Eccentrics of the World Unite...

Sir George Sitwell was an inventor. He invented such useful gadgets as a minature pistol for shooting wasps out of the air and the musical toothbrush. John 'Mad Jack' Mytton took 2000 bottles of port with him to Cambridge University to aid his studies and once rode a bear in to a dining room. These gentlemen are just two of an unofficial society from through the ages. The Great British Eccentric. There have been, and it seems there still are very many of them about. I know this from organising the Windy 500. In the same way that pouring hot water on to soil makes worms emerge, so leaving Windy 500 leaflets all over place makes eccentrics emerge.
A few decades ago, a young boy called John no doubt had a Meccano set, a Lego set, Matchbox cars and various other 'boys toys'. John, no doubt, like most other young boys would work on a Meccano construction, get distracted, scatter the remaining Meccano pieces then move on to the Lego, scattering that everywhere and so on. I speak from experience, looking at a lounge full of various pieces of a dozen games from my delightful 5 year old.
Fast forward to the present day and John's 'boys toys' haven't really changed that much. Matchbox cars have been swapped for full sized cars but many of his 'constructions' are still in pieces. Work in progress wherever you look and a cheerful grin as he shows you all of the 'toys' he is currently working on. The sort of cheerful grin that has you questioning his sanity and the list of ongoing projects that pretty well confirms your first fears. John has a Lotus with no engine. No gear box. Wheels are detached, big holes in the fibreglass bodywork. John dismisses these piffling matters with a wave of his hand and moves on to show you his other projects. He'll have it on the road in 3 or 4 months. I expect the constructors of Rome had a similar cheerful grin as they looked at the plans and declared they would have it done by nightfall.
John is just one of the amiable eccentrics I seem to have encountered so far. We have a team who want their wedding to go on for ever (well, at least 2 months) so will be dressing appropriately. We have the man who's ideal vehicle is a violent pink colour by choice. A couple who want to tour Europe dressed as gangsters. Others have demonstrated some definite signs of eccentricity just by their choice of perfect Windy vehicle. I mean, who chooses a 50+ year old vehicle where your chances of getting spares are as high as finding Unicorn steaks ?
I thought when I started organising the Windy 500 that it would be a challenge to complete it. Teams would be challenging themselves and pushing themselves to their limits. It now seems that some want to just make it harder for the sake of it. Well done I say.

So, as we pass the '5 months to go' mark, entries are still coming in. John, aiming to spray his Lotus white and don a tuxedo has asked for number 7 (or 007) to complete the theme. We have Team 8 from Hornsea and Team 22 from rural Dorset. Team 41 have announced a car purchase (well, it was a few months back but they were keeping it quiet) of a BMW 520 tourer. Team Nightmare, missing my nagging to get their deposit in are now holding back with their paperwork just to try to get my blood pressure up. I think they are just craving attention.
As for my team, well, I'm getting closer to working out who is going to be on the van and when. Jo is hopefully going to do the first week and the last 4 days. Young Lucas will also be with us for the last 4 days. Number 1 son, if he confirms he isn't going to be missing any exams, may be available for the first 2 weeks or so and the nephew might also be popping in for a bit. This plan however is subject to change on a daily basis it seems. At least my vehicle is showing none of those tell tale signs of eccentricity.

Smooth as a Velvet Codpiece....

Well, that was a new feeling. Something I had never imagined could be so good, so velvety and gentle. So smooth, like mink trousers. With a gentle whisper, like a light breeze through tree branches, we glided away. Amazing. Changing up to second and then third gear was even better. Was this really the pile of rusty crap that I had purchased about a year ago ? What a difference a new clutch makes.

Chris Scard had come up trumps again. Clutch fitted (would you believe I just happened to have a brand new VW T25 clutch assembly set in the lounge?), MOT completed successfully, all for £50 cash. Alright, I had to buy a gallon of petrol as I had only left him enough to get half way across his yard, but still, excellent value and I do owe Chris a big, big favour or two.
The interior is still in need of completing, it's just finding the time, the energy and the step father to complete these things. It is habitable, but needs some finesse. And gas. And work tops. With Weymouth FC on such a great run of results at present, I believe I have persuaded Mrs Spooky to come away with me to Totton next week for the Southern League fixture and a romantic night of winter camping in the New Forest to test the insulation. For the first time ever, I'm confident of the old girl making it (famous last words...). That's the van, not Mrs Spooky.
So, away from Jezebel for a moment. The Dorset Echo published a further article on the Windy 500. A few errors in the detail but on the whole it gave a reasonable impression of what we are up to next summer. It led to some positive responses and a few new teams expressing interest in joining up. Chris and Steve managed to cement their space as Team 23 within about 2 weeks, despite Christmas. Jo, Nigel and Aisha look like they will also be fully signed up and enrolled as Team 22 very soon too.
Team Trauma, our band of merry medics and estate agents hosted a Christmas gathering in Preston and plied me with numerous hot dogs, mulled wine and mince pies before testing my blood pressure. They are still in negotiations over which variety of ambulance they will be taking and where and with whom it will end up at the end of the trip.
The bane of my life for the last 14 months, Team Nightmare as they are now dubbed, finally, finally completed their payment of the deposit to cement their space. Of the 7 original participants, only one, Phil, is left. The 'Jolly boys outing of old gits' has now become an evenly balanced team of relatively younger folk. I fully expect them to still be filling in their paperwork as we head out of Weymouth next June, though I shall be hassling them, as I have done for many, many months. With 5 team members booked in, only today they became 6. Vicky, only just back in the country after a year of travelling the Far East, now fancies a bit of European mystery tour.
On a less positive note, the Pilgrim Bandits are still struggling to organise a team. Alas, the event coincides with a similar event that they are running involving vintage motorbikes and a road trip around Britain. Perhaps we shall persuade them abroad next time around.
Onwards and upwards. 5 months and 10 days to go. Still a bit concerned about whether our leaving party venue may have been flattened by June, but I believe I have a secondary target lined up if necessary. The home of English football no less..... Watch this space.