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CompRes

Ferrariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first victory of the Season in Chinese Grand Prix

ISSUE 083 APRIL 2013

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 SCUDERIA FERRARI BACK ON TRACK We celebrate Ferrari’s first win of the 2013 season with our traditional scarlet cover to this issue of CompRes. Fernando Alonso’s crushing defeat of the formidable opposition in the Chinese GP was wonderful to see and, as optimistic as ever, we have sent Miss Tonks out for some more red ink to enhance the covers of the next few editions – just in case!

Thursday 18 July 13.00-19.30

Sign-on and scrutineering Friday 19 July

07.00-19.30

Sign-on and scrutineering

10.10-10.30

Qualifying 1

20 mins

13.05-13.25

Qualifying 2

20 mins

Due to the unwelcome machinations of the FIA, Spa will be our only overseas race meeting this season so I hope all our competitors will take advantage of this great opportunity to race at the finest circuit on the planet! Full details nearer the time.

PIRELLI POLO SHIRTS

Saturday 20 July

Competitors in our two race series may recall that you were Sunday 21 July invited to apply for a black Pirelli polo shirt when you 10.55-11.20 Race 2 25 mins registered for the 2013 season. Those who claimed their SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS shirt in time will be pleased WHAT’S ON Although some time to know that these have now away, our overseas trip to been delivered, although we Spa needs rather more are still awaiting the full MAY 14 FOC: Oulton Park Track Day advance planning than our quota of size L which we races on home turf. We have understand will be available 19 Donington Park: Pirelli Ferrari now received the provisional by the end of May. formula classic; Pirelli timetable from ADAC and we We plan to bring the Ferrari Open [double headers] are publishing the sections shirts with us to the circuits which relate to our Ferrari JUNE 1/2 Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb for those competitors who activity. have ordered them so please As you will see from the 6 FOC: Snetterton 200 Track Day make sure you come to see accompanying table, I have us and get kitted out. One arranged the timing of caveat I must mention: if 15/16 Silverstone GP: Pirelli Ferrari Sunday’s race to allow formula classic; Pirelli you have ordered the wrong everyone to reach the Ferrari Open [combined races size we don’t have any spare - double headers] channel ports in good time to shirts available to substitute! return to the UK the same 16 Blyton Sprint day. RACE TROPHIES I have block-booked all 23 Gurston Down Hillclimb The whole management the available rooms at the 4of race trophies is a star Hotel de la Source, 28/29 British Grand Prix nightmare, as anyone who which is located almost on has spoken to us on the the circuit. We have used JULY 13/14 Loton Park Hillclimb subject will know. With a this hotel for the last couple long lead time, it is of years and it is beautifully 14 FOC: Concours Walton Hall impossible to order the designed for the ultimate in correct number of prizes in comfort and amenities. advance of a race meeting What’s also important is the 16 FOC: Donington Park Track Day when the level of entries is rates I have agreed are unknown. If we do manage unbeatable. 19-21 Spa-Francorchamps: Pirelli to get them to the track on On the Friday evening I Ferrari formula classic; the date of the event, the have arranged the usual Pirelli Ferrari Open [double chances are that some headers] special Ferrari Dinner with winners will leave the circuit complimentary aperitifs and 26-28 Silverstone Classic Festival without bothering to attend canapés. 10.55-11.20

Race 1

25 mins

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FRANCO GOZZI We are sad to record the death, on 23rd April, of Franco Gozzi, a man who will be indelibly remembered as one of the most important figures in Ferrari history. He was 81 years old. For many, many years he combined the roles of sporting director, press officer, head of communications but above all Enzo Ferrari’s closest adviser. For over thirty years there was rarely a photograph of the Founder without Franco Gozzi by his side. It was he who spoke on behalf of Ferrari and he will always be known as his loyal friend as well as confidant.

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Photo: SwiftPix

the presentation. We are then faced with the hassle of uniting the winners with their trophies. We have tried posting the awards after the event but this has proved a disaster, with couriers reporting their inability to access properties due to guarded gates, houses without letter boxes, and house owners seemingly spending most of their lives overseas. We have now abandoned this idea! So what is the remedy? We are now testing a new system whereby we shall procure all the season’s prizes well in advance and then only bring to the track the number required as gleaned from the entries submitted by the closing date. There are a couple of disadvantages with this method: all the trophies will be the same style for every race meeting, and it won’t resolve the problem of the disappearing recipient. We ask your cooperation to make the new method a success. If you are a prize-winner, please make sure you come to see us about your trophy before you leave the circuit. If you are unable to stay for the presentation (or nominate someone to attend on your behalf) at least you will relieve us of the headache of getting your prize to you!

The Commendatore and Franco Gozzi. Maranello, April 1982.

In 1982, when Anne and I visited the Factory, we were privileged to be shown into the Great Man’s office. As you will see from the photograph I took at the time, Franco Gozzi is there at Enzo’s side as he autographs a copy of a book for me. 

BIRTHDAYS

IN JUNE!

RA’s HILLCOMMENT Hillclimbers on the Starting Blocks as I hit the keyboard. It’s just one week before Harewood, where the season really gets under way after the long lull from the horizontal stuff in Essex in March. There are two meetings in one weekend and at least twenty Ferraris to be seen in action, plus a hillclimbers’ dinner on the Saturday evening - it does not come much better than this. My F355 has barely turned a wheel since the autumn and awaits a set of new P Zeros from our friends at Pirelli. Besides getting these fitted the car needs an MOT and tax before heading off up the A1.

kindly done the legwork on these arrangements and the booking forms will be sent out to you by the end of May. The chosen venue is Albrighton Hall Hotel & Spa (see pic) about three miles north of Shrewsbury off the A528 Ellesmere Road – not far from our usual watering hole, Albright Hussey, that regrettably has a wedding booked for our Loton date. This looks like being a weekend not to miss - apart from it being the same one as the Clubs National Concours! Sadly this means I shall not be present.

F355 Durability is an interesting subject, even more so taking account of the high population of these tipos in the Goodwin makes comeback PFHC. The engine and gearbox – yes, Jon has found his mojo seem bomb-proof and the F355, which went missing in the in Challenge form, has stood up Bermuda Triangle, feels much very well to circuit racing over better and makes his return to many years. Quite apart from the hills at Harewood with his the exhaust manifolds and stalwart 550 Maranello. You can catalytic converters, the problem bet he will be on the pace too, areas are usually the fiddly bits and it will be great to have him especially the electronics, with back in the saddle. the electronic damper motors and Loton Park in July, like exhaust sensors being sometimes Harewood a double header troublesome. The suspension weekend, will include a special light coming on is no problem as hillclimbers’ dinner and the usual the dampers still work on their excellent paddock barbecue on default setting, but those cat both days. Jon Goodwin has very sensor and lambda sensors bringing up the warning lights are no fun - one bank of cylinders usually shuts down at the same time. This is often intermittent and difficult to cure, and although new sensors are a good idea the control box is often the culprit. There’s more of course for F355 owners to swap notes on, but a new one has just come up The Albright Hall Hotel & Spa. with Richard Preece’s

Richard Preece’s F355’s broken front damper.

example snapping one of the front damper shafts in half (see pic). The car was not being stressed at the time either. The Spring Ball/AGM at Whittlebury Hall in April was a testing time for new Club Secretary Gary Dearn but he coped with this multi-faceted weekend very well. It was great to see such good attendances at the Spring Ball, where there was even a hillclimbers table! The Annual General Meeting saw about the biggest attendance I can recall - most probably for the special presentations to mark the retirement of Peter and Suzanne after their remarkable 20 years service running the Club’s Secretariat Prior’s Silver Jackpot at the Prizegiving Lunch after the AGM or so it seemed as Richard scooped up a record quantity of club trophies. Chris Butler, winner of the PFHC in 2012, only did the minimum number of rounds, whilst Richard’s

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Photos: Gavin Struthers

successes were spread right across the season. Anyway our congratulations again to both of them for their consummate driving skills and not forgetting Andrew Holman either, who rattled them sometimes! Silverstone Track Day proved to be another very successful activity for our Club’s organisation, with a terrific selection of Ferraris out on the circuit – not just the latest 458s and 599GTOs but some spectacular legendary tipos too, such as Alexander Boswell’s fifties 625 F1 Ferrari. (see pics). The weather remained dry and the use of the Wing rather than the old paddock area certainly enhanced the occasion. There are more of these Club Track Days coming up, with Oulton Park on May 14 and Snetterton on June 6. These are followed by Donington Park on July 16 and then Brands Hatch GP on September 3. If you have never tried a Track Day, give at least one of these a go. You can really stretch your Ferrari’s legs without threatening your licence, and hone your skills at the same time. Copy Needed please, and if you have anything interesting to do with your Ferrari or yourself related to our activity let me know. This time around, when CompRes Editor Swifty mailed me to say let’s have your copy next week, the cupboard was bare. With no PFHC round to report on for this issue John has raided the archives for a Harewood report from over twenty years ago for this issue. I too had been thinking along similar lines to find interesting copy. The Good Old Days looking back reminded me of the hills and sprints we ran Ferrari classes at that have long gone. My first event of this kind in the mid eighties was at Ragley Hall, Alcester. This hillclimb was run by the AC Owners Club and the FOC were one of the invited clubs. The relatively short course was one of those typical stately home drives that we used to frequent in the old days – usually very fast with not a lot of corners

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There was some rare machinery in action at the recent FOC Silverstone Track Day. Top: tipo 625 F1 with Mark Hales at the wheel Bottom: 2.7 litre tipo 225 Sport with Vignale bodywork.

and often dangerous as you will hear when I cover Cornbury Park in the next CompRes. The start was near the main gate and took in the usual open parkland scenery with the odd tree dotted about. Away from the line the road wandered around as you went flat out to the first corner a left hander that needed some negotiation. From there, if you were brave you could hold it flat to the finish as the road curved

to the left up and over the brow of the hill, finishing at the top just before the front lawns of Ragley Hall. We had some hair raising experiences there and the last time a spectator was injured by a wayward Metro 6R4. You will note that the result sheet lists past Club Chairman Frank Bott, whose magnificent trophy is awarded each year to the overall winner of the Ferrari Hillclimb Championship. 

1st Run

2nd Run

Speed

H’cap

Scr

Frank Bott

308GT4

27.78

28.33

7th=

1st

Hew Dundas

Dino 246GT

29.35

29.74

3rd

7th

Tim Blackburn

308GT4

28.59

29.39

5th

John Swift

Dino 246GTS

28.85

29.06

6th

Stephen Crowther

308GTB

28.57

29.31

4th

Geoff Dark

308GT4

28.08

27.84

2nd

3rd

Richard Allen

308GTB

28.20

27.80

1st

2nd

Frank Wall

308GTB

30.53

30.64

7th=

8th

Going back in time: HAREWOOD HILL: 20th May 1989

With no hillclimb events to cover in this issue, at Richard Prior’s suggestion we delved into the back copies of Ferrari Competition News (the forerunner of today’s CompRes) to recall what things were like at Harewood in the ‘good old days’. We went back through time some 24 years to catch a flavour of the action at this now highly popular Yorkshire

hillclimb venue. 1989 was a year when Richard Prior had just celebrated his 21st birthday, the current PFHC champion, Chris Butler, was a young boy 16 years of age, and circuit racer Jim Cartwright was a mere 18 months old! Looking at the names of the competitors back then, just three are still walloping their Ferraris up the hills. They just don’t know how to give up . . .

“Please remember to cover your arms – from the searing heat of the sun”, came the Tannoy announcement in the paddock wrote JOHN SWIFT. With cool early-morning mist shrouding the top of the hill, we admired the sense of humour. However, by 10 o’clock, the sun did break through the fog and started to burn off the low cloud. As the temperature rapidly climbed, the Ferrari competitors had assembled in their allotted place to enjoy another annual Harewood event. An excellent entry of 14 Ferraris was reduced to 13 by the non-arrival of John Starkey’s 250 T de F. Sadly the master cylinder had chosen this weekend to fail, so John had to switch to a shared entry with Sandra’s Integrale in the Lancia class. Also in trouble was Christian Mineeff, whose potential FTD car – the formidable Lancia Statos – simply refused to chime in on all of its six cylinders. However, help was at hand; a very supportive Tim Blackburn offered a shared drive in his very quick 308GT4, which Christian gratefully accepted. So we were back to 14 Ferrari entries again. One of the nice things about this Harewood meeting is that it is usually possible to have a third practice run, which is always appreciated by those who haven’t been to the hill before. Newcomers benefitting from this included Alan Tucknott, driving his 308GT4 (as a change from his immaculate Dino), and Juliet Horne, with her stunning silver Boxer. So how did everyone fare? Of the V12s, David Collard gave his usual smooth demonstration of the prodigious power of the big Daytona. But almost matching his time was Richard who hurled the immaculate 330GTC up th hill in a sub-52 second time to claim first place on handicap. Juliet Horne, in the third of the ‘big guns’, drove her BB512i in intelligent fashion and was awarded second place in the handicap competition. The only Dino at the hill this year was John

Dobson’s beautiful yellow Spyder. John was unable to match his astonishingly quick times of the year before and therefore couldn’t quite achieve his handicap ’bogey’ time. Alan Tucknott quickly got to grips with the hill and posted some impressive practice times. However, perhaps affected by the excellence of the Dobson family lunch, Mr Tucknott was unable to repeat the performance in the afternoon, when it counted, and thus languished at the tail of the times. However, he seemed to enjoy his first essay at Harewood. It was a battle royal between the regular ‘Essex’ drivers with their armoury of assorted 308s. Geoff Dark (308GT4), always a hard charger on the hills, seemed to struggle for grip and couldn’t get below the 50-second mark. This was disappointingly some way of his 1988 pace. Richard Allen’s 308GT4, now painted a spotless metallic silver to match his equally faultless 308GTB, went well but again just lacked the speed of the remaining 308s of Brian Jackson and Chris England. These two had a pitched battle all day for supremacy, with Brian leading on the first runs, only to be pipped later by 0.23 seconds on the final assault. Chris’s time was good enough to secure the third handicap award. Jeff Simpson’s 328GTB had suffered from some mysterious electrical fault following his race at Brands Hatch in the PMFC series. However, all was pronounced well again and Jeff posted an identical time to the Dark 308GT4. The other 328 – a spyder version – was an unknown quantity, being on its maiden competitive outing. However its driver, Simon Clark, was very definitely known to us. Simon is a previous class record holder at Harewood (in Formula Ford), and he put his knowledge of the hill to good use. He handled the 328GTS with controlled aggression to post the third fastest time in the class. Christian Mineeff drove the Blackburn 308GT4 into 4th place on scratch, quickly getting to grips

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ensure that we enjoyed ourselves. They succeeded. An excellent meal with some memorable wine accompanied the annual get-together. JCT600, ably represented by Paul Metcalfe, their Sales Manager, and his wife Sally presented cups to the three leading drivers on scratch and handicap. Conversation continued undiminished in the bar into the small hours of the morning. Chris England floated the idea of making Harewood an International speed hillclimb for next year, bringing Ferraris from all over Europe. At 2.00am it all seemed to be ridiculously easy . . . Once again the competitors in this extremely successful Ferrari class wish to thank the Yorkshire Ferrari distributors, The Harewood paddock 24 years ago and JCT600’s Paul JCT600, for their enthusiastic support, Metcalfe and your scribe work out the handicaps. which not only extends to the award of with the shared car. It was diplomatically right trophies but also to the reimbursement of entry that he didn’t quite beat its owner. Tim himself fees. With such a good turnout of Ferraris, it tried very hard and was successful in achieving seems this event is assured for 1990. second place to myself. David Collard was heard to And for those who can’t work out the mutter “Swift has just switched on Automatic significance of the heading to this report – Pilot”. ‘Yorkshire Fat Rascals’ – this picturesque title As usual, we had arranged a prize-giving describes a delicious scone cum teacake baked by dinner at the Harewood Arms Hotel. And, again as Bettys of York. Several were enjoyed in the usual, the staff there went out of their way to paddock that day in the afternoon sunshine .

HAREWOOD HILLCLIMB – Saturday 20 May 1989 Driver

Tipo

H’cap

Run 1

Run 2

H’cap Position

Scratch Position

John Swift

308GTB

47.30

48.34

48.06

Tim Blackburn

308GT4

48.80

49.02

48.41

Simon Clark

328GTS

49.10

49.29

49.03

Christian Mineeff

308GT4

49.10

50.25

49.83

Chris England

308GTS

49.50

50.49

49.63

Brian Jackson

308GTB

49.50

49.85

50.29

Jeff Simpson

328GTB

49.60

50.43

50.63

Geoff Dark

308GT4

49.10

50.43

50.74

Richard Allen

308GT4

51.00

51.22

51.17

David Collard

Daytona

61.10

51.28

51.33

Richard Chester

330GTC

52.70

52.24

51.38

John Dobson

Dino 246GTS

51.15

52.50

52.19

Alan Tucknott

308GT4

51.50

53.17

53.48

Juliet Horne

BB512i

54.80

54.62

54.58

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HE OPENING ROUNDS of the 2013 Pirelli Ferrari formula classic unfolded at Snetterton on the weekend of 13/14 April. Our hosts, the Classic Sports Car Club (CSCC), had titled the race meeting ‘Spring Race Weekend’ and this 2-day event had attracted a huge entry of socalled classic cars running in a variety of different championships and series. Slightly at odds with the ‘classic’ billing were the Ferraris in our Pirelli Ferrari Open series, but more of that later. At our suggestion CSCC were using the long 300 circuit for Saturday’s races and the shorter 200 layout for Sunday’s events, the latter being very similar to the Snetterton circuit we knew of old.

We have a good working absence. His 328GTS has been relationship with CSCC over modified by QV London to Gp4 many years and they agreed to spec and looks to be very our request for the Ferraris to be competitive. Fielding a allocated all the garages, which beautifully presented 308GTB makes life easier for those who was Hong Kong-based Paul booked them early. With a very Griffin, his car being prepped by busy paddock this proved a the Nick Cartwright organisation. godsend. The first race meeting of the season is always especially interesting. There are new drivers to welcome, new cars to look at, and usually rule changes from the previous year. Newcomers at this meeting included Carl Burgar, the Club’s Yorkshire Area Group Organiser. Carl has acquired the Mondial 8 that was most recently campaigned by Jack Dwane. Ted Pearson has Carl Burgar made his Classic debut, his returned to motor racing Mondial 8 looking far better than we after quite a few years have ever seen it previously.

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Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

SNETTERTON 13th/14th APRIL 2013

decided to return to PFfc and, of Qualifying for Race 1 course, wheeled out his lovely Qualifying got underway mid 328GTB finished in its glistening -morning under a sunny sky. A ‘Beeley blue’ paintwork. Nicky’s car is now reclassified as Group 4. All the rest of the 21 competitors entered for the races we had seen in 2012 although Nick Taylor’s Gp4 Mondial t looks rather different (and more menacing) in David Tomlin keeps ahead of Wayne Marrs in Race 1 its colour until his 308GTB developed a misfire. scheme of wrapped black with green few cars had problems which highlights (its rear view meant they were unable to mirrors bear the message achieve the mandatory minimum ‘move’ – ‘over’ to make three laps. Burgar’s car suffered sure any Ferrari ahead is a serious water loss, caused by a under no doubt of Nick’s header tank that, with the intentions). ravages of time, appeared to be Also worthy of little better at keeping in the mention was Peter coolant than a colander. Milner’s Everingham’s new tow 328 suffered from fuel starvation vehicle: a rare ‘grey import’ diagnosed as a blocked filter. We with the suggestively lively arranged for these two drivers to name of Bongo. Evers qualify later out of session. showed me the principal Ray Ferguson had gear features of his micro selection troubles with his camper van. It boasts Mondial t and, despite Ray Ferguson was reduced to spectating 4WD, a thrifty diesel adjustment of the selectors, a after his Mondial’s gearbox gave trouble. engine, 6-speed auto

Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

Making a return to Classic racing was Craig Milner whom we have seen regularly at the wheel of various PFO cars in recent times (F355 Challenge, 458 Challenge, etc). Craig has bought the 328 successfully raced previously in the Series by Danny Winstanley. Another returnee was Chris Compton Goddard with his very quick 308GTB which, for various reasons, has not enjoyed the best record of reliability in the last few seasons. Richard Atkinson-Willes, who reappeared at the end of last season, was once again at the wheel of his well-known pale blue Gp2 308GT4. Nicky Paul-Barron, after a few months of agonising over whether he would make a comeback, finally (and happily)

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Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

Nick Taylor’s smoke-belching Mondial t was re-plumbed for Race 2.

transmission, an ability to haul 2½ tonnes, cooking facilities, seating which slides to form a double bed or alternatively, with the addition of the optional pedestal table, a fully equipped dining area. This can easily double as a perfect spot for clubbing, with flashing blue lights and a music system that threatens to blow your ears off. I may have missed a couple of dozen other items but it seems there is very little that this little Aladdin’s Cave of a vehicle cannot be used for and it is now Suzanne’s absolute favourite form of transport. There is even a Bongo Owners’ Club which I think I would like to join one day.

Race 1 Just before 4 o’clock the cars came under starter’s orders and when the lights went out pole man Tomlin shot away into the lead, hotly pursued by the sonorous Daytona and Marrs in the 328. Pearson moved into 4th with Simpson attached to his bootlid. Then it was Goddard, N P-B, Evers and Fisk. After 3 laps Tomlin’s engine developed a misfire – not serious but sufficient to allow Summers to gradually close the gap. At

New man Ted Pearson made an impressive debut. His QV-prepared Gp4 328GTS was right on the pace, seen here hounding Wayne Marrs.

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Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

this time Taylor brought his smoke belching Mondial into the pits while Ferguson, with a complete loss of useful gears, retired out on circuit. Pearson clearly had the bit between his teeth, locking up in dramatic style at Murrays on lap 3. Shortly afterwards Griffin’s 308GTB was seen to be trailing a cloud of smoke and was retired on lap 6. The podium for Race 1 and Tim Summers enjoys Summers took the lofty top step, flanked by runners-up Wayne the race lead about Marrs and David Tomlin. this time although Tomlin gamely carried on in 2nd Of the others, Atkinsondespite the loss of a cylinder. Willes put his place in jeopardy However, on the by spinning at Murrays but your last lap Marrs took reporter wasn’t fast enough to advantage and keep ahead of him to the line. slotted into the There was a race long battle runner-up position between Tim Walker, Chairman and the lead in Richard Allen and Milner which Gp4. Goddard, was resolved in Tim’s favour by after a great just a length or two. Pauline battle with Goodwin’s 328 outgunned Simpson up to the Moorwood while Burgar had the halfway stage, pleasure of finishing his first race finally drew away with his incontinent Mondial. Pauline Goodwin (328GTB) had a few adventurers to finish 3rd in The fastest lap of the race including a spectacular spin at Brundle in Q2. Gp2. Fisk, in 8th (2:18.241) was set by David his 328GTB. Tris Simpson was o/a, finished the winner of Gp3 – Tomlin and it is worth comparing electrifying in his Gp1 308GT4, in just three seconds in arrears his time (using this season’s 6th o/a, while Peter Everingham from Paul-Barron. Pirelli Rossos) with the 300 booked a 4th row spot in his class leading 328. Ted Pearson was an impressive 5th quickest, a fraction behind Goddard, showing he hasn’t forgotten how to drive!

Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

cure could not be found. Your scribe had an exciting few seconds when, at maximum chat, the brakes failed completely at the end of the newly renamed Bentley (née Rivett) Straight. Inexplicably, a bleed screw in a rear calliper had become loose and allowed brake fluid to leak liberally onto the disc, wheel and tyre. Fortunately there were no other cars around and no damage was done as the car careered across the grass and back onto the track. The timesheets revealed that David Tomlin had secured pole with his ex-Jenkins Gp2 308GTB in a time of 2:18.393, just 0.7 secs quicker than the competitzione Daytona of Tim Summers, also in Gp2. Wayne Marrs, 3rd overall, headed Gp4 in

Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

Photo: Silviane Gwynne

Tim Summers’s Daytona had gear selection maladies in Race 2, leading to this excursion into the outfield and ultimately retirement.

course Classic lap record of 2:14.307 (Jim Cartwright: 2012 with his Gp4 328GTB on PZero Cs). Other class fastest laps went to Marrs, Fisk and Simpson.

Another driver having difficulty keeping his car on the black stuff was Chris Compton Goddard (Gp2 308GTB). He recovered to take 3rd spot in the second race.

looking less like a destroyer making smoke after some overnight changes to the plumbing of its lubrication system.

Race 2

The PFfc qualifying session on Sunday, now on the 200 circuit, was the third of the morning; the weather was dry but cloudy. 19 cars took part, with two absentees: Griffin, whose 308’s oil leak was unable to be cured, and Ferguson, with his defective gear change on the Mondial t. Tim Walker reported a blowing exhaust manifold and was gloomy about his chances although his speed didn’t appear to be much diminished. We noted that Pauline Goodwin was a bit too adventurous into Brundle (previously known as the Esses) and spun off harmlessly on the grass. The Daytona of Summers was misbehaving: its gear selectors gave trouble just as they had occasionally done last season. Other than that most drivers had an uneventful qualy with Tomlin again the pick of the crop in 1:26.987. This time was a metaphorical country mile ahead of everyone else (some 2½ secs) and just demonstrates what a class act David and his highly tuned 308GTB really is. In 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th spots were Marrs, Goddard, Pearson and Nick Cartwright respectivelyall covered by less than a second. Nick Taylor’s Mondial was now

The race, scheduled for a duration of 20 minutes, commenced on time but immediately the cars assembled on the grid for the green flag lap, there was totally unscheduled high drama which was to result in the contest being pruned to only 15 minutes. The problems all started with

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Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

Qualifying for Race 2

filter canister off. The full contents of the sump were liberally spread (on the racing line) all the way from the start grid to Riches (the first corner) and some way beyond. And it wasn’t a trickle. It was a full blown thick slick of slippery glutinous lubricant which incomprehensively escaped the notice of the Clerk or the marshals, neither those on the start line nor those at the corner. Ted, to his credit, immediately pulled off the track as soon as he was aware of the situation. The field continued

Tim Walker (Gp3 328GTB) is given a hard time by his pursuers: Tris Simpson (308GT4) followed by the Gp3 328s of Pete Fisk and Evers.

row 2 man, Ted Pearson, and I am at pains to say that nothing that subsequently happened was in any way his fault. Ted’s 328’s engine’s oil pressure relief valve stuck and promptly blew its oil

round the circuit and returned to the start area where, we all assumed, we would park while the oil mess was cleaned up. But no! Despite a number of drivers gesticulating wildly to the starter to warn of the oil, the red

lights came on and then flicked about his dealing with the oil off to signal the start of the race. situation. The result was predictable and Out on track Tomlin, now devastating. Cars were sliding with all eight cylinders on song, and spinning all over the track was moving remorselessly away and it is amazing there was no from his opposition. Behind, serious accident. Marrs was keeping his Gp4 328’s It wasn’t until a further lap nose just ahead of the squabbling and a half had been completed pair of the smog free Taylor, that it dawned on the race Goddard and Summers. Then, organisers that something was after a gap, came Cartwright, up, and then the red flags came Walker and giant killer Simpson. out to stop the race. Once again Nicky Paul-Barron had we returned to the grid and, at decided to give the race a miss in long last, the marshals got to view of the track condition at work with their brushes and Riches while Craig Milner was cement to clean up the tarmac. also missing for reasons The operation took around 5 unknown. minutes and then we were Tim Summers, although in released once more for the 5th, was finding the gear selection second green flag lap. Bizarrely, Pauline G thought it was the start of the race and made a determined effort to get to pole position until she realised her mistake. It was at the end of lap 1 that your reporter’s clutch disintegrated and I had to slowly return The Old Blue Thing to the paddock and retirement. For this reason I am unable to give a first-hand account of the rest of the race. It did, however, give me the opportunity to find the Clerk of the Course to David Tomlin, his rapid 308GTB now firing on all eight pots, made no mistakes in tell him how the second race, taking overall victory in devastating style. unimpressed we were

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Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

It was an exciting struggle in the oil-affected second race. Here Goddard exits Murrays with Marrs and Taylor hard on his heels.

problems on the Daytona increasingly difficult and retired at the end of lap 4. We now had Tomlin dictating the race from the front with Marrs, Taylor and Goddard disputing 2nd. Behind these four, Cartwright was a solid 5th, well ahead of a good battle featuring the Gp3 cars of Walker, Evers, and Fisk. Another interesting skirmish was between the 308GT4s of Simpson and Atkinson-Willes. Tris was always in front but Richard gave him a run for his money, finishing just a couple of seconds behind at the flag. Fastest laps were recorded by Tomlin (at 1:28.749 the quickest of the race), Taylor, Fisk and Simpson. Although, because of a surfeit of late entries, we had decided to post out the class awards after the meeting, we did have a presentation to hand out the Mumm champagne donated by new sponsors Viton O-Rings. The winner of the RnR Classic Driver of the Meeting award was announced as Peter Fisk, to the obvious delight of his young family.

ROUND 1: 300 CIRCUIT

SNETTERTON Rounds 1 & 2 13th/14th APRIL 2013 Pos

Driver

Tipo

Group

Laps

Time

Best Lap

Qualify

Pos

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 DNF

70 60 6 77 44 46 17 30 12 3 71 65 45 8 11 33 29 56 9

Tim Summers Wayne Marrs David Tomlin Ted Pearson Chris Compton Goddard Tris Simpson Nicky Paul-Barron Peter Fisk Peter Everingham Nick Cartwright Tim Walker Craig Milner Richard Allen Richard Atkinson-Willes John Swift Pauline Goodwin Willliam Moorwood Carl Burgar Paul Griffin

365GTB/4 328GTB 308GTB 328GTS 308GTB 308GT4 328GTB 328GTB 328GTB 328GTB 328GTB 328GTB 328GTB 308GT4 308GTB 328GTB 308GT4 Mondial QV 308GTB

2 4 2 4 2 1 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 3 1 1 1

9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 6

21:22.050 21:32.036 21:34.675 21:39.299 21:51.655 22:04.535 22:12.620 22:15.766 22:16.787 22:25.507 22:37.519 22:38.486 22:40.609 23:10.698 23:14.478 23:24.839 21:28.868 22:33.116 16:36.483

2:20.379 2:21.981 2:18.241 2:22.118 2:23.068 2:24.689 2:25.515 2:26.033 2:26.121 2:26.273 2:28.632 2:26.976 2:29.083 2:29.703 2:31.685 2:33.351 2:37.292 2:45.667 2:42.415

2:19.113 2:19.246 2:18.393 2:21.796 2:21.422 2:23.320 2:23.999 2:29.180 2:23.776 2:28.901 2:25.692 * 2:29.311 2:29.961 2:32.639 2:33.397 2:34.527 * 2:36.378

2 3 1 5 4 6 8 12 7 11 9

DNF

Nick Taylor

308GT4

5:06.344

2:27.997

2:27.204

DNF

Ray Ferguson

Mondial t

5:25.107

2:37.884

2:39.909

CLASS WINNERS

ROUND 2: 200 CIRCUIT

*Qualified out of session

Gp4 Gp3 Gp2 Gp1

Wayne Marrs Pete Fisk Tim Summers Tris Simpson

13 14 15 16 17 18

Fastest Laps: David Tomlin

Gp 2

2:18.241 (77.31 mph)

Wayne Marrs

Gp 4

2:21.951 (75.27 mph)

Tris Simpson

Gp 1

2:24.689 (73.86 mph)

Peter Fisk

Gp 3

2:26.033 (73.18 mph)

Pos

Driver

Tipo

Group

Laps

Time

Best Lap

Qualify

Pos

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 DNF DNF DNF DNF

6 60 44 3 57 71 30 12 46 8 45 29 56 33 70 11 17 65

David Tomlin Wayne Marrs Chris Compton Goddard Nick Cartwright Nick Taylor Tim Walker Peter Fisk Peter Everingham Tris Simpson Richard Atkinson-Willes Richard Allen Willliam Moorwood Carl Burgar Pauline Goodwin Tim Summers John Swift Nicky Paul-Barron Craig Milner

308GTB 328GTB 308GTB 328GTB 308GT4 328GTB 328GTB 328GTB 308GT4 308GT4 328GTB 308GT4 Mondial QV 328GTB 365GTB/4 308GTB 328GTB 328GTB

2 4 2 4 4 3 3 3 1 2 3 1 1 3 2 2 4 3

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 4 1

15:01.140 15:15.566 15:16.619 15:30.047 15:30.532 15:37.652 15:38.822 15:42.558 15:56.482 15:58.399 16:15.781 15:06.107 15:06.663 15:13.666 6.34.721 2.39.490

1:28.749 1:30.117 1:29.483 1:31.308 1:30.079 1:31.827 1:31.346 1:32.082 1:33.259 1:33.823 1:35.657 1:38.092 1:37.314 1:38.155 1:30.838

1:26.987 1:29.402 1:29.682 1:30.158 1:30.298 1:32.559 1:31.917 1:32.046 1:30.704 1:34.711 1:34.738 1:37.872 1:40.978 1:35.827 1:30.385 1:35.150 1:30.520 1:31.974

1 2 3 8 9 13 10 12 6 15 14 18 19 17 5 16 7 11

DNF

Ted Pearson

328GTS

1:29.858

CLASS WINNERS

CompRes 12

Gp4 Gp3 Gp2 Gp1

Wayne Marrs Tim Walker David Tomlin Tris Simpson

Fastest Laps: David Tomlin

Gp 2

1:28.749 (80.48 mph)

Nick Taylor

Gp 4

1:30.079 (79.29 mph)

Peter Fisk

Gp 3

1:31.346 (78.19 mph)

Tris Simpson

Gp 1

1:33.259 (76.58 mph)

Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

racing. We hope he is now fully idea. He would simply buy recovered. Also absent from another car for Britcar – a brand Saturday’s event was Paul Bailey, new GT3 Aston Martin Vantage who had planned to combine the V12. The factory brought the car PFO races with an appearance at to the circuit with only hours to he 2013 Pirelli Ferrari Donington Park in Open was rolled out at Snetterton Britcar the same on a bright and dry Saturday weekend. morning on 13th April. The race Paul has done meeting was a 2-day affair this sort of thing organised by the Classic Sports before and one Car Club and attracted a must admire his reasonable entry of 17 Ferraris enthusiasm and spread over the normal four energy. His classes. Saturday’s racing was weekend’s MO was on the 300 circuit while on to race his 430 GT2 Sunday the shorter 200 layout at Donington (along Ingram-Hill has a Murray moment in Race 1. was being used. with co-driver Andy A last minute no-show was Schulz) and then Jacques Duyver, who was dash over to Norfolk to join spare and, hey presto, he and suffering from a nasty chest forces with his 458 Challenge car. Andy duly finished second infection which his doctor advised Things went wrong when his 430 overall! was too serious to contemplate blew up in a big way. A hurried Looking at the entry list it is call to Italy for advice worth seeing who is driving what was met with the this season. In the 4-car Class 1 suggestion “What you Steve Routledge was a last should do is dig a minute entry with his F355 large hole in the Challenge, his 308GT4 unable to ground, gently lower be got ready for the Classic the damaged Ferrari races. The rest of the class we engine into it, cover had seen last year. Nick Kaye with soil, and give it (360 Challenge Stradale) was the the last rites”. only entrant in C2, while C3 had Faced with three takers. Simon Smeeth had such terminal advice taken over his son’s 430/Ch that Paul had a brilliant he campaigned very successfully Steve Routledge (F355)was a last-minute entry.

CompRes 13

Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

SNETTERTON 13th/14th APRIL 2013

Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

The start for Race 1 on the 300 circuit.

has heard of Martin – he is the by the Balfe Motorsport European agent for Mosler as well organisation. Also switching to as a successful race driver in a Balfe this year is Mick Dwane, variety of again 458 mounted. The two different Jennings from Northern Ireland – machinery over father Shamus and son Peter – many years – were on parade, their 458s in the and the very care of FF Corse. The team were mention of his also running Christian Andersson, name in some who was making his Ferrari quarters seemed racing debut. to induce Wayne Marrs has acquired collywobbles. the ex-Geoffrey Finlay 458 which Sam made occasional appearances Nick Kaye was a class winner on both days Smeeth has with us last season. With little moved up a track time under his belt with the amusingly advertising Parrot class this season with a 458 in new car, Wayne was not too (Tim’s vineyard). The third 430 distinctive yellow livery and run confident about his chances. was that of Tim Summers, his car emblazoned with the name of his company, Oerlikon. Some readers may know that the original Swiss Oerlikon company specialised in anti-aircraft weapons. In 1936 it formed a subsidiary called Contraves which in Latin means ‘against birds’. If Tim Ingram-Hill knew of this in advance he may have dreaded what might happen to his Parrot car in the race. There was a strong entry in C4, although Bailey wouldn’t be back in Norfolk until the following day. The dark horse – in more ways than one since his car was finished in a matt black wrap – was Martin Short with the 458 There was a fascinating struggle for supremacy that lasted all weekend raced last season (when it was between the 430s of Parrot Racing’s Tim Ingram-Hill and Tim Summers. red) by Shaun Balfe. Everyone

CompRes 14

Photo: Silviane Gwynne

Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

in 2012. Tim Ingram-Hill was at the wheel of a nice scarlet 430

Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

Irish eyes are smiling. Peter Jennings leads Shamus Jennings with Christian Andersson from Sweden in tow.

event on Saturday’s card and, at 2.00pm when the cars collected, the weather had changed to

Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

So, we had all the makings of an interesting race and, if you were a betting man, you may be uncertain where to place your money.

in charge of the 430 brigade, had a big spin onto the grass on lap 3 which demoted him to the back of the class. Brooks was leading C1 despite the best efforts of Laverty in the F355 Challenge. By mid-race the field was fairly strung out with perhaps the best battle being between the equally matched 458s of Shamus Jennings and Andersson. On the very last lap Shamus noticed blue lights flash on his dash display and, suspecting some expensive engine malfunction, he headed for the pitlane. The warning

Q1: 300 Circuit

Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

Proceedings got underway just after 9 o’clock when the cars assembled for qualifying under sunny skies. All the cars completed their 20 minute session without any reported problems other than Simon Smeeth complaining of feeling unwell. Martin Short’s name was at the head of the timesheet, some 2.6 seconds ahead of the other front row claimant, Wayne Marrs. Mick Dwane and Sam Smeeth, within a second of each other, were 3rd and 4th fastest. Andersson, doing well for a new recruit, split the two Jennings.

First time out for Wayne Marrs in his 458 Challenge.

Nick Kaye’s 360 proved faster than the three 430s, the quickest of which was IngramHill’s. Paul Brooks demonstrated the straight-line speed of his 456GT by beating all the F355 times.

Race 1: 300 Circuit

The PFO race was the second

Paul Brooks used the straight line speed of his 456GT to good purpose although Darren Laverty was close behind in his F355 Challenge.

cloudy with perhaps rain threatening to spoil things. Simon Smeeth withdrew in view of his sickness. The race had barely begun before Vance Kearney smashed into the barriers at the left-hand Palmer corner. Black rubber marks leading to the grass outfield told the tale of perhaps too much speed and although the F355 Challenge car was in a sorry state more importantly Vance escaped without injury. Meanwhile, oblivious to all this mayhem behind him, Short proceeded to get away from his pursuers without too much apparent effort. Dwane gamely gave chase with Sam Smeeth very close behind. Then it was Marrs leading the FF Corse group of the Jennings family and new man Andersson. Ingram-Hill, going well and

lights proved to be simply due to the driver inadvertently tripping the pit lane speed limiter which was a disappointing end to a fine race. Martin Short took his first Ferrari Open chequered flag, some 13 seconds ahead of runner -up Smeeth. Dwane was a distant third with Marrs a further 12 seconds in arrears, in 4th overall. Tim Summers captured the C3 class on his maiden outing in PFO while Kaye took the honours in C2. Brooks made no mistakes to bring his big 456GT home for a first in class. The fastest lap of the race was recorded by Short on his final lap with a time of 1:55.479. This is a new Ferrari lap record for the 300 circuit, beating the previous target held by Paul Bailey by about 0.6 seconds.

CompRes 15

Photo: Silviane Gwynne

Q2: 200 Circuit Another dry day was in prospect when the PFO cars reappeared on Sunday to tackle the 200 Snetterton track, although overnight drizzle had left parts of the track with slight dampness. We now had Paul Bailey with us although absentees were Simon Smeeth and the luckless Vance Kearney. Immediately the cars were released there was a problem. Christian Andersson, perhaps failing to get his tyres up to working temperature, went off at the first corner, damaging the front end and left rear section of his 458 Challenge. There were no other hitches reported. This time it was Sam Smeeth who headed the qualifying sheet, fractionally faster than Short. In 3rd and 4th were Dwane and Bailey but such was the close competition that just 0.4 seconds covered these four. Kaye was substantially ahead of the two 430s, these being separated by only a hairsbreadth. In C1 it was Laverty who took over the lead from Brooks.

Race 2: 300 Circuit The first attempt at the rolling start to the Sunday afternoon Open race had to be aborted. Peter Jennings’s 458 inexplicably went on to ‘get-youhome’ mode and as a result the field was split into two. At the second attempt Jennings’s electronics were similarly malfunctioning and his car was pushed off the grid. When the race did finally get cracking it was pole man Smeeth who immediately took the initiative and streaked into the lead at Riches. Short made a determined effort to get past but Smeeth was driving his ‘nonaero’ car with great determination and skill. Lap 3 and Dwane snatched second spot with Short now being hounded by Bailey. Marrs was now dropping away from the leading group and had Shamus Jennings on his tail. Kaye, in the 360, was driving well and keeping the jousting 430s of

CompRes 16

Sunday’s race was a cracker, with the yellow 458 of Sam Smeeth taking victory by a hair’s breadth from Martin Short’s similar car but fitted with advanced aero appendages.

Ingram-Hill and Summers at bay. Behind, Brooks and Laverty were having a fine scrap for Class 1 supremacy. Mid-race and Smeeth seemed to have everything well under control. Although Short was back in second he didn’t seem to be able to close the gap. Dwane, although now in third, appeared to have the speed to keep ahead of Bailey, only a car’s length or so behind. With two laps remaining of the race, foreshortened due to those rolling start delays, the excitement increased. Short was definitely catching the leader but had the challenger left it too late? Mick Dwane was suddenly seen to be heading for the pits,

Sunday’s heroes. The overall winner, Sam Smeeth, with Martin Short and Paul Bailey.

convinced he had a puncture. He was waved on by his pit crew when they saw his tyres were fine – Mick had gone over a kerb which had actually dislodged part of his 458’s splitter – and he finished the race. On the final lap it was anybody’s guess who would cross the line first and had it been a horse race no doubt it would have been a photo finish. As it was Sam Smeeth took the flag by the proverbial fag paper. It had been a truly edge of the seat ending to a fine race. Paul Bailey took third, having snatched the place away from Dwane 4 laps from the end. Marrs came home 4th some distance ahead of the battling 458s of Shamus Jennings and Christian Andersson. Kaye again took a C2 class win ahead of the 430s, with Ingram-Hill beating Tim Summers by a whisker to win C3. In C1, Brooks came home victorious ahead of Laverty’s 355. The fastest lap of the race was recorded by Martin Short, setting a new record for C4 at 1:12.912 (some 2.8 seconds quicker than Mick Dwane’s previous best time). Nick Kaye was also a record lap breaker, beating his own previous best by almost exactly a second. The day’s class winners were presented with their bottles of Mumm champagne, courtesy of Viton O-Rings, with their trophies to follow in the post.

SNETTERTON Rounds 1 & 2 13th/14th APRIL 2013 Pos

Driver

ROUND 1: 300 CIRCUIT

Tipo

Class

Laps

Time

Best Lap

Qualify

Pos

Martin Short

458/Ch

25:31.414

1:55.479

1:53.362

Sam Smeeth

458/Ch

25:44.519

1:56.806

1:57.088

Mick Dwane

458/Ch

26:02.658

1:57.262

1:56.071

Wayne Marrs

458/Ch

26:14.587

1:59.358

1:56.045

Peter Jennings

458/Ch

26:24.553

1:59.675

200.303:

Christian Andersson

458/Ch

26:43.938

2:01.778

2:00.744

Tim Summers

430/Ch

25:58.685

2:07.010

2:07.696

Nick Kaye

360/Ch

26:11.318

2:06.370

2:04.810

Paul Brooks

456 GT

26:41.709

2:10.423

2:08.170

Darren Laverty

F355/Ch

26:49.228

2:10.598

2:10.186

Tim Ingram Hill

430/Ch

26:39.603

2:07.203

2:06.199

Steve Routledge

F355/Ch

26:58.514

2:24.137

2:31.503

DNF

Shamus Jennings

458/Ch

24:40.805

2:01.820

2:01.197

DNF

Vance Kearney

F355/Ch

2:11.475

Simon Smeeth

430/Ch

2:15.796

CLASS WINNERS C4 C3 C2 C1

Martin Short Tim Summers Nick Kaye Paul Brooks

Fastest Laps: Martin Short

1:55.479 (92.55 mph)

Nick Kaye

2:06.370 (84.57 mph)

Tim Summers

2:07.010 (84.15 mph)

Paul Brooks

2:10.423 (81.94 mph)

lap record

ROUND 2: 200 CIRCUIT Pos

Driver

Tipo

Class

Laps

Time

Best Lap

Qualify

Pos

Sam Smeeth

458/Ch

21:00.969

1:13.171

1:17.531

Martin Short

458/Ch

21:01.078

1:12.912

1:17.752

Paul Bailey

458/Ch

21:27.029

1:14.156

1:17.741

Wayne Marrs

360GTC

21:40.211

1:15.486

1:20.277

Shamus Jennings

458/Ch

21:51.466

1:15.636

1:23.175

Christian Andersson

458/Ch

21:53.260

1:14.721

Mick Dwane

458/Ch

22:11.518

1:13.924

1:23.617

Nick Kaye

360/Ch

21:45.967

1:20.198

1:26.681

Tim Ingram Hill

430/Ch

21:59.711

1:21.053

1:26.709

Tim Summers

430/Ch

22:00.092

1:20.034

1:32.618

Paul Brooks

456 GT

22:25.072

1:21.306

1:27.638

Darren Laverty

F355/Ch

21:16.973

1:22.872

1:35.540

Steve Routledge

F355/Ch

21:08.094

1:28.564

1:21.324

DNF

Peter Jennings

458/Ch

1:21.324

CLASS WINNERS C4 C3 C2 C1

Sam Smeeth Tim Ingram Hill Nick Kaye Paul Brooks

Fastest Laps: Martin Short

1:12.912 (97.96 mph)

lap record

Tim Summers

1:20.034 (89.24 mph)

lap record

Nick Kaye

1:20.198 (89.06 mph)

lap record

Paul Brooks

1:21.306 (87.84 mph)

CompRes 17

Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

fter months of hard work on the new Rollcentre Racing acquisition, the Ferrari 458 Challenge car, we found ourselves poised like the proverbial coiled spring at the Friday test day before the race weekend at Snetterton. So poised that the new toy didn't turn a wheel on the race track. It rained and rained and rained in our glorious English spring, though it did seem to herald winterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s final last gasps before finally departing our shores. So Saturday morning dawned, and despite over 25 years in the racing, I felt pretty nervous. This is a new venture for us, and a lot rested on what happened this weekend. The car has been heavily modified within the Pirelli Ferrari Open regulations, which means that aero kit, dampers, springs, wheels (as long as they are the same dimensions) and rollbars

CompRes 18

Rollcentre MD, MARTIN SHORT, took his newly acquired 458 Challenge car to Snetterton for the first Pirelli Ferrari Open race meeting of the 2013 season. Here he tells the story of his weekend of (almost) 100% success. are free. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just our kind of territory. We had made some huge revisions on the car, with a new bonnet which sucks the air out the radiators and over the top of the bonnet, and also a central downforce generating scoop, new front wings that extract all the air out of the arches, a modified front bumper, a huge splitter, a new rear bumper with aero work, and a new rear wing and mounts. On top of that, we have new bladed anti roll bars, and our own developed brake kit using AP brakes and Project Mu pads, rather than the carbon ceramic

ones supplied with the car. So we had rather put our asses on the line, not particularly helped with the car now being wrapped in matt black with our familiar lurid green highlights! Qualifying started, and we did a couple of exploratory laps just to get the old eye in, and then in for new boots. The car didn't feel as good as I had hoped on new tyres; it was rolling and understeering a lot. I pushed on, and had no pit board, so really didn't know where I was.....and then, after a few laps, finally spotted that the Ferrari had a lap timer built in to the dash! Ho hum.....well it said 1.53.3. Now the best that I had done in testing on old tyres was a 54.9, so I knew that was preety good. came into the pits and yes, it was 2.6 seconds quicker than the next car. Well, that was a bit of a statement. I was very pleased, but also a little concerned as I didn't want to find myself ostracised by the regular PFO runners for being a smart ass. That was a bloody big margin!

of qualifying, and taught the old man a few tricks! His start was impressive, jumping the reds like a pro. For the first time in my racing career, a rolling start was red flagged (subsequently) and Sam got a bollocking, as did I, for following him. Well done Clerk of the Course! Sadly though, we restarted the race with 5 mins less on the clock, which rather helped Sam but not me. Sam was in an ‘un-aero'ed’ car, and blisteringly quick down the straights but a bit wobbly round the corners. I tried to go around the outside of him on a number of occasions and failed as he cannily showed me the route to the grass. Good skills Sam! He drove bloody well, and kept me at bay. I then got mugged in the mêlée by Mick Dwane, which cost me about 5 seconds to Sam whilst I fought my way back to second. Sam was up the road and pushing hard. I didn't actually catch him until the last lap, and he defended for all his worth like an old pro. We crossed the line virtually side by

side - 0.109 secs apart. It was a fitting and fine finish that we both enjoyed. I actually raced courtesy of Sam’s father. He withdrew from the race just as I managed to position my big ass on the fire extinguisher button in the car between qually and race. Sam’s dad very kindly lent me his extinguisher so it was actually pleasing for all of us to watch a father’s son win the race. Hopefully one day soon I will be able to savour that pride. It was a great introduction to Ferraris, the fellow competitors warmed to me, and it was a good weekend in all. I may be unable to be at the next PFO race as I’m scheduled to be in Slovakia racing in Supercar Challenge, but will return as soon as possible, maybe with an even faster car. Please don’t throw me out of the Series guys! I am just a bit OCD about making cars fast!



Photo: www.simonpics.co.uk

The general consensus by those who did talk to me was that I would walk the race. And I did. The start was nice, I kept to the pace, and then off we went into the first corner. By the time I exited it I was already gone. I steadily pulled out a lead, and nailed my fastest lap on the last lap. I'm sure it wasn't a very popular win in the Ferrari paddock: it would seem that I am seen as a ‘pro driver’.....oh, if only....I'm just pretty good for an old fart. I don’t actually want to upset people and pot hunt, just enjoy racing and let people know what we do, and what we can do for them to make their cars, and them, hopefully faster. 26 years of racing under my belt, building my own cars, racing across the world. It seems to me that there is a lot of experience there that needs sharing! The balance was redressed in Race 2. Young Sam Smeeth lined up on pole and I was next to him. Sam managed to bang a clear lap in the damp conditions

CompRes 19

CompRes 20

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CompRes 21