So..... what happened between the trip to Power Engineering in June 2002, and January 2004 when the diary section re-starts?!?

Well, frankly - lots of things!

Due to a whole range of personal pressures both inside and outside the VOC - I took the decision to resign from the post of Performance Section coordinator towards the end of 2002. In actual fact I took a break from the whole scene, and managed only a handful of events in the (nearly) two years between then and now (spring 2004).

I did make it up to Silverstone with Goldtrack in 2003, and had a fairly bad day - in fact it was that session that inspired the Leda suspension upgrade, (cos mine was shot) which I'm now very glad I did.

It was good to get to drive the GP circuit - one of the fastest circuits I've been on, and I'm looking forward to getting back up there this year and actually getting round the corners!

I continued to support my good friend Don Norchi with his S70 and S60 cars driven by him and Martin Sadler in the TOYO tyres championship in 2003. (The S60 is now running endurance for 2004). They had a good season with the S70 and we had a lovely time with Don, Martin and his family. I also introduced my fiancee Emma to club racing and she loves it! We're looking forward to the 2004 season!

Having taken a break from the VOC, and with work getting busier all the time, you'd think I'd opt for an easy year but - having asked Emma to marry me in December 2002 we spent most of 2003 planning and organising the wedding which took place on the 3rd Jan 2004. We had a fantastic time - surrounded by our best friends and family. We also enjoyed our Honeymoon in the states afterwards - my first proper holiday in about 5 years!

Emma has made me very happy - and in May 2004 we'll be moving into our first house together in Guildford. All we need now is to knuckle down and produce a pit crew (how old before they can hold an air-gun anyone??).... ;o)

We have had one addition to the family though - a hamster called Fimble who Emma fell in love with one day in a pet store, and the rest is as you would say history. She is now firmly established as part of the family and will I'm sure appear in future news bulletins.

Thanks to everyone who has supported Emma and I during the months where we've not been very active in the scene. As you can see lots has been going on - but we're both looking forward to getting out and about in 2004 for some proper T5R action...... See you there!