Race Calendar & Results

It was always going to be a busy day with 4 races entered.

Testing on the previous day with the new V8 was all pretty good.  Straight out of the box it was as quick as the old girl!

Saturday dawned bright and sunny.  With 30 minutes to first qualifying it was time to warm the car up, but it wouldn't start!  Ted and Paul quickly established that there was no spark.  With Boisies help it became clear that there was a defective 'box'. Meanwhile qualification was getting very close.  The old car was in the lorry.

A quick sprint to race control established we had to have the second car scrutineered before we could qualify!  All that took precious minutes which meant by the time I got into the pit lane the qualifying was nearly over.  However I managed to get 4 laps in before the session ended, so at least I qualified.  By the next qualifying session Boisie had managed to track down the requisite spare part nearby and we were back 'on track'. 

In the Intermarque qualifying Jackie Cochranes Tiger was going like a rocket.  In the Super GT session it became clear that there were in effect 2 races and we were in the second!

When the qualifying sheets were published pole for the Championship was amazing.  2nd in the Intermarque and 7th in the Super GT were both OK after the start to the day!

Race 1 - Aston Martin Classic Championship

The lights went out very quickly and both Les Goble (2nd) and I had cars pulling alongside over the first 100 yards, but despite some squeezing and door handle rubbing I got round the first corner with Les behind me.  I was able to pull gently away by 0.5 to 0.7 secs per lap, then amongst the back markers the gap stayed firmly constant.  With 5 minutes to go I had a comfortable lead but the engine wouldn't run to full revs.  I could see Les but thought I could get home in front. 

Despite yellow flags on the last lap - just like last year - I came home for a very satisfying win.

Qualifying: pole in 1.06.331 (88.95mph) (lap 4)

Race Result: 1st overall, 1st in class in  19.57.410 @ 88.69mph.

Best lap: 1.04.466 (lap 2)

Race 2 - AMOC Intermarque

A rolling start and Jackie Cochrane roared into the lead and I followed trying to keep up with him, then a gap already to Bob Searles leading the rest of the field.  A lot of cars suffered breakdowns - indeed 9 failed to finish including Jackie who lost all his water on lap 8.  This made the complex a bit slippery!  So into the lead with Bob Searles trying very hard to close the gap, but we settled into a 7 - 8 second gap which is how it finished.  So a second, unexpected victory.  The day was definitely getting better! 

Qualifying: 2nd in 1.06.324 (88.96mph) (lap 7)

Race result: 1st overall, 1st in class in 20.30.336 (86.32mph)

Best Lap: 1.05.784 (lap 2)

Race 3 - Super GT

The grid was headed by 2 very quick one off Astons both having qualified sub 59 seconds!  At the start they shot off.  I settled in behind Jackie Cochrane's Tiger but he had a repeat of his earlier problem and slowed going around Copse.  I was boxed in behind him and when I got 'free' I had been passed by Tom Black (N24) and a Ferrari.  A couple of laps and I was back to my start place of 7th, but by now Les Goble in George Miller's GT4 was dicing with Ellwoods Marcos.  They were both flying and I was unable to close the gap that had been established. 

However mechanical gremlins came back to help me as the 3 quickest cars fell by the wayside.  This was a 40 minute 2 driver race with compulsory pit stop.  I drove on my own and as I exited the pits for the second part of the race I knew I had a chance of a podium.  At the end I found myself in second place to the Marcos, by about the gap that was established in the first 2 laps!  We were the only 2 cars in the same lap.

Qualifying: 7th in 1.05.306 (90.34mph) (lap 2)

Race Result: 2nd overall, 1st in class in 41.06.650 (86.11mph)

Best Lap: 1.04.392 (lap 17)

Race 4 - David Brown Trophy

This was a fun 3 car relay race, a recreation of a famous old race.  This time only 5 laps each - too short really.  I was teamed with Messers Cambell & Cambell (unrelated!) .  They both drove excellent legs, I maintained the position and so we came home 2nd.

An excellent end to a busy, tiring but enjoyable day.