The sun was shining brightly as we set off in the Morgan (top down of course) for Loton Park and the second round of the 2005 FHCC. On arrival, we were greeted by various damp and bedraggled objects, with steam rising gently from them. On closer inspection, these proved to be the elite of the FOC competitions world. They explained that the previous day had been a bit damp. The only one who hadn't minded was Pauline Goodwin who, as an ex-canoeist, thinks that getting a wet bum is a normal part of competition.

The entry was down to fourteen, Series returnee Christian Mineeff being a non-starter, a consequence of an old racer that's had a few owners and been messed about with - and his 328 "Rosie" wouldn't start either. Richard Prior revealed to one of your reporters that his intensive programme of pre-season preparation consisted of a) Find car, b) Check MOT, c) Panic. The MOT inspection revealed that it was running on seven cylinders and needed a new rear drive flange!

The track was in perfect condition by the end of practice, with Jon Goodwin (F355) enjoying a substantial lead over Geoff Dark (308GTB modificato) who was just in front of Richard Prior; Nick Taylor having slipped off going up Cedar Straight on his second run.

The competition runs started with the newcomers, Charlie White's softly-sprung 355 Spider and Mark Buckland's raucous Mondial t. Buckland was trying hard and looking good, belying the fact that his competition experience was only one day! Pauline Goodwin was clearly relishing the grip and was delighted to smash the 70 second barrier with a 69.69 sec. run, which subsequently gave her the handicap prize - a night out with Richard Allen (yes we know, second prize being two nights out etc... Ed.).

Lorriane Hitchman fell off at Triangle, fortunately without damage, and Geoff Dark must have been disappointed to record 65.75. Colin Campbell (246GT) recorded his best time of the day with 85.16 secs. Nick Taylor braked noticeably later than anyone at the end of the straight to record a 63.34, the best time so far. Richard Allen was the first of the experienced 355 operators, and in such hands their power advantage over the older tipos was very noticeable. Richard Prior (348ts) was just over a tenth slower than Taylor, Chris Butler (355) recorded the best time of 63.06, but it only lasted as long as it took a determined Jon Goodwin to cross the line - Gooders blasting his 355 to the top of the hill in 62.06 secs, a second clear.

Charlie White improved substantially to 65.60, which gave him 9th place ahead of more seasoned competitors. This time also meant that he was the quickest newcomer ahead of Mark Buckland who improved his time, and Pauline Goodwin who just failed to improve hers. Lorraine Hitchman was a little subdued, which was understandable, but so it seemed were the rest of the Hitchman clan. We were going to suggest that this might demonstrate tribal empathy, though it later emerged that Chris had been very tail happy at Fallow and Peter improved to 68.68 in his Mondial t - but you can't let the truth get in the way of a good story can you?

Geoff Dark had a lot to do and was trying very hard to do it; the tail of the 308 wagging as he took the corner before the straight and it went very sideways at Museum, so much so that he nearly collected the cones on the outside of the corner; however he still improved to 64.58. Andy Grier drove well all day and improved his time to 65.23 which gave him another 11 points and fifth place in the Championship - a great start to the year. Nick Taylor's run looked good, hard-charging but well controlled, but it was a little slower, which gave him third on PEPs just ahead of Dark. Richard Allen was smoother than before, perhaps having re-familiarised himself with the 355s power steering after his trusty 328, and made a useful improvement to 63.93.

Richard Prior drove aggressively, but was a little slower, however his first run time of 63.47 gave him the PEPs win and he left Loton in the lead of the Championship and a happy man. Chris Butler overshot Fallow by such a margin that he got 90% of the car off the track and inevitably he was slower. The gathering darkness made it easier to see Jon Goodwin's spectacularly incendiary brakes, which would make him the envy of Saxo owners everywhere! Jon was half-a-second slower than his first run, but that had easily given him the overall win from Chris Butler and secured second on PEPs behind Prior.

So the curtain came down on the first FHCC "double-header" and it looks like it's going to be a very open and competitive Championship again this year.

Monday was a much nicer day than Sunday...	...even though PG had won the Ladies Prize the day before	Street urchins abound at Loton Park	Rosie decided she doesn't like hillclimbing

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Charlie White was the quickest of the newcomers..

...though Mark Buckland drove very well

....as did PG

Lorraine Hitchman leaps off the start line

Husband Chris had a moment at Fallow

Father-in-law Peter improved in his Mondial

Colin Campbell's Dino

RA scored his second lot of 10 points...

...and Andy Grier his second eleven

Geoff Dark charged all weekend

Nick Taylor was third overall and on PEPS

Richard Prior took the PEPs win

Chris Butler was second overall...

...but Gooders took the win

So, tell me again, which is the apex ....

pics by CMdigicams, Charlie White, Graham Easter and probably others.