Nick Nicks Loton

The second day of our Loton double-header brought a new Ferrari record, max points again for Chris Butler and Ian Chadwick the handicap win. This is how it all happened....

Sunday dawned cloudy and cold but the paddock was a hive of activity, all except the Ferrari section most of whom had decided to have a lie-in.  Everyone eventually arrived and by the start of our first runs the weather was getting warmer and brighter and the rest of the day was very pleasant.

On the first runs, Tracey Haynes, Sergio Ransford and MD Andrew Holman squealed their tortured tyres off the line, but it was a purposeful-looking Peter Rogerson who got the best start in 2.36 seconds; then  Nick Taylor managed a 2.34 for the first 64 feet. The best starts were all recorded on the first run after lunch with Peter improving to 2.34, Pauline Goodwin 2.33 and MD 2.32, all of which looked pretty impressive until "Sticky Nicky" took it down to 2.28.

Back to the runs, Ian Chadwick was pleased to take 2 seconds off his best Saturday time and Wendy-Ann Marshall was where she left it the day before.  Sergio outbraked himself at Fallow and got in the wrong gear but still managed a 68. Club Chairman Richard Allen was held on the line until his warmed up tyres had gone cold and then did a mid-65, but it was Taylor who set the pace with a 60.26.  Butler was next up and produced a superb powerslide around Museum to record 60.89. On the first practice runs only these two got under 61 seconds.

The morning went smoothly and it was not long before we were called for second practice. P2 went smoothly for everyone with MD, Jon Goodwin and the Chairman producing the most wheelspin off the line. Colin Campbell in the Dino did his best time of the day with a low 88.  Pauline, Wendy-Ann, Tracey, Charles Haynes and Richard Prior all bettered their first runs by around two seconds, and only Ian went slower. But it was Nick Taylor who raised the bar with a stunning 59.44. Only the third ever sub sixty seconds at Loton - I think.  Richard Prior got under 61 with a 60.89 - exactly the same as Chris Butler’s first run, but by then Chris had already done 60.68.

By now it was nearly lunchtime, and it was decided to do a photo shoot for the end of season calendar with all the cars lined up in a perfect echelon. Much time, revving, waving and shouting took place getting the cars lined up, to the amusement of some marshals who were heard to comment that Ferrari drivers can’t park because they normally have a man at home to do it for them! In the end it all looked rather splendid and we happily went off for another excellent barbecue.

Barely had the last sausage been swallowed than we were called for our first official run. Tracey's tyres were squealing through Triangle and Scorchio Ransford spun at Fallow which gave MD and Taylor re-runs while the sweeping-up took place. This left Chris B stuck on the line for ages. It must have fired him up because he went into the lead with 60.25. Nick had a serious slide out of Fletchers so only managed 60.54 and Marshall joined the sub 61 set with 60.81.  Richard P went slightly slower than his second practice run with 61.03.  Gooders stroked the big 550 up in an excellent 62.44, but only two drivers beat their handicap times:  Peter Rogerson was eight hundredths under and Tracey Haynes was two hundredths under, which says a lot for the accuracy of the handicap system.

As we lined up for the final it was Butler from Taylor with Marshall and Prior close behind for the scratch win. Ian Chadwick made a good start and took nearly two seconds off his first run to record 72.10, which was 0.4 seconds under his handicap. Pauline was a bit slower so had to settle for the 66.40 of her first run. Peter and Colin were both a bit slower but Wendy-Ann improved to 75.89.  Tracey was a bit slower too, but Charles took almost two seconds off his first run time to record 70.41. Scorchio finally got it all together and stopped the clock at 66.83 which was his best time of the day. 

MD was quick and smooth through Fallow and Museum which got his time down to 62.76 (his best of the day) and looked pretty good until the next runner. Sticky Nicky made a good start and stopped the halfway clock at Triangle at 22.95 seconds - the first time anyone has been under 23 seconds at the split. He kept the screaming 348 Competizione tightly under control through Triangle, and rocketed up Cedar Straight. Up the top it was all still under perfect control, and as he crested Museum and launched out into the moors the clock stopped at 58.99 seconds. WOW!

Chris did not improve on his first run, and the Chairman locked his wheels up at Triangle in a big cloud of smoke to go a bit slower. Richard P was a bit out of shape at Fallow but fast and neat through Museum, and pleased to join the sub 61 group with 60.94.  That left just John Marshall in the Scud. He looked fast and neat to the watchers at the top of the hill, but failed to go sub 60 with a 60.37.

So in the end Sticky Nicky took the pot with that fantastic 58.99.  A new record and the scratch win, but the max. points went to Butler - again. Ian Chadwick got the handicap and everyone had a great time!

Next up: Gurston Down : 18 July.

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