Spa 6 hours 2012

[Tim Falce]

I have been home a few hours, what a great weekend yet plus again many thanks to uncle Eric for letting me have a go in the brakeless Escort and it was nice to meet up with names from here, Iain, Cliff Ryan, Mike Bell and of course Gordon-Larkins-Streeter plus scary Sue, oh and a very worried Mrs Mckay and some other people I haven't seen for a few years. Not forgetting (I did) Eddy V who came along this morning.
Anyone who didn't get to taste the Larkins, good more for me and I think I was still drunk on Saturday morning.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by terence bower

Not really,but they can be slept in,and some will even keep you dry when it rains.
Gordon has finished in fine style,lot of cars behind him that shouldn't have been! Best of a 3:09. Cliff finished at the back end no doubt looking after Mike's PORSH.

No I was doing consistent 3.05s Terry !, I have subscribed you to Specsavers

[Juha]

A few pics from Saturday:



Podium of the Six Hours:





One of the Cobras losing a few vital parts:



This TZ drifted all around the place:





Start of Saturday's Grand Prix Masters race:

[terence]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

No I was doing consistent 3.05s Terry !, I have subscribed you to Specsavers

Better give the sub to RIS Gordon You are down on a 3.04 in qualifying,same as 2004

[Al Weyman]

How many of the GT40s were genuine cars as there seems to so many on the entry list? Do they in fact have to be for this event as a matter of interest?

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

How many of the GT40s were genuine cars as there seems to so many on the entry list? Do they in fact have to be for this event as a matter of interest?

I don't know about the actual 6 hr race but I would doubt if any are "as original", the one in my race I think was a kit and I would think that by the lap times it was doing it had a Reliant Robin power plant in it !

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

I don't know about the actual 6 hr race but I would doubt if any are "as original", the one in my race I think was a kit and I would think that by the lap times it was doing it had a Reliant Robin power plant in it !

That was an odd one, it qualified in front of us by about 4/10ths sec, was alongside on the grid but couldn't keep up on the warm up lap and I lapped it after 4 laps but it still put in a 3.15 on lap 3 so what was that all about?

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

That was an odd one, it qualified in front of us by about 4/10ths sec, was alongside on the grid but couldn't keep up on the warm up lap and I lapped it after 4 laps but it still put in a 3.15 on lap 3 so what was that all about?

He was obviously keeping out of your way knowing that you had been on the Larkins

[Tim Falce]

Well you said it was going to go off if the keg didn't get finished so I was only trying to help out.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by terence bower

Cliff finished at the back end no doubt looking after Mike's PORSH.

Oi! What's all this 'back end' stuff! Tango 924 finished 35th out of 70 odd, not bad for a car approaching 1000kg with 102bhp at the wheels! Fastest lap a 3.15 by Cliff at end when Fiat Abarth oil mostly cleared away (happened on lap 5 abouts) and he had a clear track. I call that respectable!

In reality we we monstered by virtually everything on the straights, which unfortunately count for quite a lot at Spa, then got held up in the twisties. Had some fantastic close company in my stint though, all good clean wheel to wheel stuff. Driving a car that you can hold flat from Medical centre through the scary bit to bus stop, then again from La Source through the other scary bit to end of Kemmel is exhilarating...... Would be nice to do it with about 30 more horses, though.

Despite the M20 accident and being pulled into customs we still made outward ferry, only to find Langans full already. Same thing on return! Not happy... Apart from the damp start to Saturday, weather OK and company as good as always. Great to be in same race as legends like Gordon S and Skid Scarborough and cars as diverse as Morris Minor and RAM Cobra. Of course being a Morgan fan I was keen to see Jerry K win, but a close 2nd wasn't bad behind Laki C's Escort RS1600. Sorry Louise and Jason didn't finish- not sure what happened to the yellow beast. Dave Thompson finished one in front of us after a faultless run in the TVR but I'll be looking to redress that in next Guards race!

Rest of racing we saw was up to usual quality, sorry to see Peter not manage to last the 6hrs, but not the only one by looks of results. Low point of w/end for me was to find out that my good friend Simon O-G had badly damaged his SLR on thursday (fortunately without injury to himself) but by Friday eve the car was already back at the body builders premises. Will be ready for beginning of next season, by all accounts. Good that the Morgan chassis is available from factory still!

[Malcolm Smith]

Really enjoyed spectating and meeting lots
of 10/10ths members.
Capri #177 that I travelled with was 16th in Barry's
race - would have been higher but couldn't get past
an Anglia !!
Was running 19th in Masters until chaos caused by oil
on track - driver fine - shell is a write-off.
Will post a few pictures when I get home.

[midgetman]

Every year I mean to go and every year I don't, then read stories of "X wrecked his car", "Y destroyed his engine", "lap times were slow because of oil/debris/safety car/faster cars/slower cars" and I'm glad I didn't enter!

Reading on here it would appear the event is a car-wrecker, a cheat's paradise and the scene of boorish bully boy tactics behind the wheel. Would I be better off going to the Summer Classic instead?

[Al Weyman]

Max i don't know whether its sour grapes or not but I was just thinking exactly the same thing I will try to go next time but just to watch. And spanner if needed.

[terence]

No not really,just buy something with a V8 in it.

In all seriousness,in my view the best event [once!] is suffering because of the speed differentials,it was a far better event before every man and his dog decided the only way to win is in a Cobra/ GT 40,just as long as it had a V8,regardless of their own ability.Some examples can easily been seen by just watching the antics of a few participants.
Then the organisers are afraid of loosing entries! Highly unlikely as there are a huge amount of people who would enter if the V8s were not there. One day,there will be a good reason not to accept these cars.

[Al Weyman]

As the terminal speed on my black car with the right gearing would be over 160mph plus I for one have no desire to take a V8 around there, haven't got the balls in truth and dont feel the car would be safe at that speed and would be far happier in a car like Mike's with a tad more BHP as he said.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Every year I mean to go and every year I don't, then read stories of "X wrecked his car", "Y destroyed his engine", "lap times were slow because of oil/debris/safety car/faster cars/slower cars" and I'm glad I didn't enter!

Reading on here it would appear the event is a car-wrecker, a cheat's paradise and the scene of boorish bully boy tactics behind the wheel. Would I be better off going to the Summer Classic instead?

Who you calling a boorish bully boy then! I think some of the comments you have read refer to the actual 6hr race rather than whole meeting....

I'm fortunate to have done this weekend 6 years running. I've not blown an engine, not damaged a car, and not had cause to complain about driving standards or question legality of other cars any more than at any other meeting. You have to appreciate grids are around 70 cars (Barry's race) up to 100 in 6hrs, so chances of an accident or oil drop must be increased. Only the demise of Whoopi Snacks disappointed this year!

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Reading on here it would appear the event is a car-wrecker, a cheat's paradise and the scene of boorish bully boy tactics behind the wheel

How the hell can I use "bully boy" tactics in one of the smallest cars in size and CC and end up at the sharp end, is it luck then ?
No just keep your whits about you and an eye on the rear view mirror drive the correct lines (and keep them) you will soon find out who are the ones not to trust, and then drive it like you stole it !
I have never been afraid to mix it with the big Yanks that have come hammering past on the straight only for me to outbrake them into Les Combe and pull away round the next series of bends.
The most "bum clenching" moment for me this year was encountering a Moggie thou that turned onto the racing line through Eau Rouge that I was taking flat out when he was probably in second gear !
And of course the little Fiat Abath that must have had a ten gallon track lubricating device that drove half of the track back to the pits

[terence]

Before entering the 6Hr I would recommend a Track day there,no overtaking restrictions apply. Should give a good idea of what its like[ Not so bad if you have rather a lot of power behind you though!

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

No just keep your whits about you and an eye on the rear view mirror drive the correct lines (and keep them) you will soon find out who are the ones not to trust, and then drive it like you stole it !......................................................................The most "bum clenching" moment for me this year was encountering a Moggie thou that turned onto the racing line through Eau Rouge that I was taking flat out when he was probably in second gear !

That's a bit of a contradiction on yourself there Gordon. As far as taking the racing line goes, Eric did just that but it didn't stop another one of those Fords whacking into his rear nearside wing.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

That's a bit of a contradiction on yourself there Gordon. As far as taking the racing line goes, Eric did just that but it didn't stop another one of those Fords whacking into his rear nearside wing.

Obviously he found one of those that I said were "ones not to trust" !

[delta]

I have been racing,spanering,team managing ect for over 20 years at this event. Its probaly me but I think the Spa 6 Hour weekend has lost some of its attraction.
But the Larkings was fantastic.

[Eric Falce]

Yes the Larkings was the extra Tim needed to do our fastest lap plus the pleasure in having the windows open in the apartment on a bloody cold night.

[FISCracer]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Every year I mean to go and every year I don't, then read stories of "X wrecked his car", "Y destroyed his engine", "lap times were slow because of oil/debris/safety car/faster cars/slower cars" and I'm glad I didn't enter!

Reading on here it would appear the event is a car-wrecker, a cheat's paradise and the scene of boorish bully boy tactics behind the wheel. Would I be better off going to the Summer Classic instead?

Max, its the best historic meeting of the year. The sight and sound of several cars thundering down to Eau Rouge at night from the pit wall, will make your hair stand on end and the support races are as good as it gets. Proper racing for proper drivers rather than parades on and of track for people who like dressing up.

It is hard on cars and drivers but I think the driving standards this year were very good especially the properly quick cars. For the second time in three years there was not one safety car - not many UK championships could say that in 720 minutes of racing with over 100 vehicles. Terry is right it is becoming a V8 fest but an awful lot of 911s and MGBs still finish and do very well.

Al, the GT40s are real ones - apart from one of the kit cars in Barry's race. So Roger, Leo and Shaun were going at it hammer and tongs in the real thing - no contact, bloody quick and all finished. A credit to the drivers and the preparers.

[Eric Falce]

Plus I might add it was a Mk1 Escort that won the Barry race.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by delta

I have been racing,spanering,team managing ect for over 20 years at this event. Its probaly me but I think the Spa 6 Hour weekend has lost some of its attraction.

Probably the removal of Whoopi Snacks!