TVR Speed Championship 2021
Round Sixteen
Prescott 2nd October 2021
Round Sixteen
Prescott 2nd October 2021
Ignoring petrol shortages and the forecasts of extremely wet weather, five intrepid TVR drivers made it to the final round of the TVR Speed Championship at Prescott Hillclimb on 2nd October.
With the 2021 season having been badly affected with cancelled rounds due to both Covid and bad weather, Mark Everett came to the event as the only person who could stop Rob Pack and his race Tuscan from winning the Championship. Alan Davies and Steve Thomas both fancied their chances on the damp track at Prescott, whilst Shelagh and Pete Ash, sharing the family yellow Griffith, each set out to beat the other.
Despite TVRs being at the end of the entry list as usual, our first practice seemed to come round quite quickly. Fortunately, Alan just had time to consume a cooked breakfast, but already the forecast rain had started falling. We all promised to take things carefully to try to establish where the grip was, the answer being almost none on the start line. The rest of the course was OK provided you could curb your enthusiasm on the throttle as you exited the slower corners. After this voyage of discovery Mark led from Alan, with Steve third followed by Pete and Shelagh.
Times for second practice showed we were all trying a bit harder, with Mark still ahead, but Steve up to second place ahead of Alan, and Shelagh getting in front of Pete. Then, for reasons only known to the Bugatti Owners Club who were running the meeting, there was an optional third practice run, which we all took part in resolving to try to tidy up any earlier mistakes. Clearly, Alan had either learnt the most, or had made the most mistakes earlier, because after this run he led from Mark, with Steve in third place. Shelagh and Pete continued to improve their times with Pete now ahead of Shelagh.
With the poor weather forecast, Mark had a choice of either bringing Tess or a gazebo in the passenger seat of his Griffith. Whilst we all missed Tess, we were very grateful for the protection of the gazebo, which the five of us huddled in together to eat our picnics at lunchtime. Space got even tighter when Rob turned up to check whether Mark was going to steal the Championship from him.
It continued to rain, but the track conditions stayed fairly consistent with no standing water, therefore we could all try to push a bit harder in the afternoon timed runs. Mark made good improvement to regain first place, and provisionally take the Championship lead, Alan matched his final practice time to claim second, Steve got below the sixty second mark but remained third, while Pete stayed in front of Shelagh.
Final runs, and while Mark had done what he needed to Championship wise we all knew he would continue to push to keep the round win, and he did, taking nearly half a second off his time. But, despite being red flagged half way up and therefore having to rerun, Alan put in a blinder of a run 1.5 seconds quicker than before to take the win by 0.6 of a second from Mark. Steve stayed third with a slightly quicker time, while Pete also took 1.5 seconds off his time, but stayed fourth. Shelagh’s run was a bit slower than her earlier one and she finished fifth.
So ended the 2021 TVR Speed Championship, with Mark Everett winning the title for the third time, with Rob Pack in second place.
Alan Hugh Davies
With the 2021 season having been badly affected with cancelled rounds due to both Covid and bad weather, Mark Everett came to the event as the only person who could stop Rob Pack and his race Tuscan from winning the Championship. Alan Davies and Steve Thomas both fancied their chances on the damp track at Prescott, whilst Shelagh and Pete Ash, sharing the family yellow Griffith, each set out to beat the other.
Despite TVRs being at the end of the entry list as usual, our first practice seemed to come round quite quickly. Fortunately, Alan just had time to consume a cooked breakfast, but already the forecast rain had started falling. We all promised to take things carefully to try to establish where the grip was, the answer being almost none on the start line. The rest of the course was OK provided you could curb your enthusiasm on the throttle as you exited the slower corners. After this voyage of discovery Mark led from Alan, with Steve third followed by Pete and Shelagh.
Times for second practice showed we were all trying a bit harder, with Mark still ahead, but Steve up to second place ahead of Alan, and Shelagh getting in front of Pete. Then, for reasons only known to the Bugatti Owners Club who were running the meeting, there was an optional third practice run, which we all took part in resolving to try to tidy up any earlier mistakes. Clearly, Alan had either learnt the most, or had made the most mistakes earlier, because after this run he led from Mark, with Steve in third place. Shelagh and Pete continued to improve their times with Pete now ahead of Shelagh.
With the poor weather forecast, Mark had a choice of either bringing Tess or a gazebo in the passenger seat of his Griffith. Whilst we all missed Tess, we were very grateful for the protection of the gazebo, which the five of us huddled in together to eat our picnics at lunchtime. Space got even tighter when Rob turned up to check whether Mark was going to steal the Championship from him.
It continued to rain, but the track conditions stayed fairly consistent with no standing water, therefore we could all try to push a bit harder in the afternoon timed runs. Mark made good improvement to regain first place, and provisionally take the Championship lead, Alan matched his final practice time to claim second, Steve got below the sixty second mark but remained third, while Pete stayed in front of Shelagh.
Final runs, and while Mark had done what he needed to Championship wise we all knew he would continue to push to keep the round win, and he did, taking nearly half a second off his time. But, despite being red flagged half way up and therefore having to rerun, Alan put in a blinder of a run 1.5 seconds quicker than before to take the win by 0.6 of a second from Mark. Steve stayed third with a slightly quicker time, while Pete also took 1.5 seconds off his time, but stayed fourth. Shelagh’s run was a bit slower than her earlier one and she finished fifth.
So ended the 2021 TVR Speed Championship, with Mark Everett winning the title for the third time, with Rob Pack in second place.
Alan Hugh Davies
Prescott was very wet...not perfect when your windscreen blower isn't working!!
