OUMF visit to the Autumn Scramble at Bicester Heritage

​I’d like to begin my report with a big thank you to our fuel sponsor, MOTOR SPIRIT, for inviting us to exhibit our OUMF practical project cars at their headquarters at Bicester Heritage, and so play a part in the ever-more popular ‘Scrambles’ that are regularly held there.
Also I’d like to mention all the members whose great team-working and sense of fun got the
cars beautifully prepped and made sure we all made the most of this great opportunity.

Tuesday 3rd October

Our Club Nights at The Britannia are where the planning for OUMF events takes place, over a
drink and food, with Ding chairing and announcing plans and recapping on work to do, and
work accomplished over the last week. Imagine a prophet circled by disciples! That evening the
prep and planning for the Autumn Scramble was the focus, which is an event that is looked on
by most of our members as an opportunity to ‘geek out’ at classic, vintage, and supercars. By
the end of the evening, the sign up sheet was filled with interested members wanting to go to
the event, and over the course of the rest of the week the team worked on getting the ‘Inca’
Alfa Sprint GT and the Riley 1.5 rally car in shape for the Scramble. The cars were cleaned,
spanner checks were carried out, levels checked, and any leaks or other issues addressed. All
the logistical requirements for the event were also arranged and taken in hand by members.

Sunday 7th October
At the break of dawn 17 of us converged at the Gipsy Lane bus stop and headed to the barn
to get the cars started for the Scramble. At the barn, cars were refuelled and fired up for the
engines to get warm. At 7.30am, we paraded from the barn and headed to Bicester Heritage
which was a 20-minute drive. The convoy was led by Ding in the ‘Inca’ Alfa, followed by
Thomas Leclaire in the Riley, and the rest of us in four other cars. After a swift ride, we found
ourselves amidst tons of vintage cars queued up and waiting to reach their allotted spaces. We
soon reached our assigned zone at the forefront of the MOTOR SPIRIT headquarters building
in the centre of the very picturesque and historic Bicester Heritage Technical area.

in the centre of the very picturesque and historic Bicester Heritage Technical area.
As the day progressed 100’s of people visited us. Some were keen to find out more about
OUMF. Some of them were happy to help us with parts, sponsorships, knowledge on fixing
our cars, and many other ways they felt they could help us. And some others were enchanted
to see the Alfa and inquire about buying it. We were also fortunate to be visited by many
potential and current sponsors, including Joe Ellis from BTB Exhausts. By the end of the very
sunny and warm day, we were very happy about all the attention we had received in terms of
attracting help and sponsorship, and it was finally time to leave Bicester Heritage and head
back to the OUMF HQ.

We left Bicester around 5 p.m. and reached the HQ by 5.30. On arrival at the workshop, we
washed and cleaned the cars to get all the dust and dirt off before the cars were tucked up for
the night, and we gathered for one last team huddle. Ding congratulated us on having a
successful day and getting the cars back to the barn without any incidents or breakdowns. Then
we called it a day and cruised back home to catch the Qatar Grand Prix! On the whole, it was a
very enjoyable and useful way to spend a Sunday - to make friends, grow our network, meet
supporters – and feed our passion by seeing SO many amazing vintage and classic cars. Many
thanks to Motor Spirit, Blue Diamond Services, and Bicester Heritage for their support.

Remus Saldanha - MSc Motorsports Engineering student.