HISTORIC SPORTS CAR CLUB
'SUPERPRIX'
BRANDS HATCH 5th and 6TH JULY 2003.
This is always the club's best attended meeting of the year, this year being no exception. In fact in the fourteen year history of this meeting, this was the best turn-out ever.
This meeting also marked my first ever drive around the legendary full Grand Prix Circuit.
Here's a photo I took of it last year. It's amazing to see just how close the housing estate is to the track (bottom left).
We had good weather all weekend, apart from some light drizzle on Sunday morning as we were setting up. At this point I will say 'thanks indeed' to my friend Steve Collins who helped transport and deliver the car to the circuit on Sunday. I couldn't have done it without him!
Here's some pics from Saturday, as usual, we'll start off with some paddock shots.
|
|
|
|
Don Shead's Allard J2. Don unfortunately comprehensively rolled this car at Paddock Hill Bend in the race on Sunday afternoon. Luckily, it looks as if he is un-injured in an accident that saw the car roll five times. |
The Ford Mustang of Adam Simmonds. |
|
|
|
|
The Ford GT40 of Mark Lemmer. |
The Cooper T59 of Tony Bailey at speed out on the Grand Prix loop. |
|
|
|
|
The Datsun 240Z of Charles Barter in the 70's Roadsports race on Saturday. |
From the same race, this is Jonathan Smart in his 1976 Lancia Fulvia Coupe. |
|
|
|
|
Old friend Rodger Newman in his Brabham BT18. |
This is the 1960 Turner Mk1 of Chris Horner. |
|
|
|
|
From the Classic Racing Cars race, this is Paul Busby and his Cooper T82. |
The March 708 of Robert Saunders. |
|
|
|
|
This is the March 703 of Tony Keele. |
This is the TVR 3000M of Geoff Parkinson. |
SUNDAY
This part of the coverage will change from this point on, as I was racing my Formula Ford for only the second time. Consequently, I was slightly too busy with that to go and get photographs of the other races.
I had only driven around the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit before, and that was all of seven years ago, so I had a bit of catching up to do!!
I only had a twenty minute practice / qualifying session on Sunday lunchtime to get used to the circuit before we raced later that afternoon - I was up against it!!
|
|
|
|
Scrutineering. We sailed through this. |
The assembly area before qualifying. We had thirty seven cars on the grid on Sunday - it got a trifle busy out on the track to say the least!! |
|
|
|
|
A couple of minutes to go before qualifying - it was hot too!! |
Final preparations! |
|
|
|
|
Two shots from the pitlane........... |
...............I can't tell you what the temperature was, mighty hot I know, but when we got out on the track, that was the least of my worries! |
|
|
|
|
Two shots courtesy of my friend Phil Peel (thanks Phil!). |
|
Funnily enough, the race itself wasn't as busy as qualifying was. We had a slight coming together further up the field on the second lap a Dingle Dell which brought out the pace car for three laps. We got on with it after that. I must admit that at the moment I am just 'making up the numbers' as I have had so little time in the car so far. I would much rather be a bit more competitive, but, saying that, I am still learning the car (and the circuits!!) this year. Suffice it to say, all you've ever heard of the Brands Grand Prix Circuit is true - it's bluddy fantastic!!
My next time out in the car is August the 2nd at Castle Combe, I'll post a report here from that too.
My thanks again to both Phil Peel and Steve Collins for taking some of the photographs featured here.
Please feel free to e-mail me, it's always good to get some feedback : gary@yesterdaysracers.com
Back to : Yesterday's Racers Index Page
