Hang on, How did, I get Here?

Would I like to come over to the Clitheroe and District Motor Club and give a talk on Rallyist?

Now, that was a question, and I don't mean maybe. The presentation it's self was not a problem. Gained enough presentation experience in my Process Improvement role at Rolls, and I know I can 'wing it' if necessary, 15 years with my Rallyist trade stand had prepared me for that.

But where do I start?

My Rally Cartoons for the CDMC mag 'Wrongslot', Actually started to come into being way back in the early 70's while still at school. Before I became a member, that is. Before I had even been to a car race or been to anywhere near a rally. Before I even had a job. We are talking 50 years plus. A gentleman called Frank Havard, then Chemistry Teacher was my Obi-Wan Kenobi, if you will.

Now his presentation was not going to be about a faulty weld issue, visual management, or a new factory lay out. It wasn't going to be about one or two pictures or just one book. This journey was from a little mini sketch to Rallyist Remastered and on to the Gallery project. If I was to talk about Rallyist I was going to be talking about my life...

Jeeeeeeez, This is going to be damn near a biography!

Obviously it was not going to be about everything or in too much in depth, but it was going to cover influences and influencers. Where did I find the inspiration, where did I find the material and it would include a lot of people and it all had to be told with Art and Pictures.

In the end it took me two weeks to put together all the slides. The original plan being 45 minutes. How ever and try as I might I couldn't get it below 65 and a Hour max while still editing into the morning of the event.

In the end the presentation was 75 slides long, with a 25 second video and a brief walk around the Virtual gallery. In all it evening was about 1½hours including break, with another 30mins in the shop, Well perhaps a bit longer on this occasion owing to issuse with the cards reader. Fortunately my Technical team, Yes I do have one! and they sorted it out. Talked with a lot of people about my art and more to the point could I draw their cars, even vans? Reunited with a very very old playmate from very long ago.

OMG we're talking 60+years now!!!

Every one present had a good laugh, the Anecdotes flowed, the atmosphere was positive, the welcome warm and all enjoyed the evening,.

Back to the Future

It was strange to actually to go back to my roots, or should I say routes as it did steer me in my current and future direction. It was really worth stopping to seriously look back at Rallyist, all those People, the places, Memories, Events and Anecdotes. I certainly know it was not on my to do list a few months ago, but I'm glad I did.

Big Thankyou Heidi Woodcock and to all at the Clitheroe and District Motor Club.

You do realize that now the presentation is done I could use it again, for other Motor clubs and events. Perhaps Film it? It's certainly something worth looking into. Also note worthy it is a lot cheaper than Rally events, and more to the point I am actually face to face with my main Customer base. So if you think perhaps 'Just another Anecdote' would suit your motor club members ... please get in touch.

It also goes without saying there stands the real potential to add this Theme of the 'talk' to Rallyist 350SLE I know ... will I ever finish this book? Will I ever finish To Much Speed for that matter.

Oh yes, in closing, did I say ... I've got a radio Interview next week, More about me and Rallyist art. Another new horizon.

ATB PME