Spa Classic

[Peter Mallett]

16-18 may: Spa Classic -

[Duddha]

Full program :

Classic Endurance Racing 1 - 1966-1971-WSC/LM Prototypes / 1966-1974-GT
Classic Endurance Racing 2 - 1972-1979-WSC/LM Prototypes / 1975-1975-GT

Sixties' Endurance - Pre 66' GT and Pre 63' Sports + Pre 63'GT

Trofeo Nastro Rosso - Pre 66' GT and Sports - Italian Cars.

Heritage Touring Cup - Pre 85' Touring Cars - Grp. 1 & 1B / 2 / A.*

U2TC - Pre 66' Under 2000cc Touring Cars*

*Specific Mini enduro format for Spa-Classic.

Group C

HSCC Historic Formula 2

All informations available on : http://peterauto.peter.fr/en

And PM if you have any questions.

[Peter Mallett]

Looking at the results from yesterday the grid for the HTC seems to have been depleted somewhat. Any news on what happened?

[zefarelly]

Just looked at the U2TC times, have they removed the bus stop chicane ? pole was under 3m.

I thought I was doing well to do a 3:16 last year!

[lemansfan]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lemans...7644333437939/

Pics from Saturday uploaded Sunday will follow

[chunterer]

As Peter says big hole in the HTC numbers. Looks like a lot of people withdrew in the run upto the weekend. Only 20 odd cars out of what should've been 35 I think?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by chunterer

As Peter says big hole in the HTC numbers. Looks like a lot of people withdrew in the run upto the weekend. Only 20 odd cars out of what should've been 35 I think?

Looks like 29 out for first practice, and at end of second race 11 cars still running. Presume if same format as last year that short time between the two races makes it difficult to sort out any major problem from race 1. Good to see Tenther Alex Elliot and his team mate Adrian Brady competitive in their CSLs, but not so much competition from RS2600 Capris this year. Le Mans Classic getting in the way?

Looking at other races, not a big grid for U2TC, which is surprising at such a venue, unless the 2 x 60 minute races (2nd in dark?) put people off.

The 60s endurance GTs combined with Pre '63 looked far more more healthy, and qualifying produced possibly the first sub 3:00 minute lap by a 4cyl Morgan in FIA trim, young Billy Bellinger posting 2:58.6 to put Keith Ahlers SLR P5 on the grid. (I assume on Avon radials, as used by PA series.) The car was running well in the top ten until a clash near the end with another car at the BusStop led to retirement. The other SLR of John Emberson and the Kremer's +4 also suffered contact during the race but were able to continue, so am curious to know what was going on. I see the Stevens family were in their lovely 356, so perhaps Will can give us a drivers view of the race!

Shame to have missed the event, please Mr Peter, try and avoid clashing with Silverstone next year!

[midgetman]

Sign of the times? Too much racing, too few drivers to go round? especially down the "poverty end" as Zeff calls it elsewhere.

I think belts are still tight in motor sport, in fact tighter than before. There's a definite downwards "brand creep" on what people buy.

[356sc]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

I see the Stevens family were in their lovely 356, so perhaps Will can give us a drivers view of the race!

Although very much at the blunt end of this race (!), there was probably more incidents in this race than I have seen for a long time. Huge amounts of oil were dropped during the race making it very slippery, and that together with a low blinding sun made it very tricky at times, and the usual huge speed differential from the quickest to the slowest....trying to think of any other plausible racer excuses!

From a personal perspective, we managed to get down to a 3.14 (sadly in free practice but hey they all count!!), the fastest we have ever been round Spa so we were well chuffed, and managed to to beat several cars in the race that we had no right to beat (ie all the MGB's and a couple of 911's).....not bad for a 1600cc 4 pot! 3rd in class was always going to be the best we could do given we were up against 2 Elan 26R's that were 10s a lap quicker than us!

Sadly a leak down test yesterday has revealed a couple of cracked heads so engine needs a touch of "fettling" before Dijon!

[zefarelly]

Little victories. a PB is a big 'little victory' 3:16 was 4s off mine, so despite the weekends woes I went home with some sense of achievement.

I hope to be able to do this event next year, the night race is unfinished business. I struggle to see why more people don't do it. but we all have our preferences/reasons.

[john ruston]

Will,that is a great time!

[356sc]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Will,that is a great time!

Thanks John...to be fair I just pedal it....it is the old man that should take most of the credit for putting a car together that is capable of doing that sort of time!

[john ruston]

Same as GB!

[morninggents]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Same as GB!

Just wondered who GB is and what car you're talking about!

Another quiz!


____________________
Peter Wray.

[Peter Mallett]

Gareth Burnett and a 356.

[morninggents]

Thanks, Peter.

[Peter Mallett]

Always a pleasure.

[john ruston]

Correct answer Peter.

The Bill and Will Stephens car is very special being one of seven Speedster GT's sold originally with a push rod engine.Bill is probably the best 356 engineer in UK.

[356sc]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Correct answer Peter.

The Bill and Will Stephens car is very special being one of seven Speedster GT's sold originally with a push rod engine.Bill is probably the best 356 engineer in UK.

We were out in the 356 SC at Spa.....the GT Speedster is wrapped in cotton wool ready for Le Mans Classic!

[john ruston]

So you would be quicker in Speedster as it's 50/75 kilos lower weight than allowed with SC or Pre A Coupe.
Another one of these crazy weight things as nothing is sensibly homologated.

[henk4]

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/event...a-Classic.html

for those who did not go....

[henk4]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Shame to have missed the event, please Mr Peter, try and avoid clashing with Silverstone next year!

Mr Peter did well to avoid clashing with Villa d'Este, and since the F1 reconstruction of Silverstone, why go there in the first place....

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by 356sc

We were out in the 356 SC at Spa.....the GT Speedster is wrapped in cotton wool ready for Le Mans Classic!

I'm trying to nag Will into joining a couple of FISCAR races with the Speedster after he has done Le Mans. Always remember JR's Speedster (now sold) driven by the above mentioned GB with some pleasure. Then again John's pre 356A was pretty good to watch, too.

[henk4]

Some other shots
1. Gelo 935
2. Da Rocha's flame thrower
3. Shedding weight
4. Jacky Oliver, interestingly his car has a chassis number that is also shown on a BMW issued certificate of origin, given to a car in the USA....
5. Alex Furiani dealing with the GTA's inherent understeer
6. Newcomer and countryman Pascal Pandelaar put in a spirited drive to become the best placed 911 in the 60s endurance.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by John Turner

I'm trying to nag Will into joining a couple of FISCAR races with the Speedster after he has done Le Mans. Always remember JR's Speedster (now sold) driven by the above mentioned GB with some pleasure. Then again John's pre 356A was pretty good to watch, too.

for JR then..