Round 8 - Debden, Sunday 7th May
Top Marques
The TVRCC Speed Championship circus visited the popular Debden airfield venue near Saffron Walden for its 8th round of 2017.
The six entries comprised no. 91 Richard Blacklee (Normal Richard), no. 92 Mark Everett (Captain Chaos), no. 93 Richard Bream (Blower Richard), no. 94 Mark Harris (Harry), No. 95 Mark Hankins (Hank), and no. 791 James York (Jim the Spin).
The TVRCC Speed Championship circus visited the popular Debden airfield venue near Saffron Walden for its 8th round of 2017.
The six entries comprised no. 91 Richard Blacklee (Normal Richard), no. 92 Mark Everett (Captain Chaos), no. 93 Richard Bream (Blower Richard), no. 94 Mark Harris (Harry), No. 95 Mark Hankins (Hank), and no. 791 James York (Jim the Spin).
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Organising club Herts County Auto & Aero have improved their course by filling in some of the potholes and the removal of many unnecessary cones. This improved lap times by at least five seconds from our visit last October.
There were fewer overall entries than last year which permitted two practice runs and one timed run before lunch and two more timed runs in the afternoon.
Weather conditions were disappointing for May. It was jolly chilly at Debden whereas the journey there and back from Northampton was in lovely sunshine.
There were fewer overall entries than last year which permitted two practice runs and one timed run before lunch and two more timed runs in the afternoon.
Weather conditions were disappointing for May. It was jolly chilly at Debden whereas the journey there and back from Northampton was in lovely sunshine.
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The day’s events unfolded as follows:
P1. Captain Chaos and Blower showed early speed. Funnily enough it was these two who had got their excuses in early, CC with a dodgy clutch and Blower with dodgy brakes and a misfire. Hank impressed with a great initial run in his pretty TVR 2500. Harry got a bit confused with the multitude of direction arrows and went awry. Rally driver Jim the Spin achieved the fastest TVR start of the day off the line. He loved the gravel, the clumps of grass and any remaining potholes he could find on the former runway and comprehensively outdrove co-driver Normal. |
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P2. The order at the top was reversed with Harry setting the best time and CC disappearing off somewhere amongst the arrows and cones.
Fast learners Blower and Hank improved their times by three seconds. Jim made a spectacular start to P2. With smoke pouring off the Chimaera’s tyres all the way from the start line to the first kink, where he skilfully recovered from an almighty tank slapper. Unfortunately, however impressive this looked to the spectators, it wasn’t the quickest way and enabled Normal to close to within a tenth at the end of practice. |
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T1. Blower’s turn for an off course excursion due to the spongy brakes.
CC, Hank and Jim banked excellent times, around three seconds better than practice.
Normal and CC had close encounters with a cock pheasant, the latter recording a near miss on his GoPro.
During the lunch break Blower helped CC fix his clutch before bleeding the front brakes and master cylinder on his own Chimaera.
Hank rescued his portaloo tent which had blown inside out in the chill wind.
CC, Hank and Jim banked excellent times, around three seconds better than practice.
Normal and CC had close encounters with a cock pheasant, the latter recording a near miss on his GoPro.
During the lunch break Blower helped CC fix his clutch before bleeding the front brakes and master cylinder on his own Chimaera.
Hank rescued his portaloo tent which had blown inside out in the chill wind.
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T2. CC and Harry both attacked the cones this time and incurred penalties.
On handicap times airline pilot CC still retained his lead from T1, followed by excellent performances from motor cycle racer Hank and rallyman Jim the Spin. The remaining three, comprising two Richard’s and Harry, were separated by just 0.05 sec. T3. Everyone left their best till last. Hank was 1½ secs quicker but couldn’t quite catch the masterful Captain Chaos who took home the coveted 25 points. Hank received a consolation prize in the form of a justly deserved award for the best presented car at the event.
Harry was only half a second behind CC on the road and took a popular third spot on handicap. Blower was a mere second behind the leaders on scratch times but was crucified on handicap. Jim creamed Normal by nearly a second and was left wondering whether he will be invited again. |
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The rest of us didn’t really mind being beaten by Three Marks, or Top Marks or Full Marks. We eventually settled on CC’s choice of Top Marques. We thought this nicely summed up a great day’s motorsport at Debden.
Normal Richard Go on, put some numbers on it. |
Photography: Paul Hopgood
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