Castle Combe Autumn Classic 2016

[hanlminiman]

I think you're getting excited Pete! Has your camera got image stabilisation? Don't forget to pop into Prescott on Sunday on your way home for the Autumn Classic event.

[Pete]

Might just do that.

[Pete]

Fantastic day today, despite the shockin weather. Pete Crewes drove an absolute stormer having qualified third in changeable conditions and was off like a shot at the flag chasing the leading Mk2 Jag (obviously a wet qualy dried up by the end of the session!). Dorlin got a poor start but by the third lap it was Crewes from Dorlin as the rain really came down on an already damp track keeping the Cortinas and faclons at bay. Crewes was out of reach by the time the safety car came out for a couple of offs at Quarry and pitted for his compulsory stop (2 driver race). Perfect timing, he was virtually a lap ahead when he came out(!) , helped very much by the fact that the whole field had stacked up behind slower cars snaking half a lap behind the safety car, a bizzarre state of affairs, what could go wrong? Er.. a flat battery, and he pulled off just after the safety car lights went out. Unbelievable, we did think his lights were dimming! So the Dorlins took the honours with Inch in 2nd, could have, should have been a Mini 1-2-3!

Some great feedback on the Unipower GT front, nice to see Glen Mabbs, Tim Carpenter with his great car and Gary Marlow again plus a few other faces off here!

Some very sore bank accounts after today though, never seen so many bent Jags and really feel for rhe guy who stuffed his big Healey at Quarry. Great event though, something really cool about Combe that other historic meetings dont seem to have, classless proper balls out club racing, great crowd and it's other end of the country for me but well worth the slog.

[Rubber Sprung]

It was the alternator that gave up ,it's been on the car since it was built about 4years ago and never gave a moments bother until yesterday .Such a shame after all the effort and time that Pete and Mike Tarr at Ratt Racing have spent getting the engine on the pace and not forgetting Petes dogged determination to get back to fitness after his health problems.Should be back out at the last HRDC meeting at Donnington Park at the end of the month ,let's all pray for rain .

[nimbusprint]

Ditto everything Pete said.

[Pete]

It was the alternator that gave up ,it's been on the car since it was built about 4years ago and never gave a moments bother until yesterday .Such a shame after all the effort and time that Pete and Mike Tarr at Ratt Racing have spent getting the engine on the pace and not forgetting Petes dogged determination to get back to fitness after his health problems.Should be back out at the last HRDC meeting at Donnington Park at the end of the month ,let's all pray for rain .

Yep, he deserved the win! That pace car shenanigans was comical to watch, didn't Pete overtake it at one point?

[surfblue63]

Thanks for the report Pete. It looks like I missed an exciting race, but seeing some of the conditions I think another day in the rain would not have been great.