The new season kickoff took place as in previous years at this bleak and featureless airfield close by the M11 near Harlow in Essex. In 2007 the sun shone and it was almost bearable - this time around the rain, as forecast, was driving down and being encouraged along by a chill easterly wind. Despite this such is the enthusiasm of the PFHC competitors they were soon raring to go and having a lot of fun even when stationary in the paddock.

A different course this year – similar to one used a few years back, was already familiar to Andrew Holman, Geoff Dark and Mike Spicer who had been here a couple of weeks earlier for a days practice – a shrewd move as it later turned out. The Ferrari entry of thirteen was drivers, as only twelve cars were present. Richard Prior’s 348ts, in Damax for engine work, was stuck there waiting for new valve springs. That misfire he had at the end of last season was one or two burnt valves plus some broken springs. Anyway Mike Spicer had kindly offered Richard a pedal of his F355 – his first taste of such stunning technology.

Elsewhere we had a couple of the fairer sex Ferrari drivers who wound up driving the same car. Pauline Goodwin’s 328 definitely does not like North Weald. Last year the car made it all the way there from her home and then refused to go for the meeting, and would you believe it did it all again this time – once in the paddock the darned thing refused to start, even defying the attempts of both Mike Spicer and the RAC man to resuscitate it. Pauline had several generous offers of other people's cars, eventually settling for Tracey Haynes' 328GTB which has a reasonably suitable perch for petite lady drivers. After the meeting PG made one last attempt to start her car and it burst into life! [That's obviously one smart 328 - Ed.].

Apart from those already mentioned we had the super-fast Chris Butler and the nearly as fast David Tomlin – both in red F355s. These things were everywhere and once Pirelli stickered it was difficult to see who was who. Fortunately Barrie Wood had left his red 355 at home awaiting new tyres and turned up in his 308GTS, which he had neglected to sell recently. Geoff Cooper had his easily identifiable pale metallic blue 360 Modena, and Charles Haynes his red 348GTC, which looks much like a 355 at speed in the distance, as does Peter Wilson’s 348. I mention this as I was watching all the Ferraris at work and in the appalling weather it was difficult keeping track just watching.

Notable was the PFHC debut of Sean Doyle competing with a superbly turned out red 308GT4 with factory option sixteen inch wheels. He comes from West Ewell in Surrey and the GT4 is his first Ferrari. Apart from the odd bit of go-karting and a Track Day or two he has no previous competition experience. This did not stop him going really well on his maiden outing.

The relentless weather was to cause the usual delays and timing gear problems that have been experienced at other venues in recent times. As North Weald has huge open space and is about the safest place you could imagine, cars in all classes were being driven over the limit on the very wet surface - spinning and flying off all over.

On the first practice run it was amazing to see Richard Prior fastest in the Spicer car on 88.20 – pretty darned clever considering he had never driven the thing before! Next quickest were the two old PFHC hands Mike Spicer and Geoff Dark with a brace of those red 355s at 88.28 and 89.97 respectively. Chris Butler was on 91.48 and then Andrew Holman (348tb) on 93.38. Holman in fact was much hotter than his time suggested as it included a 360 degree spin exiting the chicane on to the straight! (click here to see it in-car). Barrie Wood was showing great pace too – at 96.03 he was up with Tomlin and ahead of Cooper's 360. Last in the Ferrari startline queue, our new recruit Sean Doyle showed no fear as he spun the GT4 at the chicane - the first corner on his first run at his first event –surely some kind of record! He spun again a bit further around and then tried to get in an extra lap too – the red flags came out and Geoff Dark, already on his second practice, managed the best part of three runs due to these flags and a timing gear failure.

The troubles with the timing gear meant most of the Ferraris were not credited with a time on second practice. Your reporter was half way down the opening straight and managed to record some split times for the initial leg of the course which proved useful in the circumstances. Conditions were still exceedingly wet with plenty of standing water. Who was the fastest we will never know, but you will see that Geoff Dark was on top for these split times. Our F355 hotshots Butler and Tomlin disgraced themselves by both spinning. David got a time though, a considerable achievement really, whilst Chris crept back in the paddock with a mud spattered car.

Fortunately there was a useful catering truck that served up some tasty bacon rolls, as competitors sat in their cars with the heaters cranked up to while away the lunch break. A second drivers briefing was called for 1.45pm and the competitors were advised that due to the various delays and timing gear foibles there would only be one run, whereupon some wag piped up “Ok who is going to do it?” Not too funny but it did have them rolling in the aisles on the day. This was it then, a sort of merde or bust situation, but everyone was in the same boat here. The rain had relaxed somewhat and whilst the track was still very wet the standing water was on the wane. The guys who practised here previously obviously had an advantage, and the other crucial factor would be tyres – not type, just the difference between new and well worn. Both Mike Spicer and Geoff Dark were on nearly new sets, as were Barrie Wood and Sean Doyle.

First in the running order, Geoff Dark was sharp out of the trap and looked fast and well controlled everywhere, as did Barrie Wood albeit at lesser pace. Andrew Holman by contrast looked spectacular, but was all over the place as he struggled for grip on his well worn tyres. Mike Spicer was, like Dark, well under control and looking very fast compared to most of the others who slithered around as they coped with the poor conditions – not just the wet, but the variable surfaces that complicate matters. It looked inevitable that Spicer and Dark would head the timesheet, but running last was 2007 PFHC Champion Richard Prior in Spicer’s 355 – he could do it surely after that first practice time? Just ahead of Richard was a Metro 6R4 and the driver obviously thought he could walk on water, spinning vigorously exiting the chicane scattering a large amount of gravel back on the track. Richard was kept hanging on the line for ages as they cleared this. Eventually getting off to a fine start he tripped up in exactly the same place – probably on the leftovers, and spun to a halt.

Back in the paddock there was a rush to the office to look at the times. Mike Spicer had won convincingly with 82.02 from Geoff Dark on 83.49, then on third overall was David Tomlin at 84.50 – these three all F355 mounted. Andrew Holman took his 348tb to fourth with 85.70, but scraped ahead of Tomlin on the PEP times for third on points. The usual class winner, Chris Butler was another grip struggler finishing fifth with 85.98. Barrie Wood went very well with his 308GTS clocking 89.72, as did Sean Doyle – he extracted everything out of his very standard GT4, producing a remarkable 93.54. Charles Haynes (348GTC) on 93.60 was close behind, then another large gap to Pauline Goodwin in the Tracey Haynes 328 - she clocked 96.11 to finish ahead of Tracey’s 97.57 – remind me to never lend her my car! Geoff Cooper had found the 360 a bit too strong in these conditions - his 97.54 putting him further back than usual. Peter Wilson (348tb) was at 97.70; as you can see, unlike the big time gaps nearer the front there was some close competition here!

Richard Prior did get a time after his spin of 103.58, which placed him thirteenth and a resounding last – shame but there is always the next time! Congratulations then to Mike Spicer on a convincing class win and max points too – easily the best result he has had in the PFHC to date. A good result too for Geoff Dark – the first time he has got his F355 up to speed, and finally look again at newcomer Sean Doyle’s remarkable placing.

An Apology: normally these website reports are accompanied by many super action shots, but on this occasion our ace club snapper Simon Cooke went home when he saw the weather situation. I tried to get some shots out on the course, but could not get near enough and my camera was not up to it either. The conditions daunted even the super-enthusiastic Andrew Holman!

Click here for the (unofficial) results and points.

Click here for the (unofficial) Championship positions.

Click here to return to the Ferrari Hill Climb Championship page.

British pluck!

Newbie Sean Doyle went very well

PG had her annual tryst with Essex RAC

Chris Butler checks his 355's ride height

Geoff Dark picks up his lunchtime sushi (jellied eels)

Whilst RA looks like an extra from "Brokeback Mountain" there seems to be an elf in the background

Spicer (right) tells a sceptical Butler (left) "My 355 can have yours". Prior (centre) pretends not to hear

Spicer was right and celebrates his win

Much of the day summed up in visual form

pics by RA & Andrew Holman