Hi gang,
The busiest period of the year is looming, so here’s a few words on arrangements so far. Please be aware that I can’t normally clarify things fully until the day before a particular meeting, so in the case of Ascot it’s Friday 25th, and for Glorious Goodwood on Monday 28th.
It’s because I’m fussy about my own sandwiches, I need fresh produce only as part of my daily routine, or I can’t function. So it’s nothing to do with organising badges, polo shirts, the blue jackets that, if you wear them in Summer it may result in other RaceMakers having to ply you constantly with Evian water, (other waters are available on request). Or indeed bus times, car parks, etiquette or trying to fit in with John (@TheDerbyWalk) Sandy’s personal arrangements to fit in with his singing career, he can knock a tune out, boy can he knock a tune out I’m told.
On the subject of sarnie’s, those of you who never came to Epsom won’t be aware of the misfortune that plagued our groom to be, and resident titfer wearer, Mike Niblett, ( @mgnlb ) at the home of The Derby when in dire need of both libation and nutrition via, as it happened any source of food. Mike confided in me, (he does this frequently these days) that there is only food he cannot stand, of all the millions of products in the whole wide world, it’s mayonnaise. “Oh please, I’m starving, no mayonnaise on the butties” was the request.
“Michael, listen” (I said) trying not to sound like Aidan O’Brien, “you’ll be fine, James has told me there are actually two types of sandwiches in the packs, together with crisps, chocolate and drinks”
A huge sigh from Mr Niblett. Thirty minutes later, the loveable Jamie Butcher (@jbutcher81) arrived with all of the 12 weighty lunch packs. A warm day was Oaks Day, Jamie had his jacket on, but his 300 metre dash to replenish the troops energy levels, resulted in him sweating buckets, he could barely walk when he got to Mike. Jamie being Jamie just got on with it. We love him, how we love him.
Anyway, back to the butties. Yes you’ve got it. Cheese Salad WITH MAYONAISSE and Chicken WITH MAYONAISSE. Mikes’s face, or as BBC’s Barry Davies once said in a famous FA Cup commentary “look at his face’ just look at his face” Mikes was a picture.
But, the #RaceMakers2014 came, as #RaceMakers2014 do, to Mikes rescue and each handed over their Kit Kats and crisps to the behatted one. Somehow it didn’t look quite right ; Mike slowly eating his Kit Kat. I couldn’t put my finger on why it looked wrong. Half an hour later, he came clean “John, I love Twix, Bounty, Whole Nuts, Whispers, Flakes, Creme Eggs but do you know there is only one chocolate bar I don’t like. Bless.
Incidentally, Mr Niblett is marrying the lovely Sarah in……Las Vegas on November 12th. He is talking in dispatches about possibly packing his Qipco jacket in an attempt to trump Michelle Beaumont ( @chelliusbee) and her wondrous ascent of the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, adorned in the RaceMaker Royal Blue. It will take some doing and I’m not sure what Mike has planned, but it’s going to be special. Sarah beware.
Ascot & Glorious Goodwood are also going to be very special. So on a serious note (sorry, we love humour at the #RaceMakers2014) here’s the details for both.
Ascot.
I suggest to you that you plan to get there for 10.30 at the main entrance and we can then have give the passes out, the refreshment vouchers, the polo shirts, then have mooch around the course. After a quick chat, where we all stand in a circle and perform Buddhist chants, we will kick on. There are plenty of car parks around and don’t forget we’ll be early so it shouldn’t be a problem. We have team of 11. David Walters has had to be declared a non runner, as his wife gave birth to their second child on Wednesday morning, congratulations to David. More #RaceMakers2014 joy. Joe De Souza ( @joedesouza93 ) has taken on the guise of mystery shopper and he’s going to doorstep some of us (if that’s possible on a racecourse) so please be sure to know how many nails go in a horses shoe and other questions he’s got planned. He’s not on duty so the other option is to buy hike some shots and he’ll forget.
GloriousGoodwood
Now then, what an army for we have. General Custer would be proud. Over 60 in total, and 17 on Wednesday, phew. I also hope that last word describes the weather. Again 10.30-11 please at the main entrance. There are FREE buses from Chichester every 30 minutes (4.5m away) the first at 10.15 the last half an hour after the last race. Car park 11 is free and is a ten minute walk from track. But from this car park there is a free shuttle bus. Car park 8 is also free, no bus but is only 5 minutes away.
Again, we’ll hand passes out and I’m going to bed at 7pm Monday with a pencil and paper to make sure I remember everyone’s names. Refreshments vouchers again given out along with Panama hats for the men and fascinators for the girls. I’m trying to source sashes so you ladies can wear dresses and not polos. I’m sounding like Gok Wan here, so sorry. Without coming across as a travelling rep for Trotters Independent Trading, I’ll have all the items in my boot, different sized Panama hats naturally.
That’s it, in a nutshell, ok the worlds biggest nutshell but you get my drift.
Please remember a little surprise is planned on Twitter at 8pm Friday so try and have look. If anyone has any question please ‘call me’. But remember there’s over 70 involved in the next week so if I don’t respond by a week on Wednesday I’m probably up a mountain hiding.
Onwards and upwards from the #RaceMakers2014 family
Any #RaceMakers2014 for York and beyond I won’t have any info until the Monday that week, but please always plan for a 10.30am start or 11 😉
John
—
John Hanley
#RaceMakers2014
Managing Coordinator
Hanleyontheball 