360 MRC SNETTERTON - THANK YOU, And .... A DIFFERENT KIND OF THANK YOU

[johngee]

There are so many threads about various aspects of this meeting (one could almost believe it was sponsored by 10/Tenths ) and I just need to say one thing to everybody........ THANK YOU for making this club and its' race meeting 'your own' and supporting it as you have.
Some of you now know that I haven't been in the best of health recently and this has put a huge extra burden on Claire. She is totally committed to the success of 360MRC and has put so much effort into making sure that we had a well presented and executed meeting last Saturday. I believe that she succeeded and I want to take this opportunity of publically saying another huge THANK YOU to her, which I was unable to do on Saturday.
Make sure that you enter next year in even bigger numbers to let her show us what she can really do.

[MartinSmith]

I thought I'd wait for the dust to settle
And try to give it time
To say a few words about our little event
And do it in a rhyme

So i left it for as long as I could
But the posts come thick and fast
I'll come to this subject later
but I do hope this Euphoria lasts

I arrived at the circuit Friday
Had a meeting with the RC team
Then Hindy turned up a bit later
on his two wheeled mean machine

He'd come to finalise details
and make sure that all was ok
but we suddenly found an issue
that just would not go away

We had problems with the ISDN
trying to get the signal to the net
Then Hindy with a grin and his northern tone
Said "Dont worry I think I've sussed it Pet!"

He did of course as you all know
he was true to his word
and as far away as Adelaide
360/2 was heard

Then two familiar faces
Suddenly I spotted
and with a smile across the paddock
Grant and Terri trotted

I hadn't seen em since 360/1
that was August last year
I really value their friendship and support
I hold them both very dear

Terry Bower turned up as well
and had a go at me for smoking
I said "Terry its been a very hard month"
he knew I wasn't joking

Drivers and teams began to arrive
Al, Cliff and of course Mike Bell
but I kept looking over towards the entrance
for someone I wanted there as well

Ed Simpson and his crew as well
with tall Tony with the Mediterranean tan
And Pete Richards and his determined team
Working on that wonderful Clan

Carey from Midway Motorsport
Rikki Cann and his daughter good on her
she won an award in the WBS
rightfully MADE OF HONOUR

Then came a moment that I treasured
For at one point I thought may not be
A familiar Jag came into the paddock
And in it of course JohnGee

Now I dont need to tell you all
What that meant, particularly in here
just suffice to say it was emotional
I may have shed a tear

The fact that he had made it
meant everything to me
for you see quite simply without him
there'd be no Three Sixty (there really wouldn't)

The BBQ that never was
was a veritable feast
Grant was in charge of cooking
on Mike Bells burning beast

Tim Falce had brought some red wine
which felt good on the pallet
but I needed a lift to the hotel
To my rescue?..Peter Mallet

I apologise again to Peter and his wife
Im surprised I never ended up walking
For as soon as I got in the back of their car
They couldn't stop me talking!

I didn't sleep at all the Friday
my mind was full of fright
worrying about what could go wrong
I was up for half the night

Well suddenly it was race day
and the waiting it was over
I packed my rabbits foot
and kissed me four leaf clover

The weather we were blessed with
especially for this time of year
was quite frankly perfect
al be it a bit too windy I fear

I wasn't happy with certain things
but I wont cover that today
just to mention that 360 MRC weren't at fault
for the 20 minute morning delay

FORC brought over 70 cars
and the Gulf cars came as well
some sat in the mess on the M11
which sounded to me like hell

The racing itself well you see
thats where it goes wrong for me
because I had so much to do
unfortunately I was rather busy

The first time during the day
I had a chance to take it in
was about two hours into the 6
when I wondered who would win

The thing about endurance
Is you just can never say never
its all about strategy and a far bit of luck
and being a bit clever

Not driving a car to the max
and steaming round flat out
but pacing yourself and taking your time
will make sure you're in for a shout

Midway changed an engine
in that Rover of theirs
and what about the Tango 924
and their mad dash for the spares!

They helped out David Smiths team
so to them I give a big shout
for you see that type of selfless act
IS WHAT THIS EVENT IS ALL ABOUT

There was one person I so wanted to help
for him the day was hell
I just didn't know what to say to him
Its of course our own BILTEL

For Terry I just could of cried
In fact, in truth, I did
For he waited and waited for this race
but never made it to the grid

If I could turn back time I would of course
but alas I cant I'm afraid
and soon I was waving the chequered flag
as the sun began to fade

I was worried as I think I said before
It was my biggest fear
that we would not capture the atmosphere
that we had first time round last year

Well I needn't have worried at all
because its plain to see
That this event gets better and better
I cant wait for 360/3

You dont have to thank us for this event
It would be nothing without you
The Marshals, Officials and Competitors
believe me it is so true

I will now go back to the subject
I touched on at the beginning of this rhyme
and that is the current euphoria
banding about at this time

I remember it from last year
and the good press that we got
but I cannot help but think to myself
that it was soon quickly forgot

So if you really loved it
and cant wait for 360 THREE
JUST REMEMBER HOW YOU'RE FEELING NOW
WHEN I ASK FOR THE ENTRY FEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to the following people for making me one of the proudest people in GRASS ROOTS MOTORSPORT nay,,, JUST IN MOTORSPORT...Eat ya heart out Bernie..this is REAL MOTORSPORT!

In no particular order
Dave, Elaine, Terry Scannell, Peter Harding, Dawn Houghton, Peter Rodwell, Zoe Moore, Mike Dixon, Gordon Woodhill, Eric Davey, Terri, Grant,
Stuart Plonknet, Terry B, Chris A, Dave Scott, Dave Willey Jamie, Debs, Andy and the whole team at MSV, Andrew Kitson, John and Kevin Turner, Peter Knight, his wife and the whole TSL team, Gary and all at Tyrrells, Steve Ford and the whole Scrut team, The Doctors and Medic's Alex and Red Rocket,
THE MARSHALS (sorry too many to list by name) WHO, WITHOUT THEM, KISS GOODBYE TO MOTORSPORT AND THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR OBEYING OUR REGS!!!!! (sorry the lunch was short...dont blame 360 you know who to blame) To Nick and the legend that is John Hindhaugh....you once again made our little event so much more...you are top and I love you and Eve to death!!!

TO ALL THE DRIVERS OF THE WBS ....thank you ...we hope you enjoyed it....but you should thank JOHN RUSTON, GRAHAM TURNER AND TIM FALCE FOR THEIR WORK .

TO THE TEAMS OF THE THREE SIXTY...WELL DONE TO YOU ALL...you are ALL winners in our book
Ed Simpson....thank you for the VIP Lounge and Im sorry that to quote you "I am costing you the national BLEEP debt"...be honest...our event is like loreal....because we're worth it!

Rikki Cann for the offer of the pace car (hope you realise now...why I had to say no...but thanks again)

To my sister Sue, who was baptised into Motorsport administration with nothing more than a half hour guide from me...I think she didn't do bad

Terrmaine for making me smile at dinner

Carol for holding it all together and for what you have done in the last couple of months

and to JohnGee...its a glitch thats all and ....it is....by far..... a far cry....from the rising sun!!!!

ta
C