OXFORD MOTOR CLUB CENTENARY SUMMER SCATTER 15th AUGUST

I missed last year's event because I was on holidays, and had a disastrous record for 2005, so it was with some trepidation that I offered my services to drive or navigate for the Centenary Summer Scatter. 
 
My offer to navigate was taken up by Club Chairman, Neil Lewis, who has a formidable track record on events like this, so I wasn't sure if he'd want to be handicapped with a novice like me trying to direct him around the highways and by-ways of Oxfordshire.
 
I contacted Neil and warned him not to expect too much of my navigational skills and to be out for the craic rather than the thoughts of winning the event.
 
A torrential rainstorm hit Oxford about two hours before the Scatter was to start and the dark clouds didn't bode well for a safe event.  From the Swan Inn in Islip, we were issued with our clues and immediately set to work plotting each point on Map 164. 
 
Hunched over the bonnet of Neil's Lancia Integrale, we took a good 20 minutes to plot every point, and decide on the first stage of the route.  The carrot for this stage was a 20 point control, open between 20:30 and 20:45, about 12 miles away from Islip, with a possible 6 clues to pick up en route. 
 
It was just after 8.05 when we headed out, me trying to balance the map, the clues, a pencil, a “potti” light with a right handed handle - not fun for a left handed awkward sod like me. 
 
We picked up 3 clues on the way to the control, having contended with some evil unmarked speed bumps through Forest Hills, a learner driver by Stanton St John, and a fire tender on the A40.  Found the Control - in the wrong layby - by sheer fluke, so now to make our way towards Control B - north of the A41 - approximately 16 miles away.
 
The heavy rainclouds made the evening feel darker than it ought to have been mid August, so the torch was used quite a lot in circumstances where we had to get out of the car to fetch the answers to the clues.
 
Picked up 6, missed 3 clues, all the time heading towards Control B.  We only had to do one u-turn, when I lost my place really badly outside Brill.  Met Zenya just after the control had opened, and then doubled back on our route as far as Ludgershall. 
 
By this stage our eyes were firmly on the clock, so we tried to plot the most point-effective route, unfortunately missing a 10 pointer out by Weston on the Green.  North of Merton my navigational skills failed miserably when I underestimated the distance between the outskirts of Merton and the bridleway - which cost us a few minutes. 
 
With about 90 seconds to go to the 10.00 deadline I ran up the steps of the pub, with some of the locals outside wondering how desperate I was for a pint of beer. 
 
The post-mortem by all teams was as lively as the event itself: who had managed to get to what points, the different routes, and shortcuts taken.  The Integrale's leather seats had tended to make me slide downwards, and then the safety belt came up and choked me, so I had to reposition myself anytime the car slowed down.  A seasoned pro in the pub suggested that I make up a Heath Robinson type foot rest, made from half of a cardboard box and expandable foam, to reduce this sliding effect - next time I'll know to come armed and ready.
 
From the energy and buzz in the pub I think it's safe to say that everyone had an enjoyable evening's entertainment, 
  
Karen

For pictures please click here