Paddock Stories

Exhausted, the winners after the race

Whilst some are still out on the track

Which one is Nathan?

Ian tells his story

David Ashburn collects his C-class spoils

...and then Sandra tells Ted he's the Driver of the Meeting

pics by Derek Seymour

PIRELLI MARANELLO FERRARI CHALLENGE
RACE REPORT : ROUND 8 : CROFT : 7/8 JULY 2001

PADDOCK STORIES	click for Race Report
	click for Results & Points

As always, Croft did us proud. Their people were friendly, the weather was terrific and there were a number of other attractions, including a fascinating display of aerobatics by quarter and fifth scale model aeroplanes. Later on we even had a real Spitfire and a Hurricane join in the aerobatics.
The meeting was organised by the Aston Martin Owners' Club, which seemed to be in a bit of a shambles following a personnel reorganisation. Their longstanding Competitions Secretary, Richard Culverhouse, had left the week before and the meeting was run along what can only be termed inexperienced lines. Let's hope they get themselves sorted soon because our links with AMOC, especially our racing links, are very close.

The latest new boy to the PMFC, Leslie Charneca, caused a bit of consternation when Swifty brought the alarming news that Leslie was "an arms dealer". This exotic occupation soon evaporated, however, when it was explained that he works for a medical firm specialising in artificial limbs.

There wasn't half some travelling going on. Rod Carman's 355/Ch gearbox went u/s and so one of the SCS boys had to make a return dash to Knutsford to collect a spare. Robin Mortimer had a ten-hour round trip to collect a manifold for Richard Stevens. Even more dedicated was star chef Eric Tavernier's trip which started at 3.00 a.m. on Saturday morning in London so that he could get everything prepared in time for a wonderful lunch in the Moodies' hospitality tent..
What has gone wrong with "O" class? For the first time ever there was not a single "O" class entry. This is supposed to be our feeder class for people who want to gain experience before moving into the quicker cars. Is it because the 355/Ch is now as cheap to buy and run as an "O" class car? If anyone's got any ideas of how to resurrect the class please let us know.

They're supposed to be team-mates but Ian Hetherington thought that Simon Bartholomew should somehow have stopped Nathan Kinch from pinching the lead at the start. Simon mumbled that it was the first time that he had ever been blamed for someone else's driving.....

Richard Steven's attempts at passing Ted Reddick were rebuffed to an extent that caused Richard to feel a little aggrieved after the race. He was then doubly not pleased when Ted was awarded the Driver of the Meeting award, especially as his lap times could have put him quite near the more fancied Nuttall who took third in the "C" class. Something for Robin to sort out.

Click here for

Click here to return to the Pirelli Maranello Ferrari Challenge page.

[ About the Club ] [ Joining the Club ] [ Publications ] [ Club Racing Series' ]
[ Ferrari Happenings ] [ Prancing Horse Register ] [ Members Only ] [ Links ]