johns

A better road map: Click here for road map Kames is in the bottom left sector on the map.

The SIDC have booked exclusive use of the Kames Motorsport Facility on Sunday 5th August. We have exclusive use of the sprint track throughout the day, which will be open from about 10am onwards. Kames is in Ayrshire (Click here for directions and track layout), so is only a few hours from all you guys in the NW. We will also be holding a BBQ (subsidised for SIDC members so remember to bring your membership cards!), which we'll fire up about 11:30 and try to keep going throughout the day for the hungry ones amongst us ;-) In a deviation from our usual track events, only one car at a time is permitted on the track, and you are free to go around as quickly or as slowly as you like. From a standing start, you will do 3 laps before returning to the paddock area and lining up for another run. It should take about 1 ½ to 2 minutes to complete your three laps, so brake wear and tyre wear should be minimal The cost to take part is a mere £20, for which you'll get as many runs as you can fit in during the day, and all you can eat at the BBQ You will be asked to sign an indemnity form when you arrive. Please note that no-one will be allowed out on the track without wearing a crash helmet, so remember to bring one along with you as there are none available for hire on the day. The fee is per driver, and not per car so you have to pay twice if two people want to share the one car. There is no charge if you just want to come along and watch. I know lots of you have informed me before that you are coming along, but I need confirmation now so I know how much food to buy for the BBQ. Could you please send me an e-mail giving me the following info: Number of Adults driving on track: Number of Adults coming along to watch (and eat): Number of Children: Details of car including registration number (if taking part on track): Cheers John

Hi all, Just to say that our next endurance karting event is on Friday 31st August, at Raceland. We will use the same successful format as we have done in our previous events, which is a 2 hour race in teams of 4, with 30 minutes practice, and a number of pit stops based on average team weights and driver experience. The cost will be the same as before at £30 per driver, or £120 per team. As some problems with spare karts were encountered the last time, we shall be running with one less team slot this time around (ie please respond quickly if you want a place!). Should demand exceed available places, then priority for places will be based on some combination of the number of SIDC members in the team, the number of events attended in the past, and of course how quickly your cheque arrives through the post! e-mail me if you want to take part

Just a reminder that this event is taking place on Sunday. Hope to see a big turn out of cars again

I'm afraid that the BBQ now won't take place after the event, as the building at Knockhill I had hoped to hire, has been fully booked for corporate rally events. Oh well, perhaps with the forecast being for showers of rain, its maybe better that it didn't go ahead!

LOL Doogsy Simon - haven't booked one yet. Would suggest the usual one (Himalaya), if someone can book a table for 10pm for 12 - 16 people please. I'm not local, and don't know the numbers etc and will be busy all day tomorrow (ie not at work).

How to get to Racleand This should help you Simon

Ken, the latest on this (due to low turn-out), is that we'll only have a presence on the Sunday. There should be a few other Subaru's there, and I'll probably leave mine there for the day as well, and go into watch some of the karate. The other cars you are looking for are a Series McRae, and a silver 4 door, both of which should be very clean I'll hopefully get over there about 11am on Sunday.

This event is now fully booked, with a reserve list. Should be a great day

Simon, I'm not sure, as I had to leave early. Miles would perhaps know ?

2nd - 4th November. Need I say any more ? See Tour d'Ecosse or Photos from last year to find out more about it. Can also highly recommend Steve Carter's website for some stunning photos of the region and roads that we shall be driving on. If you want more information, or would like to book, then please send me an email. See you there in November

UPDATE !!! A social gathering with beers and curry will be arranged for the Saturday evening More details to come...

LOL! Lawrewnce, your beard is a little shorter, but apart from that it's a very good likeness! John

Lawrence, thanks for the mouthwatering review. I guess I'll need to get some practice in to get anywhere near you in either of your cars

I'll be there obviously, plus I guess a few of the regulars I hope the track isn't as slippy as it was last year, as with all the mud it was more like a gravel rally track in places

CHANGE OF DATE!!! The AECC have unfortunately come back to inform us that the whole car park will not be available on the 11th August, which means that only a few of the activities could be run. With the Offshore Europe exhibition lasting just over a month (by the time it is constructed, hosted and then dismantled), it means the next available date is Saturday 6th October. I have also secured a subsidy from the SIDC for this event, meaning the cost will be a mere £45 each for the full days training I have contacted everyone by email who expressed an interest, to see if they can make the re-scheduled date.

Simon, yes you are on my list of people attending.

Dougie, I believe we do get a certificate of some sort at the end of the day, but I can check for you. John

Steve, there isn't a formal meeting, but quite often a group of us meet informally for lunch, beers or the laucnh of a new car like the P1 or UK300. We have a few Aberdeen based events coming up soon, so we'll hopefully see you along to those I suppose we should meet say once per month somewhere, say perhaps on the first Tuesday of every month (example only!). Any takers and any suggestions ?

Wow - talk about a quick response. Only a couple of hours since the event was posted up, and already more than half the available places have gone! With such a response, I'll try and get some more training courses sorted out, all over the country (if possible).

The organisers of the World Karate championships have invited the SIDC to put on a display of up to 8 cars at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre during the weekend of the 23rd - 24th June. This event has attracted over 600 entries from all over the world, and the numbers of competitors, trainers, guests and spectators are expected to be well over 5,000 !! The event is also being filmed by SKY television, with a huge potential audience. The organisers are trying to put on a variety of demonstrations and displays, with a strong Japanese theme, and the SIDC are one of the first organisations to be approached. I'm sure that passes could be arranged so that anyone with their car on display could get free entry to the event, to watch any of the action. A local car valetting business has offered assistance to clean the cars on display to showroom standard If you want to get your car on TV, and viewed by thousands of people, then please get in touch: e-mail

This extremely popular event has been run for the past two years, with large numbers of Impreza owners and their families turning up for a great social event. A fantastic BBQ (subsidised by the SIDC ), with top quality food (as much as you can eat), at an amazing venue at the hotel's private marina on the shores of Loch Lomond. Plenty of time before lunch, to catch up with all the latest news, and to meet new friends. After lunch, we will have a leisurely scenic drive, through some of Scotland's most beautiful countryside, before meeting up at another venue (to be decided) for some other activities. On previous years, we have done a distillery tour, and a visit to a water sports centre with a number of different activities arranged. Where will we go this year ? - well keep an eye on this thread to be kept up to date. Pre-booking is essential (number of adults and children), so we can inform the hotel on how much food to prepare for us, and work out the range of activities possible after lunch. Please send an e-mail to either myself or Cameron Leask to reserve you place.

The SIDC have been very lucky in securing a full day of advanced driver training at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, on Saturday 11th August (yes the day before the Golden Wheels exhibition!). This was one of the star lots on a recent charity auction held by the local radio station (Northsound). The day involves a variety of different activities, such as: skid car training, using their car, mounted in a special frame, which permits the instructor to simulate all different types of skids, black ice etc. emergency/cadence braking evasive manoeuvers driving (including reversing) with a trailer blindfold driving (your friend gives you instructions!) A special event, involving driving a number of cars, in different activities against the clock! This full day course is limited to 12 people, and normally costs £200+VAT per person, but on this one-off occasion, the SIDC are able to offer a place on this fantastic training course for a mere £55! Places are very limited, and guaranteed to go quickly, so please send me an e-mail to enquire about remaining places, and how to book your place. Priority will be given to those displaying their car at the Golden Wheels exhibition the following day, as we can simply set-up our cars at the AECC on completion of the driving course.

Following the success of last years event, the organisers have decided to run this event again at a warmer time of the year. The SIDC will have a display stand for a maximum of 8 cars, which we hope to set-up on the Saturday before. This leaves us free to enjoy some social activities in Aberdeen on the Saturday evening. The event is open to the public from 10am, until about 4:30pm, and as well as displays by all the different car clubs in the area, there will be a large number of trade stands and demonstrations. There are prizes for the best car(s) from each car club, overall winners, and a prize for the best display stand. We would like to have a large variety of different Imprezas on our stand, from standard to highly modified, so if you want to be one of the lucky few to have their car selected for the stand, then please send me an e-mail.

The Aberdeen Mini Owners Club have kindly invited us along to their annual extravaganza at Alford (see 17th June thread for full details) on Sunday 8th July, again from 10am onwards. Cost will be about £3 per person, and the sprint track will again be in use for part of the day. Due to the number of minis, and other clubs attending, we are restricted in the number of cars permitted to take part, so if you can make it along, please let me know by telephone or in advance.e-mail Should be another cracking day out for the whole family