FERRARICOMPETITIONRESULTS
CompRes
DAVID TOMLIN THE QUICKEST AT NÃœRBURGRING CLASSIC RACES
ISSUE 079 OCTOBER 2012
CompRes Chevy Chase, Leeds Road, Selby, North Yorkshire YO8 4JH T: +44 (0) 1757-702 053 F: +44 (0) 1757-290 547 E: cs.man@btinternet.com
CompRes is available by subscription and is published 10 times a year for the FERRARI OWNERS’ CLUB
FERRARICOMPETITIONRESULTS THIS MONTH’S COVER This issue features David Tomlin hard at work at Nürburgring in his Gp2 308GTB. David set the fastest overall race lap on both days in the Pirelli Ferrari formula classic races – a prodigious achievement.
PIRELLI We are delighted to announce that Pirelli will again be sponsoring both our race series next season as well as our hillclimb championship. This will be the 14th successive year of our association since they took over from Goodyear back in the year 2000. We have the strongest possible relationship with this great Italian company and the link between Ferrari and Pirelli is the most natural one you could conceive. It is a source of pride that the Club’s name is coupled with the supplier of tyres to Formula One, which this season has produced the most exciting Grand Prix racing we can ever remember.
RACE CALENDARS 2013 As many of you will know, we, along with other clubs running races overseas, are having great difficulty with the FIA’s new rulings which they wish – with just 5 days notice – to impose next season. Their new regulations would affect all clubs in Europe, not just the UK, who organise races outside their own territory. Inter alia, the proposed changes would require clubs to become FIA International Championships, pay exorbitant fees to Paris, make full International competition licences mandatory, and operate in accordance with the International
Yellow Book rather than, in 2013 PIRELLI FERRARI formula classic our case, the MSA Blue Book. April 13 Snetterton 300 These draconian rules are receiving particularly April 14 Snetterton 200 short shrift by organisations that May 19 Donington Park (DH) traditionally race abroad and we understand that June 15/16 Silverstone GP (DH) several clubs have now issued writs against the July 19-21 Spa-Francorchamps (DH) FIA. We have made our August 9-11 Zandvoort (DH) views very clear to our ASN, the UK’s MSA, and, August 17/18 Thruxton (DH) after considerable discussion, have agreed August 26 Castle Combe what we think is a very sensible solution, at least September 21 Oulton Park for next year. The minimum grade of competition licence needed for our two series will continue to be National A. 2013 PIRELLI FERRARI OPEN I can therefore confirm that we shall be racing April 13 Snetterton 300 abroad on two occasions: at everyone’s favourite April 14 Snetterton 200 circuit, Spa, in July and at the fantastic seaside track May 19 Donington Park (DH) of Zandvoort, Holland, in August. These race June 15/16 Silverstone GP (DH) meetings, combined with some great UK fixtures – July 19-21 Spa-Francorchamps (DH) including the full Silverstone GP circuit in August 9-11 Zandvoort (DH) June – give us a really exciting calendar for 2013. August 28 Castle Combe The programmes for the Pirelli Ferrari formula October 19/20 Snetterton 200 (DH) classic and Pirelli Ferrari Open series are tabulated here. ‘DH’ = double header. printed for circulation. However, a We hope that with your few weeks ago we gave advance support we shall enjoy another notice to all PFfc competitors vintage year of Ferrari racing. regarding the decision reached by the Technical & Regulatory Committee on tyres for next year. CONTROL TYRES FOR THE There were several options 2013 CLASSIC SERIES discussed in great detail including It will be a few weeks before the possible introduction of slick the 2013 Regulations are finally tyres. The Committee came to a approved by the Committee and
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1 7 decision reached by the Technical & Regulatory Committee on tyres for next year. There were several options discussed in great detail including the possible introduction of slick tyres. The Committee came to a unanimous view that the use of slick tyres, with all its consequent ramifications, would not be in keeping with the ethos and character of the series, which is, after all, for production Ferraris built over 20 years ago. The decision was therefore made that for 2013 we would adopt a control tyre: the 17" Pirelli PZero Rosso. No other tyre will be permitted. The only exception would be a possible waiver for pre-308GT4 Ferraris where Pirelli do not manufacture a suitable tyre. Although all the initial batch of 120 x 17" Italian SpeedLine wheels offered to competitors by Pirelli on very special terms has now been supplied, Pirelli are prepared to make a similar arrangement for 2013. There is also good news for owners of Mondial and 328GTB fitted with ABS. In conjunction with SpeedLine, we have now arranged for the special manufacture of 17� wheels with the correct offset for these tipos. Full details will be issued shortly to competitors in the form of a bulletin.
CHAMPAGNE & CHOCOLATES What could be a nicer reward than a gift of Champagne and chocolates? Anne sends her grateful thanks to all those hillclimbers who so generously contributed to the lovely Fortnum & Mason box of goodies that was presented to her at the Hillclimbers Dinner. Roll on Christmas and the perfect opportunity to sample the contents!
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happy birthday
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Mark I’Anso
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Tim Mogridge
28
George Chri
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Vance Kearn Geoffrey Fin Stuart Bowle
18 21
Enzo Ferrari Gary Culver Neil Reeder
23 24 25
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Jack Sears
22
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Peter Sowe rb
27
february
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Richard Bra m
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january
James Shirle y Christian Min eeff Philip White head
Jeff Lester Richard Fen ny Peter Rogers on Nick Knight Peter Fisk
Lewis Carte r 27 Alex M ortimer 27 Mark H argreaves
RA’s HILLCOMMENT Season’s Finale at Curborough witnessed another huge Ferrari entry, adequately demonstrating the popularity of the PFHC series. Fireworks were expected up at the front as Andrew Holman and Chris Butler did battle for ultimate honours, though as it turned out most of these were in the paddock and the eventual result was not that close. The weather, in what has proved the wettest season on record, remained surprisingly nice and even the ice cream van did good business. This issue features a full report on Curborough from our Editor, needless to say a very shrewd observer of the scene. Eligibility Concerns reared their ugly head at Curborough, and maybe the closeness of the competition and the competitive nature of those involved made this inevitable. It did, though, seem from all I heard that most of the unfounded gossip emanated from outside the paddock. Although I can understand speculation of the kind behind such allegations, they were both mischievous and unwarranted as it turned out. Sadly, on the day there is little doubt that all this had some affect on the temperament of some of those involved, such as to possibly impact on the final results. PFHC Prizegiving Dinner at Moore Place Hotel on 27th October was the usual rollicking affair and notable for having both our retiring Club Secretary, Peter Everingham, on hand, together with his successor, Gary Dearn. Jack Sears was there of course and John Kemp from Ferrari North Europe, together with Shaun Marriott from series sponsor Pirelli. Proudly displayed outside was the F355 of 2012 PFHC overall winner, Chris Butler,
which he had had brought all the way from Barnard Castle, so the scene was set for the usual avalanche of trophies. Overall Winners you should know all about and I am going to go through the less obvious recipients, starting with James Spicer who received the Il Triplicci Ricardo Cup for Newcomer of the Year. Nick Taylor took the Paddock Cup for
James Spicer is the PFHC’s Newcomer of the Year.
his resplendent F430 and Brian Jackson was chosen to receive the Alan Peer Cup, not just for his consistently high level of performances with his 308 GTB but for his contributions to the series over so many years. Those PFHC Special Awards reared their ugly heads once more, and although we were unable to appoint any new BBC members, this time we compensated by having a male and female “Most Unforced Errors”. Mike Spicer was a big hitter here with his 328GTB, though he has mostly missed things when going off course. The same went for Lorraine
Hitchman who took the girls’ “Unforced Errors”. It was nice to note that both Mike and Lorraine showed how to do all this at Curborough in front of witnesses! Also notable was Andrew Holman’s “French Connection” – he wound up wearing a beret and surrounded by onions in recognition of his Citroen 2CV race exploits. Handsome and glossy Ferrari Books presented to our competitors attending the PFHC Dinner every year are thanks to the generosity of our friends at Ferrari North Europe and John Kemp in particular. He usually arranges for them to be shipped to Ferrari dealer Dick Lovett in Swindon, near to where Sally M-S lives, for her to collect and wrap tastefully. A couple of years ago the people at Lovetts thought the books were for them and they were disappearing fast before Sally arrived! Alan Peer only some of you will know was a friend of mine who achieved considerable success driving Ford Anglia and Escort saloons in the sixties - he also raced a Ford GT40 in period. I met him when entering a North Weald sprint in 1959 - he was competing in a Ford Zephyr at that time. Alan eventually became lead driver for the East Anglian Racing Team and went on to achieve considerable success. The team was made up of Ford Motor Company engineers and the one looking after Alan’s cars was none other than FOC’s own Jeff Simpson, whom many of you will know. During the late eighties we were going to Essex Ferraris monthly meets and Alan, who was at the time restoring an old Alvis, came to some of our meetings - he had always been interested in Ferraris. Sadly he was to die soon afterwards from a brain tumour, and it was then
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was to die soon afterwards from a brain tumour, and it was then that I thought of having an Alan Peer Cup for the Essex Group competitors, as there were many at that time. This was agreed with Alan’s wife, Jean, and was subsequently transferred over to the PFHC for annual presentation.
Dinos vs Dinos that’s 308GT4 against 246 Dino we are talking about. Now I know the 246 is a pretty little thing just begging for a stroke, but it is short on puff, very noisy and none
Photo: SwiftyPix
John Marshall has now acquired a 360 Modena, not just any old 360 but a “Club Sport” as I call them or Challenge Stradale to you. Maybe he is a PFHC PEP swot and like me concluded the 360CS is a sleeper and likely to
fare well after PEP application, what with the List 1A tyres and sharp chassis responses. His one, refreshingly, is not a striped-up red job but in Tour de France blue, without. It is a very low mileage example and presently has one or two seized calipers, but that is no problem to a man who did a ground up on a 308GT4!
too comfortable either. I had one years ago and maybe should not have sold it - for some unfathomable reason Dino 246s have recently gone north of £100k and they are not even rare. Meanwhile the unloved GT4, which is a much more useful weapon with quite reasonable performance, goes for peanuts – even John Marshall’s superb example, rebuilt totally to a very high standard, only fetched low twenties. Even more surprising is that the very boring, mass produced, early seventies sporting Porsche 911 derivatives make around £70k, and we are not even talking RS models. So there you have it: GT4s, 308s and 328s are generally very cheap in the classic car world. RA Column always needs subject matter so please let me know of anything that may be of interest or newsy that could titillate your fellow FOC competitors. PFHC in 2013 should be every bit as good as in 2012 and the weather must surely be better too. Richard Prior has been burning the midnight oil putting the event calendar together and I will hand you over for the full detail in his Priorities column.
Going for peanuts. John Marshall’s superb 308GT4 on the start line at Curborough Sprint a few weeks ago.
PRIORITIES
A
s you can see by the dates in the accompanying 2013 programme we have put together, next year there are quite a few changes from last season. Bouley Bay will be given a miss due to Easter being early and the risk of bad weather (although it was treacherous in 2012 when we were last there). As a result there is quite a long break
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between our first event, at North Weald in March, and Harewood in May. After the disappointment of losing a proposed RAF Odiham sprint round last year, we have been offered another high speed sprint event at Blyton, near Gainsborough. This will be run by the Midland Automobile Club and their secretary, Roger Thomas, promises this exciting new venue will suit our cars. With corners
rprior348@yahoo.co.uk named 'Bunga Bunga' and 'The Wiggler' it sounds right up our strada. Originally opened as an RAF base in 1942, it was home to Wellington and Lancaster bombers during the war. After the end of hostilities, in 1945 it was allocated to the US Airforce as a training and reserve airfield. It was closed for good in 1954. The new 1.6mile tarmac surface has been laid in the last couple of years and is
May (I remember the full English breakfast being very tasty there!), and during the Loton Weekend we will be trying out the 300-year old 4-star Albrighton Hall Hotel near Shrewsbury (our usual venue of the Albright Hussey will again be maddeningly overrun by wedding parties on the date we wanted). Thanks to Jon Goodwin’s bargaining skills, he has done the setting-up for this weekend including arranging the splendid lunchtime BBQs from the local Old Hand and Diamond Inn. All we need is a proper English summer to go with it. Just for Fun
The new sprint track at Blyton, near Gainsborough, looks tasty.
has been laid in the last couple of years and is used more often for supercar experience days and private car and bike testing. MIRA has been included for next season too. Even though there haven’t been the promised changes to the track, they will, I am sure, have modified the safety barriers to a far better and safer standard. I spoke with some MIRA engineers at a recent automotive exhibition and will take them up on the invitation to visit the venue before next year to check that all is well. Unfortunately we have had to drop Doune from the calendar next year due to a clash of dates with the Gurston Down meeting. This famous Scottish hill is one of the most challenging (and rewarding, when you get it right) venues that we visit. It is a great shame to miss this event as we enjoy meeting up with the Scottish Area groups who always support us so well, rain or shine (and mostly rain!). Another date clash has unfortunately been created by the Bugatti Owners Club, after they moved their very popular 'La Vie en Bleu' weekend to coincide with the major British Hillclimb Championship round at Shelsley Walsh. As we accepted the Shelsley date first, we are committed to being there on the 1st and 2nd of June. Howver, we shall be back at Prescott on
Saturday, 31st August to compete again as a one-day meeting during their British Championship weekend along with the top singleseater cars. Wining and Dining Ever since I started competing in the Pirelli Ferrari Hillclimb Championship in 2001, it seemed that the social side was as much a part of the series as the action on track. And I'm glad to say it still is! During our double header weekends there are hotel stopovers planned with Saturday evening fine dining and a chance to relax before a repeat performance on the hill the following day. Harewood will see us returning to the popular Bridge Hotel at Walshford on the 11th
As there is now no hillclimb at Prescott on the 26th & 27th May now, it means we have an opportunity to take part in the Crystal Palace Circuit Revival meeting that weekend. This is a non-MSA championship event but very popular amongst the half dozen or so Ferrari drivers who have taken part there in the last few years. Superbly organised by the Sevenoaks Motor Club, they feature older cars of the period right up to modern day machinery and even electric powered sports cars.
2013 PIRELLI FERRARI HILLCLIMB CHAMPIONSHIP Round Round Round Round Round Round Round Round Round Round Round Round Round Round
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.
17th March 11th May 12th May 1st/2nd June 16th June 23rd June 13th July 14th July 3rd August 4th August 18th August 31st August 22nd September 13th October
North Weald Harewood 1 Harewood 2 Shelsley Walsh Blyton (Gainsborough-MAC) Gurston Down Loton Park Loton Park MIRA Hethel Curborough 2 Lap Prescott Shelsley Walsh Curborough
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T
HE GRAND FINALE to our 2012 circuit racing season was enacted on 5-7th October, the venue being the famous GP circuit of Nürburgring writes JOHN SWIFT. We like to try something a bit different each year, and since we hadn’t raced in Germany for a good many years it seemed that Nürburgring would be a good choice. It’s a fast and demanding track, it has a tremendous history, and there is the added attraction of the legendary Nordschleife circuit right alongside for those who wished to sample it during the course of the weekend. Many months before we block -booked a number of rooms at the 4-star Dorint hotel which is located on the circuit itself and right
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opposite the start/finish line. As is bit Mickey Mouse and perhaps not traditional at our overseas races, to everyone’s liking. The rest of we also arranged a Ferrari party at the layout is more or less as it the hotel for the Friday evening. always was although the barriers Since one or two of us last (as some were to find out) are a raced at Nürburgring there have been some changes to the layout. To increase the lap distance a new section of track has been introduced at the end of the pit straight. This new little Nick Kaye’s 360 Challenge silhouetted against the complex is a angry Eifel skyline during testing.
Photo: Stefan Eckhardt
Photo: Ian Clark
NÜRBURGRING 5th-7th October 2012
Photo: Stefan Eckhardt
special private room at the Dorint. Some sweet talking had managed to persuade the management to waive corkage on the cases of Prosecco that Anne and I had brought over in our seemingly elastic sided Renault Grand Espace.
Qualifying
Photo: Stefan Eckhardt
although the barriers (as some were to find out) are a little less yielding than we remember.
structure and a metal strut crashed down, breaking his 360 Challenge car’s windscreen. A wet track and Training some oil spillage Friday was devoted to caused a number of setting up, signing-on and spins but fortunately scrutineering, with optional no damage. At the testing sessions for those who end of the day those wanted them. We had hired all who had never the available pit boxes for the raced at the circuit Ferraris although one or two before or, like Gary drivers preferred to be outside in Eastwood, who was the paddock. last here in 2003, The weather was not very were a bit rusty, inspiring. A light drizzle with mist soon had a grip of early on was accompanied by the layout. high winds. David Hathaway, Great Balls of Fire! Chris Rea’s 308GT4 gave a Fortunately, unlike spectacular pyrotechnical display. who had chosen to eschew the somewhere like Spa, garages and erect his own canvas it is a circuit that is fairly easy to lean-to attached to his formidable 328’s tyres big time and Pete Fisk learn. truck, was unlucky. A strong needed new brake pads which On Friday evening most of us gust of wind blew down the required bedding-in on the road. enjoyed a great Ferrari party in a Tim Summers, in his beautifully presented Comp Daytona, was uneasy about his gearbox, finding difficulty with selection. He feared a recurrence of the problem he had experienced at Donington Park in August. Chris Rea, here with his 308GT4 following its rebuild during most of the summer, was enjoying being back in business. Chris told us that the only time he had previously been at Nürburgring was when he’d been giving a concert. Gavin Shirley only completed two laps before embedding the family 360 Challenge in the gravel at the end of the pit straight. More serious was the Opening lap of Race 1. Jenkins (54) with Ben Cartwright (72) error by Vance Kearney, who hit leading Marrs, Fisk, Butler and Nick Cartwright. the tyre barriers at the NGK
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Photo: Stefan Eckhardt
Brake Dance. Paul Bailey hard on the brakes of his 458 Challenge.
Qualifying was at the early hour of 8.30 on Saturday morning. The previous day’s rain seemed to have been blown away by the wind and the track was generally dry with a few damp patches at the Mercedes complex. Our notes show that Nick Cartwright flat-spotted his Gp4
Rennen 1 The first 30-minute race was timed for 12.45pm in the afternoon. Although rain was forecast to fall later on, the track was dry. The rolling start was reasonable except that those towards the back of the 24 car grid were left straggling as the Top to bottom: Race 1 and Dwane leads Eastwood and Bailey in their 458s; Graham Reeder uses all his circuit knowledge as he keeps ahead of John Shirley; Giant killer Tomlin in his rapid 308GTB leads Taylor, Brooks and Ben Cartwright; Richard Fenny (Gp2 308GT4) followed by William Moorwood’s Gp1 version of the same tipo.
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Photos: Stefan Eckhardt
error by Vance Kearney, who hit the tyre barriers at the NGK chicane. The F355’s right-hand front corner was effectively demolished and Vance’s weekend of racing was at an end. The timesheets showed that Paul Bailey was the quickest, reunited with his 458 Challenge after the previous rounds at Silverstone GP. His time of 2:10.163 was a couple of seconds faster that Mick Dwane’s best in his 458, while the third 458, of Gary Eastwood, was a further 0.4 seconds in arrears. Graham Reeder, an old hand at Nürburgring from the Pirelli Maranello Ferrari Challenge days, posted the 4th fastest time overall and the best Class C2 lap. Graham was driving the 360/Ch that Tim Ingram-Hill has raced most of the season. Although Kearney posted a lap in 2:26.332 before his accident, it was effectively the 2:26.733 of Darren Laverty in his F355 sister car that laid claim to C1 honours. In the Classic section, David Tomlin in his Gulf Oil liveried 308GTB produced an electrifying lap of 2:29.941, ahead of the Gp4 328 of Nigel Jenkins. Nick Taylor, driving his Mondial t freshly out of Shiltech’s workshops following some extensive upgrading work, was pleased with his car’s previously untested performance and was only half a second behind Jenkins in 2:31.469. Ben Cartwright (Gp3 328) was well on the pace (2:31.918) while Tris Simpson had the fastest Gp1 car, his 308GT4 posting 2:36.656.
Close encounters. Mick Dwane and Paul Bailey in confrontation.
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Photo: Ian Clark
Photo: Stefan Eckhardt Photo: Stefan Eckhardt
clearly Stradale’s oil warning light remembered all blinking and gears proving the subtleties difficult to select, was doing his of this great best but losing ground to the circuit and was 360s of Reeder and Shirley. lapping around Brooks had C1 sewn up despite 3 to 4 seconds the efforts of Laverty. quicker than his There was still lots of action nearest 360 among the Classic brigade. rivals. Summers, with increasing Moorwood confidence, was blasting his retired his GT4 Daytona round in the 2:30s, a bit on lap 3 when off Tomlin’s pace but then the the clutch cable latter had a second spin which came out of its took the edge off his pursuit of anchorage. Jenkins’s leading Gp4 328. Ben Didier Benaroya in his Mondial t cabriolet waged a successful race-long battle with Swift’s 308GTB. Brooks Cartwright was now well clear of was doing a Butler’s 2nd placed Gp3 car while grid were left straggling as the sterling job in the big 456GT, first towards the tail of the field leading cars accelerated down the disposing of Hathaway and then Benaroya (Mondial t cabriolet) pits straight when the lights getting the better switched to green (a bit of Laverty’s 355. confusing this as these days the Tomlin spun at the start is always signalled by the end of the pit red lights being switched off). straight, handing At the end of lap 1 it was the Classic lead to Dwane’s red 458 in the lead with Jenkins. Just Eastwood and Bailey right on his behind, Ben tail. Then, after a short delay, it Cartwright (Gp3 was Reeder in the 360/Ch. John 328) was at the Shirley’s similar car (on old head of a terrific rubber) led a gaggle of closely dice with the Gp4 bunched cars: Kaye, Laverty, Pete Fisk (Gp3 328GTB) executed a neat spin at cars of Taylor and Hathaway and Brooks. Right up the end of the pits straight. Marrs. with these PFO cars was the The trio of 458s continued used his superior power to keep Classic leader, Tomlin, with their high speed shoot-out, with Swift at bay in a furiously fought already a little cushion to his Eastwood always in front but scrap. pursuers: Taylor and Jenkins. Dwane there to pounce if he Following the podium On lap 3 Eastwood took over made a mistake. Bailey, ceremony the prize giving took at the front with Dwane in his although producing similar lap place in one of the Ferrari mirrors. It seemed that Mick was times, drifted away slightly in pitboxes. The presenter was one slightly faster in a straight line third spot. In the C2 contest, of the German officials and was than the 458s of Gary and Paul. Kaye, with his Challenge only memorable by the fact that th Reeder, unchallenged in 4 , had an over-excited David Tomlin planted a kiss on him as he collected his trophy. There was a whole afternoon to spend exploring the local scenery – very rewarding as the majestic countryside was looking especially magnificent in its autumn glory. Some took the opportunity to sample the awesome Nordschleife circuit which seemed to be exceedingly busy with a preponderance of rorty cars with GB plates.
Photo: Stefan Eckhardt
Der Eifelgeist Before we did our own thing for dinner that evening, many enjoyed a drink in the Dorint’s famous bar. This is the province of Josef More, the hotel’s nowretired Hungarian manager, who has created a shrine to motor racing’s great and good. A special corner is devoted to Michael Schumacher although we thought a life-size portrait looked more like his brother, Ralf. Josef’s bar specialises in Eifelgeist, an aquavit containing no fewer than 42 exquisite herbs. The drink is taken in glasses that are frozen and must only be consumed wearing white gloves. Most of us tried it, some having rather more than others . . .
Rennen 2
Tomlin amidships. Both drivers
At the front the order at the end of lap 1 was Dwane-Bailey -Eastwood, the three 458s almost tied together. Then it was Reeder’s 360 ahead of the C1 cars of Laverty and Brooks. In Classics, Jenkins was just ahead of an electrifying Tris Simpson (his Gp1 308GT4 on those much maligned Pirelli PZero Rossos) and Pete Fisk. Ben Cartwright was duelling with Marrs, both of them having been held up by the first corner fracas. Dwane – driving probably his Paul Brooks had his 456GT on fast freeze. best of the season – held on to his slender lead for six more laps before being passed by continued albeit with sorry Bailey. Eastwood maintained a looking Ferraris. Photo: Ian Clark
The second race of the weekend was arranged for late morning – sufficiently early to enable those who had ferries to catch to make it to the port in time. The weather was sunny and fine and the grid pattern was based on everyone’s second fastest qualifying time. From the rolling start there was a bit of a traffic jam going into the slow righthander at the end of the pits straight. Taylor had a bit of a Grosjean moment, outbraking himself and hitting the innocent
Tris Simpson was electrifyingly fast in his 308GT4
OMG! There was total chaos at the start of Race 2 when Nick Taylor (57) had a ‘Grosjean moment’. Amazingly, it was only the unfortunate David Tomlin, in car 6, who suffered damage in the inevitable collision.
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seemed to have been mastered and he was now in 5th overall. The Shirley 360, now being driven by Gavin, was clearly sick as it lapped slowly at the tail of the field. It was retired at the end of lap 4. At mid-distance Bailey snatched the lead from Dwane, and Tomlin, no doubt in a furious mood, was making rapid progress through the field, passing Nick Cartwright to join the closely bunched Ben Carty / Marrs / Simpson trio. Moorwood, now with a clutch that worked, was going well just behind the Gp2 GT4 of Fenny. Swift, after losing
the Anglo-French battle with Didier on lap 8, eased back albeit making sure that Rea (now with a faulty alternator) didn’t get too large in his mirrors. Wayne Marrs’s race came to a sudden end on lap 8, crashing when his foot inexplicably became stuck under the brake pedal At the flag, Paul Bailey claimed a famous victory by less than half a second from Gary Eastwood, with the early leader, Mick Dwane, some 12 seconds adrift in third. Once again in C2 Reeder took the class win from Kaye. The C1 victor was Laverty finishing some distance ahead of
his Fosker Engineering team mate, Brooks. Tris Simpson, driving the wheels off his GT4 and setting a new Gp1 lap record, took another class win while David Tomlin, despite having a seriously mangled 308GTB, was lapping even faster than his R1 time to secure the Gp2 trophy. In Gp3 Ben Cartwright had also demonstrated phenomenal speed to take class honours from Chris Butler’s similar 328GTB. The overall Classic winner and hero of Gp4 was again Nigel Jenkins.
NÜRBURGRING 6th October 2013 Round 13 Pos
No
1
18
2
77
3 4
Driver
Tipo
Class
Laps
Time
Best Lap
Qualify
Pos
Gary Eastwood
458/Ch
C4
13
28:12.489
2:08.240
2:12.420
3
Mick Dwane
458/Ch
C4
13
28:14.880
2:09.080
2:12.119
2
28
Paul Bailey
458/Ch
C4
13
28:25.750
2:08.745
2:10.163
1
12
Graham Reeder
360/Ch
C2
13
29:58.188
2:15.885
2:20.832
4
5
9
John Shirley
360/Ch
C2
12
28:39.769
2:19.568
2:31.636
10
6
22
Paul Brooks
456GT
C1
12
28:41.285
2:19.517
2:26.868
8
7
40
Nick Kaye
360/CS
C2
12
28:43.601
2:20.447
2:27.676
9
8
66
Darren Laverty
F355/Ch
C1
12
28:44.644
2:20.633
2:26.733
7
9
19
David Hathaway
360/Ch
C2
12
39:01.611
2:22.595
2:26.392
6
NS
8
Vance Kearney
F355/Ch
C1
2:26.332
5
Fastest Laps:
Gary Eastwood
C4
2:08.240
Establishes lap record
Graham Reeder
C2
2:15.885
Establishes lap record
Paul Brooks
C1
2:19.517
Establishes lap record
NÜRBURGRING 7th October 2013 Round 14 Pos
No
1
28
2 3
Driver
Tipo
Class
Laps
Time
Best Lap
Qualify
Pos
Paul Bailey
458/Ch
C4
13
28:08.805
2:08.281
2:11.241
1
18
Gary Eastwood
458/Ch
C4
13
28:09.208
2:07.344
2:13.242
3
77
Mick Dwane
458/Ch
C4
13
28:22.113
2:09.147
2:12.817
2
4
12
Graham Reeder
360/Ch
C2
13
29:44.588
2:14.772
2:21.016
4
5
40
Nick Kaye
360/CS
C2
13
30:24.999
2:17.595
2:29.083
8
6
66
Darren Laverty
F355/Ch
C1
12
28:10.087
2:19.295
2:27.075
5
7
22
Paul Brooks
456GT
C1
12
29:00.884
2:21.620
2:29.038
7
8
19
David Hathaway
360/Ch
C2
11
29:36.400
2:24.558
2:29.294
9
DNF
9
Gavin Shirley
360/Ch
C2
4
13:12.646
2:43.800
5:12.200
10
NS
8
Vance Kearney
F355/Ch
C1
2:27.135
6
Fastest Laps:
Gary Eastwood Graham Reeder Darren Laverty
C4 C2 C1
2:07.344 2:14.772 2:19.295
New lap record New lap record New lap record
CompRes 11
NÜRBURGRING 6th October 2013 Round 12 Pos
No
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 DNF
54 6 72 57 60 3 5 70 30 46 4 11 27 25 29
Driver Nigel Jenkins David Tomlin Ben Cartwright Nick Taylor Wayne Marrs Nick Cartwright Chris Butler Tim Summers Pete Fisk Tris Simpson Didier Benaroya John Swift Chris Rea Richard Fenny William Moorwood
Fastest Laps:
Tipo
Group
Laps
Time
Best Lap
Qualify
Pos
328GTB 308GTB 328GTB Mondial t 328GTB 328GTB 328GTB Daytona 365 GTB/4 328GTB 308GT4 Mondial t Cab 308GTB 308GT4 308GT4 308GT4
4 2 3 4 4 4 3 2 3 1 3 2 2 2 1
12 12 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 3
30:01.226 30:12.774 30:20.277 30:22.257 30:27.447 30:32.970 28:14.697 28:18.177 28:18.774 29:04.954 29:19.318 29:19.874 29:25.147 30:33.037 8:51.283
2:27.030 2:25.031 2:28.441 2:29.296 2:29.042 2:30.698 2:31.486 2:30.890 2:32.717 2:33.894 2:37.089 2:37.491 2:38.187 2:43.521 2:46.036
2:31.055 2:29.941 2:31.918 2:31.169 2:33.477 2:37.244 2:36.289 2:40.206 2:36.199 2:36.656 2:37.755 2:40.057 2:40.027 2:48.416 2:50.201
2 1 4 3 5 9 7 13 6 8 10 12 11 14 15
Nigel Jenkins Ben Cartwright David Tomlin Tris Simpson
Class Winners: Gp4 Gp3 Gp2 GP1
Group 4 Group 3 Group 2 Group 1
2:27.030 2:28.441 2.25.031 2:33.894
1st Nigel Jenkins Ben Cartwright David Tomlin Tris Simpson
Establishes lap record Establishes lap record Establishes lap record Establishes lap record
2nd Nick Taylor Chris Butler Tim Summers
3rd Wayne Marrs Pete Fisk John Swift
NÜRBURGRING 7th October 2013 Round 13 Pos
No
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 DNF
54 6 72 3 46 57 5 70 30 4 11 27 25 29 60
Driver Nigel Jenkins David Tomlin Ben Cartwright Nick Cartwright Tris Simpson Nick Taylor Chris Butler Tim Summers Pete Fisk Didier Benaroya John Swift Chris Rea Richard Fenny William Moorwood Wayne Marrs
Fastest Laps:
Class Winners Gp4 Gp3 Gp2 Gp1
CompRes 12
Tipo 328GTB 308GTB 328GTB 328GTB 308GT4 Mondial t 328GTB Daytona 365 GTB/4 328GTB Mondial t Cab 308GTB 308GT4 308GT4 308GT4 328GTB
Nigel Jenkins Ben Cartwright David Tomlin Tris Simpson
Group 4 Group 3 Group 2 Group 1
1st Nigel Jenkins Ben Cartwright David Tomlin Tris Simpson
Group Laps 4 2 3 4 1 4 3 2 3 3 2 2 2 1 4
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 9
Time
Best Lap
Qualify
Pos
29:40.612 29:53.137 29:58.082 30:25.157 30:29.063 30:30.569 30:31.820 30:37.572 28:19.321 29:04.927 29:25.545 29:32.151 29:49.223 30:19.639 29:35.246
2:25.907 2:25.013 2:27.424 2:29.044 2:29.794 2:28.209 2:29.938 2:30.518 2:30.537 2:36.102 2: 36.517 2: 38.454 2:38.607 2:42.651 2:26.620
2:32.926 2:32.605 2:32.012 2:39.702 2:37.362 2:31.696 2:40.295 2:42.149 2:38.277 2:39.783 2:41.647 2:42.300 2:49.999 2:52.050 2:34.383
4 3 2 8 6 1 10 12 7 9 11 13 14 15 5
2:25.907 2:27.424 2.25.013 2:29.794 2nd Nick Cartwright Chris Butler Tim Summers William Moorwood
New lap record New lap record New lap record New lap record 3rd Nick Taylor Pete Fisk John Swift
PIRELLI FERRARI HILLCLIMB CHAMPIONSHIP: ROUND 15 CURBOROUGH SPRINT 14th October 2012
HE LAST ROUND of the 2012 Pirelli Ferrari Hillclimb Championship, at Curborough on 14th October, attracted a tremendous entry of no fewer than 26 competitors – surely something of a record for a sprint event without delving into the annals of the series writes JOHN SWIFT. It speaks volumes for the enthusiasm of those who have taken part in this year’s Championship that so many drivers gathered at this flat and rather featureless venue in Staffordshire to do battle over a course that takes not much over half a minute to complete. But the reason was clear: on this day, ambitions and hopes that have been nurtured through the season would be realised. It was the time when the 2012 champion would finally emerge after all the close battles that have been fought during the year. To remind ourselves, the position at the pointy end of the Championship after the penultimate round at Shelsley
Walsh the previous month was tantalizingly . Both Andrew Holman and Chris Butler, in their F355s, were level on points: 149 apiece. Just behind, in third spot and also F355 mounted, was last year’s champion, Richard Prior, who had amassed an impressive total of 140 points despite carrying the burden of the champion’s 1% PEP loading. So, for these leading contenders, there was everything to play for and it promised a cracking end to the season. It was a needle match in every way. However, sadly for a series that is traditionally run in the most sporting fashion, a degree of needle seemed to have entered this final stage of the contest. There had been some muttering in the paddock that perhaps one or two of the
Photos: SwiftyPix
leading competitors’ cars were not strictly in accordance with the series technical regulations.
Girls Aloud. Top: Tracey Haynes and Sally MaynardSmith with runner-up Richard Prior Bottom: Angela Preece and Anne Swift logging the day’s times.
CompRes 13
Top: Richard Preece prepares for blast-off Centre: Pauline Goodwin with pedal to metal in her 328GTB Bottom: John Marshall posted an exceptional time in his immaculate 308GT4.
contest. There had been some muttering in the paddock that perhaps one or two of the leading competitors’ cars were not strictly
CompRes 14
in accordance with the series technical regulations. Maybe, said the whisperers, one or two tweaks had been made that weren’t exactly kosher. Nothing
was definite, just an uneasy nod and a wink; the atmosphere was prickly and uncomfortable. Our Hillclimb series is only lightly monitored by the eligibility process. It is not Formula 1 and we don’t have (or can afford) an army of scrutineers to police things at every event. From time to time the decision is made to look at various aspects of the cars and those in charge confidentially arrange for some of the Ferraris to be examined. Such a decision had been made to carry out checks at Curborough that day in order to allay any suspicions. The fact that there were to be checks seemed to have been leaked and, extraordinarily, the Club’s own website carried in advance the story that searching eligibility scrutineering was to be carried out. Combined with the aforementioned gossiping, competitors may well have thought a full-scale witch hunt was to take place. Perhaps we need to remind everyone that the PFHC is an MSA Championship; it is not like a schoolboy game of conkers where, if Tompkins Minor is suspected to have illegally immersed his weaponry in vinegar for a year, he is ostracised by his mates. It is quite wrong that those trying to run the series in a proper manner should have to put up with this sort of unwarranted interference. Happily, the scrutineer’s checks confirmed that all the leading cars were in compliance with the rules. Nevertheless, for those whose integrity had been thoughtlessly brought into question, it wasn’t a comfortable time. The weather at Curborough was kind, the threatened rain holding off until the final runs were over. With such an impressive number of Ferraris in action, unsurprisingly our series represented a large part of the meeting’s entry. In our line-up, 50% of the competitors were driving older tipos eligible for the Classic Cup. Virtually all the drivers had been out to play at
see Sally Maynard-Smith, at the wheel of her 328GTS, back in the fold after quite a few years absence. The format for the day was a generous three practice runs followed by two officials. The first practice session (with so many runs I’m afraid I’m going to rush this a bit) showed that title contender Chris Butler was out for blood, the only driver to crack 37 seconds. Richard Prior, although almost a second slower, was the best of the rest and just slightly ahead of Andrew Holman. Nick Taylor, expected to be on the money with his 430, clearly wasn’t able to launch his car as effectively as he’d hoped. Much of a muchness, in the low 39s, were the Spicer family, Mike (328) and son James (348tb), together with Richard Preece (F355). P2 produced generally far quicker times. Butler was still ahead (34.76) but Prior was almost with him and Holman, third fastest, within spitting distance. Both Spicers had dropped into the sub-37s and Sally M-S had chopped a massive 8 seconds off her tentative opening time. In the final practice Holman suffered a puncture – a bit offputting when you need to produce your best effort of the year. Prior
showed his PFHC champion’s pedigree by producing the quickest time of the day so far (34.53), eclipsing a slightly slower Butler. Taylor, despite a still hesitant start, was now 3rd. Mike Spicer executed a neat spin while Richard Allen uncharacteristically took to the grass in his 328. Pauline Goodwin, in a cloud of tyre smoke, showed the boys how to get a Ferrari away from the line. Of the other ladies, Lorraine Hitchman and Tracey There were a few spinners. Richard Prior was a bit overHaynes, in exuberant on his final run and Mike Spicer’s 328GTB blended well with the autumnal undergrowth during practice. their 328s, were marginally ahead of the rapidly the formidable power of his 430? improving Caroline Cooper (360 Would Prior hold his nerve to Modena). maintain the superiority he had After the lunch break came shown in practice? And, faced the official runs, when things get with the ultimate goal of the more serious. There were lots of Championship, was Butler’s questions to find answers to. undoubted skill sufficient to clinch Would Holman, the acknowledged the title? sprint specialist, finally get into Sally Maynard-Smith, her the groove? Could Taylor unleash foot now resolutely pressed to the floor, continued her progress by slashing a further 4 seconds off her previous best. Tony Attwood, sporting new tyres, looked neat and tidy in his pretty 246GT as he clocked a useful 40.47. Caroline Cooper just managed to deal with all her female rivals except Pauline G as she recorded 39.65. Pauline herself set the standard for launch control with an unrivalled 2.36 seconds 0-64ft time. A confident looking John Marshall stopped the watches at 37.47, an exceptional time for a venerable 308GT4, to claim 11 Championship points. Similarly Mike Spicer underlined his Classic Cup superiority with 36.32 and 15 points. Wendy Ann Marshall (328GTB) had trouble with gear Nick Taylor steadily improved his times with the 430 selection, which spoiled her time. throughout the day to capture third spot. However, it was the action at
CompRes 15
the front that held spectators’ close attention. Holman improved to 35.73 but one felt it wasn’t going to be quite good enough. Taylor, marginally faster at 35.64, was still not getting the 430 away all that well. Then Prior, a little slower than on his spectacular P3 time, posted 34.86, which looked hard to beat until a determined Butler exploded off the line in 2.38 seconds to take control of the situation with the fastest official run time of the day: 34.70. The final runs, when track temperatures had dropped, generally proved to be a little slower although there were exceptions. Attwood (39.89), Lorraine H (39.37), Caroline C (38.82) and Preece (36.97) all made improvements. Holman and Taylor returned identical times (35.44) but then Prior, giving it more than plenty, spun away his chances.
Andrew Holman concluded a tremendously successful season with second place in the 2012 Championship.
It was left to Chris Butler to keep his cool and bring his trusty F355 safely home to capture 20 hard earned points and, of course, victory in the 2012 Championship. Andrew Holman had the honour of being runner-up, just 5 points
behind. We applaud everyone, whether victorious or not, who played their part in this memorable season of Ferrari hillclimbing and sprinting.
2012 Pirelli Ferrari Hillclimb Championship
Chris Butler
154
Keith Anderson
33
Andrew Holman
149
Chris Hitchman
31
Richard Prior
142
Wendy Ann Marshall
25
Mike Spicer
118
Jeff Cooper
27
Final Points after Round 15 (provisional)
Nick Taylor
117
Lorraine Hitchman
16
John Marshall
98
Julian Playford
15
James Spicer
87
Tony Attwood
13
Phil Whitehead
80
Peter Rogerson
13
Pauline Goodwin
79
Caroline Cooper
12
*Richard Allen
70
Colin Campbell
11
Brian Jackson
69
Sergio Ransford
9
Sean Doyle
54
Andrew Duncan
8
Richard Preece
49
Peter Hitchman
6
*Barrie Wood
46
Tracey Haynes
5
Shaun Smith
46
Jim Campbell
4
John Swift
44
David Hathaway
1
Jack Hargreaves
43
Sally Maynard-Smith
1
Mark Hargreaves
38
Classic Scores (best eight scores) Mike Spicer 118, John Marshall 98, Pauline Goodwin 79, Brian Jackson 69, Shaun Smith 46, Jack Hargreaves 43, Mark Hargreaves 38, Barrie Wood 35, Wendy Ann Marshall 25, Richard Allen 27, Lorraine Hitchman 16, Tony Attwood 13, Colin Campbell 11, Sergio Ransford 9, Tracey Haynes 5, Sally MaynardSmith 1 CompRes 16
Driver
Tipo
Pract 1
Pract 2
Pract 3
Run 1
Run 2
64 ft
Split/ speed
PEP %
PEP time
Pts
Chris Butler
F355
36.24
34.76
35.08
34.70
35.04
2.38
10.50/ 93
0.0
34.70
20
Richard Prior
F355
37.45
35.10
34.53
34.86
57.57
2.50
10.60/ 95
+1.0
35.21
17
430 Coupe
38.21
37.18
35.65
35.64
35.44
2.60
10.90/ 97
+2.0
36.15
10
Andrew Holman
F355
37.80
36.04
---
35.73
35.44
2.51
10.57/ 89
0.0
35.44
13
James Spicer
348ts
39.37
36.81
37.24
36.26
36.99
2.43
10.84/ 87
-2.0
35.53
12
328GTB
39.17
36.91
51.86
36.32
37.03
2.43
10.88/ 89
-3.0
35.23
15
Philip Whitehead
F355
42.22
37.58
37.99
36.91
37.09
2.57
11.13/ 86
0.0
36.91
6
Richard Preece
F355
39.37
37.14
36.95
37.14
36.97
2.36
10.94/ 91
0.0
36.97
5
Richard Allen
328GTB
38.23
37.28
38.32
37.13
37.35
2.60
11.31/ 80
-3.0
36.02
11
John Marshall
308GT4
42.56
37.95
39.00
37.47
38.22
2.37
11.16/ 86
-4.5
35.78
9
Chris Hitchman
F355GTS
40.71
38.96
38.47
37.54
37.83
2.68
11.40/ 88
0.0
37.54
1
Jeff Cooper
360 Mod
43.96
38.51
37.85
38.23
38.49
2.77
11.82/ 94
+1.0
38.61
1
Brian Jackson
308GTB
39.71
38.89
---
38.24
38.29
2.74
11.71/ 81
-4.5
36.52
8
Jack Hargreaves
308GTB
41.81
38.49
38.21
38.29
38.36
2.50
11.33/ 83
-4.5
36.57
7
Pauline Goodwin
328GTB
40.45
39.97
38.59
38.29
38.36
2.36
11.17/ 83
-3.0
37.14
3
Mark Hargreaves
308GTB
41.33
39.50
40.26
39.02
38.79
2.58
11.78/ 83
-4.5
37.04
4
Caroline Cooper
360 Mod
44.24
40.41
39.72
39.65
38.82
2.59
11.84/ 93
+1.0
39.21
1
Shaun Smith
328GTB
42.32
39.45
39.06
39.03
38.94
2.53
11.68/ 85
-3.0
37.77
1
Peter Rogerson
360 Mod
42.19
43.80
39.62
39.25
39.98
2.62
11.71/ 93
+1.0
39.64
1
Lorraine Hitchman
328GTS
43.57
40.21
39.47
39.85
39.37
2.82
11.79/ 86
-3.0
38.19
1
Tracey Haynes
328GTB
42.99
40.07
39.53
39.82
39.94
2.80
12.13/ 87
-3.0
38.63
1
Tony Attwood
246GT
41.93
40.79
40.98
40.47
39.89
2.49
11.71/ 81
-6.5
37.30
2
Julian Playford
F355
42.84
40.30
41.06
40.06
40.51
2.63
12.01/ 90
0.0
40.06
1
Peter Hitchman
550 Mar
48.05
44.03
41.81
41.44
40.66
3.18
12.65/ 90
-1.0
40.25
1
Wendy Marshall
328GTB
45.06
42.02
41.39
41.38
43.96
2.91
12.79/ 85
-3.0
40.14
1
S Maynard-Smith
328GTS
61.57
53.37
50.08
46.21
49.90
2.68
14.08/ 85
-3.0
44.82
1
Nick Taylor
Mike Spicer
Key: 64 ft, split & speed for fastest run
MAC Class Awards:
Mod = Modena
1st Chris Butler
Mar = Maranello
2nd Richard Prior
3rd Nick Taylor
CompRes 17
2012 Galleria: The Pirelli Ferrari Hillclimb Championship Presentation Dinner CompRes 18
Photos: SwiftyPix
CompRes 19
CompRes 20
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CompRes 21