2.11.10

The second Historic Festival took place at the Autodromo do Algarve (Parkalgar) near Portimao over the weekend of October 15th-17th and, with 14 races for Masters, Gentlemen Drivers, Formula Junior, U2TC Touring Cars, Pre War Legends and Historic Formula One categories, combined with on track Ferrari and Maserati displays, there was something for everyone at Portugal’s newest F1 standard track.

Situated 15 kms north of one of Europe’s favourite and most accessible coastlines, the current outright circuit record (1.31.404) is held by A1 GP driver Adam Carroll, achieved in April 2009 - which could well be bettered when Parkalgar hosts one of the four official 2011 pre-season F1 tests in 4 months time.

Several FOC GB members/former PMFC racers/track-day instructor took part over the weekend – Ross Warburton shared his Lightweight Jaguar E type and Alfa Romeo GTA with Andy Newall, Steve Tandy enjoyed podium success in his Lola T70C, Chris Rea (Lotus 6) and John Wilson (Tyrrell 011) were very competitive in their respective categories, as were Cologne Capri racer Vince Woodman, multiple British Hillclimb Champion David Grace (sharing his Austin Healey 3000 with Jeremy Welch) and father/son Larry (Lotus 32) and Nathan Kinch (McLaren MP4). With 286 entries, 85% from UK, 70 degrees of sunshine and a world class facility it’s a great way to finish off the European Historic season. Here are my highlights:

Conceived in 1942, by Georgian, Curtis H Pitts - the Florida built, 90hp, Franklin engined, Pitts Special, was ideal for aerobatics, being both light and agile. Known by the nickname of “Little Stinker” (as Pitts often flew with an image of a skunk on his aircraft) and manufactured for more than 40 years, Portuguese aerobatic specialist, Luis Garcao grazed the start/finish line in his Ford sponsored, 1946 built example and was the primary conversation topic of the weekend.
The last round of the U2TC series was dedicated to the memory of engine tuner, Jaguar preparer and longtime Lagos resident, Ralph Broad, who died 6 weeks ago - fittingly, many of his friends and family were in Portimao, including former 1966 British Saloon Car Champion John Fitzpatrick (driving a Broadspeed Ford Anglia), who presented the race’s runner up award.
Italian Luciano Quaggia’s 1978 Theodore TR1 attracted much attention in the last round of the 2010 Historic Formula One Championship. Designed by legendary Brabham and Ralt designer Ron Tauranac and driven, when new by the emergent Keke Rosberg, they took a famous victory in the rain-sodded 1978 BRDC International Trophy at Silverstone. For younger readers: 1) There used to be non-championship F1 races. 2) The modern equivalent of Rosberg's victory would probably be Karun Chandhok winning in the HRT. The Theodore F1 team was the brainchild of the flamboyant, Sumatran born businessman and car enthusiast, Teddy Yip. The diminutive, septa-lingual Yip was the co-founder of the Macau Grand Prix and would undoubtedly have approved of the undulating Portimao circuit.
Congratulations must go to triple race winner Rob Hall (Masters Touring/’70’s Prototypes x 2 and U2TC pre ’66 Touring cars), double victors Patrick Jamin (F5000) and Olly Bryant (World Sportscar Masters) and, driving solo to win the 90 min Gentlemen Drivers GT Enduro, Marcus Oeynhausen (Jaguar E Type).

The second Algarve Historic Festival again proved to be the biggest historic event in Iberia and has further cemented its position on the calendar. Many thanks to co-promoter Francisco Santos and Parkalgar’s Marketing Director Ricardo Silva for making me so welcome in the circuit’s commentary suite….. and apologies for my unrehearsed pause, during the podium presentation for the Ralph Broad Trophy, when I realised the aforementioned Pitts Special was about to pass by my right ear!

No more sunshine and Sargres (the local “tipple”) for me, I’m home to swap my baseball cap for my trilby and head to London, for RM Auction's annual sale, where the “star lot” is a certain special agent’s Aston Martin…see you there!!