​This year’s Action Week started at the HQ on the weekend of 5th and 6th January making further progress on the Sebring Sprite racer project, servicing and cleaning the OUMF van, and preparing the famous OUMF Riley 1.5 rally car for its first exciting appearance at the Autosport International motorsport show at the NEC. It was to be exhibited on the SuperB stand on the following Thursday and Friday and so had to look its spanking best! By Sunday afternoon it was in show condition, and we were able to set off on our first leg of visits – to the ever enthusiastic long time OUMF supporter Paul Johnson, near Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground in Leicestershire.

​With the Corsa having sat idle for the last 8 years it required some much needed love and attention before it faced the horrors of another Preston Rally. The team worked thoroughly to get the car somewhat roadworthy, with a full service and check of the vital components. The car was then taken to Stuart ‘Stretch’ Talbot for a thorough pre-MOT inspection. This generated a list of issues as long as your arm which the team needed to sort before the MOT was passed and the rally could be tackled.