Our 1st race of 2015 took us to the fast Castle Combe circuit in the county of Wiltshire for the Classic Touring Car Racing Club Pre 1983 Touring Car Championship.
The last time the Droopsnoot was in action at Castle Combe was October 1990 and here is the video footage - Castle Combe October 1990 . Maria McKee was topping the charts with 'Show Me Heaven' and Mostyn had a lot more hair.
We had heard a rumour the circuit now had a couple of chicanes, so having arrived at Combe a day before the event it was decided a walk of the circuit was needed. The chicanes were indeed present, however to avoid memory lapse Mostyn decided to do a 2nd lap alone on foot.
Raceday (Monday) was going to be busy with scrutineering & qualifying in the morning, 2 x races in the afternoon, Motors TV were broadcasting both race live whilst the team kept one eye on the overcast sky. The competition within the pre 1983 championship was strong -
Dave Howard - Jaguar XJ12
Steve Primett - Ford Escort
Nic Strong - Ford Capri
David Osbourne - Triumph Dolomite
Alan Greenhalgh - Vauxhall Firenza
Len Allgood - Ford Escort
Neil Bray - Ford Capri
Stuart Caie - Ford Capri
Ian Brookfield Alfa Romeo Alfasud
John Wright - Ford Escort
Malcolm Jeffs - Alfa Romeo Alfasud
Mike Haynes - Ford Capri
Simon Jeffs - Alfa Romeo
+ a whole host of pre 1966 Touring Cars
We checked fluid levels, tyre pressures, applied the new Autoglym stickers and our race number for the season - 0, (how bizarre!), but unfortunately the new Ferodo brake pads would not fit, so the Mintex from last season would have to do!
Qualifying
The weather was sunny and the track conditions dry. It was decided to try get onto the circuit 1st and get some clear track time and then to try and go with anyone who hustled on past. All was going to plan and as predicted the Howard Jaguar surged past after a couple of laps, Mostyn stayed with him and was getting quicker and quicker, catching the Jag through the corners but losing out to the mega power of the 7 litre car on the straights.
On the pit wall we checked the live TSL timing half way through the session and Mostyn was running 3rd overall so all looked good as both car and driver were proving to be competitive, but then the Jaguar sped past on the start finish straight but there was no sign of the Droopsnoot...
Had Mostyn gone off, did he forget about the chicanes and stuff it in the tyres, had we lost another engine?? The red flags did not come out which was a relief so we waited nervously for the 15 minute session to end. Finally the Droopsnoot appeared but was hoisted on the back of a recovery vehicle, we feared the worst, was the day was over before it had even got started?
The issue soon became apparent, the ball joint had failed on the front left. A quick check for spares in the van drew a blank, but Alan Greenhalgh was hopefully the saviour... Alan had a spare so the Droopsnoot was jacked up the damaged ball joint removed with a bit of force.
Unfortunately the replacement did not fit, it was Viva spec and not Ventora, therefore was too small!
Thankfully Elliot and his Father from the Droopsnoot Group were present & on hand to assist, they contacted DSG spares man Stuart who had the required part in stock and was only 40 minutes away.
However seconds before anyone set off to go collect the required part Mostyn appeared from deep within the van with the required ball joint, immediately the crew and our DSG support were at work fitting the part ready for race 1!
Remarkably Mostyn had qualified 6th overall having only completed 5 x laps in qualifying and was next to Alan Greenhalgh and his Firenza sharing the 3rd row!
Qualifying Postion Overall: 6th out of 27
Best Lap: 1.23.554 on lap 5 of 5
Position in Class: 4th
Race 1
With a large crowd present, a dry circuit, full grid and excitable commentators, all was set for a good race. Mostyn got a reasonably good start (we found fewer revs aided traction off the line) he narrowly dropped to 8th but was in the thick of the action as they approached the daunting quarry corner. Into the 1st chicane he was able to dive down the inside of Neil Bray Ford Capri ,On the 2nd lap he was able to complete a great move past Stuart Caie Ford Capri
The remainder of the race was frantic as 3 x cars scrapped for 4th pace overall, the photos below show how close the racing was between Nic Strong 3 litre Capri and Alan yellow Firenza -
By the final lap Mostyn had taken the Nic Strong Capri and crossed the line just half a second behind a rapid Alan Greenhalgh!
Both Firenzas had beaten all 4 x Ford Capris in the race and proved the Firenza is still a competitive race car
Race 1 Result
Postion Overall: 5th Of 22 Finishers
Best Lap: 1.22.4 on lap 5 of 12
Position in Class: 4th
Race 2
The weather had turned and it was wet, the rain got worse as the cars approached the grid, it was slippy, therefore the objective now was too finish the race and don't bend the car!
The photographers who braved the wet weather managed to capture a couple of excellent photos of the Droopsnoot power sliding through camp corner -
Mostyn fell down the order after having had a couple of off track excursions, it was extremely tricky keeping it on the black stuff..
Position 11th Overall
Position in Class - 5th
Fastest Lap - 1.41 on lap 4 of 8
Full results for both races can be found here - PRE 83 Touring Cars
Thanks to
- Elliot and his Dad from DSG for the raceday support
- BigHairpin Photography
- DRHurrell photography
- Jack Flash Photography
- Sarah Atkinson Images
Untill next time..
