Bug
Rallies Past and Present
As we run up
to 30 years of the Bug what better time to reflect on the past
achievements of the Bug Club and the events it has staged/attended.
Life for the Bug Club started in 1991 as the Bond Bug entered
its 21st year.We decided to hold the first club event at Stanford
hall in Leicestershire to mark the cars Anniversary.The Rally
was organised by Dave Dolman and Myself. As the clubs committee
lived in all parts of Britain from West Molsey in Surrey to Darlington
in County Durham we had never met so this was a good time to get
to know each other.Steve Ferry the Clubs first Editor,Graham Walker
and Myself attended a local carnival at Corby where we took along
2 bugs the evening was spent in doing what now has become a bit
of Bug Club tradition the consumption of vast quantities of alcohol,So
much so that I have still not been able to live down the following
mornings antics.Sunday the main rally day was probably the wettest
event I can remember but we still managed to attract 20 bugs.
The prizes were awarded
by the Bugs designer Tom Karen who presented a fine trophy for
best Bug which the club still use today.Mick Haigh was the first
winner with Kevin Holroyd picking up best mechanical.Charlie knightrider
Sells picked up the best modified with Mike Brocken getting furthest
travelled.I think the majority of the members attending still
have Bugs.
The early 90s
also heralded the arrival of Mike Websters 4 wheeled Bug,available
as a kit you could also purchase it as a 3 wheeler.It created
a lot of interest when it made its appearance at Stanford Hall.
THE 25th ANNIVERSARY
RALLY WOBURN
We choose Woburn
as the location for the 25th Anniversary rally because it was
where the Bug was launched to the press in June 1970. At the time
of its launch the bug had mixed reactions from the motoring hacks
a few said it was unstable,probably due to 1 reporter who insisted
in driving like a lunatic hitting the curb and rolling it.
We held the camping
at the local Pub in Ridgemont about 2 miles from the Abbey,a road
run took place on the Saturday with the evening social in the
back garden.The Bug club has always had a great community spirit
and this shone through at this event.A lot of new faces showed
up that have since become good friends,Tony Godfrey comes to mind
he supplied the chips.
There are events
in all our lives we will never forget,the next morning was one.After
a photo session in the car park I led the procession of around
25 Bugs down the lanes of Bedfordshire into the grounds of Woburn
Abbey,looking into the rear view mirror all you could see was
a stream of orange.We snaked our way up the sloping field onto
our pitch, I was told by some of the other car clubs that were
showing there cars its was a brilliant site,you don't see one
for years then 25 come along together.Tom Karen was our guest
of honour again and handed out the prizes,the main trophy (the
Tom Karen) went to Alan Turley this
Bug is now owned by Dave Summerson and still wins Top prizes,.Martin
Boddy came in 2nd with Dawn/Phill Riley in 3rd.
We repeated the
Format of this rally the following year 1996 and again in 98 ,The
1997 event was shelved as the club decided we would take on the
running of the national Micro car Rally.
THE 1997 NATIONAL MICRO CAR
RALLY
The suggestion was put to the Club
in late 1996 how do you fancy taking on running the National Micro
Car Rally,I must admit I was not to keen as I didn't know what
was involved but as no other Club had offered I thought I'd give
it a go.The National had started in the 60s and was run by a dedicated
band of Micro enthusiasts but during its later years the running
was done by the established Micro car Clubs, this meant there
was a wealth of talent you could ask if you got stuck.Over the
following months plans were put in place the site was booked Jobs
were delegated and all was going to plan.
A week before the show and an event
that rocked the Nation,Princess Diana was killed and her funeral
was going to take place on the same weekend as the show.After
discussions with the staff at Weston park it was decided to go
ahead with the event,but it meant trying to contact as many people
to let them know it was still on. I had to ring the Micro Car
Clubs and add a message on my answering machine,I received calls
from all over the world including Australia and Hawaii but in
the end I think it didn't make to much difference to the attendance
figures.
The Saturday Road run took place,the
roads were deserted as most were glued to there T V screens,we
had approximatly 50 cars on the trip led by Alan Turley who also
devised the route,the evening was rounded off with a fire work
display and the Micro Maniacs bonfire.Sunday was the main rally
day and the turn out was even better then I hopped with an autojumble
stretching round 3/4s of the field.Driving tests were held and
prizes were handed out.So despite all the earlier headaches the
show was a deemed a success.
The next Big Bug event will be
the 30th Anniversary Rally,Hope to see you there.
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