Report - Round 1 - 2007 Pirelli Ferrari Hillclimb Championship - Club Racing Series'

It was with great anticipation that I attended the first round of the PFHC, which opened the 2007 Club Calendar. The venue was North Weald, a horrid airfield in Essex. Though never glamorous, I always find such places atmospheric, especially when you stop for a moment to consider their histories.

The airfield was established in 1916 by the Royal Flying Corps and became RAF North Weald in 1927. In WW2 the base was the home to a number of squadrons, notably Nos 56 and 151 equipped with Hurricanes; they were heavily engaged in the early weeks of the Battle of Britain. The airfield was bombed a number of times; by far the heaviest attack was on the morning of 3rd September 1940 when a number of aircraft were lost and the Operations Room suffered a direct hit and was destroyed. The airfield's association with Hurricanes ended in 1941 and Spitfires took their place. Amongst others, two Norwegian Squadrons, 331 and 332, were based there from 1942-1944.

Postwar, jet fighters were based there until 1958, when the airfield went onto a care and maintenance status until it was finally closed as an RAF base in 1964. Today it's owned and operated by the Leisure Services Dept. of Epping Forest District Council and is host to a wide range of activities. I like to think that those who flew and fought from there would approve of ours.

Sixteen Ferraris were entered, but there were two non-starters. Pauline Goodwin had the lurghi (hope you are well by now PG, everyone sent their love). Jeffrey Cooper (360 F1) was a welcome newcomer, '06 debutants Charles & Tracey Haynes had p/exed their 355 for a 348 GTC and a 328; remarkably, that's three of the eight GTCs in the country which have now appeared in the PFHC! Of the old hands, most had their regular weapons, Geoff Dark's 308 happily having recovered from his Harewood shunt last year. Andrew Holman was out in a 348tb for the first time. 2006 Champion Nick Taylor was absent, so the outright victory seemed likely to go to the 355s of Chris Butler or Dave Tomlin, with Richard Prior (348ts) being a strong possible for the PEPs win.

The day was lovely and bright but with a very strong very cold wind which made social interaction somewhat difficult, yet everyone tried their best and all were obviously pleased to see each other. Maybe, given the popularity of the Series vs. the circuit racing, some Pirelli funds could be diverted into the hire or purchase of a hospitality bus! [Or even some anoraks by the sound of it - Ed]. With Chris & Ali's nuptials pending there was much discussion on the day as a "wife tester". Ali was originally the only non-competing partner to turn up but Mrs Cooper appeared later on and indeed was spotted driving the 360 home. Both passed that test but I have no idea of either lady's capabilities in onion gravy making, one of the other tests.

North Weald is a non-spectator venue but you're not missing much - you can see the start and the first corner but then the cars disappear off into the distance. Like many airfield circuits the course is marked out by cones, some you have to go inside of and others outside. This was a BIG problem for many of the Fazzaists, I counted 14 out, but only 12 back, one was later spotted going flat out down the M11 towards London and another caused consternation at nearby Stansted when it overtook a Ryanair flight taking off for Marbella.

Many got lost on the expanse of the airfield and Charlie White (355 Spider) actually stopped and asked for directions (true)! On the second practice run 50% of the field had their time disallowed "WR" - wrong route! To be fair the TVR contingent was as bad and the absence of a convoy run can't have helped. During the lunch break, various officials attempted to explain which way was up to the bemused Ferraristi.

Andrew Holman was quickest with 61.18 secs but it emerged that he'd sneakily been to a Track Day there recently. Dave Tomlin was second and Richard Prior third, with Chris Butler down in fourth, having got all four wheels off the course on his second practice run. Charlie White had a spin in the first corner and both Mike Spicer (328m) and Tracey Haynes (328) took to the grass.

Things improved for the first competition runs. The Haynes' both got round safely. Richard Prior established an early benchmark of 60.11. Mike Spicer was over a second behind, Peter Wilson (348) whopped a massive five seconds off his best practice time to record 69.10. The ever-improving David Hathaway (348) recorded a good 62.62, perhaps benefiting from recent coaching at Snetterton. Geoff Dark looked very business-like on his way to a 61.95, his 308m inevitably outgunned by the larger-engined tipos. It does look like the 348 is becoming the weapon of choice for the Series.

Practice leader Andrew Holman was disappointed with his 62.71 which was worse than either of his practice runs; he attributed the problem to fiddling with tyre pressures. Barrie Wood's (308) time showed as a 65.26 which proved to be his best time of the day. The N Weald transcribing gremlin made another appearance and the time was given as 55.26. Barrie knew this was not right and sportingly showed no inclination to keep any trophy he might be offered - unlike what had happened in a previous year!

John Day (328) recorded a "WR", Tomlin the Pig Farmer threw the gauntlet down with a 59.35. Charlie White tail-wagged his way to a 63.87 but it was Chris Butler who took a clear lead with a 58.66. He later admitted that he'd scared himself in trying to take the quick corner at the end of the first straight flat. The dreaded side-slip convinced him that this was less than ideal.

Both Haynes' improved on R2 and went home happy. Richard Prior set off in fine style but fishtailed his way round two of the hairpins and could not beat his first run time. Neither Spicer nor Wilson improved, Hathaway spun and Geoff Dark was bemused at being slower. Holman recorded a "WR", but Cooper finally got a time on the board! Wood was a tenth of a second, or ten seconds slower, depending on who you believe. Day did an excellent 62.69 finishing just seven hundredths behind Hathaway and beating Holman by two hundredths! Tomlin had to stop and reverse to get a cone out from underneath. Charlie's 355 looked more like Skippy the bush kangaroo than a prancing horse as it hopped its way round, finally bouncing into a massive spin. Time for a talk to Mr Koni I reckon.

Tomlin's incident meant that Butler had it in the bag, but he didn't know this when he set off. He looked quick but was more circumspect round the fastest corner and ended up slower. However his first run time gave him both the outright win and the 20 points once PEPs had been calculated. Tomlin finished second "on the road" ahead of Prior; the points position being the reverse. Chris was delighted to lead the Championship for the first time ever and it looks like it's going to be another classic year's racing.

Everyone headed off windswept but happy, many looking forward with eager anticipation to the next round at beautiful Bouley Bay in Jersey on April 9th.