FERRARI formula classic

• Lap times took a good beating when compared with the same event last year. Gary Culver lowered the Class 2 record from 1:23.3 on '03 (Graham Reeder in the NP-B 328) to 1:21.0 this time round. William Jenkins lowered his own Class 3 record from 1:22.4 to 1:21.1 and the Class 1 record (V-12s and V-6s) also came down by a second thanks to Stuart Anderson. But how about Chris Drake - he went from a 1:32 last year to a 1:28.9 this time.
  
  
• There was some nice déjà vu about the 328s of Gary Culver and Nicky Paul-Barron. Back in 1991 the very same two cars were battling for the PMFC "O" class championship in the hands of Stuart Bowler and Martin Shaw respectively. These old war horses certainly know their way round the various tracks by now. Can't really compare the lap times because the track has changed.
  
  
• Not for the first time a Ferrari classic novice drove out of the paddock and on to the public road with his race numbers still on the car. This is easily done because the cars are, after all, fully road legal and on road tyres but particularly with the sensitive situation at Castle Combe and its close neighbours, not all in love with racing, this could lead to a major complaint involving not only the competitors but the series organisers and the circuit itself. Please don't do it....
  
  
• Quirky scrutineering has often been a feature at Combe. Determined to prove that Swifty's fire extinguisher was insecurely mounted, the scrutineer tugged at it furiously but it resolutely refused to come off in his hands. It did later, however, when Swifty was out in the qualifying session. Well done Scrute. The Culver extinguisher was bizarrely mounted with the nozzle sticking out of the driver's window just ready for a squirt should anyone get too close.
  
  
• When was the last time the Factory built a GT4 with a Mondial engine? Before everyone starts sticking 360 engines into 308s (now there's a thought!) maybe it ought to be pointed out that these engine transplants are really a bit outside the rules. More's the pity, someone said, as he recounted tales of the 308 that Terry Hoyle built many years ago with a 365 V-12 slung across the back. It reminded everyone of the pendulum concept.
  
  
• Poor old Colin Campbell. Although propping up the back of the grid with his Dino he never got to race it. As he got in the car to drive it to the grid the driver's door wouldn't stay shut. Not a real surprise to Dino afficionados but by the time the door panel was removed and a screwdriver poked in to fix the problem, the grid had gone.
  
  
• For some reason the hospitality unit was overun! Usually there's about 60 or 70 bookings for lunch which would have fitted in ok but this time over 170 decided they wanted lunch. With two sittings all were squeezed in but it was a close run thing. Dick Lovetts emporium brought along a nice display of Fazzas and Masers which were lined up just outside but not before all the marshalls cars had been moved along. They were not best pleased.
  
  
  
  

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Gary nicked it but had to work for it

NP-B carefully plots his start procedure ......

CHIPS comes to Combe

Lovely 275 of David Cottingham

This one thinks he's at a hillclimb

Odhran gives it plenty in Q, but retired in the race

Too scary for a family website

Nice assortment of V-12s, some real

pics by Simon Cooke. PG & CMdigicams