MGJ Engineering Brands Hatch Winter Stages - 18th January 2020

[Suze]

Entries for the above opened last night, and over 70 entries have paid so far with plenty on the "awaiting payment" list; the max entry is 90. If everyone entered pays up, the entry will be full and the reserve list started.

I know several from this forum go and watch, I'm not competing next year but Entries Sec instead so have had a busy 24 hours processing entries/payments.

Details including the unseeded entry list is at http://brandshatchstages.co.uk

Tickets are available at http://news.brandshatch.co.uk/bh-sta...w-on-sale.aspx

[justracing]

Thanks Suze for the heads up, always love this event.
I see Gavin Thompson is entered in his 205 Maxi, back at the circuit where his giant slaying circuit racing 205 embarrassed more than a few some little while back. The Newtons are always great to watch in their incredible Nova but by the looks of the entry they could have work to do.

[BertMk2]

Cracking entry - lots of Darrians - they should be very lively (it'll be interesting to see how the 'R5' Darrians go - I haven't seen them in action yet).

[justracing]

Not entered this year Bert?

[justracing]

Hardly worth starting another thread but are there any other events over this winter, asphalt or off road, in the south of England to which the public have access?

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by justracing

Not entered this year Bert?

The Escort is unlikely to be ready in time so we've not entered, we'll be there though as Tim and James are both entered.

[dwh43scale]

Some interesting cars there - including that lovely John Spiers Porsche 911 and Frank Bird in the Focus. Good to see Chris West on the entry too !

[Suze]

Originally Posted by justracing

Hardly worth starting another thread but are there any other events over this winter, asphalt or off road, in the south of England to which the public have access?

Goodwood and Snetterton Stages are both in Feb.

I’ve entered an event in a Dec but no public access.

[Suze]

In Brands news, we are up to 84 paid and accepted entries now (out of 90). There are 20 on the pending list (i.e. they have entered but we have not yet received their money). Once the 90 has been reached, we’ll start a reserve list.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Suze

I’ve entered an event in a Dec but no public access.

Is that the Rushmoor event? We did a stage there as part of the Tempest rally a few years ago, I'd be interested to see how that works for a full day event.

[Suze]

It is the Rushmoor event. We have done a stage there too before, and also two Targa Rallies; last year we retired but this month we were first overall in the Micra, first overall win I was navving for Matt, and driving I was 2nd in class (promoted to 1st thanks to Matt winning overall) and 5th overall, 50 starters

Anyway, back to Brands. No more updates yet but I expect there will be this evening. Predictions on when the reserve list will open?!

[Suze]

Just updated with today's payments and that's it, 90 paid and accepted. Next people to pay will be onto the reserve list.

[BertMk2]

Well the Escort won't be ready for Brands but I've got another ride I'll be sitting in with James in a Mk3 Astra Gsi - I've co-driven for James before (in his 205 Rallye) so it's a return to FWD for this one.

[justracing]

No sideways action for you this year, have fun. Will give you a wave en route

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by justracing

No sideways action for you this year, have fun.

Hopefully not!

[Suze]

Unsurprisingly there have been some dropouts over Christmas with cars not being finished, but there's been an interesting entry tonight; Desi Henry from NI in a Hyundai R5.

[BertMk2]

The seeded entrlist is up - the top 12 is looking pretty fearsome, that's a very strong entry:

№	Class	Driver	Co-driver	Car
1	D2	Frank Bird	Jack Morton	Ford Focus 07 WRC
2	D2	Desi Henry	TBA	Hyundai R5
3	D2	James Self	Ian Davis	Ford Fiesta R5
4	D2	Steve Finch	Sam Fordham	Ford Fiesta
5	D2	Paul Smith	Dale Bowen	Ford Fiesta R5
6	D1	Stephen Tilburn	Jack Tilburn	Ford Escort RS 2500
7	D1	Mark Straker	Simon May	Darrian T90 GT 'R5'
8	C	Joshua Davey	Tamsyn Davey	Darrian T90
9	D2	Richard Wells	Calvin Houldsworth	Mitsubishi Evo
10	D1	Martin Hodgson	Tony Jones	Ford Escort Mkll
11	D1	Barry Morris	Tom Hutchings	Darrian T90 GTR +
12	D2	Tony Robinson	Mark Witherspoon	Proton Satria Millington

The Desi Henry entry in particular is interesting - why is he doing Brands?

[justracing]

Bert, your knowledge is much greater than mine nevertheless it will be interesting to watch!

[tbtstt]

I only just spotted the Desi Henry entry, that is a surprise.

[Suze]

I did try and give you all the heads up when it landed in my inbox

Entries close at 8pm tomorrow and agree, is a good looking entry list and very competitive field.

[geordiecriag101]

Had a cracking day at Brands, another stunning drive by Frank Bird and Jack Morton to a very easy win in the end. There was a great scrap for second between Barry Morris in the Darrian T90 GTR+ and Tony Robinson in the Proton Satria S2500 all day long only settled right at the end by a retirement for Robinson at the last stage. Another stand out drive was from the Newton brothers in their 1400 Nova, they won their class by over 3 minutes and set 5th fastest time on a cold and icy SS1, just missing stage win by 3 Seconds!

Anyway here's a quick vid from the day if anyone interested:

https://youtu.be/mlofQ3PbLtU

[justracing]

As you say a great day yesterday and good video, thanks. The Newtons really punch above their weight but I thought some of the stages were just too fast for the lesser classes, the speed advantage of the top runners is too much in my view.
Quick turn round for me today to get to Brooklands for the VSCC driving tests, always entertaining!

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by geordiecriag101

Had a cracking day at Brands, another stunning drive by Frank Bird and Jack Morton to a very easy win in the end. There was a great scrap for second between Barry Morris in the Darrian T90 GTR+ and Tony Robinson in the Proton Satria S2500 all day long only settled right at the end by a retirement for Robinson at the last stage. Another stand out drive was from the Newton brothers in their 1400 Nova, they won their class by over 3 minutes and set 5th fastest time on a cold and icy SS1, just missing stage win by 3 Seconds!

Anyway here's a quick vid from the day if anyone interested:

https://youtu.be/mlofQ3PbLtU

Originally Posted by justracing

As you say a great day yesterday and good video, thanks. The Newtons really punch above their weight but I thought some of the stages were just too fast for the lesser classes, the speed advantage of the top runners is too much in my view.
Quick turn round for me today to get to Brooklands for the VSCC driving tests, always entertaining!

I'll have a watch of that video later

The entry was very strong at the front of the field (even with the no-show from Desi Henry) and the pace reflected that (after the oddity of stage1 ). I got to see a bit of the front runners in action and those cars really are something aren't they? The Proton looked like it had run out of electricity - it was parked up at the start of the last stage with jump leads attached to it. The Newtons are always rapid, talking to them beforehand we said the conditions suited them and stage 1 proved that! It's a well sorted car and very well driven.

We had an interesting day, the car dropped onto 3 cyclinders on stage 1 but a change of plugs cured that. We had a huge moment at Paddock - broadside down the hill, the car was full of tyre smoke for the next few corners, certainly gets your attention! We also had a rather lurid spin in the outer paddock (full 360).

The alternator belt went awol part way through stage 6 and took the power steering belt with it (that caused us problems with the hairpin - after wrestling the car through the chicane James didn't have enough momentum to handbrake it around the hairpin and the steering lock on the Astra isn't great so we lost a lot of time there. We replaced the alternator belt ok but didn't have a belt for the power steering - we eventually fitted an alternator belt we got from the guys with the classic Mini (what are the chances of that fitting!). The alternator belt came off again on stage 7 but the power steering stayed with us, after sorting the alternator belt again we managed to get a finish

Pretty happy to get to the end - James is still learning the car (he'd done one stage in it prior to Brands) and at the start of the day neither of us were comfortable in the car - both seats were out and refitted at different points during the day to try and help our backs, both of us were suffering a bit!

So a huge thank you to the organisers, marshals, rescue crews, all the people we begged parts from to keep us going and Martin for servicing (we kept him busy!)

[Suze]

Clearing up today it felt icier than yesterday - you may disagree but here's one of the images I took earlier on.

[IMG][/IMG]

Hugh - the hairpin - when it was HPL James had plenty more space on the right hand side he could have used to help Would have perhaps just made it a little easier, i know in the Micra Matt and I have both always driven round rather than handbraked round as the bar is just not effective enough for us!

After a busy morning I did make it over to the commentary box for a while yesterday which was a good vantage point. I've never had to de-ice the car to get to an event before, completed signing on, and then had to de-ice it again two hours later to move it from the stage and carry on for the rest of the day!

The clear-up work done by fellow volunteers last night was extraordinary. It's always hard in the dark but the circuit was clear and there was very little to check and clear up today (bar the rather muddy rally school cones which we knew were there). The lorry and trailers were loaded up by 11am which was good to get on the road and get stuff back to where it is stored.

Results for anyone interested are at https://brandshatchstages.co.uk/site...nalResults.pdf

[justracing]

Crikey Bert, you had an eventful day! Thanks to all concerned.