Race Calendar & Results

Silverstone AMOC - 22nd June

 

Round 3 of the AMOC Championship.  A replacement engine on the V8 and hopes of something better than the 2 previous rounds, where breakdowns and blow ups had cost probably 3 wins and a 4th podium!

 

The weather forecast was dodgy, but in the end we had a dry but windy day for a busy days racing with big grids and a track parade for the 50th Anniversary of the DB4.  Also new for today was having Ant racing in the same races as me in our new Bennington/Scragg Aston Martin N24.

 

Race 1 AMOC Classic Championship

 

Qualifying

A busy track, 20 hectic minutes including a nudge from Mr Lewis, but at the end pole position. 

 

The Race

A new format with grid girls no less.  A good start saw me 20 to 30 yards clear of Les Goble in George Millar's V8 - a sister car to mine.  Soon however yellow flags waived, then a red flag - race stopped because (I think) Paul Hipwell had spun going into the complex and Geoffrey Lewis had t-boned him and most regrettably Ant caught the back of one of them, which put him out as well. 

 

At the re-start the same again, a reasonably comfortable gap to Les in second place with Bob Searles a distant third.

 

On the last lap going through Maggots a waived yellow - I lifted off as required but Les failed to see the flag and went by me.  At the end of that lap the chequered flag was out - but Les also failed to see that and did another lap before slowing down!!

 

Despite my protests, with no camera coverage at the crucial part of the track, he was awarded the race.  Scant consolation was spectator reports of the incident!   Apart from that it was a good but damaging race with Robert Rawe and Jeremy Cooke also 'meeting' and causing much damage to their cars. 

 

With Bob Searles in 3rd place it was the first 1-2-3 for V8 Astons for some time. 

 

Qualifying: pole in 1.05.884 (89.55mph)

Race Result: 2nd in 12.13.043

Average speed: 88.54mph

Best Lap: 1.04.890

 

Race 2 - AMOC Intermarque Championship (on Toya Tyres)

 

Qualifying

40 cars on track, so definitely busy, but second to Jackie Cochrane was OK.

 

The Race

A rolling start and level pegging into the first corner and then a bit of clear air into the lead, but with Jackie all over me.  This lasted for about 5 laps and as we started working our way through back markers he made a good move and outdragged me down the back straight. 

 

With just 4 laps to go and still chasing hard I overtook a porsche coming around the bend onto the pit straight.  That was OK, but with full power the next bit was not so good  - I ended up on the grass and usually one then hits the wall!!  I avoided that result, but having mowed the grass at 120mph or so the air inlets were all bunged up - engine temperature soon headed skywards so I had to turn off.  My fault and a second place went away! 

 

Qualifying: 2nd in 1.05.048

Race Result: DNF....but fastest lap in Class D in 1.05.098 (90.63mph)

 

Ant significantly improved his best lap time and came 12th.

 

Race 3 - AMOC Super GT

 

New for me the Super GT, with some frighteningly quick cars. 

 

Qualifying

All OK, a fifth fastest - the best of the rest after the super quick cars.

 

The Race

This was a 30 minute race and after the problems of the grass/over heating in the Intermarque Race I only just got to the assembly area in time.  A rolling start and a nice view of the front four putting down all their power. 

 

Soon they went away and I spent the rest of the race with Charlie White's ferarri giving me a hard time through the corners, then I would get away a bit and then he would catch a bit and so on.  Quite hard work but good fun and at the end a pleasing 3rd place with Ant coming home in 8th, by now the second fastest N24. 

 

Qualifying: 5th in 1.04.606 (91.32mph)

Race Result: 3rd in 29.53.099 @ 89.57mph

Best Lap: 1.04.909

 

And so ended a slightly frustrating day, that had however some great racing moments.