Snetterton 6 & 7 October 2007.

Friday

Forward planning, that’s the way to ensure a stress free race meeting I thought smugly, having taken off the Friday before the meeting to travel up and set up my latest Ebay purchase, (the new tent) with time to spare.

I had prepped the car soon after the last race and charged up the battery, everything was done.

I strolled into the garage mid-morning to begin the loading  of the trailer only to find the clutch had seized on the MG!

PANIC!

Three hours later having bled the master cylinder checked the slave and the flexi-pipe I discovered that the clevis pin had rusted solid and had jammed the pedal. A short period of hammering, sanding and lubrication followed and all was well once more.

Sadly my early start had long since gone and the evening rush-hour had started, gridlock on the M25, crashes on the A12 and broken down vans on the A11.

9.45pm, arrive Snetterton, pitch black, with one tent and no instructions.

10.30pm, abandon tent in heap on the grass and head for the Snetterton bar for cheering drink.

10.35pm, head back to tent, bar closed.

10.45pm, chuck everything out of van onto grass; swear a bit more go to sleep in van.

 Saturday

Global warming arrives at Snetterton! A beautiful sunny day without the usual hurricane was a welcome sight as the Peter Besters’ got ready for the practice session.

Nothing of note here really as I qualified around midfield and put my mind to the more pressing matter of finding someone who knew how to put up tents!

Once again Peter Andrews team (Car 18) came to the rescue and within about 10 minutes the tent was up (Thanks Karen) and it was time to start the fry up!

Race 1.

Off went the lights and my newly repaired clutch system launched me off the line in a flash. Before I knew it I was fighting it out between James “HT lead” Darby (Car 38) and John Binczyk (Car 71) in his immaculate MGF.

Darby was driving like a man possessed, but his new HT lead was proving too much for him as he swerved around like a Sainsbury’s shopping trolley.

I passed him, he retook the place, I passed him again, and so it went on (well that’s how I remember it!). Down the back straight Darby was unstoppable, and this was his undoing as he dived into the esses flat out.

His poor old Yokos couldn’t handle it and as I rounded the corner I saw Darby exiting backwards in a cloud of smoke.

I made  good my chance and put some distance between me and a recovering Darby, a couple of laps later my rear-view mirror was filled with the image of Darby’s grille as he hurtled towards  Russell Bend.  Then my ears were filled with the noise of his screeching tyres as he locked up in a cloud of smoke!

Could I hold him off?

I had no idea how many laps were left but as Andrew Young (Car 67) went past me at Mac 1 on the back straight I knew it was all over and 4th place in class was mine! The chequered flag fluttered and calm was restored.

But as I drove back to the paddock I noticed clouds gathering above us, and an eerie silence fell over the track.

An ashen faced marshal directed us to stop by the scrutineering bay…what on earth could have happened?

In the distance I could see a swirling mist, and a creature beckoning in drivers one by one. Who is it I asked, what’s going on?

I looked at my fellow drivers; white faced and feverish….it is the Dark Lord they said…he has returned….

One by one the drivers were called forward, the claw like hand beckoning…a dusky voice rang out…”YOU!!”..It said…”car on the scales and get out”

So it was true…I could hardly believe it. This was my first meeting with the mythical creature I thought was just part of folklore.

Yes it was Dallas Smith, the eligibility scrutineer.

He would not be satisfied until a sacrifice was made, and so it came to pass that the race result was amended and I moved up to third…

Jonesey