2011 Portimao Historic Festival

[Mike Bell]

Sorry about that Joe, don't think Iain or I have any space unless a car bought over stays here.

Qualifying in the Delta went OK yesterday, no more dramas! Met tenther Eamonn Ledwidge among others. Great Iain organised Kart race with 18 of us- ranging from young whippersnappers through to us old farts. Team Delta did OK with mk1mart 4th, Iain 7th, me 8th and young Josh 9th. (he was nerfed, not saying by who....) day finished with the organised BBQ which was up to usual standard.

First race today, changed gear ratios to suit standing start. First corner two F2 cars took each other off so SC for 4 laps. Had great dice with couple of cars, one an F3, finally finishing just behind other Delta in 15th. Best lap 2-3.5, a second off his best, so well pleased! Iain now out getting pizzas, SM race in full swing, may run into dusk!

2 races for Iain tomorrow, first at 0830, and me out again late pm. Will be sorry when it's all over.......

[Derwent Motorsp]

Are there any online results anywhere?
Cheers

[zefarelly]

Derwent, its Portugal . . . THe safety car has 3 legs and a crooked ear

Steve seems to have made some progress . .. . regardless of the outcome, hats off for taking the 'leisurely' option and driving from Chester for the sheer pleasure.

[Mike Bell]

Well, it's all over, and raining! Just having last supper at the circuit. Mixed results today, Iain dnf'd in FJ and I got a 11th in Delta. Knocked another second off and posted 2-02.6 lap which is 8 seconds faster than Escort has been round. Not bad on 120bhp........

[rogerwills]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

SOS!

An old friend of mine has broken down in his Rover P5b . . . . he's been at a family wedding about 10-15 miles from Portimao, the cars near Guarda, which is en route back to Santander . . . . . . I think the fuel pumps packed up and its still running its mechanical pump on the V8. It would appear the word competent mechanic doesn't exist in Portugese and he's a bit stuck having called the AA already.( or whomever he's with on the way down, they won't come out again!)

So . .does anyone have a car space on a trailer/transporter back to England . . . or brave enough to stop and help him. It can't be that hard to fix, Steves not in the slightest bit mechanicaly minded, and the car is mint. I reckon it just need an electric pump plumbing in. If anyones got any great ideas please text Steve, or call +44 7778 222443.

thanks
Joe

We may have space in our truck. He needs to call Paul asap - +44-7879-680-222. They may have left already.....

[Mike Bell]

Hooley last night apparently took roof off Faro airport! Still at circuit having brunch, starting for home soon. Hope weather in uk holds.....

[zefarelly]

Thanks Roger, have forwarded that, and posted a 2nd parcel of fuel pump parts, so one way or another he should get sorted.

[Peter Mallett]

Lol, I saw it and figured he'd be unlikely to be reading the thread so I texted him with the phone number. He replied that he'd left a voice mail.

[Andrea Lazzari]

Originally Posted by rogerwills

They may have left already...

Hi Roger, how are you and your Cooper?

[simon drabble]

are the results posted anywhere or is it a case of "if you were not there you dont need to know"

[john ruston]

Buy HMRN in about six weeks!

Roger did very well in Talbot which was only a rally car.

[zefarelly]

Have you converted him to the Green side?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by simon drabble

are the results posted anywhere or is it a case of "if you were not there you dont need to know"

Simon, havn't found any proper results but will email organiser in case he knows where to look! Previous years Masters sorted but as they are not there......

Would like all the info myself

[john ruston]

Anyone sensible who drives a green bus is a convert!

[rogerwills]

Originally Posted by Andrea Lazzari

Hi Roger, how are you and your Cooper?

Andrea, thanks to you (and the many others who have been in contact) for asking.

Remarkably I came away ok after what could have been a very bad accident. A cut across my nose, some bruises and some light burns but nothing else.

It happened on the last corner, over the brow of the hill. Alasdair had pulled off the corner before with a broken driveshaft so I don't think I was pushing harder than normal.

As you know, that last corner is very fast. The car always goes light over the crest but it got very out of shape - perhaps due to the strong winds. I'm not sure how many times I rolled but I remember flying upside down for quite a while and my helmet has lost quite a few mm from rubbing on the track. I ended up right way up luckily as the car then went on fire and I was covered in petrol. I was still on fire when I got out of the car. Scariest thing I've ever been through.

I feel very very lucky.

The car is worse than me but will be repaired of course.

Thanks to all concerned who looked after me etc. Very much appreciated.

A bit of a rough end to an otherwise very good weekend.

Roger

[rogerwills]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Roger did very well in Talbot which was only a rally car.

You flatter me JR!

What a great car. Incredible fun and such a tame thing. Especially when you consider the size and age of it.

And some incredible technology - gearbox etc.

Fantastic fun!

Thanks again.

[rogerwills]

Originally Posted by rogerwills

Andrea, thanks to you (and the many others who have been in contact) for asking.

Remarkably I came away ok after what could have been a very bad accident. A cut across my nose, some bruises and some light burns but nothing else.

It happened on the last corner, over the brow of the hill. Alasdair had pulled off the corner before with a broken driveshaft so I don't think I was pushing harder than normal.

As you know, that last corner is very fast. The car always goes light over the crest but it got very out of shape - perhaps due to the strong winds. I'm not sure how many times I rolled but I remember flying upside down for quite a while and my helmet has lost quite a few mm from rubbing on the track. I ended up right way up luckily as the car then went on fire and I was covered in petrol. I was still on fire when I got out of the car. Scariest thing I've ever been through.

I feel very very lucky.

The car is worse than me but will be repaired of course.

Thanks to all concerned who looked after me etc. Very much appreciated.

A bit of a rough end to an otherwise very good weekend.

Roger

Sorry, meant to add, thanks so much to the marshalls, medics etc who all did a great job.

And thanks to Motor Racing Medic's Dr Mark Green who also came to give me a once over. I tried to contact you today Mark to say thanks.

[Mike Bell]

Results here including pics-

http://www.mediafire.com/?etvekyds7wshq

[Andrea Lazzari]

Originally Posted by rogerwills

Remarkably I came away ok after what could have been a very bad accident

Roger, I'm very happy to read that you are ok... Enrico watched you rolling and catching fire. Quite shocking when happens to a mate.
Looking forward to see you back on track at the wheel of your Cooper!

[rogerwills]

Attached is a photo from Jim Houlgrave of the marshals who pulled me from the burning car and put out the fire that was all over my overalls.

Real heroes in orange.



The HGPCA presented them with a momento each to say thanks.

The marshals also received a mention on the Motorsport Magazine website.

http://www.motorsportmagazine.co.uk/...rtimao…/

Huge thanks!

Roger

[Will Nuthall]

Great to hear your alright Roger, my Dad got a few ('good' if you can call it that) pictures of you and the car after you stopped and we in the process of getting out which I'll try and put on soon. We were watching the race from the top of the tower.

I really enjoyed the circuit and almost even more so in the damp of Sunday morning, Made life for myself difficult on Saturday dropping back 6 places off the start! Really happy with 2 3rd places, could have been better on Sunday hindered by having a car that was slowing as the track dried out!

Iain's karting was also good fun! Even though I got beaten by my brother (went back on Sunday and evened the score though!) pictures of the podium to follow.

Will

[Will Nuthall]

I also have to say the speed that the marshal reacted, ran over, and managed to use his extinguisher on you was extremely good, as can be seen from the pictures.

[Will Nuthall]

Some of the pictures we took are here

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...4504448&type=3


I think you should be able to view...

[Bob T]

Newboy here, be gentle

Having been at Portamao last weekend and seen this accident its good to see the driver's posts.
Scary accident to watch, from memory (!) the car started to slide and then suddenly rolled. Landed very heavily upside down, slid several hundred meters across the track and run off area upside down before rolling again when it got to the gravel. Ending upright was good, on fire was not, but good to see him able to make a rapid exit.
As others have said the marshalls did a great job. The guy with the extinguisher was very fast across the gravel and got to the car just as the driver was exiting. He had the fire on the driver out within seconds and then went on to put out the fire in the car.
Scary accident to watch, good to see the driver OK.
I do have some photos, happy to forward onto Roger rather than post here.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Bob T

Newboy here, be gentle

Hi Bob and welcome. Were you racing during the weekend?

Been trying to get round to telling story of my 3rd visit to the festival, so if the laptop doesn't give up the ghost here goes!

During the summer I decided to buy a historic FF2000 after Iain Rowley very kindly let me have a try in his Delta. As there were to be two single seater races at the Algarve event for FF cars it seemed a good idea to make my debut in open wheeled racing there. The car purchased hadn't turned a wheel for 4 years as had been stored since 2007. At Iain's workshop 10 days before departure we changed the brake fluid, gear ratios and fitted some newer tyres. The belts and extinguisher were well out of date so Iain arranged for latter to be serviced and I ordered new straps.

While all this was going on I was also moving out of previous home, and awaiting delivery of new transporter needed for the trip........ As it happened I was 'homeless' for a week as new house wasn't ready, but luckily the tractor unit recently acquired was a 'sleeper', so became home for 3 nights until the trailer was ready and collected from Bristol. This then became accommodation for 4 further nights before departure to Algarve! Did get keys for new home on Friday 14th but just looked round, locked door and went back to truck.

Met up with Iain (fresh from Hockenheim!) at Portsmouth ferry port, and enjoyed a 'millpond' crossing to Caen. Rest of journey was equally trouble free and made easier for me by having Martin 'mk1mart' in co-drivers seat. Navigation and Peage payments were very slick......

Usual faffing on arrival at circuit wednesday morning waiting to be allowed in. Set up camp with Delta truck opposite side of paddock to garages- near showers and toilets, always handy! Had a bit of trouble getting power into truck from circuit supply- until realised was plugging into wrong place...Found at signing on that FF races were combined with F2/F3 cars, but no problem to me, as exected to be at the back anyway! Also races were to be standing start, so after free practice that lasted 20 seconds when coil packed up we changed ratios again. All good practice for me....

So first time in the car at speed was in qualifying, and sure enough was several seconds off pace of other FF2000 Delta that Martin Donne was driving. Other FFs were late 90s Zetec cars on slicks and historic 1600s. Managed to thankfully be faster than some of them. First race and got a great start with just right amount of spin, and made up some places. Then on first corner two leading F2s touched and went off, so 4 laps behind SC. Spent rest of race in company with F3 Martini (think the Kinch's) and a Zetec driven by Chis Helliwell. This eventually expired with ignition sensor failure and I got away from the Martini. Eventual poition was 3rd FF behind a Portugese Zetec and Martin in other Delta, but still a bit off his pace. Second race was last thing sunday and got another good start, making up places again. Tried to hang on to other Delta but got caught up in 3 way battle with same Martini and Zetec again! Eventually left them to it but wasn't able to close the gap to Martin. Did manage to get to within 0.2 seconds of his fastest time so was happy with that and another 3rd place.

I am going to keep repeating this, but the Algarve Historic Festival is a great event on a fantastic circuit in a super location, run by as enthusiastic a team as you will find anywhere. Thanks to them all for making it one of my favourite events- will be going back for 4th visit next October! (Confirmed 18th to 21st- put it in your diaries.) Also big thanks to 'Team Delta' Iain, Martin and Josh for their help, and also fellow Delta owner Paul Jenkins who assumed the roll of mentor and chief pit crew for the weekend. Must mention Steve Nichols as well for his stories of life in F1!