New Season

simon drabble · 4 Mar 2006, 21:44 (Ref:1536355)

for those of us in UK the new season is almost upon us - my first outing is Castle Combe Easter weekend which is only 5 weeks away and until the kindly Zef comes and gives my car the once over I am far from ready! Then 2 weeks later its Julius' weekend orgy of historic racing at Donington which should see some awesome grids. I think that is starting to become the UK's answer to the Spa 6 Hour - now if only Julius would put a 6 hour race on.....

daj · 4 Mar 2006, 22:52 (Ref:1536386)

I am not the only one then!! My first ever meeting is going to be Castle combe easter top hat and then Donnington hopefully if accepted...My car is in total bits at the moment but I am looking positive !!

**Peter Mallett** · 5 Mar 2006, 07:34 (Ref:1536500)

Well due to "rotations" on my current assignment it looks like my first outing will be Donington. I was hoping to catch the CTCRC at Silverstone but I have to fly back on that Sunday.

Al Weyman · 5 Mar 2006, 08:51 (Ref:1536539)

Thats a shame Peter I was hoping to settle a score with you for all the drubbing you give me :-), (this is tounge in cheek mods, honest!!). Mind you I may not do it myself now as Snetterton with the Dunlop promotion is the following week which looks a better meeting and I can't be asked to do racing on consecuetive weekends in the same car as some of us have to work for a living (poor scheduling that if you want my opinion).

simon drabble · 5 Mar 2006, 16:36 (Ref:1536738)

Quote:

Originally Posted by daj

I am not the only one then!! My first ever meeting is going to be Castle combe easter top hat and then Donnington hopefully if accepted...My car is in total bits at the moment but I am looking positive !!

What are you out in? Castle Combe will be a lively race debut as the first lap or two should be very busy (especially going into that first corner after the brow - cant think what its called!)
I am really looking forward to Donington - it might end up being a very busy weekend if it all comes together (ie everything is finished in time and no horror stories in the Lotus Cortina at CC), CC will be the first time my co driver and I have sat in the Lotsu Cortina so it will be a learning curve for sure!

**John Turner** · 5 Mar 2006, 16:41 (Ref:1536744)

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon drabble

What are you out in? Castle Combe will be a lively race debut as the first lap or two should be very busy (especially going into that first corner after the brow - cant think what its called!)

Avon Rise, going into Quarry Corner. Always looks exciting going into there, especially, as you say, Simon, in the opening couple of laps!

**Peter Mallett** · 5 Mar 2006, 16:46 (Ref:1536748)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Thats a shame Peter I was hoping to settle a score with you for all the drubbing you give me :-),

Y'know sometimes we post things that are "synergic". Scores aside I finally got to grips with the car at Mallory last year and my lap time was 100th of a second less than the lead car in my class which was a Z28 Camaro. My gearbox gave up sadly. However, enjoy whatever you do this year and be sure to post it all here. Why not enter Donington?

**Peter Mallett** · 5 Mar 2006, 16:48 (Ref:1536749)

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Turner

Avon Rise, going into Quarry Corner. Always looks exciting going into there, especially, as you say, Simon, in the opening couple of laps!

There's a secret to that. If I'm brave enough I'll do it next time.

Al Weyman · 5 Mar 2006, 17:08 (Ref:1536771)

None of the TopHat pdf links work, is it a 30 minute race as my fuel tank will probably be big enough for that but marginal over that as she only does about 5 miles to the gallon and has a 10 gallon tank.

Edit: Ignore that, they just took a hell of a long time to load.

Al Weyman · 5 Mar 2006, 17:15 (Ref:1536773)

Naw just had a look Peter, £295 for 15 minutes of practice and a 30 minute race at the end of the meeting, that equates to £125 extra for just another 10 minutes of track time, just too expensive for me I am afraid.

SZRacer · 5 Mar 2006, 19:32 (Ref:1536872)

Hi all,

Well, guess I'll be seeing at least a couple of you in the next few weeks, then, as I'm out in the SZ, doing Oldies but Goldies at Castle combe and Donington, too!!

Later on in the season, I'm hopefully racing at Pau, Brands Hatch, and am trying to drum up some 1950s Alfas for the 1950s version of the AMOC Intermarque challenge. If oyu know anyone with an Alfa 1900 or Giulietta who wants to join an Alfa 'team' let me know!

The rest of the season is a bit up in the air, as i recently found out I have a mini-Wiseman on the way....

Regards,

James W

simon drabble · 6 Mar 2006, 07:48 (Ref:1537087)

James - many congratulations on the baby - are you taking your SZ to Pau? thats brave, hope you know a good panel beater!!

zefarelly · 7 Mar 2006, 11:13 (Ref:1539470)

Maybe he's not as intimate with walls and other drivers Simon

Looking forward to CC . . . just need to service the car !

Should do Donnington too, as soon as I've made/earnt the entry fee !

SZRacer · 7 Mar 2006, 11:52 (Ref:1539493)

Thanks for the kind comment, Simon. The baby (our first) was kind of (well, OK, completely!) unplanned, but there you go...! The wife has promised that she won't stop me from racing regularly, just 'cause we have a baby.....we shall see!!! Bless her, she's already looked for ear defenders for babies!

Raced at Pau a few years ago, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. Yes, there are a lot of walls, and armco, within close proximity, but it's so twisty that you don't get much chance to pick up huge amounts of speed. I thought it was great, and the atmosphere and welcome were top-notch.

Just got to dig out my old in-car video that I shot, so I can re-learn the course...!

James
P.S. what are you out in this year, Simon? The Merlyn or the LC?

simon drabble · 7 Mar 2006, 12:07 (Ref:1539500)

at the risk of sounding greedy both! but I think I will do more in the LC (like Chimay etc..) but looking to do couple of cloth caps and the Spa 6 Hour in the Merlyn budget allowing...
I have to say that I didnt enjoy Pau - it was just one of those bad weekends- I got nurfed in my Lotus 11 in quallys, raced an MGB which broke a diff seal with the resulting oil spinning me into the barriers at the end of the Casino Sq and then when we raced the 11 I just started my stint (we were in the lead) and the drive shaft went and then to add more misery the idiot in the tow truck didnt tie my car down and then proceeded to race round the circuit and the 11 was bounced into his bulkhead causing several thousand punds of damage.
So all in all as you can imagine I am in no hurry to return!!

SZRacer · 7 Mar 2006, 12:33 (Ref:1539518)

Hmmm.....fair point..!

If i'd had a weekend like that, I don't think i'd be in any hurry to return, either!!

Regards,

James

P.S. Just got through some details from Julius regarding Chimay. This year, it's going to be a 'big one'. They're even offering £1000 prize money to the winners! The info will be on the website after Castle Combe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon drabble

at the risk of sounding greedy both! but I think I will do more in the LC (like Chimay etc..) but looking to do couple of cloth caps and the Spa 6 Hour in the Merlyn budget allowing...
I have to say that I didnt enjoy Pau - it was just one of those bad weekends- I got nurfed in my Lotus 11 in quallys, raced an MGB which broke a diff seal with the resulting oil spinning me into the barriers at the end of the Casino Sq and then when we raced the 11 I just started my stint (we were in the lead) and the drive shaft went and then to add more misery the idiot in the tow truck didnt tie my car down and then proceeded to race round the circuit and the 11 was bounced into his bulkhead causing several thousand punds of damage.
So all in all as you can imagine I am in no hurry to return!!

simon drabble · 7 Mar 2006, 12:39 (Ref:1539525)

yes I got an email from him about that - it made me tempted to take the Merlyn still am a little tempted as we could win in that (except one of the team - sadly the best driver - wont race there as its not a GP circuit!) so might make do with just having some fun!

john ruston · 8 Mar 2006, 06:21 (Ref:1540028)

Yes to Chimay and no to Le Mans? interesting

simon drabble · 8 Mar 2006, 07:50 (Ref:1540047)

its daylight!! plus Chimay in a tin top feels relatively safe - not sure I would do it in the Merlyn

zefarelly · 8 Mar 2006, 08:27 (Ref:1540070)

I'd love to drive LeMans, but I don't see much difference between that and Chimay, bar the width of the track, but when your cars only 5' wide . . . . .

Eddy V · 8 Mar 2006, 12:16 (Ref:1540246)

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon drabble

...not sure I would do it in the Merlyn

A friend of mine did it last year in a Ralt F3. He is sort of fearless, but he told me that he felt a bit "unsure" in some places.

simon drabble · 8 Mar 2006, 12:38 (Ref:1540262)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy V

A friend of mine did it last year in a Ralt F3. He is sort of fearless, but he told me that he felt a bit "unsure" in some places.

he did the Top Hat meeting in a Ralt F3 - now I know Julius used to let hot rods in but that is ridiculous!!!!! My Merlyn is a sportsracer rather than FF - however in a single seater shows real b alls!!!

zefarelly · 8 Mar 2006, 14:40 (Ref:1540338)

top hat aren't the only race meet there, unlike this country when the Belgians/French want to do something they just close the road and get on with it. don't get me started on how difficult that would be to do here, can you imagine

Chimay has a few blind corners and bends which need to be taken flat, it took me the first practice session to learn the circuit and another one to keep the right foot lower than the left through those bends

simon drabble · 8 Mar 2006, 14:56 (Ref:1540348)

zef nice mention you get in Octane magazine in Julius' write up on his new class structures - reckon you shoudl be going down to Ikea to get a bigger display cabinet to accomodate the pots you will collect this year!!!

daj · 8 Mar 2006, 19:14 (Ref:1540682)

Back again,

I will be out in a bmw 2002tii for my first event in the groovy baby series, Well hopefully still lots to do

. I am really looking forward to it ..Cannot wait

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