A change of scene for the hillclimbers this time around, as they decamped to the Motor Industry Research Association proving ground near Nuneaton. The facilities there provide a mostly fast and open sprint event run by Midland Automobile Club, with little in the way of solid objects to deter the foolhardy. The weather was unremarkable with a shower or two about, but nothing to affect the competitive runs.

The Ferrari entry was a little light, but this day did coincide with the Ferrari Festival at Donington and, as you will see from reports elsewhere, quite a few FHCC drivers had elected to go circuit racing there in the new Ferrari Formula Classic. At MIRA there was unusually only one small Ferrari, but no less than four F355’s and a 360 Modena too. It was not that easy to spot a winner here – sure Nick Frost (348GTC) and Richard Prior (348ts) had been making the running lately, but they did have a power disadvantage against all the heavy metal ranged against them at MIRA.

Just two practice runs and two timed runs were to be taken. The first practice run was dry and the second slightly wet as it had showered just beforehand. Nick Frost promptly took charge of the situation with a time of 57.58 secs. Geoff Dark knows the way here with his 308GTB, and he was the only other man under sixty seconds. Chris Dixon took his 348tb ahead of Richard Prior’s 348 and the F355’s of Chris Butler and Peter Rogerson. Rather unfortunately for Peter his first practice of 60.90 was to be his best of the day.

Richard Prior, presently leading this year’s Championship, is being chased hard by Nick Frost – both of them with a number of maximum 20pt scores this year. Richard needed to close the gap on Nick to about three quarters of a second if he was to claim a maximum score , and at three seconds down in practice, his chances did not look promising. He did try, but too hard as it turned out, spinning the 348 on the last corner of his first official run.

Effectively now last, he had to be a little conservative on the final run and for the first time this year was never in the hunt, falling back down the class order. In the afternoon officials Nick Frost put in two blinding 54 second runs to win by a handsome margin of two seconds or so. Naturally he took the twenty points as well! Peter Hitchman had been lurking down the back of the field, but on the final run woke up his 360 to pull in to second overall on 56.78. Chris Butler, you remember, impressed at Harewood – well he pulled up the chart too, with his F355 on 57.39 to just head off Chris Dixon’s 348 on 57.58. Dixon looked good, taking the second place on PEP times and finishing in front of Richard Prior too, which pleased him no end!

After these first five cars it was Geoff Dark heading up the remainder. He was on a 58.07 - down on his previous best time at MIRA, but still fairly respectable and well ahead of the pursuing trio of F355’s in the hands of Philip Whitehead on 60.16, Chris Hitchman on 60.27 and Peter Rogerson finding the course a little confusing as he slipped down to 61.45. Jeremy Stubbs, still pretty new to this sort of thing, and on a best of 67.00, was not in a position to threaten the F355’s, but learning about his Mondial 3.4T along the way.

There was a speed trap along the fastest part of the course, but the data is not in our chart as it proved to be temperamental at best. A few best examples from the runs when the speeds given did seem plausible are as follows:- Frost 109, Dark 104, Dixon 100, Prior 100, Butler 97, C Hitchman 97, P Hitchman 96, Rogerson 94, Whitehead 91, Stubbs 85. These speeds are not just a function of power, but are also affected by the exit speed from the long left hander that opens out on to the main straight. Maybe a brave man could coax about 115 out of a 360 through here!

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