Masters Magny Cours 11/12 July 2009

[Peter Mallett]

Details here:

http://www.themastersseries.com/reso...ble_170609.pdf

Who's going?

[Mike Bell]

Hi Peter- Yup, Touring 70s again. Suspect that grids may be small? Am crossing on thursday so as to get some free practice on friday. Escort now has more suitable cwp and maybe if they arrive in time some new dampers, so at least looking forward to gear ratios being somewhere right this time!

Sorry you can't make it with the Capri, by the way.

Anyone suggest an alternative route from Calais not using the Periphique, as the crossing means hitting Paris at the worst time!

Mike

[MGDavid]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

........Anyone suggest an alternative route from Calais not using the Periphique, as the crossing means hitting Paris at the worst time!

Mike

try turning left at Senlis and making a wide arc to the east via Meaux and Melun

[johngee]

Originally Posted by MGDavid

try turning left at Senlis and making a wide arc to the east via Meaux and Melun

Yes - that's the favoured option plus there's better places to stop and refresh rather than the autoroute service stations - whilst better than ours, they're still worth avoiding!

[Mike Bell]

Thanks for that suggestion- makes sense so will be spending a bit of time programming the satnav!

Regards, Mike

[rogerwills]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Hi Peter- Yup, Touring 70s again. Suspect that grids may be small? Am crossing on thursday so as to get some free practice on friday. Escort now has more suitable cwp and maybe if they arrive in time some new dampers, so at least looking forward to gear ratios being somewhere right this time!

Sorry you can't make it with the Capri, by the way.

Anyone suggest an alternative route from Calais not using the Periphique, as the crossing means hitting Paris at the worst time!

Mike

Mike, we plan to be there. I wasn't going to do it and then my wife decided she wanted to come so who was I to argue??

We will have one and perhaps a second batmobile so you will have some competition in the Touring 70s.

See you there.

Roger

[SteveTandy]

We are going with the T70 and E Type, hoping for great weather, only drove circuit once before on Tour Auto - a few years ago. Pete Chambers also running Steve Allen in Arrows A1

[Peter Mallett]

Only a week away, Weather forecast here. http://www.holiday-weather.com/magny...-forecast.html

[johngee]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Only a week away, Weather forecast here. http://www.holiday-weather.com/magny...-forecast.html

Any more cheerful forecasts/news.....like the € is going to parity with the £

[Peter Mallett]

Won't last long, the Euro will crash soon.

[terence]

Soon wont be soon enough

[john ruston]

I seem to remember Mr Tandy with Broth did a very hot lap so the rest of you need to careful!

[rogerwills]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Only a week away, Weather forecast here. http://www.holiday-weather.com/magny...-forecast.html

That one is not looking so good now.

This looks better:

http://freemeteo.com/default.asp?pid...d=2996766&la=1

So who else is going?

[Mike Bell]

I've never seen weather forecasters change their minds so often- from hour to hour almost! Won't need the extra sun cream- or maybe......

See you there.

[Peter Mallett]

Well I hope it is successful, its a shame I couldn't make the timing work. There was a race with a French Group 1 championship which looks like it would be a hoot.

[johngee]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

I've never seen weather forecasters change their minds so often- from hour to hour almost! Won't need the extra sun cream- or maybe......

See you there.

Every forecast that I look at is different .

Anyhow, I'm sure we'll have a good time and see you there.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Well I hope it is successful, its a shame I couldn't make the timing work. There was a race with a French Group 1 championship which looks like it would be a hoot.

I'll be having a good look round the Gp1 stuff, Peter, and hopefully check out their races as well if time permits.

Car and bits loaded- have taken trailer 'soft top' off to help fuel consumption so will be happy if I can get there without any rain!

[Mike Bell]

Back. Just. Kn(very tired)ed. 1250 more miles on the van odo, but worth every one!

Great weekend for those that made the trip. Not too hot and dry apart from a shower at the end of WSM sunday pm which resulted in a few spins! I thought the circuit was great but even my front brakes struggled to cope and new discs & pads are needed for Classic. Took a while to find right line for '180' but loved both chicanes and the Grand Course / Estoril combo. Never got to take the former flat but quick lift, dab then straight back on power was enough to make me hold my breath! Fastest lap 2min 05.5 which was happy with for first visit.

Whole weekend was very relaxed and there was quite a lot of 'letting hair down' saturday evening at the BBQ / disco- which was good to see! I left before the rumoured foam party started, so can't report on any impropriety.......

Thanks to all the Masters team who worked doubly hard to keep everything running smoothly and all the French officials and marshals. I was 2nd car in scrutineering and first with HTP in car so the very nice chief decided to give the other scruts a quick lesson in historic regs- then thanked me for my patience!

Must mention the guys at Matrix Motorsport who let me set up next to them then plied me with drink of all type, bacon sarnies and generally made me feel welcome all weekend. Top blokes- dedicated but having fun. As it should be.

Will report a bit about the racing- but not now- need some sleep.

[Peter Mallett]

Good stuff,

Look forward to your report.

[David Abbott]

How did the F1 racing go?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by David Abbott

How did the F1 racing go?

Sorry David, honestly don't know as never got to watch them and results aren't anywhere to be found yet. There were 11 pre '78 and 3 post '78 entered but not sure all turned up. I did get time to admire Graham Adelman's BRM as it went down the pit lane at one point!

[Peter Mallett]

Soooo,

Any reports now it's been a few days?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Soooo,

Any reports now it's been a few days?

Days which have been spent on stuff other than motor racing!

Proto 70s coming up- OK if I have supper first?

Results are now on Masters website if anyone wants to check anything particular.

[Peter Mallett]

Supper can wait. (I've had mine BTW).

[Mike Bell]

Supper didn't wait

6 Protos and 5 Tourers entered, only no show being CSL of James Hanson. Usual DFV engined protos for Leo Voyazides (T280) and Irvine Laidlaw (T292), with under 2l cars of Sandy Watson (B19), Doug Hart (March) and Charlie Kemp (T210). The latter car was also entered for the 2 WSM races as well. Also included as a proto was the gorgeous 911RSR of Jeremy Cooke, still with Tuthill's spare rally engine fitted after the original exploded spectacularly at Donington in May. The touring cars consisted of the 2 'Batcave' CSLs , one for Roger W with Joe Twyman down to drive the other one for the first time. Paul Knapfield travelled down with his beautiful Gp4 Daytona, and final entry was my Escort RS1600. Not on the entry list but joining for the race were Frenchmen Marc Hevia in a McLaren M1B (running on slicks) and David Ferrer in his 308GTB.

Qualifying on Sat morning (30 minutes- thanks!) was interrupted by 'full course yellows' after the McLaren spun at Chateau D'eau and almost blocked the corner for a few minutes until dragged out of the way. This worked perfectly for me as I had been trying to sort out lines for some of the corners, and the reduced pace helped a lot. After the greens came out I was able to post my fastest lap on the last one. Sadly not to make the grid were the CSL of Joe T (diff) and Paul Knapfield's Daytona. (Reason not known) Pole was the T280, followed by T292, March 75S, B19 & T210. Best of the TCs was David Ferrer in the GTB, followed by the (not to start) Daytona, my Escort, the M1B and RSR. At the back of the grid, with times cancelled, was Roger in his CSL. I'll leave him to tell us why.

Race 1- Forming up on the grid 2 cars were missing, the GTB and M1B somehow being late for the rolling start. (lunch?) They joined in from the pitlane. The 2 DFV engined Lolas and BDG engined March circulated in close formation for the whole race (which was great when they came up to lap me as they went past as one!) with Leo Voyazides eventually opening up 4 seconds on Doug Hart, who had eventually got past Irvine Laidlaw. Unfortunately Charlie Kemp retired at the start, leaving Sandy Watson, Roger Wills, me, Jeremy Cooke and Marc Hevia to take the remaining finishers places in that order. The GTB- which was on the same pace as the CSL- stopped after 7 laps. I'm not sure what was wrong with the M1B but it felt a bit strange lapping it twice in an Escort......

Race 2 (Sunday)- Sitting in the pitlane on slicks, it started to rain. Then it stopped. 2 more non starters, the 308GTB and Sandy Watson's B19. With same grid as before, the lap behind SC was a bit untidy at the front with observer sticking 2 fingers up several times! Problem with being in pairs (as he was indicating!) was the Complexe du Lycee chicane before the start. A very tight squeeze and easy to get dirt on tyres going off line. Anyway, we got green lights but missing was Leo V in the T280 who had pulled off. This time however Charlie Kemp was going well and finished runner up to Doug Hart. Irvine Laidlaw was classified 3rd and had led for 12 laps, but only completed 13. Following these were Roger in the CSL, me again, Jeremy Cooke and the M1B. The latter had spun and stalled in the same corner as qualifying.

From a personal point of view, although the only under 2l touring car, just driving the circuit as fast as possible was challenge enough. It is very hard on brakes and if you take too much kerb in some places hard on suspension as well. If you look on GB Photosports website, Proto 70s, car 10 (Roger), there is a good sequence of pics as he tries to mow down the photographer......