a member of the Isle of Wight Car
ClubEntries for this event close at midnight on the 8th of March,Please head to our website for more informationhttps://iowcc.co.uk/events
The last round of the Isle of Wight Car Club forward only autotest championship was held at Fort Street car park in Sandown.
Despite the inclement weather, 37 drivers weaved their way through the traffic cones and rain puddles and a fantastic day of budget motorsport was had by all.
The slippery conditions rewarded those who drove in a smooth and controlled manner, and this is exactly how Wayne Hole has driven all year. Not only did he win this final event of the year, he also clinched the well-deserved sealed surface championship and due to his consistent performance on the dirt and grass has also won the overall championship.
Claiming the title in a completely standard, would be scrap MX5, Wayne has demonstrated what the club has explained for many years, that you don’t need a high-performance car to be competitive.
Class 1 is for standard cars under 1400cc and James Robbins took this class win for the day in his Citroen C1 and finishing 9th place overall.
Class 2 is for standard cars over 1400cc and our event winner and now champion Wayne Hole can expect a table full of trophies at the next AGM evening.
Class 3 is for modified cars under 1400cc. Dave Goodwin in his classic mini was the highest placed driver without a single wrong test or time penalty for hitting a cone. Decades of club autotest experience provided him with the class win and put him on the 3rd step of the podium.
On the note of wrong tests and time penalties for hitting cones, if you are a new to autotesting or in the case of our young drivers in our Youth championship, don’t become down hearted if you are not getting all the clean runs you would like, just look at the results and you will see that even the top placed drivers struggle from time to time. Stick with it, be patient and remember “slow is smooth and smooth is fast”.
There were 5 youth drivers competing and it is amazing how the Youth championship sponsored by Jake Ellis sunglasses has grown during 2022. The fastest youth driver of the day was Joel Gilby in his MGZR closely followed by Chloe Dawson.
If you are 14 years of age and would like to compete next year, members can drive from the age of 14 as long as they have an experienced passenger in a car that is a production saloon car designed to have 4 seats. Please visit our website www.iowcc.co.uk for more details.
Fastest lady if the day was awarded to Cathy True in her MINI cooper S who finished in 7th place overall.
Class 4 is for modified cars over 1400cc and there was some impressive machinery on show. Dan Parkman drove his very impressive Subaru Impreza, James McEnery’s highly modified Ford Fiesta was very quick and Luke Everson had a great result squeezing his Subaru Impreza through the tight course to finish 5th overall. However, Dean Long pipped Luke to the class win in his MX5.
Class 5 is for non-mass production cars, heavily modified saloon specials and single seaters. Robbie Cooper in his classic mini was determined to beat Andy Williams in his special, even upgrading his dampers midway through the event, but to no avail as Andy on his last run put that goal out of Robbie’s reach. However, it was Chris Wilson who came out of retirement and was sporting his beautifully refurbed single seater special who took the class 5 win and stood on the second step of the podium. Chris was using this event as a shake down for the 2023 season, so expect some good results in next year’s championship.
Thank you so Much to Pro-Tek for sponsoring the podium prizes and to everyone who helps make these events happen and especially to the club members who help set up and pack away on the day.
Despite this being the end of the autotest season for 2022, the club still has a few more events before they start again in the new year. There is a Christmas dinner at the Bargeman’s rest, our annual AGM, Dinner and Awards evening, a treasure hunt and a non-championship autotest taster event. So please check out our websitewww.iowcc.co.uk for information and dates.
The isle of Wight Car Club’s annual 2 day event, the Healey Weekend, comprised of rounds 12 and 13 Saturday’s autotest was held at BAE systems in Northwood and Sunday’s autotest was held at Westridge car park in Ryde. If a competitor competes in both of these rounds their combined times are added together and the fastest in each class is given an award and the individual with the fastest combined overall time is presented with the coveted turbine trophy.
Saturday’s event although dry included a spectacular water splash section as the car park was partially flooded. This made for some stunning images and slippery driving conditions.
This venue is held on a large open carpark, perfect for the larger more powerful cars to stretch their legs.
International rally driver Richard Weaver in his Evo 6, dominated this event in his all wheel drive rally car and it was a spectacular sight to watch and combined with the brutal sound of the anti lag provided much entertainment for the spectators and fellow competitors alike. Richard finished the day with the overall win and class 4 award.
Not such an easy day for Sue Mitchel and Steve Glass whose power steering belt broke on their Ford KA. Exactly a year ago at the Healey Weekend BAE venue, Steve’s power steering belt broke on his Ford focus. Proving that the IOWCC is a friendly club, Shane Parry offered Steve to use his Ford KA and Louise Wren kindly let Sue borrow her Ford Puma, so that they could continue. Sue said afterwards “I’m now a Puma fan lol”.
Class 1 win on Saturday went to James Robbins in his completely standard Citroen C1.
Class 2 was awarded to Louise Wren in her completely standard Puma.
In class 3 there was a proper battle between the Greenen family, all finishing within a second of each other, however, it was Andy Greenen who took the class win and finished 3rd place over all.
Class 4 went to event winner Richard Weaver.
Class 5 and 2nd place overall went Andy Williams in his single seater special.
During the evening, competitors either relaxed, or spent the night spannering away to repair or improve their cars for Sunday’s event.
Sunday’s venue at Westridge carpark in Ryde (next to Tesco), was a much tighter course and would favour the smaller nimble cars.
Richard Weaver was unable to attend this event due to family commitments, so this not only gave other competitors a fighting chance to get on the top step it also completely opened up the door for the combined Healey Weekend award as you need to attend both days to be in with a chance of holding up the amazing trophy made from a helicopter turbine.
Proving the point that you do not need a race car to be competitive, James Robbins in his completely standard C1 not only took the class 1 win for the day he was also the 3rd fastest driver overall.
Class 2 went to Louise Wren in her standard Puma.
Dave Goodwin in his classic mini put in a fantastic drive and finished with the class 3 win and with the fastest time of the day took the top step of the podium.
Class 4 is for modified cars over 1400cc and James Mcenery’s Ford Fiesta definitely falls into that category and with a stunning drive he took the class 4 win and finished 4th place overall.
After a slow start, Andy Williams found his form and finished with the class 5 win and stood on the 2nd step of the podium.
The Healey Weekend is a fantastic two days of club level motorsport and rewards drivers who can consistently produce good consistent results.
Combining all the times of the weekend our Healey Weekend winners were –
Fastest youth – Joel Gilby
Class 1 – James Robbins
Class 2 winner and consistently the fastest lady of the entire weekend was Louise Wren
Class 3 – Dave Goodwin
Class 4 – James Mcenery
Class 5 and overall Healey Weekend winner was Andy Williams
2023 is the 75th anniversary of the IOWCC Healey Weekend and we are hoping to make next year’s event even bigger and better with a large social event and just maybe a night time driving event.
Isle of Wight Car Club 
