Rounds 18 & 19 - Blyton Park, 7th & 8th SeptemberCompetition Chips
One of the benefits of obtaining a race licence to go sprinting is that you receive Motorsport UK’s regular newsletters and magazines. These cover all levels of motorsport, from the clubman stuff we do, right through to the prestigious GT classes and F1 news. As part of this, MSUK likes to showcase the backing it gives to young and upcoming British talent. As well as on track skills, MSUK also provides these youngsters with media training, fitness regimes, and nutritional advice.
This is clearly something which has bypassed the clubman paddock. I can’t remember seeing a food outlet at any sprint or hillclimb offering quinoa or “healthy proteins”. Endless bacon butties, full breakfasts, sausage rolls, fries, cakes and fizzy drinks are the normal fayre purveyed by the normal greasy spoon, or in the case of Blyton, the rather delightful cafeteria on site.
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Richard was only competing on the Saturday this year, and added to the overall “ballast” by offering a very neatly divided pork pie to the TVR all-comers. I’m not sure that the MSUK dieticians would accept that the immediate energy hit helped our competitors to go faster. When most of the gathered drivers congregated for a joyous Saturday evening meal at a local hostelry, I don’t recall anything other than steak and chips, fish and chips, burger and chips, or chips and chips being ordered. And I don’t have the necessary medical background to explain the nutritional benefits of all the real ale consumed that night either.
Incredibly, almost all of our drivers improved with every run over the entire weekend. On Saturday it was the twisty “Eastern Circuit” |
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which utilises the inner sections of tarmac. Sunday made use of the faster “Outer Circuit”, with just one wiggle at what is appropriately called “The Wriggler” – this is the circuit that any track day aficionados of Blyton will be familiar with. The biggest gainer on both days was “Rookie” Peter, who quickly got to grips with the discipline of treating every run like a qualifying lap. He came away with his highest points of the year each day, along with increased confidence in his driving abilities.
The midfield battle between Jo, Shunter and Dave chopped and changed all weekend, with the Chimarsala ahead each day, headed by Shunter on the Saturday and Jo on the Sunday. All were trying hard, with Dave spinning in Practice on Saturday, Jo spinning on her final run on Sunday, and Shunter coming off on his last run of the weekend. |
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The honours, though, went to the father and son team in the blue Vixen. Geoff had resigned himself to finishing behind son Iain, but achieved second overall on both days, and was spurred on to achieve a personal best on Sunday. Iain drove magnificently all weekend, achieving PBs on both days, and securing 50 points for his efforts. He’s quick, that lad. And do you know what, I never saw him eating lard all weekend!
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Go on, put some numbers on it.
Steve Hunter (Photography: Tony Hodgson, Kev Dunnington) |
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