Return to Youth

Thursday 7th – Sunday 10th September 2006

What do we go on an Abbey rally for? Relaxation, a quite time in the countryside? Time to reflect and ponder on the times gone by? -  NO, we go for a laugh, excitement and the prospect of grown men and perhaps the odd female to make a right fool of themselves. This weekend we were not disappointed! This was the Soap Box Derby! Put off on a number of occasions but now the roar of the wheels across the grass, the puffs of hot air from the entrants pulling their carts up the hill (many times, many, many times.) what more could you wish for?

There were all sorts of odd creations all over the field, old relics, some barely able to move. Many seemingly made of spare parts and bits and pieces that have been around for many a year. Some dressed up in an attempt to make them look sporting… and this was just the drivers!!!

The carts looked great too. A lot of hard work was put into their fabrication. We felt sorry at times, as bits fell off on the first practice. Mind, mend it or bend it was the motto throughout the day. Some would try to fix minor problems with a bit of TLC. Others brought with them a complete F1 pit stop, with axle grinders, power drills, sheets of metal, etc (word went round that they had a furnace onboard the ‘white’ van but it turned out to be a barbeque). Yes the ‘Carrolls,’ yes all 10 of them did us proud. From months old to too old they zoomed down the ‘mountain’, sorry getting carried away now, hillside, well, slope!

As to the winners, well of course they are all winners, on a perfect afternoon they trundled or fled down the field. By the end of the afternoon some were even able to steer quite well! As in all races we had winners and inevitably losers. A certain D Bond Esq. carried away a number of accolades. So did a guest of John and Gill, Graham Bickley… remember the ‘Bickleys’? well we almost carried him off… slight over steer in practice and over you go… he soldiered on to win the ’furthest’ distance award but later found out he had dislocated his shoulder and was in some discomfort. I’m reliably informed that the A & E soon put it right!

Our best wishes to you Graham.

Now you really think that was enough for a weekend… but no!

Communal Barbeque, with the usual banter re pros and cons of respective fuels used…

We then sat down to eat and after….

Back to the vans to dress in school uniform…

And then games and we had to show the efforts of our homework, paper aeroplanes. (A bit of a cheat really, Jackie won because the elastic broke!!)

And a quiz for the weekend, (and guess why we are writing this little epistle).

Oh, did I mention the spam or jam sandwiches on Friday night?

OK I will stop here. So much in one weekend (there is a very logical explanation, send your enquires to Jeff & Betty Coleman.)

So you see what a brilliant weekend you missed. Everyone was saying please organise another Soap Box Derby, so much effort by so many people.

Thank you all, especially the marshals, Jeff & Betty, Alan & Pam.