Abingdon - Saturday 4th JuneWell, the guys and girls that run the Abingdon Car-nival each year certainly have their work cut out. There were nearly two hundred sprinters entered on the Saturday, with two practice runs and two timed runs to enjoy on each of the two courses. Yes that’s right, a total of eight runs each during the day. They also run an auto-solo event and a rally over the weekend. This runs like clockwork, we barely have time to take a pee during the day! I hope the event doesn’t clash with the Coventry Motofest next year, so we can have a few more competitors in the TVRs. Our leader ‘Shunter’ and a few other TVR championship regulars were missing, enjoying the closed roads of Coventry.
Jes Firth in his monster Griff was first to arrive, a sign of things to come as Jes was flying all day. Our points awarded at the event depend partly on how close our times are to the winning entries time. Jes recorded some stunning times, which ensured we all had to raise our game to earn reasonable points. Jes drove over the pothole at the exit of the chicane on several runs, but not being caught off guard and spinning in a cloud of tyre smoke, as I had at last year’s event. Jo Briars and I have been ahead of Jes on a previous year on the Bentley course, but Jes was uncatchable all day, earning a deserved red 25 points. |
Dave Barrowclough was an Abingdon virgin, but he must have a sharp memory. He soon learned each course and was posting very respectable times. I did wonder if he might knock Jes off the top spot, but finished in second place. One to watch next year I think?
Steve Mogg in his immaculately prepared Griffith was expected to be one to watch, but he couldn’t repeat his blistering performance of the Prescott hillclimb the previous Saturday. Steve finishing in an unaccustomed third place. I had an excellent day, my times closely following Jo’s. Each time I thought I’d done enough, Jo would go a little faster. On the Bentley course Jo pushed a little too hard and collected a cone at the chicane. The marshall panicking at the sight of the cone trapped in the grill. He pulled it out, complete with the timing strut and loosened the number plate bolts. Jes and Moggy came to the rescue with a drill and a bolt, so Jo could continue. The last timed run on the Abingdon course, Jo and I recorded identical times. Due to Jo’s car being on the B list tyres, mine on the A list I piped Jo by 6 hundredths of a second to steal fourth place. Jo fifth. |
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Peter 3nuts arrived in his road going Griffith, as his red racer had clutch hydraulic problems, found when he was about to set off early Saturday. Peter’s day didn’t improve, as the road Griff had mystery electric gremlins and came to a halt on the course a couple of times. When he returned to the paddock, he showed his displeasure by flooring the accelerator a couple of times, nearly blowing us off our pit chairs in the process! Peter had a frustrating day, taking a leisurely ride around the course on his last run just to get his monies worth! Peter finished in sixth place.
Mark “Harry” Harris (Photos: Mark Sims - www.rallygallery.com) |