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PBIC to get new co-ordinator!

That’s right folks, you heard it here first apparently former racer Dave Brooke has volunteered to act as co-ordinator in place of that other bloke who didn’t do a great deal also known as Dave Brooke, what a coincidence!

The new Dave Brooke has wasted no time in updating the race scores and has already implemented a new rule namely 1.3.4 which no one has ever heard of.

Although not published I can reveal that this rule applies to all drivers and may be quite difficult for some to comply with.

Dave has decided to introduce a minimum hair length to be in force by the next race meeting. Dave is determined to bring back the Yeti look and has decreed that from now on any driver with head hair less than 18 inches long will be excluded from the points…..Mr Walpole will have his work cut out.

Donington Qualifying.

A total of 18 cars took to the track with 10 of them being in good old Class A “The Friendly Class”, which was swelled by the late addition of Lord Thompson who continues to move and drive in mysterious ways.

Lord Thompson declared himself to be feeling generally disillusioned with racing, mainly due to his failure to identify an intermittent fault on his car. He does even less maintenance than me so it is hardly surprising. Despite this problem he still found time to examine every other car for rule infringements and declared them all illegal except his own one of course.

New to racing (well I think Joe has done one race in the dim and distant past) was Joe Phillips in his not trick but very trick car. This has got all the toys on it that’s for sure but if it also had the bits it was supposed to have then maybe it would have reached the correct weight limit as well!

Alistair “ding-dong” Bell doubled the Class B entry when he appeared in the old Pat Fenn V8.

Class C managed four entrants with the addition of a bright green Sprite driven by Mike Robinson, and an immaculate FIA spec MGA driven by Martin Doherty. I could be wrong but these guys may only be guesting with us to get their licences signed up.

A more permanent addition could be that of  Ashley “Exocet” Woodward in his MG ZS, so called because of his poor aim around Redgate Corner.

Anyhow back to qualy:  I expected this to be a pretty tame affair but the green track caught out several drivers - first Exocet Woodward in car 17 who launched his ZS into the kitty litter on Redgate on lap 2!

I am pretty  sure Dave Brown had an off, and was that Primrose too?

The grid finished up with Dan Ludlow on pole with Carrot Cruncher James Walpole next to him and Dave Brown third …. This unusual formation mainly due to the lack of entries in Class C.

I managed a lowly sixth….. my excuse?…scrubbing in new tyres following the flat spotting incident at Thruxton.

Race One

With heavy skies we lined up for race one all happy to be back at this cracking track, all happy except Thompson who was still disillusioned.

A good start saw me up into third having passed Primrose hot on the heels of Darby and Walpole.

John Binczyk was in the mix with his F as was Nick Arden in his slightly smoky Maestro, looking to continue his winning streak.

Mike Robinson was going well in car 10 but this was not to last as we had the strange phenomenon of heavy rain on one part of the track and dry bits on others. This would see the slick shod cars struggle for grip and fall back.

Dan Ludlow had got off to a good start but suffered some sort of gear problem and being unable to get any gear other than 4th combined with the rain he decided to call it a day after 4 laps.

Joe “Tricky Dicky” Phillips was going well but rued his decision not to include an oil warning light in his list of toys and also a fuel cap would have helped as he dumped most of his aviation grade fuel over the track. He retired with suspected oil pump failure.

Frank Thompson retired with disillusionment.

Kev Hewer and the Grey Pig were making a fight of it with Piggott relinquishing  his favoured last place. Hewer was delighted as he had his first spin!

I was holding back Primrose but out braked myself into the chicane and saw Simon sail past. He then tactically fed me a couple of back markers and relegated me to fourth.

With Ludlow out, the win went to  Ashley Woodward who was flying round it has to be said.

James Walpole held back Darby to take second with the blue streak in third.

Quite a tricky race in the end but still great fun!

Race 2

This time the weather was more favourable and a dry race ensued.

I made a cracking start and was up into third by Redgate hot on the heels of Darby.

A trademark spin by James D put me up into second…WOW this could be it I thought and focussed on keeping up with James Walpole. Things were looking promising as the Darby spin had put a little distance between the front runners  ( I was one of them !!!) and the following pack when s*** b*****s argggh the bloody safety car was deployed after an errant MGF had parked on  the old hairpin…..I was absolutely gutted as the pack closed up again…….bloody bloody safety car!!!!!!!!

As we restarted I managed to stay in second for a while but was constantly bullied by “on a mission Darby” who was driving like a  man possessed.

As we headed towards the chicane he was flat out having already tried to pass me round the outside on the previous corner….out of the left hand window I saw him launch his car over the gravel trap before the start line…..well I guess he must be out this time I thought.

But no!!!! he went even faster and hacked back through the field to scream past us, on he went up to and past Walpole, on and on going faster and faster….I just couldn’t believe it.

Meanwhile Tinkler was now on my tail and as I tried to defend down the back straight he got on the inside as we approached the hairpin and I locked up and hurtled straight into the gravel trap.

Oh dear, I muttered quietly….no I didn’t…. I floored it through the gravel as I saw Nick Arden  nick  a place from me….but this was not for long as I took a leaf out of Darby’s book and went for it,  regaining the place on the exit of Redgate.

I made some ground on Tinkler but he fed me the slow moving MGA costing me another few yards as he retained third and pushed me back to 4th.

I don’t think I have ever been so close only for a podium place to gradually escape me I was well p****d off I can tell you!

So the race ended up with Dan Ludlow making short work of taking the victory without the mechanical problems of race one.

Ashley Woodward second and a good third on track and first in class B for Dave Brown who managed to pick up his usual panel damage for good measure.

First in Class A was the demon James Darby who also got driver of the race for his formation spinning, and fastest lap to boot!!

John Binczyk got  1st in class F and also fastest lap, but then as he was the only car in the class this wasn’t too difficult.

In fact I am thinking of buying an MOT failure Metro off Ebay and bringing back class E on my own, this must be a sure fire option for my championship bid!!

I should also thank the Silver Fox for giving a bit of ground so as  not to impede my rather futile attempts  to keep up with the two James’s.

So all in all another great weekend for the Peter Best Series.

Moving on to other  matters, I am drawing up  menus for the Xmas Do which will be circulated via e-mail by either our new co-ordinator or Club Secretary, or both to make sure you get them.

We have got a good deal price-wise this year as  a 3-course meal & ½ bottle of wine per head is just £35. The rooms are only £39 and we also have one hour of half price bar drinks…..it would be rude not to be there!

The Do is on Saturday 26th November at the Staverton Park Hotel Daventry and is open to ALL, even the occasional Silverstone drivers and those just doing a few meetings this year.

Don’t miss this chance to join your fellow drivers over a convivial beer or two.

You can book the hotel rooms now by calling the hotel on 01327 310283….use the banquet/function option not the reservations one and quote MGCC PBIC for the special deal on the rooms.

Please send your cheques and completed menus to Richard Tinkler, full details will be in your e-mails shortly.

Also Dan Neaves still needs any video you have taken over the year so he can compile the end of year DVD. Please get these to him (see link to TNR website) or bring them to Snetterton.

That’s all for now folks, as we gear up for the Grande Finale at Snetterton.

Jonesey