RACES 1 & 2: Snetterton : 13/14 April 2013
report by Nicky Paul-Barron

Our opening meeting of 2013 featured races on both the short 200 and longer 300 versions of this MSV owned venue. Snetterton first hosted a race meeting in 1951, but of course there have been many changes to the circuit layout since that time.

For our formula classic racers this was the first meeting where everyone was on the Pirelli P Zero Rosso road tyre. The move to this tyre was forced by the withdrawal of the popular P Zero C track tyre. This change was widely unpopular, but it has now happened and it was up to everyone to get on with it and do the best that they could.

Race 1
The entry list was encouraging with 20 cars lining up for qualification. David Tomlin came out on top in his 308 GTB. David has the ability to overcome the new tyre's shortcomings and he was flinging the car around with abandon. Next up was the fabulous Grp 4 Daytona of Tim Summers. Tim is allowed to run on period non Pirelli race rubber, as Pirelli do not make tyres to fit the old bruiser. This year that gives him a very considerable advantage but the car is so great to see that I didn't hear any complaints. Wayne Marrs and Chris Compton-Goddard were next up followed by newcomer Ted Pearson in the QV built 328 GTS.

Thankfully both practice and race were held in dry conditions. The collection area looked great as usual. This should have been Tomlin's race. By lap three he held an 8 second advantage over the Daytona. Unfortunately the 308 then picked up an electrical problem which dropped two cylinders with a consequent loss of power. This allowed Tim Summers to get through and go on to a memorable win. Right at the end David also lost 2nd position to Wayne Marrs. Ted Pearson finished an excellent 4th overall in his first race with the Club. One of the features of the race was the dice between Peter Fisk, Peter Everingham and Nicky Paul-Barron. It was fun to be a part of, and must have been fun to watch. No contact, just good close racing.

So all returned to the pits to consider tyre pressures, and possibly Tomlin's pace. David posted a lap of 2.18.24. The next fastest 8 cylinder lap was a 2.21.98 (Marrs). Unless Jim Cartwright makes an appearance (like David quite fearless) Tomlin is going to be very hard to beat this year.

Race 2
The 200 circuit is very much shorter than 300, so of course lap times in general were much more tightly packed. All that is except David Tomlin. His pole qualifying time of 1.26.99 was way ahead of the next car (Marrs) who posted a 1.29.40. Chris Compton-Goddard was next up from Ted Pearson and Nick Cartwright. Nick Taylor had finally got his highly developed Mondial T going properly and qualified 6th.

Everyone who races must I suppose do some sort of risk analysis. To be on the grid at all they must have considered the risk to be acceptable for the potential pleasure gained. What nobody particularly needs is an extra risk thrown in at the last moment. But this is what all had to deal with at Snetterton on Sunday. Ted Pearson's 328 blew an oil filter seal on the start of the green flag lap, leaving a considerable trail of oil from Riches on to Montreal. He retired the car with thankfully no engine damage. The clerk of the course at that point should have delayed the start whilst oil dry was put down. For some reason he chose not to do so, and started the race anyway.

Anyone who remembers the Redgate incident at Donington a few years ago can imagine the potential for disaster in this situation. Fortunately everyone got through OK on lap 1, but on lap two there were multiple spinners and the organisers red flagged the race.

At the re-start, and with loads of oil dry finally on the circuit, the reduced field got away safely. The fourteen finishers were lead by Tomlin from Marrs, Compton-Goddard and Nick Cartwright. Overall it had been a good start the year. The oil in race 2 did spoil things a little but fortunately there was no serious damage caused. The new tyre seems at least to be manageable, if not particularly fun, and we can all look forward to another decent grid at Donington.