ESPIRITO de MONTJUIC

[Mike Bell]

Peter Auto season opener near Barcelona. (Far enough away never to see the city...) Includes Group C.

[356sc]

For those interested entry list is now out.....good entry for 60s endurance!

[356sc]

Sadly not good for F2 entries....with only 7 entries you start to wonder how long PA will persevere

[Mike Bell]

See you there Will! As you say, 60s Endurance will be oversubscribed.....

[GCCheddaris]

The HSCC are crowing about the large number of new entries their Formula 2 series has received !

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by GCCheddaris

The HSCC are crowing about the large number of new entries their Formula 2 series has received !

As a regular attendee of Peter Auto events, I have to admit to enjoying them immensely. No one puts on a better show, in my opinion. But when it came to the inclusion of F2, like many others I thought it risky, especially with the HSCC championship already established. I don’t believe PA prop up unprofitable grids for long, so will be interesting to see how this season pans out.....

One point to mention, however, is that they always publish entry lists well in advance (unlike some), and they have usually changed by the start of the meeting!

[GCCheddaris]

Totally agree Mike , the rest of Peter Auto's grids are always well supported and varied but the only club I can think of that doesn't post entries are the BARC . It's a great shame that Peter Auto don't venture to the U.K. ( going to Castle Combe and Thruxton is enough of an adventure for me ! ) .

By the way hope I didn't offend with my post about Mark 2 Escorts at Goodwood last week . I was just curious why you had chosen what didn't seem to be an obvious choice of car .

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by GCCheddaris

Totally agree Mike , the rest of Peter Auto's grids are always well supported and varied but the only club I can think of that doesn't post entries are the BARC . It's a great shame that Peter Auto don't venture to the U.K. ( going to Castle Combe and Thruxton is enough of an adventure for me ! ) .

Re: Entry lists, I was comparing PA with people like Masters who are always last minute. Risk with early release is that there could be a lot of changes by the time the event takes place. The Silverstone Classic Programme springs to mind.....

There was mention of PA having a race for their new '2 litre cup' for 911 cars in the UK, but I can't see them ever having a full meeting here. You'll have to spread your wings a bit further- how about Spa in May? Not that far....

I'm pleased the HSCC F2 grid is strong, IMO they deserve the support.

Originally Posted by GCCheddaris

By the way hope I didn't offend with my post about Mark 2 Escorts at Goodwood last week . I was just curious why you had chosen what didn't seem to be an obvious choice of car .

No prob, hope my reasons made sense. It wouldn't have taken much to make it the car a front runner, but it wouldn't have been period correct or compliant with papers...

[Mike Bell]

Appears we’ve got a possible new challenge at a European race meeting- demonstrating locals! Apparently there were several road blocks on major routes and demos in Barca itself last weekend, so fingers crossed they will have calmed down a bit by the time we get there. When passing through the area last October we were warned against stopping overnight there, so kept the hammer down until well past!

[Mike Harte]

Yup, the natives are revolting!

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Yup, the natives are revolting!

Usually it's further North that you expect trouble (I see TGV rail strikes during Le Mans week now being discussed!)..... The Political Situation in Catalunya did put a question mark on this meeting when first added to the provisional calendar last year. Arrest of their ex-leader in Germany a few days ago seems to have stirred it up again.....

[Gerard C]

Isnt your SLR first in class? There is a fast Grantura around…

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Isnt your SLR first in class? There is a fast Grantura around…

Yes, that Grantura was extremely quick at Dijon last year, which was something new and surprising. Other races after that not so quick, but suddenly again.... It may be that the driver(s) has previous race time here, but it is one of our guy’s first visit, and the other hasn’t been here for ?? years! I reckon if the Morgan runs well in the race that normal service will be resumed.....

[Gerard C]

Watching the registered max speeds we had some laugh. Imagine a Capri 2600 RS accepted as being a Group1 and speeding at 227 kph! There is a special additive for the Mustangs but the secret is well kept. Impossible to put hand on a copy… Serious?

[Gerard C]

Door to door racing with the Grantura till it receives a black flag when 35 minutes remaining, is that right Mike? Reason was?

[Mike Bell]

1st reason- overtaking under safety car, second reason- under 5 min pit stop, all finished off by ignoring the black flag for 35 min........

So class p2 for us, just seconds behind the winning Bryant / Smith 911!

Good start to the season.

Hope tomorrow’s CER race goes as well.....

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

1st reason- overtaking under safety car, second reason- under 5 min pit stop, all finished off by ignoring the black flag for 35 min........

A french festival of what not to do when racing I can't believe it, really sometimes you wonder what can happen inside the helmet…
Well done for you! Have fun.

[Mike Bell]

Also a great result for the Stephens family in the trusty 356! Smiles all round.....

[Gerard C]

Mike, did they make the plumbing of engines and rev limiters too? Your Chevron finished so I guess a good weekend for all.

[Mike Bell]

Wet race for CER and dropped down a bit from P6 on the grid- there were several safety cars and it was a case of survival really!

BTW the black flag incident in the 60s race was because the driver involved forgot to turn into to the refuelling area when entering the pit lane. After remembering half way down he did a U turn and drove the wrong way back to up to it...... I kid you not!

Saw a couple of T70s having engine capacity checked, but that’s all, apart from the routine stuff.

[356sc]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

BTW the black flag incident in the 60s race was because the driver involved forgot to turn into to the refuelling area when entering the pit lane. After remembering half way down he did a U turn and drove the wrong way back to up to it...... I kid you not!

So they ignored the other misdemeanours?

It has to be said the discipline behind safety cars (maintaining speed to catch the car in front and not overtaking before the line) was pretty woeful by several cars.....something needs to be done or it will just get worse.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by 356sc

So they ignored the other misdemeanours?

It has to be said the discipline behind safety cars (maintaining speed to catch the car in front and not overtaking before the line) was pretty woeful by several cars.....something needs to be done or it will just get worse.

Perhaps people should pay attention during he drivers briefing, and realise the difference in required speed between a full course yelllow and a safety car situation.

[henk4]

and in the mean time we managed to get our report online.

https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/even...-Montjuic.html

[356sc]

Originally Posted by henk4

Perhaps people should pay attention during he drivers briefing, and realise the difference in required speed between a full course yelllow and a safety car situation.

When some of the drivers are feeling the need to take photos of the flag descriptions during the drivers briefing, it really does not fill you with confidence that some of your fellow competitors are going to abide by the flags, let alone the start, safety car or full course yellow procedures!!

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

I kid you not!

There are several ways to be unique and to enter the Guinness book! Happy he doesn't belong to my relatives though…