Pre 83 Touring Cars - Brands Hatch - 6th/7th September

Review

Heading south early Friday afternoon allowed us to arrive at Brands Hatch in a timely manner and set up camp ready for the weekend, a decent spot in the paddock (next to an ex James Thomspon BTCC Vauxhall Astra) ensured we could keep an eye on events on track without the fear of missing our Pre 83 Touring Car sessions!

                                                        

With 2 x races and 4 x genuine Droopsnoots (see previous post) on the grid including David Hall Thruxton Car it was set to be an action packed weekend.

Qualifying started at 10.05am on Saturday morning on a bright dry track.  Mostyn had not been in the car since Round 1 at Donington Park in March but was soon picking up the pace and posting respectable times sub 1 minute.  He achieved his quickest time on lap 10 of 15 posting a 58.3 which was good enough for 8th overall of a 18 car grid.

David Hall lined up 10th posting a 58.8 second lap, Alan Greenhalgh lined up 11th with a 59.0 and Gary Fletcher 14th posting 59.5, all 4 x Droopsnoots separated by just over 1 second!!


Qualifying action and mixing it with the Ford Capris

Race 1 - Saturday Afternoon

An exciting, eventful, clean race with lots of position changes, running as high as 6th but eventfully finishing 9th overall, with only 0.178 separating Alans yellow Firenza and Mostyn at the flag,  David and Gary Firenza followed in 10th and 11th place.

Please click below for excellent on board footage from the Stuart Caie Ford Capri,  showing the race long scrap with the Droopsnoots! (oh an a Rover SD1 joins in)

Race 2 - Sunday

A dry tracker and warm weather greeted us again for Race 2 on Sunday, Gary Flecther was running his Hillman Imp in the Pre 66 Touring Car race on Sunday so 3 x Firenza took to the grid for race 2.  Unfortunately plans to get amongst the Capris early on were in tatters when Mostyn bogged down on the start line, however it made for exciting fightback passing a Rover, Camaro before having a great duel with David Hall Firenza.   Mostyn eventually finished 10th, running out of laps to get back with Alan Greenhalgh yellow example, however he did manage his best lap of the weekend 57.9.  The 3 x Firenzas finished 9th,10th and 11th overall.

Go Go Go.....no no no

Full results are available here on TSL Timing - http://www.tsl-timing.com/barc/2014/14362183t.pdf

Good luck to Alan and Gary who are heading to Spa Francorchamps in early October  for the final round of the Pre 83 Touring Car Championship.

Brands Hatch 6th / 7th September

Brands Hatch Preview

This weekend the Autoglym Pre 83 Touring Cars Championship heads to Brands Hatch Circuit,

4 x Vauxhall Firenza are entered and set to do battle with some potent opposition in the form of Escorts, Jags, Capris, Rovers and Fiesta from the Group One era.  Practice and race 1 is scheduled for Saturday and Race 2 on Sunday

Mostyn Rutter

David Hall

Alan Greenhalgh

Gary Fletcher

Further details available here - http://news.brandshatch.co.uk/touring-car-thrills-on-the-indy-circuit.aspx


Fingers crossed for some good weather
See you there!

Pre 83 Classic Touring Cars - Donington Park - Sat 22nd / Sun 23rd March

Pre 83 Classic Touring Cars - Donington Park - Sat 22nd / Sun 23rd March

Review

A last minute panic emerged in the lead up to race weekend, Mostyn reviewed the MSA Blue Book and it became apparent the existing race seat was out of date,  therefore a quick trip to http://www.nickygrist.com/ in Herefordshire was required.  A new seat was an unwanted expense at this late stage but essential to get the car through scrutineering on race day.  

Once at Donington Park on Saturday morning the Droopsnoot went through scrutineering with only 1 issue identified, the roll cage was out of date! Thankfully it was allowed through on this occasion but must be rectified for any future races.

 Qualifying 

Three Firenzas took to the circuit Saturday morning including Alan Greenhalgh and Gary Flecther, unfortunately David Hall in the 4th Firenza was not present.  

The session began early Saturday morning at 09.40 with the Pre 83 Touring Cars on circuit second only to the Caterhams.  Despite dark skies and a green circuit it remained dry for the 15 minute session and Mostyn began to get some laps under his belt, gradually working the newly built engine and new Toyo rubber. 

 Building up confidence and able to push that little more through the session Mostyn achieved his quickest time on lap 8, posting a 1.29.9 which was good enough for 4th in class and 13th overall in a huge 34 car field. 

On returning to the paddock a check over of the car confirmed no major issues other than the brakes were not up to the job!

Fastest Lap:  1.29.9 on lap 8 of 9
Grid Postion: 13 overall of 34 Cars

34 cars battle for position down the Craner Curves

Race 1

Despite dark skies the circuit remained dry as the cars lined up on the grid. Unfortunately Alan Greenhalgh Firenza had Gearbox issues and did not take the start for Race 1 whilst Gary Fletcher was only able to complete 1 x lap in the race before retiring. 

 The objective was to get through the 1st lap with out getting tangled up in a incidents which was achieved, Mostyn could then get into his rhythm and sharpen his door handle to door handle race skills.

A race long battle with a Rover SD1 including a heart stopping moment coming down the Craner Curves finished with the Rover taking the chequered flag just 0.156 ahead of the Firenza for 14th overall.  Mostyn fastest lap was down to a 1.28.6 despite soft brakes and having to use the gearbox to slow the car down.

Finishing Position Overall - 15th from 26 Finishers
Finishing Position Class - 5th
Fastest Lap - 1.28.6 on lap 4


Race 2

New brake pads were fitted in anticipation for Sundays race which was broadcast live on Motors TV.  The start positions were formulated by Saturdays results so Mostyn lined up 15th on the grid.  Unfortunatley Gary Fletcher did not make the start but Alan Greenhalgh was ready on the back of grid having fitted a replacement Viva GT box.

(Photo from Phil Laughton)

Some great racing across the first few laps resulted in Mostyn passing an Escort and Mini and then having a race long dice with the Rover SD1 and a sideways Lotus Cortina.  This time the Firenza pipped the Rover across the finish line by just 0.29 seconds to take 11th overall, with a fastest lap of 1.28.1.  A great drive by Alan Greenhalgh saw him bring his Firenza through the pack to 13th overall.

Finishing Position Overall - 11th of 24 Finishers
Finishing Position Class - 5th
Fastest Lap - 1.28.1 on lap 2

(photo from Droopsnoot)

Full Results can be found here - http://www.tsl-timing.com/barc/2014/141221csl.pdf

Alan Greenhalgh

(Photo from Big Hairpin Photography)

Gary Fletcther

(photo from Droopsnoot)

Donington Park - Saturday 22nd / Sunday 23rd March

Preview

The Motorsport season makes a welcome return this weekend with the 1st and 2nd round of the Classic Touring Car Club - Pre 83 Touring Car Championship at Donington Park.  Mostyn Rutter and the Vauxhall Firenza are making a welcome return to action two and a half years since the last outing at Rockingham October 2011.

A shakedown of the car was completed on Saturday, where the opportunity was taken to bed in a newly built and hopefully more potent race engine.  With only a couple of jobs to complete this week including fitting some fresh Toyo rubber, replacing the Dunlops, the plan is to head across to Donington Park Friday night.

A class win was achieved back in 2002 during the last visit to Donington, however a field of Jaguar, Escorts, Dolomites, Capris and Rovers await with mix of pre 66 machinery thrown in (including Lotus Cortinas and Minis) ensuring a packed 30 car grid.   With a couple of other Firenzas also entered it shaping up to be a great weekend!

The Timetable has Qualifying on Saturday morning at 9.40am, whilst the 1st Race is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 13.20

The 2nd race is on Sunday at 13.05 with Motors TV showing all Sunday afternoon races live.