Autosport 3 Hrs: (Snetterton): 9 Jun 2012 07:00 - 10 Jun 2012 17:00

[John Turner]

We had two course car periods in the first hour. The first after only two laps when the lovely old Reliant Sabre Six dropped all its coolant and again after about 11 laps for a reason that now escapes me. A few more pics from this period:-

1) 90 - E Type -Newman/Newman

2) 28 - MGB - Smith/Boyes/Boyes

3) 88 - Elva Mk8 - Twyman/Wright. This was Gary Wright's first race, and in a car owned by Roger Wills, who was sadly absent, no doubt preparing for his Le Mans Drive. Joe and Gary were to finish 6th, very creditable under the circumstances.

4) 91 - Lotus Elan 26R - Fleming/Jones

5) 5 - E Type - Bergs/Denty. This was generally the quicker of the two E-types, running. As we know the 3rd, that of 10-Tenthers Colin McKay and Iain Rowley were sadly unable fill their entry for reasons previously discussed.

6) 56 - Porsche 356A - Wright/Clark/Sumpter. The 1958 Porsche was the oldest car in the race, and also the slowest, but on consisitency it held its own with some of the later cars, particularly when driven by Mark Sumpter, used to driving much quicker and later Porsches. The car was beautifully prepared and presented.

[Peter Mallett]

John, I think you mean the Autosport 3 hours?

[John Turner]

1) 63 - TVR Grantura MkIII - Wolfe/Thompson

2) 28 & 39 - MGBs, the latter, the Eaton/Mcleod car

3) 8 - Elva Mk7S - Malone/Hall
61 - Chevroin B8 - Ward/Diffey

4) 25 - Chevron B8 - Lillingstone-Price/Lyons
36 - Lotus 23B - Newall/Garside - it had started to drop back a little after its excellent start but it retained its lead in the SRB class.

5) 16 - Chevron B8 - Nelson/Methley

6) 48 (in the middle) is the Elva Mk7S - Durling/Stretton

[bigvalveelan]

JT - Thanks for more great pictures, it's good to see you out there.


The handicap race itself was a complete hoot.

I have no defence for setting off 20s early; I simply didn't hear the hadicapper say that they would flag off empty rows.

I am sorry to have gone off prematurely (I thought I’d got over that years ago), but after sitting for a couple of minutes, when an official points at you and drops a flag it is hard not to go. As soon as I dropped the clutch I realized that I should have ignored it and waited, but it was too late by then. The ensuing laps were terrific fun – trying to chase people down and then pass respectfully was just great. And I thoroughly enjoyed being able to throw the car around rather than protect a position.

Just before the end I was shown a stop and go penalty board so I came into the pits at first opportunity to ensure there was no confusion (I didn't want to benefit from my mistake if it had gone unnoticed anyway). I was then handed additionally a 10s penalty, plus the 20s time added plus I was told that on this occasion I wouldn't get points on my licence (would have been rather harsh!).

From my perspective the handicapping was probably about right.
Had I gone at the right time I think I would have come up just short, but then Andy Shephard was driving that little Seven well beyond its intended rev range, Patrick was smooth as ever in his G4 and Adam’s Mustang is bloody quick down the straights. So, well done to the handicapper, and I’m told by people watching that it was quite exciting from their perspective.

I would definitely be up for doing something like that again – once or twice a year sounds about right.

I agree with James that it is good to get some fresh faces on the podium. I chose to race an Elan because it can be right up the front. But for others who are relatively speaking doing just as well in winning their competitive classes, there is very little recognition. The handicap races do give that opportunity.

Paul

[John Turner]

Great post, Paul, and thanks for clarification.

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

John, I think you mean the Autosport 3 hours?

I don't know what you mean (taking a leaf out of your Book!!).

[Peter Mallett]

I saw what you did there.

[John Turner]

At the end of the First hour, the order was:-

1) 42 - Chevron B8 - Nick Fleming - 25 laps
2) 93 - Ginetta G16 -George Douglas/Luke Stevens - 25 laps
3) 45 - Ginetta G16 - James & Graeme Dodd - 25 laps
4) 5 - Jaguar E type - Klaus Bergs/James Denty - 25 laps (but yet to stop)
5) 48 - Elva Mk7S - William Durling/Martin Stretton - 25 laps ( " " " ")
6) 25 - Chevron B8 - Chris Lillingstone-Price/Timothy Lyons - 24 laps

A few more pics:-

1) The Battling G16s
2) 41 - Lenham P69 Spyder - Casey/McMollom
3) 42 - Fleming, although wary of the pursuing Ginettas, seemed to have the race under control
4) 31 - Porsche 911 - Chappell/Gaymond/Monk
5) 10 - MGB - Bechtolsheimer/Bianchi/Bianchi - Pitted early on with what I believe was a driveshaft failure but repaired and returned to the fray
6) 52 - Merlyn Mk6A - Daws/Daws - another with early woes

[John Turner]

1) 50 - Lotus Elan - Brooks/Brooks
2) 6 - Chevron B6 - Thompson/Woolston/McLurg - clearly had problems, lying 26th at the end of the first hour and finished 19th
3) 33 - Rawlson CR6 - Hicks/Deeley/Shepherd - Good to see this interesting car out, running pretty well in the first hour with it's early 908 style front end, sadly it was not to get a trouble free run to the flag
4) 56 - Porsche 356A again
5) 39 - Eaton/Mcleod MGB again
6) 52 - Merlyn Mk6A again!

[John Turner]

1) 48 - Elva Mk7S - Durling/Stretton, in 5th at end of first hour and maintaining a good competitive pace into the second
2) 7 - Healey 3000 - Andrew Hill and Harry Wyndham gave a very good account of themselves and the car was lying 7th at the end of the first hour, but hadn't stopped at that point. It was to drop down the order a little during the second hour but nevertheless took over the lead of the C2 class in this period when the leading E-type hit trouble
3) 88 - again - 14th at the end of the first hour but improving steadily in the second
4) Fleming lapping an MGB in Coram
5) The Rawlson again!
6) 66 - The Sabre Six 6GT, a car that many of you know I have a soft spot for, having owned a couple, eventually got back on track after its early dramas and although it had completed only 5 laps at the end of the first hour, it seemed to run well from then on, completing a further 20 laps by the end of the second hour. Driven by Condliffe/Condliffe/Daniels.

Probably my only post on this thread today, as I'm busy, busy!!

[John Turner]

At the end of the second hour, the order was

1) 42 - Chevron B8 - Fleming - 49 laps
2) 45 - Ginetta G16 - Dodd/Dodd - 49 laps
3) 93 - Ginetta G16 - Douglas/Stevens - 49 laps
4) 48 - Elva Mk7S - Durling/Stretton - 47 laps
5) 41 - Lenham P69 - Casey/McCollom - 47 laps
6) 6 - Elva Mk7S - Malone/Hall - 46 laps

To those who regard this as a Chevron dominated event, note that top 6 and there was only one other in the top 12 at this point. The Ginettas had swapped places and only 13 seconds covered the first 3 although since Nick was capable, if pressed, of lapping around 1.5 seconds quicker than the Ginettas, he still had control of the race. The Newall/Garside Lotus 23 had risen to 8th, and the Brooks/Brooks Elan (50) had moved into the lead of the B1 class and was lying 9th overall. The E types were in 16th and 17th, and so it was that their class (C2) was now led by the Wyndham/Hill Healey 3000, in a fine 10th overall. In 14th place, leading the B2 class, albeit by only a small margin was the MGB (39) of Eaton/Macleod.

More pics. The 25 car is the Lillingstone-Price/Lyons B8, lying 13th at the end of the 2nd hour:-

[John Turner]

No guarantees, by the way, that the pics illustrate the time period in the heading really, but they are there or thereabouts, so no comments (but some would be good - getting lonely in here) about the fact that it can't be in the third hour because so and so is in the car. I actually didn't take than many in the final hour! Anyway, more:-

Pic 4 shows the unmistakeable helmet of Martin Stretton, in the Elva, sharing with William Durling. Sadly, their fine run ended just 12 minutes into the 3rd hour. I do not know the reason, but I'm sure somebody can fill in the gaps. Would also be good to hear other drivers accounts:-

[John Turner]

One of the stars of the event for me was the Porsche 356A (56 - why isn't it registered with FISCAR, I wonder?) which just kept going and finished a very fine 15th? The second pic shows the Nelson/Methley Chevron B8 (16) which failed to finish. Neither did the Ward/Diffey B8 (61) which did at least get into the 3rd hour. The G16 (45) laps B8 (25). The 911 (31) pressed on but was to finish half a lap behind it's elder sibling, in 16th position. Mr Fleming 'working the wheel' :-

[John Turner]

After it's early delay the Bechtolstein/Bianchi/Bianchi MGB (10) circulated well and consistently and finished 18th. Not sure when the Safety car came out (for the 3rd time?) but to be honest it was before the 2nd hour was up, so my timeline is definitely out! 'My' Trophy winner (36) gets on the grass. Apparently, the car ran clutchless for almost the whole 3 hours which explains some of the lurid lines, and what a brilliant effort to get that car to finish 8th and SRB winner, so well done to the Andy's Newall and Garside. I must say that I'm delighted (he said smugly) with the names that are accumulating on The Turnstyle Trophy.

[John Turner]

Here's another batch, just to prove that I got around a bit. The Smith/Boyes/Boyes MGB (28) came in a good 12th and winner of the B2 class. Unfortunately the Denty/Bergs E-type (5) succumbed 20 mins into the 3rd hour. And now I know for certain that we are in the 3rd hour as the last pic here shows the 61 car about to be retired:-

[gt917]

John,

as usual, good pictures and information.

I can fill in a "gap" with some information regarding that Rawlson (33) that looked so good and was going well until it started sticking in gear. Despite valiant efforts by Guy Sheppard in stripping gearbox down and rebuilding, it still kept on jamming. It was a new Hewland box and the problem was with a selector fork.
Great looking and prepared car, and was good to meet up again with Barry Sheppard, original constructor of the car who was helping run the team.