The other PFHCC competitors think that Gurston is my local venue but it is still a 105 mile blast “up country” from Teignmouth – and what a blast on a sunny Sunday morning – no traffic, bright and cool with a slight breeze first thing and those "A" roads, dips and bends, but of course, all thoughts of a last minute practice are banished...

An early start was in order as Gurston’s organisers are pretty brisk with an 8.30 start of proceedings and the Ferrari crew were in the first batch up the hill.

There was a no show by Andy Grier after his spin out at Loton the week but his place filled by late entry Charlie White (new to Gurston) in his 355 Spyder. First away in number order should have been Charlie but traditionally he arrived late and missed his slot while signing in. Also late was Richard Allen who really should know the way by now. He arrived with his 328's fuel flap open and fuel cap missing – luckily it was wedged behind the fuel filler pipe and was safely replaced before the scrutineers examined the car.

First practice began and quickest out of the box was Geoff Dark (308m) with a 39.37 closely followed by Nick Taylor (348GTC) and Allen on 39.54 and 39.62 respectively. David Tomlin (355) was not far behind with a 40.63. The others were in the low 40s with Jon Goodwin bringing up the rear in the Lusso strangely slower than we expected. The answer was he had lost second gear and managed 50 seconds with only first and third. A hasty strip down of the selector mechanism followed the return to the paddock. A small part had broken and dropped into the bottom of the gear box. This was the end for Lucy as to continue would not have been wise as it could have resulted in further damage. Jon arranged for RAC Recovery to come and take her home, whilst he would share wife Pauline's long-suffering 328.

[roll mouse over pic for caption, click to enlarge]

In second practice everyone went quicker with Geoff Dark still fastest on 38.50, Tomlin and Allen following. Further down the line Andy Holman (Mondial QV) knocked 5 seconds off his first practice time. Most of this was due to improving his 0-64ft. time by an incredible 6.41 seconds from his first run (a Ferrari record!). On his second run this was reduced so low that no time at all appeared on the timing ticket - amazing! Very quick was John Day (328) with a 39.90 run, a very good time which absolutely delighted him.

During lunch most of the competitors tried to find shelter from the scorching sunlight except clever Nick Taylor who turned his car around so his tyres would benefit from the heat of the sun. With the first timed run the Ferrari crew had settled into two distinct groups - the "Thirty Eighters" Tomlin and Allen, both on 38.66, Dark on 38.76 followed by Taylor still lagging on 38.84 and the "Forty One-ers", Day, Pauline and Barry Wood (308). Gooders and Charlie were in the 39s, David Hathaway (348ts) in the 40s and Holman in the 42s. With times so close there was all to play for on the last run. Nick Taylor was seen to be carefully wiping the dust off the back off his 348 - apparently this was causing him drag and slowing him down...

Most of the faster group shaved more time off without only Allen slowing to a 39.91 after a mix up with gear lever and left knee at Karousel [the retirement home clearly beckons - Ed.]. Sandbagging Nick Taylor did a blinding 37.87 to take the trophy with Tomlin doing a very quick 38.33 to finish second and Dark taking the final podium spot with a 38.49.

Pauline did an excellent 40.73 to move ahead of both Hathaway and Day, who could not emulate his quick time in practice, Hathaway pipping him by just one-hundredth of a second in the event proper! Wood and Holman followed, the latter just getting into the 41s with a 41.93.

After PEPs were added Dark took 20 points followed by Taylor on 17 and Allen on 15, Gooders getting the upper hand over Tomlin and White to get 13; the first four were split by 7/10ths of a second. The bottom five (Pauline, Day, Wood, Hathaway and Holman) were split by just 6/10ths of a second - a very close, competitive and enjoyable day of motor sport.

Click here for the results.

Click here for Championship positions.

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Rubbish locations, these hillclimbs

Holding paddock at the top of the hill

Jedi Master Dark explains more of the power of The Forza to Young Holman

Gooders susses out that all is not well in Lucy's gearbox...

...he tries to figure out how many gears there should be...

...the sorely abused Old Dear ended up going back home on a wrecker

pics by Pauline Goodwin