oops - it should be
http://yallara.cs.rmit.edu.au/~mg/cars/ahsdc.htm
Sorry about that...
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: Larry and Sandi Miller <millerls@msn.com>
To: Mike Gigante <mikeg@vicnet.net.au>
Date: Thursday, September 17, 1998 7:55 PM
Subject: Re: Poem - A Sprite at Bathurst *plus* Sprites vs Minis
>Mike
>
>I can never seem to get to the sites you present.
>
>Larry Miller
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Mike Gigante <mikeg@vicnet.net.au>
>To: team-thicko@Autox.Team.Net <team-thicko@Autox.Team.Net>;
>spridgets@Autox.Team.Net <spridgets@Autox.Team.Net>
>Date: Thursday, September 17, 1998 6:20 PM
>Subject: Poem - A Sprite at Bathurst *plus* Sprites vs Minis
>
>
>>This is an old poem I found in a 1970 club magazine (Goblins' Gazette,
>>magazine of the Austin Healey Sprite Drivers' Club
>>http://yallara.cgl.rmit.edu.au/~mg/cars/ahsdc.htm ). The author is unknown
>>and the poem was previously published (prior to GG that is) in
>>the NSW Sprite Club's newsletter Sprite Torque.
>>
>>It seems magnificent timing given the upcoming Healey International
>>Commemorative Race at Bathurst in a few weeks time. Maybe I should
>>add a Nitro kit to my bugeye! The poem is at the end of this message.
>>
>>BTW, Redcar and I participated in the annual Sprite vs Mini "A Series
>>Challenge", held at Morwell Hillclimb over the last weekend. The event is
>>composed of two parts - a regularity trial and a speed event. The aim of
>the
>>regularity trial is to do 3 runs as close as possible in time. The speed
>>event
>>is simply your fastest timed run. You are awarded points based on your
>>finishing position (1 point for 1st) and the lowest aggregate wins. the 4
>>best
>>individuals for each club (AHSDC, Victorian Mini Club Inc) comprise the
>>teams. the lowest team score wins.
>>
>>The result: AHSDC 47, VMCI 52 - Sprite win! Redcar and I took out overall
>>first place. There were 21 minis and only 8 Sprites but we still kicked
>>their
>>FWD butts!
>>
>>Mike
>>------------
>>The Little Healey Sprite
>>
>> She was balanced, she was "ported",
>>and She sported twin SUs,
>>The brakes were big and hairy,
>>With Ferodo on the shoes,
>>The tank was full of Nitro,
>>And the paint was shiny white,
>>She really looked a picture,
>>My Little Healey Sprite.
>>
>>I entered her for Bathurst,
>>All the aces they were there,
>>Brabham, Hill and Gurney
>>and the guy who’s lost his hair,
>>His face it looks familiar
>>For his name I’m at a loss,
>>Now I remember,
>>His name was Stirling Moss.
>>
>>We lined up on the starting grid,
>>The crowd was tense and hushed,
>>Starting man he dropped the flag,
>>We took off in a rush,
>>We laid the rubber on the road,
>>And through the drifting smoke,
>>Came a noise as loud as thunder,
>>When the mighty engines spoke.
>>
>>Sprinting for Hell Corner,
>>With the counter showing nine,
>>Drivers were all fighting hard,
>>To get their cars on line.
>>Well Brabham won the corner,
>>And Moss was next in sight,
>>And snapping at their very heels,
>>Was the Little Healey Sprite.
>>Slipping quickly through the cogs,
>>We dashed up Mountain Straight,
>>Can the tortured engines
>>Stand the frantic rate?
>>I ripped back one and flattened her
>>With ten grand on the clock
>>She leaped forward like a rocket
>>When I pulled out all the chocks.
>>
>>Moss set himself for Energol,
>>And picked a line real tight,
>>Then straight up underneath him,
>>Shot the Little Healey Sprite.
>>We scampered up the cutting
>>And swept round Griffons Mount
>>I won about four seconds
>>While the tacho lost the count.
>>
>>I closed right up on Brabham,
>>I could hear the Brabham bark,
>>I let the Healey have her head,
>>and pushed him through Reid Park.
>>When we took him on Mt Phillamey
>>His face was chalky white,
>>And full chat over Skyline went
>>The Little Healey Sprite.
>>
>>In motor racing circles,
>>They talk about it still,
>>Of the time the unknown driver
>>Did "Mossy" up "The Hill"
>>Took Brabham on the mountain,
>>With Victory in sight,
>>Then disappeared for ever in
>>The Little Healey Sprite.
>>
>>To clear up all the mystery,
>>Of where the Sprite got to,
>>I’ll give a very useful tip
>>To each and all of you.
>>When you’re going very hard,
>>Though everything seems fine
>>You’ve got to knock it off a bit
>>When you’re going up to Skyline.
>>
>>And if you’re glancing skywards
>>On a clear and cloudless night,
>>And way up in the heavens
>>You can see a streak of light.
>>It’s not a flying saucer
>>Or a Russian satellite
>>It’s only me in orbit
>>In the Little Healey Sprite.
>>
>>(Reprinted from GG Vol III No 5, May/Jone 1970, from an issue of "Sprite
>>Torque". Author unknown)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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