We are taught that procrastination is the thief of time and a sin. However there was a programme on Radio 4 last week in which it was said that it is a "medical condition", so I am more to be pitied than blamed for failing to produce the Curborough report before the next round at Prescott. [Get on with it you idle ***!! - Ed.].

Round 12 of the PFHC was a Cürburgring "two-lapper", although technically it's only 1½ laps, going round the Ostschleife twice rather than the full circuit but this does involve two goes at the notorious "Mole Hill".

There was a magnificent entry of 25 Ferrari drivers, although this fell to 23 as the Hargreaves' non-started. Even so, the Ferrari contingent made up more that half of the entry of the entire meeting. Notable by their absence were Sean Doyle and Wendy Ann Marshall, the latter suffering from whooping cough. We were pleased to see Julian Playford (355) back for the first time since Rd.5.

As the Championship had reached a critical phase all of the leading contenders were here. Leader Richard Prior, one point ahead of Andrew Holman and maybe a bit on the back-foot after the flatlander's run of two 20 points and who was in his natural horizontal habitat here. Fourth placed Chris Butler (with the kind permission of the Officials of the Meeting) planned to jump out of his 328 roundy-rounder at nearby Donington Park, into his 355 and drive to Curborough to compete! Club Chairman Richard Allen was to do something similar, though not with a change of car. Even so his 328 Rat Racer would need a change of wheels and tyres from Donington 1Bs to C'boro 1As.

Practice was uneventful for most with Holman's good form continuing as he was comfortably quickest, being the only one in the 63s. Nick Taylor (430) was second on 64.45, the only one in the 64s and Richard Prior third on 65.76 the only one in the 65s; but Chris Butler had yet to arrive. The Donington Dynamic Duo duly arrived, promptly slotted in two practice runs and Butler jumped into second fastest with 64.35. RA was less fortunate as the Rat was suffering from gear selection problems, apparently something to do with the engine moving. Anyway on P1 he went from 1st to 4th, despite having a gear-blocker in place!

During the usual lunchtime banter it emerged that Richard Prior had re-rounded the tyres flat-spotted at Hethel, some thought probably with a lathe and the family carving knife. Tony Attwood had found the shockers of his Dino were full of a strange, gungy substance rather than oil, had them sorted and was now trying to get used to a car with working suspension.

It was dry and sunny for Run 2 on which everyone improved and most set their best times of the day. These included Tony Attwood (73.68), Peter Hitchman (550M - 73.22), Julian Playford (355 - 72.05), (ultra) local Lorraine Hitchman (328 - 71.15), Shaun Smith (328 - 68.81) and Barrie Wood (308 - 68.56). Barrie drove an attacking run with the rear end stepping out nicely as he rounded the corner at the end of the straight for his second lap. This was a new Personal Best and at this point Barrie was beating 308 Meister Brian Jackson for the first time ever. There was puzzlement amongst the Tifosi when Richard Allen took his second run in what appeared to be a red 308, not the silver 328 in which he had taken his first. This of course would affect the PEPs and points. Shown in the Official Results as in a 328, we have since heard from our Championship organisers that this run is not to be counted and the placings and points adjusted accordingly.

Pauline Goodwin (328) won the classic class at this meeting last year and after some serious tyre warming her 68.29 was quicker than then, but it still wasn't to be enough. Richard Preece (355) had been uncharacteristically hairy in practice. This continued in R1 when he spun. However he kept it all together on R2 to record 66.60. He was pipped by fellow 355ists Phil Whitehead (66.29) and Chris Hitchman (66.20). Mike Spicer (328) had a bit of a wiggle on exiting the Mole Hill on lap 1, got the power on nice and early for the loop of R2 and stopped the clock on 65.46. This was the new best ever time for a 328 giving him a comfortable win in classic, 17 points and putting him in front of "The Boy".

The battle for the outright win saw Richard Prior first away. He took too much kerb on the exit of the Mole Hill and consequently got into a tank-slapper. He later said he was trying too hard. His 64.30 would leave him disappointed with only 11 points, not adding to his best eight total. Chris Butler was taking lots of kerb but as usual was tidier than Prior. His was a 64 second run, enough for second overall and third placed points. After this he set off for Donington where he added a fifth place to his sixth gained in the morning.

That just left Holman; a spectating Christian Mineeff noted "Look at 'im warming everything up on his way to the start". Holman's run was quick, controlled and assured. He employed his familiar constant throttle technique in the fast corners, keeping it smooth and the car balanced on the edge of adhesion. He took a fair chunk out of the Mole Hill, but not extreme and executed a perfect "Frost Flick" out of the top corner. 62.60, PB, best ever 355 time, 1st o/a, 20 points and the lead in the Championship!

All of the leading contenders would go slower on R3. However we were not short of entertainment as Shaun Smith spun and Tracey Haynes (328) improved to 70.87 even though she was pining for the missing Tortoises. She beat Lorraine Hitchman who screeched up to the corner at the end of the straight with the brakes locked, in clouds of tyre smoke which wafted over to the spectators. She had a re-run and this time did it properly. Same lock-up and smoke, but this time finishing off with a spin! Peter Rogerson (360) scored his best time of the day with a 70.06. Caroline Cooper (360) improved from a 73 in P1 to a 69.58 on R3; a great effort in her first season and first visit to Curborough.

Brian Jackson equalled Barrie Wood's best time, but got the place and the points by having a better "next" run. John Marshall's 67.63 in his GT4 consolidated his second classic placement. Spicer Jnr. shaved a bit more off to finish on 66.14, but was just shaded by Jeff Cooper's last run of 66.06 in his 360. This gave Jeff a great fifth place o/a.

Of the leading contenders Prior was a bit scrappy. Holman was wide out of the top and had much more than a dab of oppo at the start of lap 2. He also made a mistake in the Mole Hill on lap 2 and so gave up and cruised home a delighted and well-deserving winner, making it 3 maxs. in a row, the lead in the Championship and leaving Prior mumbling something about Michelins.... What possibly could that be all about?

Next up: Prescott: September 1.

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