Spa Classic

[356sc]

Originally Posted by john ruston

.Bill is probably the best 356 engineer in UK.

John...I can think of at least one "talkative" individual that would dispute this!!!!!!!!!

[john ruston]

Will,He's wrong about most things including that!

Pieter not mine but I think it's the car that is driven by the disabled French
man and he's quick. All hand controlled.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Will,He's wrong about most things including that!

Pieter not mine but I think it's the car that is driven by the disabled French
man and he's quick. All hand controlled.

the guy in the Howmet and the Capri? Yes he is quick.
BTW John, is your ex car now blue? and does it have Cobra seats? I stumbled upon her in the paddock and they were fiddling with the engine, obviously in vain because I never saw her on track

[356sc]

The white speedster is Vincent Tourneur's, and he drives it with hand controls, although at a flick of a switch is reverts to normal controls!

The blue speedster is not JR's old car, this one is Jeff Moyes' car came out of the USA. A misfire put pay to him coming out to play!

[henk4]

Originally Posted by 356sc

The white speedster is Vincent Tourneur's, and he drives it with hand controls, although at a flick of a switch is reverts to normal controls!

The blue speedster is not JR's old car, this one is Jeff Moyes' car came out of the USA. A misfire put pay to him coming out to play!

Ah, I see, you were in 49, right headlight just visible. (Did not know that Jiohn had an SC as well) I have been wondering all weekend where your silencers were...

I love it when people use their mirrors, even if there is no car in sight...(pic 4)

[356sc]

Yes Pieter that is us!!

We had brought a silencer, but decided to only fit it if the "noise police" came to see us!

As for looking in our mirrors, given that the quicker cars are 20s per lap quicker than us minnows, you end up spending your whole life checking them just to make sure one of the leaders has not "crept" up on you.....we take pride in making sure we are well out of the way!!

[henk4]

Originally Posted by 356sc

We had brought a silencer, but decided to only fit it if the "noise police" came to see us!

the advantage of having a paddock spot so far away from the action...

[john ruston]

My old car is the 2011 Tour Auto winner and. 2010 Le Mans Classic car. White with Talbot green nose.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by john ruston

My old car is the 2011 Tour Auto winner and. 2010 Le Mans Classic car. White with Talbot green nose.

yep, with the waiver as your co-pilot....

[john ruston]

You have it!!

[mikehump]

I was there driving a few cars including a friend's Capri in the HTC race. The HTC grid was a little down on numbers as a result of mechanical attrition. As it is a new grid there were a lot of cars that have recently been revived from long term hibernation. From talking to others on the grid, many were suffering from the sort of teething problems one gets when a car has not been used for several years. The racing was of a very high standard, however, and the series is only going to get better. I know of four more cars that will be joining at Paul Ricard (including one that I have bought!!).

Overall I would strongly recommend it as the competitors are friendly, the cars are (relatively!) cheap and there are a number of different cars that could potentially win. You don't have to have a Cobra or a T70 to get on a podium

[zefarelly]

we raced with the HTC last year as there was a small grid for pre66 tin tops, whilst I was a little apprehensive I thought the driving standards were very good, with the one exception of a citroen crossing the grass at the top of pit exit straight onto the firing line! I think its the only time I've ever hit the horn in the Cortina!

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by mikehump

I was there driving a few cars including a friend's Capri in the HTC race. The HTC grid was a little down on numbers as a result of mechanical attrition. As it is a new grid there were a lot of cars that have recently been revived from long term hibernation. From talking to others on the grid, many were suffering from the sort of teething problems one gets when a car has not been used for several years. The racing was of a very high standard, however, and the series is only going to get better. I know of four more cars that will be joining at Paul Ricard (including one that I have bought!!).

Yes it will develop, as will the UK series and hopefully there will be a UK round in the near future.

Mike what car have you acquired if I may ask, a G1,2 or A?

[mikehump]

I have bought a Group 2 Escort. It needs a bit of restoration but should be ready for testing by the end of the summer (I hope!).

[Mike Bell]

Welcome to the forum, Mike. Are you restoring the Escort yourself or is it with a well known preparer near Loughborough?

Interesting to read your comment regarding mechanical attrition at Spa. Last year was similar, but maybe not quite so bad! Some cars of the era seem a bit highly strung, to put it mildly.

Look forward to seeing your car on track, maybe at PA Le Castellet meeting if I can sort logistics of doing that, Jerez and Portimao in one trip.....

[mikehump]

Thanks Mike - sounds like you have guessed the correct car! Your year end trip sounds great. I wish I could make all those events...

As in everything I suspect the reliability is a function of output. There is no reason why a BDG/Weslake/BMW can't do an hour without self destructing. Chasing the last few BHP can change that quite significantly though. Wait until the GAAs turn up if you want to see unrelaibility!

[Mike Bell]

Glad I got the right car! Yes, I agree, ETCC races were all endurance, plus Gp2 and GpA cars did 24hr events, so reliability was a requirement in period. I will forgive GAAs anything just because of the noise they make........

[henk4]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

we raced with the HTC last year as there was a small grid for pre66 tin tops, whilst I was a little apprehensive I thought the driving standards were very good, with the one exception of a citroen crossing the grass at the top of pit exit straight onto the firing line! I think its the only time I've ever hit the horn in the Cortina!

just out of curiosity, what model of Citroen could have been part of sub 2 litre tintops? Not a DS for sure....(I was not there last year)

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by henk4

just out of curiosity, what model of Citroen could have been part of sub 2 litre tintops? Not a DS for sure....(I was not there last year)

There were two SMs racing last year, and as the under 2 litre race was incorporated with the later and larger T2 grid Zef finished up on track with them! They needed a lot of room......

[henk4]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

There were two SMs racing last year, and as the under 2 litre race was incorporated with the later and larger T2 grid Zef finished up on track with them! They needed a lot of room......

ah, those, they also do Tour Auto. They are fun to watch on a track, showcasing what understeer is...

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by henk4

ah, those, they also do Tour Auto. They are fun to watch on a track.

Probably more fun to watch them from trackside than behind them on track! The drivers do chuck them about a bit, and much respect for having the courage to do so.......

[zefarelly]

There was a strong waft of Gouloises as one passed them, about every 3 or 4 laps!

still, they kept going, which is more than can be said for us!

[SAMD]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

There was a strong waft of Gouloises as one passed them, about every 3 or 4 laps!

still, they kept going, which is more than can be said for us!

A

[john ruston]

Those French cars.

Seem to remember the ex Works car turned for Tour Espania a few years ago and it was lapped at a couple of circuits by the 1934 Talbot.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Those French cars.

Seem to remember the ex Works car turned for Tour Espania a few years ago and it was lapped at a couple of circuits by the 1934 Talbot.

just to show some understeer. It may not be fast on the track, but in Tour Auto, they will beat everything on the road, because they do not have to slow down for speedbumps (of which there are millions)