Some evenings are special and fun

[911MRP]

A real privilege to be invited to Joe Macari’s Christmas quiz night in aid of charity this evening . No pressure being drafted into the host’s motoring quiz team alongside his delightful partner and family members to stand in for a multiple Indycar Champion and multiple Indianapolis 500 champion race driver who inexplicably prioritised testing Gordon Murray’s latest car over attending tonight’s Christmas charity quiz. A video link to this racer on WhatsApp beforehand to me on the host smart-phone didn’t exactly ease my nerves! I’d have happily swapped the quiz seat for the Gordon Murray hypercar-test seat but for some reason that offer wasn’t on the table. A couple of stiff
g&t’s helped.

A collaborative effort especially with a team member who has been a driving coach to numerous F1 drivers for many years (including some of the best) was fun but despite him being a talented musician too it turns out the music question round of this quiz was our undoing so we slipped from a very encouraging top three spot at the half way break for food (a lovely curry) sadly we had slipped off a podium spot by the end. I think was drafted in because I’ve captained motoring quiz teams to success recently seeing off stiff competition including a challenge to my motioning club from the (huge) Goodwood Road Road Club so it disappointing to not win tonight. Didn’t help that one of
my usual team — our most valuable player who was born into motorsport — had been nabbed by a one of world motorsport’s most more experienced and shrewd operators who for years has run a hugely successful race series / championship plus is president of an FiA commission — especially discounting when I realised I couldn’t quite see the answers on their sheets even when peeping over my shoulder!

Fun evening nevertheless.

Well done to Joe and the whole Joe Macari team (Andrew Gill et al) who put on an exceptional and fun evening Christmas event for charity. It’s remarkable how the bigness has grown from fairly humble operaton nearby (where I remember considering buying a 74 RS from in the late eighties) to the world class establishment it has become today. As in previous years Joe’s event raised money for very deserving good causes such as “dreamflights” which has benefitted from good natured rivalry such as this between a coupe of guys at the event a few years ago as posted by 96 F1 world Champion:
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Quite amusing in context of the FiA 2024 F1 World Constructors’ Championship season final standings last weekend!

A speech tonight from a five time Paralympic’s gold medal winner who had benefitted from the charity was very humbling and moving.

We are very fortunate in London SW19 to have Joe Macari and his world class business in our backyard.

A few nice motorcars were din stock today tonight
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Including an old Porsche race car
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Steve

[Chuck Miller]

Fantastic Steve !!! ... Thanks So much for sharing your evening

[webbyontheweb]

Looks like a fantastic evening Steve and for a very worthy cause.

Sounds like a bit more homework is required (or better eyesight) before the next one.

[911MRP]

Hi Simon hope you are well. Ha ha .. I think headphones would have helped more than eyesight as my (erstwhile) team member told me his team struggled with the music round too. Not much to glean from sneakily cribbing from their answer-sheet on that round. More a hearing challenge rather than a knowledge lack — not uncommon for folks who’ve worked in motorsport and automotive. One of my usual quiz team is an lovely (older) gentleman who worked among other things as BL chairman Lord Stokes’ personal assistant in the corporate HQ and the BMC competitions department in its heyday so he brings a vast wealth of knowledge … usually he is right on anything that era but only IF he catches the quiz question in the ambient noise!

Was nice to catch up last month. Hope to see you and Polly again soon in the new year.

Best Steve