HELLO AGAIN,  GOODWOOD SECTION MEMBERS. 

The usual reminder about communications - You can now reach the website via  http://www.aroc-uk.com/goodwood/ and you can contact me on goodwood@aroc-uk.com, or 023 80454378, or mobile 07769 738052 (text is best!).

News And Events

We've had a couple of chances to meet (other than Club Nights, of course) since the last Newsletter - first, we had another very successful lunch and skittles match at The Spur in early March.  Dave Lamond won the Gentleman's trophy, and Heather Penfold the Ladies Trophy.   It was a treat to see Tony and Jane Powell, home from the Ukraine for a couple of weeks - and Jane won the Wooden Spoon! Thanks go, as usual, to Laurence, for his examplary score-keeping.

May 3rd found a good number of us in deepest Bedfordshire, for Spring Alfa Day at Old Warden.  The weather was fair, (certainly kinder than at Chatham in 2008)  and "things to see" were numerous - a fantastic collection of amazing early aircraft, superbly displayed, as well as a lovely collection of Alfas.  We did not manage a group picnic, but I think we did all manage to meet and say hello during the course of the day.   I don't know how many of you ventured to the Birds of Prey display (it was their enormous stork, circling over the site in the early afternoon - quite a sight!) or the Swiss Garden, but both were excellent, as was the afternoon flying display.   There were problems with delays and queues for those who did not arrive early, and I don't doubt these have been pointed out to the organisers quite robustly by now!

Here are some pictures. Credit for the artistic shot of the Catalina flying boat goes to Keith Goff:

Future  Events

Thursday June 18th, 7.30pm Bangers and Mash at The Good Intent, Petersfield
Keith has kindly arranged for us to have another B&M evening.  The delicious sausages on offer will be:
1.  Pork and Chive   2.  Pork and Black Pudding    3.  Hot Mexican   4.  Lamb, Honey and Mustard
The cost is £10.95.    If you'd like to attend this event, please let Keith know, by e-mail , with your choises, at  keith.goffe@ntlworld.com or by telephone on: 01730 264495.  We don't ask for pre-payment on this one, so please be sure you can come before you book!  Deadline: Thursday 11th June please as we have to let the pub have the numbers and choices by Friday 12th so that these very special bangers can be ordered.

Sunday July 26th - Classic Car Summer Picnic at Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre - as I said in the last Newsletter, it would be good to add a selection of Alfas to this event.  I have obtained individual booking forms, but only three people have asked for one so far, so I'm hoping to encourage a rather bigger turnout than that.  The definition of "classic" for this event is cars built between 1955 and 1983.  The cost is just  £5.00 per car, and that includes all passengers (although donations to the museum would be welcome).  You have to commit to arrive by 10.00 and to stay there until 16.30.  PLEASE E-MAIL ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE AN ENTRY FORM.  You can't do this one on line I'm afraid.  I have passed on some of the forms to David Aiken at the Sussex Coast section (soon to be renamed Central Sussex) so hopefully that will help to enhance what is currently a rather limp display of classic Alfas!  Come on folks, surely the rain will have ended by late July?

Sunday October 11th - lunch at Il Palio, Brockenhurst - just a date for diaries at the moment, more details will follow nearer the time.

Sometime in September or November:  Ten Pin Bowling in Chichester (2 games of bowls, a basic supper, prizes, for £13.80 per head) - your social secretary is in a bit of dither about this one.  There was some enthusiasm for it when discussed - but it occurs to me that to book it for a September Sunday afternoon might deprive us all of a beautiful day out of doors.  So, I have two alternatives to suggest:

a.  That we book it for Club Night in September (24th).  This has the merit that people are in the vicinity anyway.  I am confident that my e-mail reach is now such that no-one risks being uninformed of this change of venue for the monthly meet.  Downside is that any new members who turn up to the Fox and Hounds will draw a blank - except of course that those who don't want to come to the Ten Pin Bowling could follow their usual routine for that evening, and could extend the hand of welcome.  I think we'd need to be sure that someone would be there if we choose this option.

or:

b.  That we book it for a Sunday afternoon in November - when we are less likely to be lured to the beach/countryside.  But might be lured by the fireside......

I'd welcome your views on choice 1. or 2.  Or any alternative you may wish to suggest.  By e-mail straw poll please, so that I can get on and book it.

 This gives me a hook for a tiny moan.  My last attempt to solicit your views (on the subject I hardly dare to breathe the name of, such is the fall out, but here goes, the AROC electronic Newsletter - there, I've said the N word!) was hardly a resounding success.  I sent 50 e-mails.  I got 9 replies.

Finally, under the heading of future events, I made mention last time of a suggestion from one of our members that we book a visit to The Race Centre in Eastleigh - I don't know if any of you have had a chance to visit their website but I'd welcome some feedback on this one. www.driverschallenge.co.uk  Let me know what you think.

That's all for now folks, see you in Funtington on the 28th May.

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