FERRARICOMPETITIONRESULTS
CompRes
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN HELMET - FERNANDO ALONSO AT MONACO
ISSUE 064 MAY 2011
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 THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY We had hoped to include a report on the big Donington Park race meeting at the end of May in this issue, but the time it takes to collect all the elements, including collecting the photos and processing them through Photoshop, meant that it unfortunately couldn’t be finalised in time. However, it’s an event we shall cover next month in the usual microscopic detail, together with other events in June – Prescott, Shelsley Walsh and Doune hillclimbs – plus the usual racing chitchat. Incidentally, don’t forget we have a ‘Letters’ column in CompRes which readers are welcome to contribute to. Sadly it’s rarely used but we would love to hear from you if you wish to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.
A revised timetable has just been issued by the organisers, Circuit Park Zandvoort, which we have circulated to all registered Classic and Open competitors. The Ferrari activity is shown below: SATURDAY 2 July 09.30 – 09.50 15.00 – 15.25
Qualifying 1
Race 1 (25 mins) SUNDAY 3 July
Competitors should note that the final closing date for entries is FRIDAY 17 JUNE and reservations for pitbox garages must be made without delay as these will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. If you are planning on racing at Zandvoort we know you will have a great time.
RACE TROPHIES
Last month we explained the system for the presentation of race trophies and how the 09.00 – 09.20 Qualifying 2 method may change according to 13.55 – 14.20 Race 2 (25 who is the race organising club. mins) For instance, if Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC) are our On the Friday we have hosts, they will be providing the arranged for at least two 40prizes and these will be sent out minute free testing sessions to successful drivers by post after exclusively for the Ferraris. the event. In other cases, in These can be booked at the time particular the overseas rounds and the charge, payable on the and those organised by Classic day, is €80 per session. Sports car Club (CSCC), we aim to have the trophies WHAT’S ON available for presentation on ZANDVOORT the day of the race. JUNE 4/5 Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb In last month’s issue we The number of awards gave you a taste of the that are available for each 15 Snetterton: FOC Track Day attractions that await drivers class is obviously dependant at Zandvoort at the on the number of entries in beginning of next month. that class. The system used 18/19 Doune Hillclimb Entries and completed by both AMOC and CSCC is as garage booking forms are follows: For up to 3 runners, a JULY 1-3 Zandvoort: Pirelli Ferrari rolling in to Chevy Chase 1st prize is awarded; for 4 to 7 formula classic and Pirelli Towers and it looks like being runners, a 1st and 2nd trophy Ferrari Open (D/H) a great weekend of racing. is given; for 8 and over, the Hotel accommodation at 9/10 British Grand Prix allocation is 1st, 2nd and 3rd. this popular seaside holiday In cases where we destination is at a premium 9/10 Loton Park Hillclimb provide the silverware, the but there is plenty of room Ferrari Owners’ Club is rather available within a 5 mile 12 Brands Hatch: FOC Track Day more generous. If the radius of the circuit. trophies are purchased and Haarlem, just 8 minutes or engraved beforehand, for 17 Gurston Down Hillclimb so away, is an obvious presentation on the day, we alternative spot and probably usually obtain these on the 22-24 Spa-Francorchamps: Pirelli the best source of available basis of the numbers of Ferrari formula classic and hotels, at a wide range of runners in each class by the Pirelli Ferrari Open (D/H) prices, is on the website closing date for race entries 23/24 Silverstone Classic Festival booking.com (because this is the latest
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possible time we can order). Our system of allocation is as follows: for up to 2 runners: 1st. For 3 to 4 runners: 1st and 2nd. For 5 or more: 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS Full details of our second visit to mainland Europe, to the sublime circuit of SpaFrancorchamps on 22-24 July, will be out very shortly. Our Ferrari drivers should need no persuasion to make sure they take part in what will be the highlight of our racing season. We have already circulated advance information including details of how to book accommodation at the superb new 4-star hotel almost on the circuit itself at La Source hairpin. I have reserved all the available rooms at the Hotel de la Source and I hope that competitors will already have made their confirmation bookings.
Ardencote Manor Hotel and Country Club. Ardencote Manor is located at Claverdon, near Warwick. We shall circulate full details nearer the time but for now just make sure you keep the date clear!
RETIREMENT - US STYLE
Working people frequently ask retired people what they do to make their days interesting. Well, for example, the other day my wife and I went into town and visited a shop. When we came out, there was a cop writing out a parking ticket. We went up to him and I said, “Come on, man, how about giving a senior citizen a break?” He ignored us and continued writing the ticket. I called him an "a @# hole". He glared at me and started writing another ticket for having worn-out tyres. So my wife called him a "sh * *thead". He finished the second ticket and put it on the windscreen with the first. Then he started writing more tickets. This went on for about 20 minutes. The more we abused him, the more tickets he wrote. Just then our The view of the Spa circuit from the bus arrived, and we hotel’s terrace. got on it and went As is traditional for our visit home. to Spa, I have arranged a special We try to have a little fun Spa Ferrari Dinner at the hotel on each day now that we're retired. the Friday evening. Application It's important at our age. forms for tickets for this will be included in the Entry pack.
END OF SEASON DINNER Some of you have asked us to include a reminder about the date of the End of Season Prizegiving Dinner, to make sure they have this in their diary. The date is SATURDAY, 19th November and the venue is the
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3 5 9 10 11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20 21 24 26 28 29 30
Barrie Wood Nuno de Brito e Cunha Paul Jarmyn John Day Paul Brooks Sue Taylor Jim McWhirter Sergio Ransford Ian Chadwick Darren Laverty Melissa Culver Steve Farthing David Cottingham Erik Oktner Tony Willis Bruno Cappuccini Ayisha Essat Wayne Nickless Richard Chester Jamie Stanley Steve Young Debbie Culver Julian Playford Nigel Jenkins
RA’s HILLCOMMENT champion Chris Butler out to upset their apple carts. In addition the Classic Cup will see an exciting contest, as leading man Sean Doyle, already with some great results under his belt, will soon feel the heat from Mike Spicer who only opened his Classic point scorecard at Harewood. Shades of Oxfam as Holmans Haberdashery did a roaring trade in the paddock at Harewood distributing clothing bearing the logo marking ‘The Ferrari Hillclimb Championship 25th Anniversary’ (see pic below). Andrew had worked hard at both the logo design as well as choosing the jackets and shirts in consultation with young Richard and even old Richard. It was obvious from the recipients reactions that these items were
Photo: Dave Clark
Our 25th Anniversary season has unfolded fast, with a third of the 2011 rounds already completed. Entry levels have been very encouraging considering current economic pressures, and it looks very much like we are going to have a really great season. There is all that usual close competition that goes on right through the Ferrari class, whilst up at the front Nick Taylor has started off with a succession of class wins and maximum point scores to lead the series so far. He needs to watch his back though, with Richard Prior getting the hang of F355 driving and likely to put in the pressure. Andrew Holman, maybe more of a sprint specialist, will come in to play at both Curborough and Hethel too, and then there is of course our current hillclimb
Modelling the new 25th Anniversary jacket is Pauline Goodwin under the approving gaze of Graham Easter.
well received and they have been very much in evidence since. Upcoming rounds are thick and fast, with Prescott held yesterday as I write these notes. Shelsley Walsh is next weekend as we move in to June, and then on to Doune. In July, the really big weekend is the Loton Park double header with the special Hillclimbers Dinner at the Albright Hussey Hotel and paddock barbecue both days. The information on the hotel accommodation and booking slip for the Dinner and barbecues was emailed to PFHC competitors a few weeks ago. If you have not dealt with this you should now, and if you cannot find the details Anne Swift will soon be able to forward them to you again. Where the yellow went we are not talking Pepsodent here, but giallo fly Ferraris, and there were no less than three at Harewood. Andrew Holman’s F355 was joined by Mike Spicer’s recently acquired red 328GTB now freshly painted in yellow, and it was great to see Brian Jackson returning with ‘BOB’, his daffodil 308GTB. I guess some of you newer chaps must wonder why we call the car BOB - you need to study the number plate for the answer. Interestingly, Brian’s 308 is easily the longest serving Ferrari on the hills, having been in action on and off from the middle eighties to the present time. Although not seen on the hills for some years, John Swift’s 308GTB has well and away the longest service on the Club’s competition scene with a remarkable three decades completed. Such have been the changes of cars and people that my F355, first out in 1995, is probably the next longest
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Photo: CM Digicams
recently registered his 348GTC and 512BB for the 2011 Championship. He plans to run the Boxer at somewhere like MIRA, where there is plenty of space to accommodate the wayward handling this tipo is famed for, which should be interesting. We have seen Boxers on hills before, but a long time ago and then not very often.
Mellow Yellow. A colourful selection of giallo fly tipos graced the car park of Monk Fryston Hall at the recent Harewood hillclimb meeting. At the back are Andrew Holman’s F355 and Mike Spicer’s recently acquired 328GTB. In the foreground is Brian Jackson’s long serving 308GTB, the famous ‘BOB’.
hillclimb Ferrari still active after BOB. Nick Frost many of you will recall, was our Championship winner in 2003 in what was then called simply the Ferrari Hillclimb Championship, with that beautifully presented and very musical 348GTC now owned by Richard Preece. Nick lives near York so often gets along to Harewood to watch our chaps do their stuff. He was there last month and understandably is getting the yearnings to return to the competition. Having sold his 365BB, Nick now fancies a 328GTB for the hills – this seems a popular choice, and he would certainly add some further interest to the increasingly popular Classic Cup. Jon Goodwin does not look like a man who needs any driver training but even so, anxious to learn how to get the best out of his new 458 Italia, he zoomed off to Fiorano for the Ferrari SpA special Pilota Course. Like the French they call drivers by the same name as those chaps who fly aeroplanes, except the Italians pronounce it “Peelotta”, which considering the age of most of the Ferrari drivers would seem appropriate. For a not inconsiderable sum – some
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change out of £10k - you get two days and thirteen 458s to play with assisted by top notch instructors as you would expect at this level. Being Italian, there is not much health & safety, with no suits or helmets, and they have even reverted to using lap and diagonal belts as the full harness proved too time consuming with all the jumping in and out of the cars. There were very many laps and the opportunity to explore all the permutations of the 458’s manettino. Jon was hugely impressed with the whole event and the 458 Italia in particular. 550 JON is a reg number Jon Goodwin bought for my 550 when he acquired it some years ago, but having completed the Classic Adelaide in the car he decided to keep P550 ROO, the plate that was on the car from new – maybe he ran one over and has not told anyone! He has now decided to sell 550 JON and it is advertised with Registration Transfers for £9750. If you are called Jon and have a 550, give Jon a ring and he will do you a favourable price on this plate. Richard Preece not seen out on a hill for some time now has been attracted by all this 25th Anniversary stuff and has
Tracey Haynes returned to the hills at the recent Prescott round to be reported in the next issue of CompRes. Still not fully recovered from her broken wrist, she shared her 328GTB with Charles who is still without his own Ferrari. Oil Confusion possibly when I was discussing oils in this column last month. I said that unlike all the other current tipos which use Shell Helix 5W/40, the 458 uses Helix 10W/60. Some expert had told me this and as my own car had been supplied with a litre of 10W60 this seemed correct. Subsequently I checked the handbook which said the recommended lubricant is 5W/40, and this was confirmed by the supplying dealer. Incidentally, the handbook, as with all the other recent Ferrari tipos, says fuel is 95RON with no mention of that expensive stuff. F355 Road Wheels are unusually magnesium, an exotic and as you know, very light material that does have a few downsides and questionable durability. When my own F355 was going through an MOT recently the tester pointed out a number of hairline cracks in the nearside rear wheel inner flange. These will get worse apparently and the wheel’s days are numbered. Julian Playford told me he also had crack problems on his F355 wheels around the bolt holes and had got around this by fitting steel inserts. New wheels are not really the answer as there are very few magnesium ones left and the price for a rear is around £1500! It is unlikely that any more will ever be made and there are now pattern ones available in aluminium that do no
favours for your unsprung weight! Curborough you will have noted over the years is getting ever nearer the varied building developments heading down the road, and has already been under threat from planning applications. Just recently another one, this time for a school, has fortunately been turned down, but they will keep coming no doubt and certainly whoever owns the freehold will be tempted as development values are sure to realise vastly more than income presently generated from the site. This is all very regrettable when you consider how many purpose-built sprint courses there are around – like none really. Quite apart from our anti-social motorsport activities, Curborough is also used extensively by cycling clubs and to lose the facilities there would be really sad. Blast from the Past seemed like a good idea for this
column in our Anniversary Year and I will dig something out of the archives for each issue from now on. This time it is a picture of Sheridan Williams taking his modified 308GTB off the start line at Gurston Down in 1987, to
establish a new Ferrari class record of 39.51, a time that was to stand as a class record for very many years.
PIRELLI FERRARI HILLCLIMB CHAMPIONSHIP: ROUNDS 3 & 4 HAREWOOD 14/15th May 2011
DID PLAN TO DRIVE up to Yorkshire on the Friday night, but thanks to electrical problems on my F355 it now meant an early morning start on Saturday reports RICHARD PRIOR. The journey was made more interesting by being in a convoy with Sean Doyle and Mike Spicer, and the roads were almost deserted. I remember a few years ago when turning up early at the gate of a hillclimb event meant you just drove in and found your paddock space as the marshals were not quite ready or on duty These days at Harewood, officials are always up at the crack of dawn to check entry tickets even for the competitors. Beware if you’ve packed them away under the bonnet with the rest of the
Photo: Dave Clark
ROUND 3: SATURDAY
Dramatis Personae - all decked out in their new 25th Anniversary kit.
racing kit! The forecast was for a dry day but with the usual Harewood wind taking the edge off the temperature; fortunately for the
organisers they now have splendid wooden buildings to work from thanks to major investment over the winter. During the morning practice
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Photos: Dave Clark
Top to bottom: Lorraine Hichman (328GTS), Mike Spicer (328GTB), Peter Rogerson (360 Modena), Sean Doyle (308GT4).
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sessions Chris Hitchman got down to 69.72 in the shared F355, Ian Chadwick in the 348 had a best of 78.43 and Peter Rogerson (360 Modena) on 77.36. Lorraine Hitchman was consistent with both practices in the mid-79 seconds in her 328 GTB, and was joined by Julian Playford, just sneaking into the 79 second bracket by 2/100ths of a second in the F355GTB and John Swift driving a similar tipo had his best practice of 73.07 on the first run. The hotly contested Classic class started with the 328GTB of Pauline Goodwin with first practice being her quickest with 73.19 and 2.37 seconds to get to the 64 feet mark. Brian Jackson made a welcome return to the Ferrari paddock and was flying in the mid 71s in ‘BOB’, the yellow 308GTB, after both of them took a well earned rest after many years of PFHC action. The usual Doyle/Spicer grudge match had Mike Spicer (328) ahead by exactly 3 seconds on the first with 71.04, but during the second practice Mike set off from the start line some 20 seconds after Sean Doyle in the 308GT4 and while braking too late on the fast downhill section into the second corner, locked up and took to the grass. Mike reversed from the infield section and resumed after a few seconds but his run was wasted and he treated it as a slower practice, from then on continuing his way up the track. We were all surprised when the marshals brought out the red flags as Mike reached the 5th corner, but this was due to Sean having a moment at the top of the hill and, unknown to him, had gifted a re-run to Spicer which removed his transgression from the scoreboard and now recorded 70.94 on his retry. Peter Hitchman, sharing the drive with son Chris, reached 78.48 before the lunch break, and Richard Allen (F355) was on 71.58 just behind Jackson by 0.11 of a second. Andrew Holman (F355) recorded 70.71 in his second practice, but the top three were Chris Butler in another 355 already on 67.30 at his first attempt, followed by Nick Taylor (348GTC) on 67.93, and
Julian Playford samples the traditional Yorkshire lunch of pie and mushy peas
hill in a class-leading 66.76. Nick Taylor got a terrific start and every split looked promising, so it was no surprise when he re-took first place again with 66.22 seconds.
Nick Taylor takes his 348GTC to overall victory with 20 valuable Championship points to boot.
Photo: Dave Clark
Pauline Goodwin was now back in her usual stride, her 70.58 moving her up to 10th place and 7th place on PEP. Mike Spicer improved to 70.23 giving 8th Richard place and taking 11 points in the Championship. Richard Prior claimed a personal best of 67.20, but again only held 2nd position until Chris Butler arrived at the top of the
Photo: Dave Clark
Richard Prior (yet another F355) with a 2nd practice time of 68.86 (after spinning on his first essay). After the lunch break of traditional pies and mushy peas, the official runs began. Those who greatly improved on their practice times were Peter Rogerson who was now on 75.68 and his best of the day, while Lorraine Hitchman had beaten her PB already by 0.4 of a second on 74.44. Brian Jackson was now down in the mid 70s, Mike Spicer had a better run and was just 4 hundredths ahead of Brian but it was Sean Doyle who was not only winning the classic battle on 69.33 but it put him currently into 5th place on scratch. Pauline, with her multiple tyre warming, had the fastest start so far with 2.28 seconds. Richard Allen was only at Harewood for half of the doubleheader meeting, and used his first run to get his best time of 68.90 which gave him 4th place on the day, Prior was now in the high 67s and was leading the way until the very next car, that of Chris Butler, crossed the finish line in 67.37. Nick Taylor went one better and took over the lead with 66.81 seconds. Round 2 saw Chris Hitchman perform his quickest of the day, 69.06, which moved him up to 5th place on scratch ahead of Sean Doyle. Lorraine pushed her personal best to 74.36, and Julian Playford peaked at 76.95.
Allen (F355) at the Esses.
It was getting late in the afternoon before our last run, the tarmac was cooling off and little improvement could be expected to the times. The exceptions to this rule were Ian Chadwick, who saved his best run till last, 77.42 second putting him ahead of Peter Rogerson and Julian Playford on points, and Brian Jackson continued his comeback, knocking over 0.3 seconds from his earlier effort and a 70.37 put him back ahead of Pauline Goodwin. Sean Doyle and Mike Spicer hadn’t improved on their times, but Peter Hitchman did, his 74.08 in the 355 meant he was now above Lorraine Hitchman on the scoresheet. Andrew Holman made a slight improvement of 3 hundredths of a second, but despite the remaining three trying their hardest it was status quo on the podium. Nick Taylor took yet another win and his second parcel of 20 points of the season. Chris Butler was runnerup and had 12 points after adding his reigning champion PEP surcharge, and Richard Prior was third, taking 15 points. Sean Doyle bagged a handsome 17 points for finishing 2nd on PEP after deducting 4.5% from his time to even the tipo performance up, keeping him in third place of the Championship.
Endpiece: Ali Butler baked the cakes.
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HAREWOOD HILLCLIMB 14 MAY 2011 Pirelli Ferrari Hillclimb Championship Round 3
Nick Taylor Chris Butler Richard Prior Richard Allen Chris Hitchman Sean Doyle Andrew Holman Mick Spicer Brian Jackson Pauline Goodwin John Swift Peter Hitchman Lorraine Hitchman Peter Rogerson Julian Playford Ian Chadwick
348GTC F355 F355 F355 F355GTS 308GT4 F355 328GTB 308GTB 328GTB F355 F355GTS 328GTS 360 Mod F355 348ts
69.68 67.30 91.87 81.07 71.73 74.04 72.07 71.04 71.88 73.19 73.07 79.44 79.46 77.36 80.27 78.90
67.93 67.96 68.84 71.58 69.72 102.27 70.71 70.94 71.47 73.56 73.66 78.48 79.37 80.86 79.98 78.43
64.82 65.97 67.45 67.85 67.66 71.59 68.30 69.87 69.31 70.26 69.21 69.08 74.84 75.13 73.28 80.56
66.81 67.37 67.76 68.90 70.48 69.33 69.78 70.64 70.68 72.22 72.53 74.89 74.44 75.68 78.09 79.50
66.22 66.76 67.20 69.04 69.06 72.80 70.21 70.23 71.22 70.58 73.49 74.53 74.36 76.28 76.95 78.02
66.33 66.86 67.32 69.56 69.90 72.60 69.75 70.50 70.37 73.07 73.61 74.08 74.83 75.87 78.82 77.42
-1.40 -0.79 +0.43 -1.05 -1.40 +2.26 -1.45 -0.36 -1.06 -0.32 -3.32 -5.00 +0.48 -0.55 -3.69 +3.14
64ft and mid split for fastest run.
BARC Class Awards: 1st Nick Taylor
2nd Chris Butler
FOC Handicap: 1st Ian Chadwick
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2nd Sean Doyle
3rd Richard Prior
2.40 2.47 2.49 2.47 2.67 2.55 2.52 2.69 2.60 2.30 2.46 2.53 2.49 2.70 2.49 2.88
39.83 40.26 40.40 41.52 41.80 43.29 42.27 42.65 42.33 42.79 43.34 44.85 44.72 46.08 46.18 46.82
-0.5 +1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 -4.5 0.0 -3.0 -4.5 -3.0 0.0 0.0 -3.0 +1.0 0.0 -2.0
65.89 67.43 67.20 68.90 69.06 66.21 69.75 68.12 67.20 68.46 72.53 74.08 72.13 76.44 76.95 75.87
Points
PEP time
PEP %
mid split
64ft
H/cp
Run 3
Run 2
Run 1
H/cap
Pract 2
Pract 1
Tipo
Driver
20 12 15 9 8 17 7 11 13 10 5 4 6 2 1 3
Harewood Ferrari Dinner
Photos: CM Digicams
Monk Fryston Hall Hotel 14th May 2011
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Richard Prior took another podium finish on the second day.
morning dry it had now started to Butler in the F355, 71.03 seconds spit with rain by the time we and narrowly ahead of Nick were called from the paddock. Taylor (71.10) and a very happy Chris Hitchman was first Brian Jackson enjoying the away of the Ferraris as he was slippery conditions in his nimble 355 sharing 308 on 72.44, just ahead of with his dad, Richard Prior (F355) on 72.78. Peter, once Following on were a tightly more. Although grouped bunch of Chris Hitchman the report back (355 again) 75.42 seconds, Mike was ‘good grip Spicer (328GTB) 75.66 seconds, in places’, it Pauline Goodwin on 75.82 and was still a very just 7 hundredths of a second in cold and damp front of Phil Whitehead in his track. The 0F355 on 75.89 seconds. Holman 64ft start times was next quickest on 76.11, and certainly Sean Doyle completed the top 10 showed a who clocked 78.17 on both difference practice runs. compared to By lunchtime we decided to Chris Hitchman under starter’s orders. the previous unpack the Pirelli gazebo, the day. Andrew rain was getting heavier and it Holman for instance was on 3.02 was starting to blow sideways. warmed our engines nicely. instead of 2.46, Ian Conditions were good but we Chadwick 3.08 (2.73 expected rain during the day, and yesterday) and Mike Spicer the new wind and shower proof 2.99 from 2.72 in the dry. I paddock jackets would certainly hope I won’t be giving any be tested today. The only secrets away, but the best change to the running order was place to position the car on a Philip Whitehead replacing Club wet start line is astride the Chairman Richard Allen, who was rubber lines put down by on FOC Spring Picnic duty at thousands of wheelspins over Belton House. the years. Then just pull Sunday at Harewood was an away gently. MSA championship round, and it Nick Taylor (348GTC) meant only two official runs in and Pauline Goodwin the afternoon due to the ‘Top 12’ (328GTB) had mastered this run offs. The order was shuffled art, as their respective times around a little: instead of being of 2.65 & 2.60 demonstrated. the first class on the hill we were Fastest after both damp now last, behind the big single Ali Butler shelters baby Isabella from morning practices was Chris seaters. After starting the the rainy Harewood weather.
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Photo: CM Digicams
Photo: CM Digicams
FTER A SPLENDID evening of wining and dining at Monk Fryston Hall hotel, we awoke to find the Lagonda club readying their lovely old cars to continue a tour further south. They were on a more leisurely timetable than the Ferraris, and we had eaten the full English breakfasts and departed before any of the prewar cars even turned a wheel. I’m glad to say the average age of the Ferrari competitors must have been half that of the Lagonda owners, but a car and driver of similar age looked correct in their case. We wished them well and hoped they packed enough engine oil to replace that left on the hotel’s tarmac. A quick drive back to Harewood
Photo: CM Digicams
ROUND 4: SUNDAY
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Photo: CM Digicams
Photo: CM Digicams
the racing line be on a perfectly dry run, and even more Phil Whitehead missed the and it was a opportunity of getting ahead of completely the Spicer 328 when he was just different 0.10 slower in his 355. meeting from It was now the showdown earlier in the between the last pair of drivers in day. the class. They had traded Into the places throughout the day. Nick second and was quickest in 1st practice, Chris final run, and in the 2nd, then Nick led in the Chris first official run. Chris managed Hitchman’s a good getaway from the line and new time of until the 3rd split was ahead of John Swift (F355) exits Farmhouse Bend. 72.77 stood Prior (26.42 v. 27.06) and at the Chris Hitchman’s time for quite some time until Pauline 4th split had lost ground (41.53 tumbled to 83.42 after a good Goodwin took to the track five for Chris, 41.48 for Richard). In deal of wheelspin on the startline cars later; she started off with the final corners Chris clawed and demonstrated to the others the fastest Ferrari 0-64 feet of back the lost time and crossed how treacherous it was. Ian the day and sneaked into the the line in 67.97. Chadwick slipped to 91.37 and lead by 0.24 seconds with a Nick followed and every split Peter Rogerson to 90.47 but next up was Lorraine Hitchman who had the 328 power under control and her 85.67 was ahead of the more powerful cars of Julian Playford, John Swift and Peter Hitchman. Pauline Goodwin was one of the few to beat 3 seconds in the 0-64ft split, and finished in 81.46 giving her 7th place on the first run, but Brian Jackson was further up the table in 5th with another terrific run of 78.73 and just 4/100ths short of Andrew Holman’s time of 78.69. In between Pauline and Brian was Mike Spicer on 80.11. Chris Butler was the runner-up for the second time of the weekend. Richard Prior made good use of his recently fitted 72.53. The very next car was the time was quicker than Chris’s. Pirelli tyres and happily splashed 308 of Brian Jackson who, with a We managed to get out of our his way up in 74.58, which wasn’t slower start, was still behind cars in time to watch Nick in the beaten by either of the two Pauline by the 2nd split but had last bend and the clock showing favourites, Chris Butler and Nick the advantage by the halfway 66.59. He took the overall win as Taylor, both of whom took over point of the course and continued per the previous day along with half a second longer to cross the up to be the fastest so far on the 20 points. beam over the first 64ft; Chris’s 71.01. Andrew Holman came Despite their 2nd and 3rd time was 77.19 and Nick’s 74.83. close with 71.17 and Sean Doyle place on scratch, Chris Butler and Despite these nasty conditions put in another excellent run of Richard Prior only took 12 & 13 none of the Ferraris spun off into 71.99 to get 8th place on scratch points respectively, but Mike the scenery. and 11 Championship points. Spicer’s effort of getting the 328 Prior was praying for more It was Mike Spicer who was into 4th position meant he bagged rain and there were dark clouds up at the sharp end now, his 17 Championship points which in the distance, but the wind blew 69.21 seconds taking the lead will help to close the gap on Sean them along the valley in front of and beating his previous 308 Doyle in the Classic Cup. the track and no more rain fell personal best. Richard Prior took over Harewood. The large flat over the lead with 68.16 but tyres on the single seaters dried much slower than the 355 should
HAREWOOD HILLCLIMB 15 MAY 2011 Pirelli Ferrari Hillclimb Championship Round 4 Driver
Tipo
Pract 1
Pract 2
H/ cap
Run 1
Run 2
H/cp pos
64ft
mid split
PEP %
PEP time
Points
Nick Taylor
348GTC
71.24
71.10
66.22
74.83
66.59
-0.37
2.53
40.29
-0.5
66.25
20
Chris Butler
F355
71.35
71.03
65.97
77.19
67.97
-2.00
2.54
41.53
+1.0
68.65
12
Richard Prior
F355
72.78
73.47
67.20
74.58
68.16
-0.96
2.66
41.48
0.0
68.16
13
328GTB
78.31
75.66
69.87
80.11
69.21
0.66
2.78
42.03
-3.0
67.13
17
F355
78.52
75.89
67.21
81.71
69.31
-2.10
2.63
42.19
0.0
69.31
10
308GTB
72.44
74.86
69.31
78.73
71.01
-1.70
2.59
42.74
-4.5
67.81
15
F355
76.11
77.35
68.30
78.69
71.17
-2.87
2.62
43.51
0.0
71.17
8
Sean Doyle
308GT4
78.17
78.17
69.33
82.69
71.99
-2.66
2.63
43.19
-4.5
68.75
11
Pauline Goodwin
328GTB
75.82
79.01
70.26
81.46
72.53
-2.27
2.29
44.45
-3.0
70.35
9
F355GTS
78.63
75.42
67.66
83.42
72.77
-5.11
2.72
44.44
0.0
72.77
7
F355
82.30
83.80
69.21
86.22
74.30
-5.09
2.56
43.93
0.0
74.30
6
328GTS
79.59
83.54
74.36
85.67
77.53
-3.17
2.71
46.62
-3.0
75.20
5
348ts
83.17
85.68
77.42
91.37
78.79
-1.37
2.82
47.51
-2.0
77.21
4
Peter Hitchman
F355GTS
91.59
87.51
69.08
90.72
79.26
-10.18
2.90
47.92
0.0
79.26
3
Julian Playford
F355
81.54
82.96
73.28
87.50
79.88
-6.60
3.03
47.82
0.0
79.88
2
Peter Rogerson
360 Mod
87.98
89.25
75.13
90.47
80.81
-5.68
2.92
48.93
+1.0
81.61
1
Mike Spicer Philip Whitehead Brian Jackson Andrew Holman
Chris Hitchman John Swift Lorraine Hitchman Ian Chadwick
64ft and mid split for fastest run.
BARC Class Awards: 1st Nick Taylor
2nd Chris Butler
3rd Richard Prior
FOC Handicap: 1st Mike Spicer
Points after Round 4
Competitors indicated in BLUE are eligible for the Classic Cup.
12 CompRes
2nd Ian Chadwick Nick Taylor Richard Prior Sean Doyle Mike Spicer Andrew Holman Richard Allen Pauline Goodwin Brian Jackson Chris Butler Chris Hitchman John Swift Lorraine Hitchman Jon Goodwin Mark Hargreaves
72 62 55 51 (28) 46 33 33 28 24 21 18 16 13 11
Jack Hargreaves Philip Whitehead Peter Hitchman Barrie Wood John Marshall Ian Chadwick Julian Playford Jeffrey Cooper Peter Wilson Wendy Ann Marshall Steve Routledge Peter Rogerson Tony Attwood
10 10 10 8 8 7 7 7 6 4 3 3 2
HE OPENING ROUND of the 2011 Pirelli Ferrari formula classic series took place on Saturday, 30th April. The venue was Silverstone’s National circuit and our hosts were the Aston Martin Owners Club. Although the National course is not the most inspiring of Silverstone’s various options, it was the only track available that fitted with the rest of our 2011 programme of races. Being relatively simple in layout it probably wasn’t too bad a choice for the first race of the season, when new or revamped cars are out for their initial outings and a few new recruits are joining us for the first time. Our competition links with AMOC have never been stronger
than they are today. There is, to make an appearance for one feels, a wind of change unspecified reasons while Nick blowing through the Aston ranks Whittaker’s 308GT4 developed an that deal with their ambitious engine problem in RnR’s racing programme and there is a workshops. good deal of friendly and helpful Richard Squire’s 328GTB cooperation that perhaps was collapsed during Friday’s testing lacking in recent times. It’s a and, since son Michael was healthy situation for both our sweating somewhere in an exam clubs and long may it continue. An excellent entry of 25 Ferraris were listed to take part although by the weekend some of these were, in current parlance, somewhat unfit for purpose. Chris Compton Jack Dwane made his debut at this meeting. His Goddard’s Mondial QV was hastily fitted with wheel arch extensions to enable it to pass scrutineering. 308GTB failed
CompRes 13
Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk
Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk
SILVERSTONE NATIONAL 30th APRIL 2011
14 CompRes
Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk
Photos: www.simonpics.co.uk
the drivers and warm, dry and hardly a cloud in their machinery the sky. Immediately, however, were familiar there were some mechanical from 2010 racing. problems. Richard Squire, in the It was nice to substitute ‘Rosie’, abandoned have a lady ship half way round the initial driver with us lap. Transmission problems once again. meant that he spent the next Pauline Goodwin twenty minutes ruefully watching was out with her the others from the grass infield. ‘race’ 328GTB – Not long afterwards your like Winifred scribe pulled into the pits with no Atwell who had clutch, the innards of which had her “other piano”, disintegrated. Looking back at Pauline keeps her the service records the standard other 328 for her clutch on the 308 had lasted activities on the many seasons so perhaps it was hills. overdue for replacement. William Others experiencing trouble Jenkins flew in included Wayne Marrs (Gp4 from Switzerland, 328GTB) whose final drive failed as usual, and was towards the end of the session due to fly out (but not before posting the third again from fastest time). Tris Simpson was Heathrow later in also out of luck. Some debris – a the afternoon. large piece of tyre rubber – was Some last minute picked up in one of his GT4’s rescheduling by timing belts. The inevitable AMOC of their happened: the belt jumped timetable, caused several teeth, valves hit pistons, by switching our and you know the rest. We can Classic race with only hope the damage wasn’t too the Ferrari Open severe. event, made it The only other problem to difficult for report was regarding Jack Mechanical disasters. Three cars that failed to William to reach Dwane’s Mondial’s wheels, which make the race after problems in qualifying. Top: Tris Simpson’s 308GT4 timing belt slipped a the airport on we referred to earlier. In order tooth or three after picking up rubber from the time but, if he to fit the required Pirellis the car track. Middle: The final drive on Wayne Marrs’s made a rapid exit had been fitted with some 16-in 328GTB cried enough. Bottom: Your scribe’s from Silverstone, diameter wheels which appeared 308GTB’s clutch disintegrated. he reckoned it to have a non-standard offset. room, father quickly made might just be possible. The result was that they stuck arrangements to use the other The weather for midout beyond the bodywork to such family 328, the famous exmorning qualifying was beautiful: an extent that the safety Mortimer, ex-Mineeff, ex-Tomlin ‘Rosie’. This car has more ‘ex’s’ than Elizabeth Taylor. Jack Dwane was making his debut at this meeting. His Ferrari steed is an early Mondial QV which, as original equipment, were fitted with metric wheels for which only Michelin TRX tyres would fit. This idea was abandoned on later versions of the Mondial but if you wish to race a QV version, or the earlier Mondial 8, then a change of wheels to normal 16-in is needed to accommodate Pirelli PZero C rubber. Sec’s Drive. Evers hounds the Club Chairman in the early laps after Of the rest of the field, all suffering gear selection difficulties at the start.
Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk
Pole sitter Culver eases past Butler and Ben Cartwright (all in 328s) on his way to second place overall.
The cars formed up for their standing start, the lights went out, and in the manner of the hillclimb champion he is, Chris Butler made a blinding getaway.
Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk
scrutineer was unable to issue a ‘pass’ sticker. In order to get him out for qualifying he was given permission, for this one occasion, to fit some wheel arch extensions to cover the protruding wheels. The Mondial looked decidedly weird and we hope Jack will find a permanent solution by the next round of the series. Top of the timesheet after qualifying was Gary Culver, his Gp4 328 clocking 1:08.654, just 0.6 seconds ahead of Jim Cartwright’s similar car. Chris Butler headed the Gp3 times with his 328GTB, his time (4th overall) only a second shy of the pole man. William Jenkins took Gp2
An exciting race-long duel between the Mondials of Didier Benaroya and Ray Ferguson was resolved in the Frenchman’s favour by a length or so.
In his wake howled the Gp4 328s of Cartwright and Culver, followed at some distance by Ben Cartwright’s Gp3 car. Peter Everingham’s start was also pretty good but then he had trouble selecting 2nd gear and fell
Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk
honours with a storming 1:10.021, his Gulf liveried 308GTB obviously very fit indeed after its winter hibernation in QV’s workshops. Tris Simpson was the fastest Gp1 car (1:14.362) set prior to its engine malfunction. All the mechanical attrition in qualifying meant that the grid for the race, timed for just after 4 o’clock, had shrunk to 18 cars. The AMOC commentator, perhaps more used to Aston DB4s, clearly hadn’t seen a Ferrari Classic race before. On the green flag lap, as the drivers endeavoured to get their tyres up to working temperature, he commented “I’ve never seen production cars weave like this before the start of a race!”
back. Butler’s moment of glory lasted most of the first lap but then Jim C’s blistering pace had him beaten into Copse as they entered the corner for the second time. A lap later, Culver was getting into his stride and slotted into 2nd spot albeit some distance behind the leader. In 5th place and going great guns, was the blue and orange 308 of William Jenkins, sandwiched between Ben C and the pursuing 328 of Peter Fisk and the leading Mondial of Martin Hart. At this point Richard Allen was just in front of Evers: Club Chairman vs Club Sec! In Gp1, young Dwane was keeping his bewinged Mondial ahead of class champion William Moorwood’s GT4, but the latter was closing fast. By lap 6, things were settling down. Jim Cartwright was going like a train and increasing his advantage every lap on second placed Culver, the gap now almost seven seconds. Butler, in third, was trading lap times with Ben, the two cars being almost
William Moorwood, seen here leading John Watts in the early stages, created a new Gp1 lap record with his fleet GT4.
CompRes 15
Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk
tied together. However, Jenkins was just as fast, lapping in the mid-1 min 10s. Hart had his head down now and his rapid Mondial on fast freeze, and took Fisk’s 328 to snatch 7th position. Dwane’s impressive debut came to an end when his Mondial’s gearbox gave up the ghost. By lap 12, or about two thirds through, it looked like Jim Cartwright had got the race sewn up, barring anything unforeseen. He eased his pace by about half a second a lap. This gave Culver all the incentive he needed. While Jim was giving his engine a slightly easier time, Gary had his pedal to the metal. He trimmed his times by about a second and suddenly, we thought, it might just be possible to get onto terms with the leading dark blue 328. The previous deficit was now
reduced to just three seconds and if Jim was looking in his mirrors he might have seen the smile on Culver’s face as he savoured a win after all. While all this was going on at the front, the gap between third (Ben C) and 4th (Butler) had increased to 4 seconds, with 5th man Jenkins all ready to pounce. Hart was similarly poised to take Evers if the latter gave him half a chance. Further down the Geoff Neal (328GTB) enjoyed his race. order, Richard Fenny was having a cheerless time with an errant plug lead place in Gp2. His outstanding disconnected. The two Mondials drive was considered to merit the of Didier Benaroya and Ray Hackwood Group Classic Driver of Ferguson were a joy to watch as the Day award, a prize which the two drivers strove to beat up Chris Compton Goddard is each other behind the well driven generously funding once again this season. William Moorwood collected another Gp1 victory with his ultra reliable GT4 warhorse. So the first round of 2011 passed off without incident, which is what we want, and most drivers went home with a smile on their face. Oh, and William Jenkins managed – just! – to catch his plane at Heathrow. He hadn’t time to change out of his silver race suit and as he boarded the aircraft a small boy tugged at his mother’s arm and said, “Mum, I think there’s a spaceman getting on our plane”.
Jim Cartwright was unstoppable at the wheel of his Gp4 328GTB. Although chased hard right to the finish by Gary Culver, he won a thrilling race by a margin of just over a second.
16 CompRes
Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk
Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk
Chris Butler (Gp3 328GTB) made a blinding start but later was harried by an on-form William Jenkins (Gp2 308GTB). William won his class and was adjudged Classic Driver of the Day.
328 of Geoff Neal. John Watts, in his distinctive stripy white 308GT4, was having a good race just ahead of the Gp1 leader, Moorwood. On the penultimate lap Culver set the quickest time of the afternoon and closed to less than a couple of seconds on Jim C. It was going to be a real last lap thriller! However, despite that valiant surge it was Jim Cartwright who took the chequered flag, yet another victory for this talented pilot. Brother Ben took Gp3 honours in third place overall ahead of Chris Butler’s notable 4th and second position in class. At the end William Jenkins, despite suffering a spin on the penultimate lap when he had to avoid another car, finished in first
PIRELLI FERRARI formula classic – Round 1 SILVERSTONE NATIONAL 30 APRIL 2011 Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 DNF NS NS NS NS
No
Driver
69 34 72 5 12 31 30 38 3 45 47 4 14 7 29 33 25 66 60 46 11 35
Jim Cartwright Gary Culver Ben Cartwright Chris Butler Peter Everingham Martin Hart Pete Fisk William Jenkins Nick Cartwright Richard Allen Geoff Neal Didier Benaroya John Watts Ray Ferguson William Moorwood Pauline Goodwin Richard Fenny Jack Dwane Wayne Marrs Tris Simpson John Swift Richard Squire
Fastest Laps:
Class Winners
Tipo
Group
328GTB 328GTB 328GTB 328GTB 328GTB Mondial t 328GTB 308GTB 328GTB 328GTB 328GTB Mondial T Cab 308GT4 Mondial t 308GT4 328GTB 308GT4 Mondial QV 328GTB 308GT4 308GTB 328GTB
4 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 4 3 3 3 2 3 1 3 2 1 4 1 2 3
Gary Culver Ben Cartwright William Jenkins William Moorwood
1st
Group 4 Group 3 Group 2 Group 1
Laps 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 16 16 16 16 16 16 15 5
Time 19:50.242 19:51.394 20:02.576 20:09.933 20:24.055 20:27.084 20:28.648 20:29.750 20:33.407 20:44.907 19:52.795 19:53.754 19:54.038 19:54.062 20:46.939 20:52.487 20:39.816 7:05.937
1:08.652 (85.94 mph) 1:09.338 (85.09 mph) 1:10.002 (84.18 mph) 1:16.293 (77.33 mph)
2nd
Best Lap
Qualify
1:09.281 1:08.652 1:09.338 1:10.237 1:10.669 1:10.976 1:11.079 1:10.092 1:11.607 1:11.799 1:13.382 1:13.115 1:12.438 1:13.249 1:16.293 1:16.834 1:20.928 1:17.289
Pos
1:09.263 1:08.654 1:10.021 1:09.689 1:10.763 1:10.573 1:11.334 1:10.021 1:11.064 1:13.098 1:13.186 1:14.093 1:14.535 1:14.229 1:15.895 1:14.574 1:15.913 1:15.284 1:09.678 1:14.362 1:16.512
establishes lap record establishes lap record establishes lap record establishes lap record
3rd
4
Jim Cartwright
Gary Culver
Nick Cartwright
3
Ben Cartwright
Chris Butler
Peter Everingham
2
William Jenkins
John Watts
Richard Fenny
1
William Moorwood
CompRes 17
2 1 6 4 8 7 10 5 9 11 12 13 16 14 19 17 20 18 3 15 21 22
Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk
SILVERSTONE NATIONAL 30th APRIL 2011
VERITABLE GALAXY of brand new and not-quite-so new Ferraris arrived at Silverstone for the first round of the 2011 Pirelli Ferrari Open series, a one-day event hosted by our friends at Aston Martin Owners Club writes JOHN SWIFT. The programme listed a total 23 cars, a very encouraging number indeed. The cars were grouped into the series’ four basic classes, all new for this season. Also new for 2011 is the move to longer races – not too long because then they would become boring and perhaps over-strenuous for the drivers. The new formula seems to suit most competitors judging by the turn-out for this season’s
18 CompRes
opener. Also in attendance were Pirelli, with not one but two trucks. Shaun Marriott, Pirelli’s chef d’équipe, together with two
assistant tyre fitters, was hard at work all day making sure that the Ferraris had their required rubber. And just to make sure everything was going tickety-boo Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk
A
Bravo Italia!
Birds of a Feather! The two Fosker Engineering 456GTs of Paul Brooks and newcomer Nick Kaye were impressive.
The start. Pole man Finlay seizes the initiative from Johnston, Price and Tomlin.
CompRes 19
Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk
Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk
regular entry by Leon Price (430/Ch) and competitor with Arwyn Williams’s similar car us (in a similar maintained the original number in car) in the days the class. of Pirelli In the new Class C4 we had Maranello no fewer than four brand-new Ferrari 458 Challenge machines: the cars Challenge, so it of Derek Johnson, Paul Bailey, was rather Craig Milner and Geoffrey Finlay unusual to find – the first three run by Graypaul a father having and Finlay’s by Chris Warne’s In qualifying, Derek Johnston explored the limits a first taste of Virgo team. In addition, the of adhesion of his 458 Challenge. Ferrari racing enthusiastic Cliff Fox was looking (which it was) we had a visit from after his offspring, rather than forward to racing his 430GT3. Pirelli UK’s top man, Wayne before! All these adjustments to the Nickless, accompanied by their Mick Dwane’s 458 Challenge list meant that we now had a motorsport manager, Carl Naylor. car wasn’t delivered in time for field of 21 cars – about the same All this shows that Pirelli take our this event so Mick had to fall back as in Formula 1! Ferrari series very seriously on his trusty 360 Challenge from The weather for qualifying indeed. In fact they fitted over last season. He made up the was perfect: sunny and dry, with 120 tyres which compares with three car C2 class in company ideal track temperatures. All 21 only a dozen or so supplied at the with stalwart GT Cup meeting at Snetterton David Hathaway the following day. and the similar car It is worth looking at the of Robert spectacular Ferrari line-up for this Macfarlane. meeting. In Class C1 (which this Class C3 was year is amalgamated with last strongly season’s Class S) there were six represented by the F355/Ch although Nigel Jenkins’s cars of Richard car was a non-starter after its Bramham, Ian power steering system threw a Hartley, Wayne wobbly. Also in C1 were the two Marrs and regular Tim Ingram-Hill was having his very first race, at Fosker Engineering 456GTs to be David Tomlin. the wheel of Graham Reeder’s well-known F355. driven by Paul Brooks and However, there newcomer Nick Kaye, these were some last identical cars looking very minute problems to some of cars completed the session impressive in their new corporate these cars. Marrs’s 360GTC was without any obvious snags livery. Paul Unsworth’s 550 still not quite race ready after its although we noted that Johnston Maranello completed the class. winter rebuild so he substituted had a spin, no doubt exploring Tim Ingram-Hill was having his F355/Ch in class C1, and FF the limits of his new 458, while his very first race at the wheel of Corse encountered starting Kaye seemed to be experiencing Graham Reeder’s bright yellow difficulties with the Hartley 430 ABS problems, spinning his F355. Tim’s son, David, was a and withdrew the car. A late 456GT on successive laps.
Photos: www.simonpics.co.uk
From Top: Geoffrey Finlay’s 458 was reportedly too soft, the splitter making noisy contact with the tarmac; an ECU problem caused his retirement. Cliff Fox made a welcome appearance in his smartly turned -out 430 Challenge car. Robert Macfarlane enjoyed an excellent race in his class C2 360 Challenge. Arwyn Williams went well in his 430/Ch.
20 CompRes
Despite complaining of the suspension settings on his 458 Challenge – “too soft” – Geoffrey Finlay broke the one-minute barrier (59.466 sec) to capture pole position. Just behind were Derek Johnston in the Graypaul 458 and the experienced Leon Price (430/Ch). Mick Dwane was the quickest C2 driver (1:01.603) while Nick Kaye, despite the spins, put his 456GT ahead of his rivals in C1, just a soupcon ahead of the quickest F355 of Mike Reeder – 1:04.252 against 1.04.758 respectively. Spot on time and in accordance with the revised timetable (the Ferrari Open and Classic races swapped places due to a paucity of entries for the Aston races) the cars assembled for the 30-minute race. The 21-car rolling start got off without too much trouble (we had emphasised the importance of keeping in close formation at the drivers’ briefing earlier in the day). Immediately it was Johnston who took the initiative with pole man Finlay, Tomlin and Price in his wake. Then it was Williams, Dwane (leading the C2 trio), the 458s of Milner and Bailey, and the 360/Ch of Hathaway. The Fosker 456GTs were at the front of the C1 division: Kaye and Brooks, with Mike Reeder sandwiched in between. Lap 2 saw Finlay slip past Johnston to take the lead, with the rest of the leading group unchanged although Milner had used his 458’s superior power to pass his Lincolnshire pal, Dwane. Brooks found a way past Reeder to make it a Fosker 1-2 in class. By lap 4, Finlay was already coming up to lap the tail-ender, newcomer Ingram-Hill, but it was clear that the leader’s 458 wasn’t sounding quite normal. Under braking there was a ‘tch-tch-tch’ clatter from the car as its front spoiler hit the tarmac. It didn’t seem to affect its performance but bore out Geoffrey’s comment after qualifying about the ‘soft’ set-up. Lap after lap the two leaders matched each other’s times – never more than a couple of
Photos: www.simonpics.co.uk
lengths apart and clocking around the 1 min 0.5 second pace. Tomlin, in third, was having a cracking race, just keeping Price’s similar 430/Ch at bay – but only by a few feet! Some distance back, in 5th, Bailey had managed to get the better of Williams and Bramham, the latter doing really well on his first outing with us. Macfarlane had similarly got the measure of Hathaway, the pair lapping Silverstone as if tied together by a piece of string, although some seconds behind Cliff Fox’s 430. The battle for C1 honours continued to be fought hard. Kaye, in the leading 456GT still led team mate Brooks but right on their tails and looking menacing came the F355s of Reeder and Marrs. On lap 18, with serious ABS problems, rear wing flapping, no alternator and instruments on the blink, Nick Kaye gave up the unequal struggle and pulled his 456 onto the grass at Becketts to retire, handing over his class lead to Brooks. A lap later, Johnston, who had been resolutely sitting on Finlay’s tail throughout, suddenly found himself in the lead when the latter’s 458 stuttered and fell back. Subsequent examination by Ferrari NE’s Tony Ciccone, showed that the car had developed a fault with its ECU. Three laps later he brought the car into the pits to retire. David Tomlin couldn’t believe his good fortune. Although some seven seconds behind the leading 458, he was on a similar pace and looked to be on course for 2nd place overall and a class win. Leon Price, however, had other ideas and threateningly moved his 430 right up to the nether quarters of Tomlin. In 4th spot now, Williams had settled down to some hard graft and had taken his 430 ahead of the scrapping 458 duo of Bailey/Milner. In C1, Brooks was having his work cut out keeping his 456GT ahead of the F355s of Reeder and Marrs who in turn were being harried by the similar cars of
Top: Paul Unsworth’s 550 Maranello tracked by Wayne Marrs’s F355 Challenge. Middle: Another V12 vs V8 battle - Paul Brooks in the 456GT ahead of Mike Reeder’s F355. With two laps to go Reeder nipped past to take the class win. Bottom: White Heat. A race long duel between Paul Bailey and Craig Milner in their brand-new 456 Italias.
CompRes 21
Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk
David Tomlin drove brilliantly to take his 430 Challenge into third place overall.
of the valiant Tomlin. Another last ditch bit of enterprise was that of Mike Reeder. With two laps remaining he slipped past Brooks to take a class victory, leaving the three F355s of Marrs, Shirley and Mogridge to wrestle for third. The chequered flag brought the hugely entertaining race to an end, with Derek Johnston
Photo: SwiftyPix
Gavin Shirley and Tim Mogridge. With four laps to go, the battle for 2nd place took a new turn. Tomlin got mixed up with a skirmish going on between a couple of 360s, slowed slightly, and Price seized his opportunity gratefully. From then on to the finish Leon put in a devastating performance to make sure of second despite all the best efforts
Sold Out! Shaun Marriott and his hard working team from Pirelli fitted an extraordinary number of tyres to the Ferraris at Silverstone.
22 CompRes
delighted to have seen off the severe challenge and record Graypaul Racing’s very first victory in the Open series. Leon Price, on the second step of the podium, must be pleased with his win in C3 and Mick Dwane’s disappointment at not being able to drive his new car was more than compensated by his C2 success. Looking at best lap times, all of which set new records, Geoffrey Finlay was the quickest, at 1:00.350, in class C4. Almost as quick, at 1:00.509, was Leon Price’s class C3 430/Ch while Mick Dwane stopped the watches at 1:03.071 with his C2 360 Challenge. Nick Kaye’s was the fastest C1 car, at 1:05.275. His 456GT is classed as a C1/b car, to differentiate it from the F355s, but the fastest of these proved to be young Scottish Highlander Gavin Shirley with an excellent 1:05.387. It just goes to show how well matched - at least on the Silverstone National circuit the C1a and C1b categories really are.
PIRELLI FERRARI OPEN SILVERSTONE NATIONAL CIRCUIT 30 APRIL 2011 Pos
No
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 DNF DNF
41 88 6 18 28 65 77 81 10 27 19 5 22 60 9 4 8 26 12 2 40
Driver Derek Johnston Leon Price David Tomlin Arwyn Williams Paul Bailey Craig Milner Mick Dwane Cliff Fox Richard Bramham Robert Macfarlane David Hathaway Mike Reeder Paul Brooks Wayne Marrs Gavin Shirley Tim Mogridge Vance Kearney Paul Unsworth Tim Ingram Hill Geoffrey Finlay Nick Kaye
Tipo
Class
Laps
F458/Ch F430/Ch F430/Ch F430Ch F458/Ch F458/Ch F360/Ch F430GT3 F430/Ch 360/Ch 360/Ch F355/Ch 456GT F355/Ch F355/Ch F355/Ch F355/Ch 550 Maranello F355/Ch F458 Italia 456GT
C4 C3 C3 C3 C4 C4 C2 C4 C3 C2 C2 C1a C1b C1a C1a C1a C1a C1b C1a C4 C1b
30 30 30 30 30 30 29 29 29 29 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 27 24 22 17
Fastest Laps: Geoffrey Finlay Leon Price Mike Dwane Nick Kaye Gavin Shirley
Class Winners C4
1st
C4 C3 C2 C1b C1a
1:00.350 1:00.509 1:03.071 1:05.275 1:05.387
Time 30:46.028 30:51.070 30:58.185 31:45.334 31:46.759 31:47.255 31:00.016 31:03.480 31:13.527 31:46.440 30:49.547 31:22.203 31:24.427 31:32.767 31:33.342 31:33.925 31:38.682 31:06.797 30:50.012 22:38.657 19:20.043
(97.76 mph) (97.51 mph) (93.55 mph) (90.39 mph) (90.23 mph)
2nd
Best Lap
Qualify
1:00.606 1:00.509 1:00.577 1:02.055 1:02.226 1:01.557 1:03.071 1:02.206 1:01.850 1:04.183 1:03.845 1:05.673 1:06.155 1:05.837 1:05.387 1:05.628 1:06.740 1:06.662 1:13.936 1:00.350 1:05.275
1:00.043 1:00.063 1:00.604 1:01.749 1:01.784 1:01.372 1:01.603 1:03.731 1:03.065 1:03.293 1:04.112 1:04.758 1:05.333 1:04.768 1:05.729 1:06.583 1:06.083 1:06.074 1:11.571 59.466 1:04.252
Pos 2 3 4 7 8 5 6 11 9 10 12 14 16 15 17 20 19 18 21 1 13
Establishes lap record Establishes lap record Establishes lap record Establishes lap record Establishes lap record
3rd
Derek Johnston
Paul Bailey
Craig Milner
C3
Leon Price
David Tomlin
Arwyn Williams
C2
Mick Dwane
Robert Macfarlane
David Hathaway
C1
Mike Reeder
Paul Brooks
Wayne Marrs
CompRes 23
Photo: Mark Buckland
Winners’ Tales: CHRIS BUTLER
T
HEY SAY ‘it’s not the winning that counts but the taking part’. Those of us currently competing or those who have competed over the years in the PFHC would agree that this motto really does lend itself to our Championship. For around fifteen weekends of the year we all meet up in our wide variety of road-going Ferrari tipi to race as fast as we can up a hill or around a track. The adrenalin you get, from the moment you drop the clutch on the start line to then race off with great speed, precision and bravery while the exhaust note howls away behind you for the next minute or two, almost makes Ferrari hill climbing a drug. Once over the finish line and back in the paddock, the
24 CompRes
A series of unfortunate mishaps, mostly the fault of your editor, caused Chris Butler’s story of how he became the 2010 Pirelli Ferrari Hillclimb champion to miss earlier CompRes deadlines. All’s well that ends well, so they say, and as the new hillclimbing season roars into life we can, at last, enjoy Chris’s account of how perseverance, combined with sheer talent, finally paid off. camaraderie and friendship that we all share comes to the fore with everybody willing to help each other, compare techniques and notes, and quite simply have a huge amount of fun. Having said all that, and pleasantries aside, after being
runner-up in the series for the last three years I really wanted to go one better than just the ‘taking part’ this season. It was with more focus and determination than ever before I set out to do all I could to finally win this elusive Championship! The season always gets underway in mid-March, with a sprint event at North Weald in Essex. This is really bitter sweet, as on the one hand I look forward immensely to meeting up with all my fellow drivers and pals after the long winter lay-off but do not look forward to the 200 mile motorway journey to the bottom of the M11 to compete in usually freezing weather at the very unglamorous old WW2 airfield. This year the long trek down south was made worthwhile as I narrowly took the class win and maximum points by less than a tenth of a second from Andrew Holman (F355) who had started
tyres, took both class wins, setting a new class record into the bargain. However, after the PEPs were applied I managed to take a brace of maximum points by finishing runner-up on both days. Nick has been my fiercest rival in recent seasons and is, I believe, one of the top all-round racers in the Club. With a background including classic F1, Group C sports cars and Cobra GT racing, as well as being a triple PFHC champion, getting any result over Nick is always a satisfying one! I missed the next round at Prescott while on PFFC racing duty at Spa-Franchorchamps in my 328 and so I was delighted to hear on my return that not only had it rained at Prescott but that our Club chairman, Richard Allen, driving his 328GTB, had picked up the 20 points ahead of my closest rivals. Richard continues to prove that he and his 328 ‘Rat Car’ (long story involving rodents and Ferrari wiring!) are always sniffing around the podium points, especially if it rains when he can be seen rubbing his hands together in anticipation of getting in the mix. Having made the conscious decision at the start of the year to enter as many events as
possible, I finally experienced the hallowed Shelsley Walsh round of the Championship. Shelsley is the world’s oldest motorsport venue still in use but in the eight years that I have been competing I had never been there. Feeling very much the Shelsley novice I spent weeks watching as much internet footage as possible to learn the lines and get a feel for the place. I was also listening to useful tips and advice from experienced Shelsley and hillclimb campaigner Mike Spicer (on his 2010 sabbatical but in full training to return with a 328 for 2011) who, having driven the hill in various tipi, including recently a 355 like mine, was as well placed as ever to offer me useful advice and his thoughts. His advice in respect of gear changes, braking points and throttle control was invaluable and I was delighted to finish the weekend collecting 17 points behind winner John Marshall and runner up Dave Tomlin. Dave actually beat me on the day by just one hundredth of a second which was very hard to take, but having lavishly lodged as a guest at Tomlin Towers for the weekend I was not too upset. I shall, however, never again Photo: Mark Buckland
the season as he always does – with his pedal to the metal! Up next was another sprint, this time a lap of the legendary Goodwood circuit in West Sussex. Once again, for Ali and me it was a mammoth trek to get there so it was very nice indeed to stop off on the way at Sean Doyle’s home and enjoy an evening at ‘Bar Monza’ in Knightsbridge along with the visiting Mike and Barbara Spicer. At the track the general consensus of our first ever visit to Goodwood was both daunting and disappointing. Daunting because trying to set a perfect flying lap after just a couple of practice laps was challenging and frankly frightening, and then disappointing as the over-zealous noise scrutineers excluded half a dozen of the Ferraris! John Marshall, in his 430 Scuderia, won the class and took the points with Jon Goodwin second in his 550. The rest of us battled for the lower places and I was relieved to take third in class, once again just a couple of hundredths ahead of Holman. Messrs Taylor, Prior and Tomlin all fell foul of the noise police and although it was a scary but super venue, most drivers were left with a sour taste of the day. Next up was Harewood and as my nearest venue it was nice to roll out of my own bed at 7am and turn up at the hill just an hour later. Harewood was the scene of my first ever hillclimb back in 2003 and it is close to my heart for this very reason. Rounds 3 and 4 of the Championship were to be a double header on the Saturday and Sunday, and it was here that I was keen to get my Championship hopes into top gear. Current champion Nick Taylor (348 GTC), sporting his newly eligible list 1B
Harewood. “It was here that I hoped to get my Championship hopes into top gear.”
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accept a second bacon buttie at the Tomlin breakfast table as Dave had predicted “Butler, that extra buttie will cost you a hundredth today!” He was, of course, joking but the irony was not lost on us both as in true hillclimbing fashion: it was that very same one hundredth that separated us at the end of the day. Regardless of narrowly missing out on the 20 points, I had very much enjoyed my first visit to Shelsley and its special ambience and atmosphere. Doune, near Stirling in Scotland, is always a terrific weekend and plays host to what is generally regarded as the most challenging (scariest!) hill of them all. Experienced hillclimber Christian Mineeff describes it as ‘The King of Hills’ and has been known to salivate in anticipation merely at the prospect of seeing the ‘Welcome to Scotland’ road signs on the northbound M74! The competition this year was as good as ever with Nick Taylor taking the win with a fine drive on his sticky tyres, but once again I collected the maximum 20 points ahead of Richard Prior after application of the PEP. I was relieved that Nick missed out on pinching my class record and look forward to trying to get one back over him in 2011. At my favourite hill, Loton Park near Shrewsbury, the season reaches its halfway point. This double-header round is pivotal in the Championship and usually whoever comes away at the end of the weekend with a swag bag of points tends to be in pole position as the season unravels. Despite setting my second quickest time ever up the hill, Nick Taylor set another new class record, while John Marshall and myself swapped second and third places on respective days. This enabled me to leave Loton Park with another 40 swag points and a very useful Championship lead. I was absent from the next couple of rounds at Gurston Down in Wiltshire and the Lotus test track at Hethel but was pleased to see that the East
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Anglia connection of John Marshall and Andrew Holman took 20 points apiece from these rounds. Both these drivers have my utmost respect for their approach to hillclimbing; John has been competing for many years now in a variety of tipi but in competing with his 430 Scuderia I have nothing but massive respect for him. Andrew’s approach this season is equally admirable, after a very serious accident at the start of the 2009 season in his old 348. Now in a 355, Andrew gives us flashes of brilliance every now and again to show all of us that behind his crazy mad dog image is a good driver capable of very quick times when he strings it all together. With Andrew and John sharing the maximum points across these two events it was the results at Hethel that ensured that I finally became the 2010 PFHC champion. Rather underwhelmingly, I was at home mowing the lawns when I received the news and results from Andrew and Richard Prior by text soon after the event. I recall it took a few hours for the news to sink in but with Ali rustling up a curry and me uncorking a special bottle of champers we toasted the achievement in true PFHC style. Having secured the Championship when pushing my lawnmower, it felt great to be back in the F355 driver’s seat for the MIRA sprint, where I hoped to crown my good news with a win. Unfortunately my plan became as mixed up as the weather, as on a damp track I struggled to find the necessary grip in my first official run and found myself way behind Richard Prior, Nick, John and Andrew on scratch and on points. The track was drying nicely ahead of the final run and I felt optimistic that I could reverse my fortunes and climb up the leaderboard. There was a huge turnout of 22 Ferraris on the start and the first half of these all enjoyed the advantage of a rapidly drying track. But then
darkness descended and the rain started to fall with increasing intensity. I recall sitting in the car shouting at the queue ahead of me to ‘get a move on’, a sort of embarrassing 0mph road rage with a helmet and race overalls on! I noted that, ahead of me in the queue, Holman felt the same way and raged off the line into the first bend trying to pretend that it was not raining heavily. When it was my turn I decided to follow suit and have a go despite the track being much wetter than it had been on the first run. Every season you have a run where somehow it all goes right and this was that run. I drove the crucial fast long left hander without any vision whatsoever but I knew where it went and kept my foot hard down, asking the wipers to move up to a speed they were never designed to reach! In these terrible conditions I amazingly managed to go quicker than on my first run, finish third on scratch and secure 17 points which, although not the perfect result, showed, I felt, I had given it more than my best shot. I recall Jon Goodwin coming across to me after the event to congratulate me on my time commenting that “it was a champion’s run” ; when someone of Jon’s calibre says that you know you have earned it! Due to his fine first run, it was Richard Prior who took the 20 points and cemented his second place in the Championship. Richard is our PFHC ‘chief exec’ and, of course, a double PFHC champion already with a huge number of incredible results in his trusty 348. Now driving the ex-Spicer F355 he is on a learning curve to find how to extract the most from it and in 2011 I expect we will find out exactly what a good learner he is! After a terrific Saturday night PFHC dinner and hotel organised by Gooders, many of the same 22 MIRA competitors arrived in convoy for the Curborough sprint meeting the following morning. Everyone was really buzzing
having competed the day before second and third on the podium her husband John for being and so they were already ‘in the behind me. instrumental in ensuring the zone’ and raring to go. Of course there would not be continued support of our PFHC Accordingly a lot of the drivers a Championship without a lot of sponsors Pirelli for which we are set personal bests on the day people working very hard behind very grateful and, of course, for with Nick (‘OB list 1B Kenobi’ as the scenes and on behalf of all being the driving force behind Tracey Haynes has christened the competitors I would like to CompRes magazine and the him!) yet again smashing the pass on my sincere thanks to monthly PFHC reports. existing record to show that a them (in no particular order): Sally Maynard-Smith good driver and sticky tyres are a Richard Prior for doing a fantastic deserves very special thanks for tough combination to beat. I was job of running the series as well making such a good job of very pleased to get the 20 points as being a top contender. This is organising our legendary PFHC and finish runner-up on the day. no easy task but Richard does it end of season prizegiving bash At the one-day Shelsley both effortlessly and amiably and ensuring that all the guests Walsh event in mid-September, which is appreciated so much by have such a good time. Similar Marshall smashed his own class all the entrants. In recent years special thanks also go to record while Tomlin once again Richard has inherited this role Christian Mineeff and Graham pipped me for second place, and these qualities from our very Easter for the excellent PFHC web although this time I couldn’t own chairman, RA, and I know coverage and the up-to-date blame a generous Tomlin that we are all grateful to have Championship results, points breakfast! him still so passionate about the tables and reports that we all are With missing the final event series and of course competing at glued to every Monday morning of the season due to decorating the sharp end of it too! after the weekend’s events. the nursery for our imminent Anne Swift, the series coFinally, I want to thank all baby, my season was over and I ordinator, who has the the drivers who competed, not duly took stock of the year. unenviable task of administrating only in this year’s Championship It was an incredible feeling to all the rules and regulations and but also those gone by, and who have finally achieved my goal of who also vitally ensures that we have helped make it a privilege becoming the PFHC champion are all reminded of the important and a pleasure to be part of the and, despite not taking as many deadlines for entering the events. series. I think we all agree that scratch wins as I might have Special thanks must also go to we are so lucky to be driving our hoped for due to the own Ferraris with skills of Taylor and such passion and Marshall, I was enthusiasm at these delighted to get 7 out terrific venues with of 8 maximum scores our friends. and secure the Here’s to 2011 Championship and I’m sure all the convincingly without drivers will be looking the need for a nail forward to another biting finish to the great season of season. competition and Being runner-up camaraderie, the 25th for the last three years Anniversary year of has made me fully the PFHC. appreciate becoming the champ. I had wondered once or twice during these years whether I would actually get there but, by being more determined this year than ever before and keeping the momentum going right through the season, I finally made it. My Nothing succeeds like success. Chris ended a hugely sincere successful year by not only winning the Ferrari Hillclimb congratulations to Championship but also becoming the proud father Richard Prior and Nick of the sweetest little daughter. Taylor for finishing
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