2003 saw our second victorious season in the BOC Northern Championship, coming first and second in the road-going cars under 1400cc.

The season included races at Croft, Barbon, Forestburn, Knockhill, Kames, Three Sisters and Harewood. Throughout the season, John and George had been swapping places, and in Barbon, Knockhill and Kames came first and second.

The season kicked off at Croft, and George struggled with an unprepared mini, which was handling really badly. However, by Barbon, we managed to do the only bit of development this year on the 1275GT and were more than pleased to come first and second place in the class.

Victory was repeated at Forestburn and Knockhill, with a rather bizarre situation occuring at Knockhill with having two extra laps owing to previous cars crashing off and the timed run abandoned, only to run out of fuel.

Sadly, we haven't had any time to develop the mini this year, with the chaos of putting in the MOT bay and readying the new workshop. However, we hope over the winter break to do some much needed work on it.

But the season wasn't without its incident. Although George didn't do his usual spectacular skid at Knockhill (instead he won his class), he did save his best for Harewood. Absolutely determined to get the highest speed on the speed trap up the hill straight, he failed to brake in time for the top hairpin. I still don't know how he managed to avoid the armco barrier, but Catty Litter it was...

Still, it certainly attracted the attention from the pit area, with much cheering and a sporting bow from the man himself!

Competition all through the season was good, particularly from Steven Bethwaite in his Nova, Steve Murphy also did some impressive times in his MkI Mini Cooper S. Nigel Hepburn also had a good season as did last year's best newcomer, Terry Coleman. Robert Hill entertained us in his Ford Escort RS2000. In all, the season was great fun and great "crack" and we all look forward to next year's season.