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The FOC's Ferrari racers were at diverse venues this weekend. One lot were enjoying a happy hippy scene with a liberal attitude to sexuality and mind-altering substances – and the PMFC were in Holland. There was a good entry of 12 cars at Prescott, with Tony Willis non-starting. Maybe he’d had to sell the 330 GTC to meet this month’s quota. Peter Hayman was not entered, having bashed his 512 TR on the way back from the body shop where it had just been repaired after his Harewood off. Consequently the Tipos represented were mostly 308s/328s/348s and 355s with only Nick Taylor’s Mondial and Geoff Rollason’s gorgeous 360M to add variety. The Ferraris only had two practice runs on Saturday, falling foul of the 5.30pm curfew. Rollason was quickest from Richard Prior, who was in front of Nick Frost. Mike Spicer’s ex-Robin Ward 308 was displaying “For Sale” number plates, initiated by his experience in the Ferrari Classics race at Donington.There, Mike enjoyed a race-long dice with FOC secretary Peter Everingham but the latter's 328 had the legs of the 308. Mike feels that the only way to even things up is to get a 328. To return to Prescott, Rollason continued his practice form, leading after the first competition runs on a 50.56 secs. from an on-form Richard Prior (51.23) and Nick Frost (51.41). Chris Butler (355 GTB) was an excellent fourth with a 51.80 on his first visit to this most “technical” of hills. He attributed 1½ sec. improvement over practice to braking harder into “Ettores” and “Pardon” which allowed him to get the throttle open earlier on the exit – that and being delayed on the start line, which did wonders for his adrenalin levels. He also felt there was something to come for the second run as he’d inadvertently left the suspension in “Tesco” rather than “Monza” setting. The competitors enjoyed analysis of the computer results system, which gave first 64ft, speed under the bridge, a split (start-line to just before the “Esses”) as well as overall time. Quickest over the 64 ft was John Marshall’s 2.44 secs. in his 328 GTB, one of the worst was Geoff Rollason with 2.73 secs. Despite this, with 72 mph under the bridge he was 8mph faster than anyone else! A tribute to 360 grunt, though not to its various computer-controlled gizmos. The splits showed that Richard Prior lost a tenth of a second to 348 twin Nick Frost on the first part of the hill, but took two tenths off him on the second part to end up on 51.28 against Frost’s 51.41. During the lunch hour, there was some discussion of the relative merits of stabbing the throttle in the Esses versus floating through and attempting to carry more speed, so that’s where I went to spectate for the second runs. I can report that they’re nearly all “floaters” with the always-aggressive Rollason a notable exception. Richard Prior was on it too, running out onto the rumble strips on the exit. There was an impressive amount of steering wheel twirling in the Esses, a timely reminder that, after all, these are mostly standard road cars. It was notably cooler for the second runs, with Rollason the only one of the leaders to improve his time. Butler’s 355 suspension switch made no noticeable difference, even in the driver’s head. This consolidated the win for Rollason, the one-time outright record holder of the hill. Clearly, the others have been watching too much TV as they claimed that the track had “gone away” from the Bridgestones / Pirellis / Michelins / Dunlops / Colway remoulds. Strangely enough, this phenomenon did not afflict others in the field with Geoff Dark improving by ½ second to take 5th, just 0.02 secs ahead of a quietly impressive Nick Taylor - it would be interesting to see him in a more powerful car. John Marshall was just 0.03 secs ahead of Chris England (308 GTS) with Brian Jackson (308 GTB) 0.29 behind him. Overall, another excellent day’s Ferrari sport. Mention must be made of the Marshalls, custodians of the results board in the absence of RA, celebrating his wedding anniversary. Oh yes, when I arrived, the sun glinted off the gateman’s flintlock as, with a cheery “Stand and Deliver”, he relieved me of another £12 to get in. You’d think at least they could chuck in a free programme.
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