CTCRC Autoglym Classic Festival 2009 25th July

[Al Weyman]

Yes Peter I have just got back after spending Saturday night at the circuit. The wholeday was a resounding success with brilliant weather and great racing rounded off by a superb barby and free beer.

Zef was very pleased to win his class in the beautiful GT Cortina and I was pleased to start and finish two races with a very strong engine and in the Group 1 race managed to shock a Capri or two after getting a blistering start from halfway down the grid after getting baulked the whole session by a Fiesta (I should have held back but was having too much fun) to third or 4th by the first bend and would have held it as well as I did for the first few laps but for the clutch failing to disengage as the new bits bedded in to the old on the triple plate Tilton (knew it was not an ideal solution but money dictated) meaning I had to do the whole circuit in third gear made worse by the fact after a couple of laps I thought I would make a grab for 2nd going up hairy Hill where I could make a lot of ground with the grunt only to not be able to select any gears for a few seconds letting a few cars through. I managed to bash it into third and carried on to get a class win which was not hard as I was the only one in the class!

Oddly enough I had a similar problem in the earlier Post Historic race but caused by a different problem. This time the gear change linkage lost a bolt and fortuinarely got stuck in third the only gear I could do the entire race in which is what I did more or less from lap one and similarly won the class for the afore mentioned reason ( I know they say to win you have to finish but you also have to enter as well ).

There was a most unfortunate accident in the 2nd Classics and Historic race when Les Nash's engine decided it did'nt like one of the conrods and spat it out the side of the block causing a huge oil slick. I must say concensus of opinion the marshals were a tad slow with the oil flags but in their defence I would asy they were quick with the waved yellows so maybe some driver error as well. Nick Jones was the first one caught out and slid off the track without damage, unfortunately that situation was short lived as Andy Meesham also got caught out moments later and slid straight into the hapless Nick's Anglia possible badly damaging both cars.

It was a great weekend and despite the tiny circuit I thourhly enjoyed it and think the Dorans are doing a great job summed up by the politeness of the lad on the gate that prompted one of the guys to thank him and say in all the years of coming to the circuit this was the nicest welcome he had ever had far better than the previous nethandal grunts you were welcomed with by the staff. The toilet block was not half bad with ample hot water, toilet paper and paper towels so good effort there. The wrist band system worked extremelly well with no problems with my guest picking up bands from the gate something a lot of circuits will not do for you now so I saw no problems with the systemI think the meeting will make good TV when it is aired with plenty of action down the field, oh and I got a startline interview so when do I start signing those autographs that were mentioned earlier in the thread.

[zefarelly]

We had a great weekend, thanks to everyone involved, the circuit and Paddock are better equipped now than a few others we've been to recently

We cruised in Friday afternoon (no one on the gate!) set up camp, signed on, got scrutineered all sorted no problems, twas very relaxed and pleasant.

Sat: Went out for qualifying did 2 laps and came in for some oil . . . that orange light told me I was low . . . . suitably annoyed I ragged it round for the last 5 minutes of qually and was pleasantly suprised with 7th on the grid, I was also pleased with pace compared to the Anglias with similar engines if not carbs, they should be quicker than me but there was less than half a second in it.

1st race I got a reasonable start (the 3 leading LC's all jumped it badly) and tucked into 5th behind the mini of Jim Burrows?. . . got past that after 2 laps and was then comfortable 4th merely a jumped start and a tad behind the 3 leading LC's . . I wasn't going to catch them and didn't want to get involved . . .after about 8 or 9 laps I noticed the gauges heading right, so I short shifted a few laps then retired, dissaponted, but encouraged.

After the car cooled we whipped the head off (another head gasket, it doesn't like more than 12:1!) and checked everything, refitted 2 gaskets to lower compression . . . . we just made the start of race 2, untested and starting at the back of the Grid . . . got a clean start worked my way through the field, caught the 2 Anglias, who where fighting each other for position, got them both round the inside of the hairpin at the top of the hill in successive laps and started to pull away slightly, 2 laps after I saw the flags, got off line and fortunately narrowly avoided the oil and carnage that caused them, yellows where out fairly quickly I think, a real shame for Andy and Nick, I don't think Mr Nash got any nominations for driver of the day!

I was classified 4th overall and class win, from the back of the grid with a compromised engine I was quite pleased, I murdered a pair of front tyres in the process, then murdered a few beers and burgers, great stuff.

[Al Weyman]

Group 1 and Post Historic Touring Cars results (not necessarilly in that order).

[Al Weyman]

Full results now up http://www.classictouringcars.com/Ly...en_Results.pdf

[dan290888]

I was there spectating on saturday and thoroughly enjoyed a good days racing for not much £££s...

Anyone know if this is going to be shown on tv? if so when???

Thanks

Dan

[Al Weyman]

It certainly is Dan, we will post up as soon as we have the schedules, and no laughing if they show my startline interview!

[jonbryant]

Should I post a blatant link to my photos here too?

[Al Weyman]

Why not, they are certainly good enough, you really caught some good action stuff.

[jonbryant]

Always easy at Lydden to catch the action. Still amazed (and pleased) the Rover missed you Al

[Al Weyman]

Yes I think that is one picture I will buying off you Jon when I get a minute to sort it out, here is Jon's photo link of the event as he seems a bit shy ( ;-) )and there is some really good historic stuff on there that deserves a wider audience http://www.snappyracers.com/album/250709Lydden/ :-).

[Moosehead]

Excellent photos, looked a cracking meeting with a good variety of cars. Shame about all the damage though.

[jonbryant]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Yes I think that is one picture I will buying off you Jon when I get a minute to sort it out, here is Jon's photo link of the event as he seems a bit shy ( ;-) )and there is some really good historic stuff on there that deserves a wider audience http://www.snappyracers.com/album/250709Lydden/ :-).

Spread the word!

[zefarelly]

we are

http://www.throbnozzle-racing.co.uk/

[jonbryant]

Cheers Joe

[Cliff Ryan]

Great meeting, thanks to all at CTCRC, the circuit, officials and of course the marshalls. I raced in my son's Escort mexico in the Post Historics, as he is away and had a great time. All we need is more power to be a bit more competitive!!!

[Al Weyman]

Nice to see you and the car out there Cliff, the car looked good.

[zefarelly]

Don't we all Cliff.

then you need more handling, then more grip and ultimately more talent

then you need more power again !!!

[Cliff Ryan]

Hi Zef, sorry, did I say power, what I really meant was talent!!! (As Al said, 'the car looked good!')
I should have come and said hello, will do next time.
Best, Cliff