Compost

June 18th was a beautiful day wasn’t it. So what happened to the weather on the day before? North Weald could once again be blamed for that. For, what was virtually midsummer’s day, it was cold, dull, a bit damp, and generally horrible. Despite the weather, we still had a full entry and all enjoyed themselves. Colin Rodger was Secretary for the first time and handled it all in his stride. Neville and Tina Moon were for their first time, Clerking and Co-Clerking an event together.
Also for the first time, the event coincided with drag racing, which led to a few problems for the marshals and gate personnel. Even so, the event went off with no hitches and no incidents. There were a number of regular competitors and marshals missing, probably due to something going on in France, mainly drinking I’m told! In the last couple of weeks leading up to the day, Colin’s entry list changed more times than he would care to remember. When the entry got to 115, I was certain that some would have to be turned away. Even with what you would think should be the absolute final entry list drawn up the night before the event, things would still change. There were 4 no shows and a few competitors changing class at signing on. This is normal I assured Colin. Will he do it again? The course we ran was pretty much as we ran last year. The main difference being, the coned gate positions on the run back up the main runway. The first left hand bend leading to a gate was much quicker than it had previously been. This led to a handful of indiscretions. I’ve polished out the mark left from the cone that got in my way. Well, you have to find the limit and then back off, don’t you? Neville and Tina did a great job of just making the chicane one of those that you have to really think about taking flat. From the startline, there was definitely a straight way through. As you approached it with increasing speed and over the bumps, the gap looked much narrower. Time to keep it nailed and go for it. Autotesting teaches you to get close to cones, but not at 80mph. All in all, good fun, more of the same in October please.
My first sprint of the year was at Lydden on June 2nd. I’d been to Lydden a number of times in previous years, each time in the Chevette. This year, with that car laid up in the garage, I thought I’d have a go in the Puma. Even with a standard engine bar an air filter, I felt before the event that the car could be competitive, simply because I’m used to the way it drives and handles. It does the latter very nicely. Even so, up against Lotus Elises and such like, I would need something else batting for me. I thought my luck was in when it started raining heavily. In wet conditions, I was sure I would stand more of a chance of getting into the top places. After first timed runs, I was 2nd in class, 2½ seconds behind the Lotus Exige of Tim Stevens. I was well pleased at that stage. Over 3 miles, I considered that a 2½ seconds gap wasn’t bad. The rain didn’t last and it dried out for the last two timed runs. Sitting on the startline at Lydden allows you to only see Paddock Bend. On the final timed run, and in virtually dry conditions, as I sat at the line, I saw Nigel and Steven Craig fly past. Christ, they’re going for it I thought. Both their RS2000’s looked nicely on the limit, twitching slightly on the exit of the bend. My turn came and I had a tidy run, the sort of run that doesn’t feel that quick but it was to be my best time. It would still only be good enough for 4th in class, but I was happy at how well the car had gone. What I find amazing is that I know that although the Chevette has almost twice the power of the Puma, it would probably be only a few seconds faster around Lydden. Power is nothing without control. Did I just nick that off Pirelli?
As the Foot and Mouth abates in this part of the country, our Grass Autotests are back up and running. The first event happened on June 14th with a small entry, hardly surprising, as there had been no time to really publicise it. The champion of recent years, Daren Hall, informs me that he is going to retire whilst at the top. That will be a relief to some as they now have a chance of an FTD. My belief is that the competition was getting a little too hot for him, and he’s not getting any younger you know. It won’t be long before he starts losing his hair and wonders around aimlessly muttering to himself and going, ‘eeerrrr, you don’t want be doing that!’ Join the club mate!! On the night, Chris Brown took FTD by some margin in his Caterham Superlite. Myself and Ralph Travers finished close together in Class B, fortunately with me ahead by a total of 1.8 seconds over six tests. That’s close in autotesting. I must pay John Milligan more next time. Jason Mortlock was out in his Mk2 Escort and looked very neat. He will be certainly be getting quicker. The next event will have happened by now but I’m sure you all read the flyer in last month’s ACORN so we’ll see you out there.

Quote of the month at prizegiving at Lydden, June 2nd.
Alli Gibbons about Rik Lee -

Alli: ‘He only beat me by a hundreth!’

Rik: ‘That’s all it takes!’

Mark Dawson

The Acorn : July Edition