Angelsey 10th June 2006
Our prayers for good weather were answered but it was touch and go a couple of times as un-forecast showers loomed close and scattered a few drops. Last report I mentioned that Nick’s car was OK after his assault on the Top Ess bank at Shelsley. This analysis was a little premature. In fact, either the impact, or the sudden re-acquaintance with terra firma, still with foot buried on the throttle, broke off both top diff carrier ‘ears’ and comprehensively bent and tore the chassis. So, more work for the PM workshop. Fortunately they completed the work in time for Nick to make it. Roy Bury, who came up to support and spectate on the Saturday, was regaling me with list of the bits that Nick has bent or broken recently. Who else would bend wishbone bolts? It was also nice to see Dick Swindall had brought his ‘mechanic’ with him - Jim Grant, who we hadn’t seen for quite some time.
Two newcomers to Angelsey were Tony Wallen and Greg Ellaway. Andy Bradshaw had only completed a couple of practice runs last year so this was fairly new territory for him as well since the 30 is quite different now with the new wheels and slicks. Botty had decided to run his Elan S3 and had driven up in it. Chester Motor Club had split us into 2 classes – race and road. Unfortunately our classes ran behind the British Sprint Championship single seaters which seemed to be even more tardy (all day) than usual in getting to the line so we spent some time sitting in the cars. This time delay was useful for Nick since he found his ‘red spot’ battery was either flat or faulty. In the ‘excitement’ of the diff problem he had forgotten to charge it. Everyone rallied round and eventually Jim Grant found another competitor that had a spare of the same size that would fit and Nick made it. JC led us off and like most was some seconds off his PB (and record of 2004) with a 96.12. Greg Ellaway made a mistake at Abbotts, having a spin - a frequent occurrence at that point on a first visit. Andy Bradshaw however was 6 seconds quicker than his practice PB. Dave Hampton was still having a rather torrid time, particularly after his super performances in the Elan in previous years. After the first runs it was John Crook fastest from Nick Glazzard and then me!
Second runs saw improvements for most although June was having some gearing problems and was a little slower. Greg Ellaway got off the mark this run. Dave Hampton took off 9 seconds having started to be more aggressive. Grayham Parker was looking good according to the early runners who got on the bank above School corner and did a PB on 104.59. After the second runs it was JC still fastest, me second and Paul third. Roy Bury joined Paul and I to set the handicaps.
It seemed an interminable wait for our first timed runs. I think the organisers really struggle for experienced marshals and staff in this far flung corner of the UK and incidents, of which there were plenty, took some while to sort out.
John Crook was first off again and immediately got to within ¾ second of his PB. Paul was about a second off. At this point some timing gremlins intervened and some of the next runs were not timed. It is a little confusing since some people were given second runs but some the times were a bit doubtful. For example Dave Hampton who had done a 102 in practice went back to 108.00 (more of this magic number anon). In sequence I was a little annoyed that apparently the timing was OK for me since I had a 270 degree spin at Abbotts pushing a little too hard and would have welcomed a re-run. Anyway, to get back to the racing class in the end Tony was given a 103.11, Steve Millward 102.30 which was quite feasible since this was pretty close to his PB. Greg improved a couple of seconds but Dave Rose pulled another 3 ½ seconds off his best going just 0.4 off his PB. June was given 110.93 that was her best so far, but 4 seconds off her winning time last year. Andy was starting to tame the beast and got into the 102’s. After my little contretemps Nick was off into normal blitz mode and pulled a very good 98.37, 0.13 under handicap, but Grayham did even better to lower his PB by close to 2 seconds and the 103.40 took him 0.85 under. Dick was not particularly happy with his run which was only a small improvement on the morning’s best. Dave Elliott, like me, had a fail at the same place, but rather than a spin this was a lack of gears caused by a linkage malady. Eventually he got it stuck in reverse. He was hauled back by the recovery vehicle. Jane was held a long time while this was happening and could only chip 1/100th second of her best and still just outside her PB. Ian Parmenter was getting consistent times but this run was his slowest of them! Botty was running with the road class now and he was annoyed to drop 2 seconds to his best practice time. So after the first run it was Grayham from Nick then Dave Rose.
Second runs commenced and John was slower. The boss then produced a big improvement and his 95.01 was a PB and 0.19 under handicap. Tony Wallen then also took off a big chunk of time and for two reasons he was a little frustrated that the 100.01 was not 99.99 but also that this was 0.01 over his 100.00 handicap. Steve Millward was slower but Greg worked another 2 seconds off to go well into the 105’s Dave Rose was slower than his first run but June suddenly found 4 seconds to finish just 0.57 over handicap. Andy was a little slower in the 30 but Dave Hampton started to pick things up again with a103. He definitely needs a lower final drive and still the engine is to prone to dropping off the cam. I still don’t think L1 cams, a nearly 40 year old profile if they are true L1’s, are what is needed.
I set off next and was a bit too cautious and only improved to 99.49, some 1 ½ seconds off my PB. Cautious is not the word I would apply to Mr Glazzard’s next run, which, if he hadn’t had a 360 degree spin coming out of the hairpin on the final run would have seen him easily into the 96’s. As it was, and with that little interruption he still posted a 99.38. I don’t know what he is on but I want (need!) some. Grayham was next and was credited with something like 130 seconds! Dick followed and was very pleased with his run, but not so pleased with the 123 or so he was given. We queried these two times with the organisers for the times to be changed to 103.40 for Grayham – exactly 1 second slower than his earlier run. Dick was given the magic 108.00, just 0.20 better than his first run time. Dick was not amused! Basically the timing system was not very impressive. Dave Elliott had managed to fix the linkage on the Cortina but this good effort was not rewarded and his run was slower than his best practice time leaving him way off his handicap. Jane was a bit slower though subsequent discussion showed that with 3.55 diff and standard gearbox she was rather too highly geared here (and most other places). Maybe her chief mechanic should give this some consideration! Finally Ian Parmenter produced his second best run of the day but since, with his usual consistency, all four runs were in the 117’s he finished about 2 seconds off his PB and handicap.
So, the final result gave Grayham a well deserved win from the gaffer in 2nd place and Nick in 3rd Tony Wallen was 4th and Dave Rose 5th. On race scratch it was JC from Paul then Tony. In the road class it was Nick from me then Grayham.
Only 4 cars got under 100 seconds this time, without the likes of Messrs Banks and Wilford present. JC and Paul and the two +2’s.
Nick is now on 37 points in the main championship from Tony Wallen in 2nd and Grayham up into 3rd. Steve is 4th and Dave Elliott 5th.
On race scratch JC is on a maximum 20 points from Botty (who may not add more points in this class if he stays with the Elan) and Tony Wallen jointly on 11.
In the road class Nick has just dropped one point on 19, with me second on 13 and Grayham 3rd with 11.
We have a bit of a break now until the second Loton on July 8th.
Twiz
