HRDC Race Day

[JP12]

We had a great day despite the terrible conditions. My MGB was in the MGB50 race and Ben did a great job to put the car on pole in front of MG Motorsport and DK Engineering. A small off at Quarry in the race while running 2nd meant we needed to pit to pull the wing off of the tyre. Ben went back out and finished 9th.

Campfield drifting his Healey in spectacular style was one of the highlights of the day. I'm looking forward to the rest of season and some better weather.

[terence]

JP,I now know who you are.

[AGD A105/6]

Indeed it was a bit humid. Roberto was able to put us in 17th in a very slippery qualifying session, but on the green flag lap of the race, the bonnet popped open, necessitating a quick pit visit and a pitlane start, right at the back. Overtaking the support vehicles was a novelty, but tip-toeing around in the grip of mortal terror it took me until lap 7 to get as far as passing the Morris Minor panda car, by which time the leaders were already lapping me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRZFJlDMBpA&feature=youtu.be

I felt reasonably safe overtaking the police car as I wasn’t even exceeding the speed limit....
Roberto took over for a longer second stint but was restricted by an electrical problem which left him unable to make up many more places. I believe we finished 21st but the results for our race aren’t on TSL yet.

Great to see such huge grids and what a relief that most of us finished in one piece, it could have been a lot worse in the atrocious conditions.

Hats off to the orange army for sticking it out through a long, cold and soaking day. Hope the racing made it worthwhile.

Roll on Snetterton and hopefully better weather!

[zefarelly]

Well, we arrived Sunday afternoon, to a warm welcome from Jason, Louise, Ed, Chris, Tony and others, and also Julius, who was strolling round the paddock welcoming all. We set up camp and the weather was ok . . . we had a kick about on the grass actually.

Monday morning and the moistness had commenced. I was mildly optimistic as the rain wasn't heavy, almost backing off, and with a breeze I tried keeping my hopes up it would dry. Through qualifying I tried acclimatising, but my engines very cammy, the cars very stiff, and my wet weather talents are clearly minimal, I just couldn't get any power down or and hint of smoothness to my driving. It was, as someone described, like driving with slicks on ice. My wet race experience is minimal but I've not driven on anything like this. I managed to qualify 3rd (amazed me!) but was behind Alistairs Cortina, he was behind me the whole session and I pulled away. I knew I should have let him go and then chased!

Come the race I tried a practice start for the green flag lap and moved about 6" in ten seconds. less revs . . . . when the reds went out, I only gave it 4k and went 9" in 10 seconds . . . . finally I started moving, into a cloud, Ben pulled along side but managed to shut the door on him at Quarry, I think I was 4th, I was trying to keep up but felt in no way confident or in control . . . I ran through Bobbies and subsequently had to let Ben and another Jag through then settled for 6th. I just figured if I tried any harder It would end in tears and I had a gut feeling that further ahead if they where pushing too hard to stay ahead a spin would let me catch up. not wishing bad luck on anyone, but having propsered in longer races through consistency, just the way I think. I settled to some sort of pattern, I wouldn't say I was comfortable for any 1 second of any lap, it was a real fight the whole time just keeping the car pointing the right way and not falling off or spinning, or worse hitting hard things which I can ill afford. I had wheel spin in all gears, aquaplaning in top, and oversteer moments, even with 1/4-1/3 throttle, braking was ok-ish, but I couldn't feel the wheels locking, so turn in, or not, was interesting at Quarry and Camp, then when it gripped it was immediately followed by massive oversteer . . . . however fast or slow I was I didn't really care, I knew I was pulling away, or at least well clear from Ians Warwick, and the Jag and Ben where gones so I just held station, thereafter I did start to enjoy the lurid oversteer slides out of camp and Quarry, although the tramp at QUarry was attrocious, never had it anywhere alse before ever, except at Combe. I had too many moments to recall in detail, but seeing Alistairs Cortina parked in a wall was a timely reminder to keep it together and finish, which I did, 5th, 2nd in class behind Bens Alfa, very well done to him, much quicker than me in the race.

We also got awarded the Alan Mann trophy which was a nice touch, for the team, so many thanks to Justine, Arthur, Darren and a nod to Adrian Tincknell who helped get me started and my late Father who helped me build the car originally.

despite the appaling weather The whole paddock cameraderie and atmosphere was brilliant, the other races we watched where superb, the Adams/Davis fight in the baby GT class, the pace of the big Healey, and car control, duly deserved driver of the day and the bumper 50's tin top grid and races within where great. well done LAK, a great fight back and a superb drive by Arthur S-F in the ex works Rapier . . . . 5th overall and the class win. brilliant. Micky Boltons trophies get better every time as well. Arthurs already nicked the road hog class award!

roll on Snetterton.

[zefarelly]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I caught the early laps of Zef's race. IIRC he started 25th and was 6th on lap 1! Must be that V8 he's been messing around with.

the pooter starts you in race number order, not grid order . . . I'm No 71.

I actually went from 3rd to 6th on lap one. Webber style

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

the pooter starts you in race number order, not grid order . . . I'm No 71.

I realised that when I saw the start of a following race.

[medius]

Any photos floating around yet? Or are the photographers still drying themselves out?

[Peter Mallett]

Medius,

Have a look in Motorsport Photography.

[Ben Shuckburgh]

. . . . finally I started moving, into a cloud, Ben pulled along side but managed to shut the door on him at Quarry, I think I was 4th, I was trying to keep up but felt in no way confident or in control . . . I ran through Bobbies and subsequently had to let Ben and another Jag through then settled for 6th.


Ok, now i get who you are Zef. My strongest image from the race was the MASSIVE slip angle you were at when me and the Jag went by...can't believe you didn't spin! That first time through Quarry was mayhem!

[retrognome]

Originally Posted by medius

Any photos floating around yet? Or are the photographers still drying themselves out?

Peter Collins and Mike Archer have image galleries on www.retro-speed.co.uk and Ken Davies has written a report, which I found quite amusing.

[zefarelly]

Likewise Ben. will say hello properly next time!

I like the synchronised wipers in the shot of us on that site.

http://www.retro-speed.co.uk/CMS-Ima...t%20Quarry.JPG

[Ben Shuckburgh]

That can't be you....the front wheels are pointing straight!

[zefarelly]

green flag lap?

[Ben Shuckburgh]

[retrognome]

Originally Posted by zefarelly

Likewise Ben. will say hello properly next time!

I like the synchronised wipers in the shot of us on that site.

http://www.retro-speed.co.uk/CMS-Ima...t%20Quarry.JPG

Sorry to have missed you after saying hello at Silverstone.

[JP12]

Onboard the first few laps of the MGB50 race:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaY_dqvyZbk

Enjoy.

[Yimkin]

Dad & I have just arrived back in Cumbria (minus trailer jockey wheel) and are in the process of putting everything through the mangle in a vain effort to dry everything out...

Brilliant, albeit very wet day (we were in the grey 100E Anglia). A million thankyou's to Zeferelly for lending us 2 tyres (we arrived with two bald L sections) - we couldn't have run without that help. We were mystified by poor performance and the utter inability to put any more than 70% power down - review of the video suggests that 'L's' on the front and 'M's on the rear do not work well - good for power slides though!

Thanks to all at Combe - very professional as usual! I felt so sorry for the two guys who arrived with an absolutely mint (best saloon prep I've ever seen) standard 10, which suffered heavy damage in qualifying, also sorry for the guy in the mini Marcos who drove from 15th up to challenge for the lead before running out of petrol - including a lap record by about 2 seconds - drive of the day in my eyes, along with Arthur getting 5th in his ex works rapier.

[Yimkin]

Should add that Julius ok'd us to run on M's in the absence of spare L's in the interests of safety by the way!

[The SpeCTator]

I have not got that wet for many a long year!
Despite the weather the event was well subscribed with some excellent racing.

I still cannot believe the angles that Mark Campfield managed in the Healey 3000
a good win, no doubt intimidating the opposition with his high speed lurid opposite locking.

Coming up over Avon Rise and approaching Quarry sideways (including the opening lap) was more rally style than racing and I don't think I saw him take the same line twice.

Just one drive that made the day worthwhile and there were many, many more.

Thanks all

[grantp]

I have fond memories of Mark Campfield in the Healey at Mallory a season or so back doing much the same at Gerards. In the dry.

Must be very interesting in the wet.

[zefarelly]

a note to Dunlop . . . we're forced to use your over priced tyres . . . . and you turn up at a race meeting with none, whether we want to buy them or need to.

sort it out.

fuels expensive as but at least the likes of AAOC give us a very good service. And they have competition!

[rogerwills]

I hear Darren Turner and James Turner in the Zodiac were hit in the qualifying session and couldn't run again due to the damage.

[brands]

A few shots from qually and the races at a very wet Combe.

[brands]

I'm afraid the day is about to turn bad for the main cars in the first shot.