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Well January is nearly over, the days are getting longer, and we can hope that restrictions will be eased in the Spring.

Meanwhile we are encouraged to stay home and so we have been using Zoom for our recent Area 10 meetings.  The most recent meeting was on 14 January when motoring author Matthew Vale was our guest presenter.  He is a recent new member of Area 10 and is writing a book on the history of Aston Martin.  He told us of his working career and of his history of motorbike and car ownership.  He started writing books on bikes before his first car book featuring the Lotus Elan in 2013.  He concluded his presentation by requesting Area 10 members to volunteer both their cars and themselves to feature in his new book.  The meeting resulted in a lot of offers but, as he will be covering the entire 108-year history of Aston Martin, Matthew is still short of a few models and owners.  So, if you have a “DB2 of some description” or a 1980s V8, and would be happy to be featured in Matthew’s book, please contact him at: matthew.vale@ntlworld.com

We had 20 households attend the January meeting.  For February we have another treat in store when Area 10 Member Richard Loveys will be our guest presenter.  Many of you will know Richard but, even if you have not met him, you might have seen his regular features on Aston Martin models in AM Quarterly.  We will hear about his employment in the automotive world (his “Rootes”), his ownership of Astons, his roles in the club and, of course, his skills and experience with model cars.  I am sure that his collection will dwarf my dozen or so Aston models which would have been rather larger if I had refrained from stuffing my own handiwork with gunpowder back in the 1960s & 70s and blowing them all up!  Please note that our February meeting will be held on the evening of Thursday 18 February to avoid a clash with the AM charity event on our usual meeting night. This is the link for the meeting:

Topic: Area10 Monthly Meeting with Richard Loveys

Time: Feb 18, 2021 07:30 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88966357165?pwd=T3dONWY0WXZzSXdLNzF5MlB2bzlRQT09

Meeting ID: 889 6635 7165

Passcode: 841334

I have some additions and modifications to the calendar of events. 

The London Classic Car Show has been postponed from its April date to 25/27 June.  It is being held at Syon Park. Discount code ASTONCLUB reduces the ticket price by £6.50 per person. Visit: https://theclassiccarshowuk.com/    Note that you might wish to avoid the Saturday so that you can attend the AMHT event in Warwickshire.

Beaulieu have just announced dates for their events, and they have arranged Simply Aston for Sunday 25 April.  Being 3 months away, it may or may not go ahead.  However, it was one of the few events that did take place successfully in August 2020 and they took the social distancing (including of the cars) very seriously.  Historically tickets cost about £10 per person arriving in Astons, but at the time of writing prices are TBC.  The date coincides with the latest date for the re-arranged Bicester Scramble and is also the nominated date for National Drive-it Day.

Also, tickets are on sale for Auto Royale at Waddesdon Manor on 16/18 July – the offer of a 20% discount ends on 31 January.

A reminder that tickets for both the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival go on sale to non-GRRC members on 1 February – there is already limited availability as last year’s tickets are valid, and so be quick.

Also, you will just have received an email from the club announcing that 1 February is the opening date for entries to the latest Virtual Concours.  Area 10 had a good number of entries and some success in the last event and so do consider entering – entries close on 22 February.

And a reminder to look out for the articles in the imminent AM Quarterly which were contributed by Area 10 members Steve Dellow and David Cottam.

The new Club Express membership system continues to bombard me with emails on renewals and other membership changes.  I would like to welcome new members Colin Farr, Anthony Moody, Stephen & Lucy Birt, Jason & Priya Downes and Robert Rawe. 

I am conscious that we did not hold an Area 10 AGM in 2020 so I plan to hold one in April.  The two main items on the agenda are the accounts and elections of Area Rep and Assistant Rep.  Graham Maidlow and I are happy to continue in our roles for another year, but I am nevertheless inviting nominations for these positions.  Please send me nominations by 14 March so that I can circulate details to the Area 10 membership.

I used the new system to send last month’s email and it appears to me that several members email addresses are different from my last database so some of you might be receiving my emails for the first time. 

The table below summarises some events for 2021 that could be of interest to Area 10 members:

As Covid restrictions are lifted, I hope to be able re-schedule some of the events we had planned for 2020. 

Jeff Sears
Area 10 Rep