The arrival of the Brands Hatch Formula Ford Festival always focuses the mind on how quickly the season has gone and, despite there being only 10 meetings, this season has been no exception.  The Walton/Shelton team arrived on Thursday evening as Paul had booked some test sessions to try out some wizzo gear ratios and to avoid the nightmare that is, a journey from the hallowed north to the overcrowded south on a Friday.  Robin had been taking the speed technician role to new boundaries as we approached the weekend with detailed reports and analysis of the Met Office website.  Three days of unbroken sunshine was the considered view but we all know what happened to Seven Oaks last time a Hurricane was denied!  Testing was dry and the invading Irish imports made up some busy sessions.  With some reasonable laps posted, Paul returned to the paddock to consign the wizzo gear ratios to the ‘tried that, didn’t work’ section of the motorsport manual.  The second session was a complete disaster as Chris Scarlett’s oil pump decided to part company with his engine and the resulting deposits had the marshals scouring Kent for extra cement supplies and local bird life being taken to animal refuge centres for degreasing.  A valiant effort by Bernard and Robin had his knackered engine removed and a replacement fitted in 1 hour 15 minutes.  I thought it took the whole of the winter off-season to change an engine!

Qualifying – Weather/Track : Cloudy and dim/Wet, very wet.  The unbroken sunshine was evidently for South East Asia so in the gathering gloom, 28 cars ventured on to the track with monsoon settings in place.  The unlucky Jeff Palmer had clutch problems which meant the wet conditions would have to be negotiated in third gear with no clutch and the novice title looked in doubt as Oliver Robinson was one point ahead going in to the final race.  Simon Merriman braved the atrocious conditions for seven laps and then decided that not being able to see was a distinct disadvantage so returned to the relative safety of the camper van.  Martin Camp was having vibration problems and the car did not seem right either.  Unfortunately for Martin, the usually ultra reliable Royale had engine problems that would exclude him from the race.  A disappointing end to his only race of the year.  Alan Williamson’s ‘off’ at Paddock Hill stopped the session briefly as drivers returned to the pit lane to fit windscreen wipers to visors.  My plan, having recorded some stunningly average lap times was to go out in the remaining time following Paul to see if he could give me any pointers.  An attempted short cut over the grass at McLaren and then a proper spin at exactly the same place next lap were not the pointers I was expecting and then the chequered flag was out.  James Hagan, a returning Andy Powell (in his immaculately engineered Royale), Anthony Wills and Steve Hare mastered the conditions to fill the two front rows with Dave Lowe, Keith Norman and Stephen Collyer taking the class A positions.  Being 2.73 seconds from pole, I was beginning to think there was some truth in the transponder error debate and Paul Hubbard was convinced of a front row start only for ‘Car 63 needs a working transponder’ to be emblazoned on the qualifying times. 

Race day started very overcast but by lunchtime the track was dry.  Unfortunately, as our race was last at 1650, there was plenty of time for that to change.  Just as everyone was changed ready to race and the butterflies were kicking in, spots of rain were felt and tensions grew even higher.  As we were called up to the assembly area, spots of rain were still in the air but not enough to change the dry settings.  Due to a hold up on the way to the pits my car started to overheat which helped my nerves no end.  By the time I was parked up, Paul Hubbard asked if he could put a tea bag in and brew up.  The race before ours was 20 minutes which gave my car chance to cool down.  The weather continued to confuse with clear skies over Bramham Straight and the biggest of black clouds over the Druids end of the circuit. 

The rain held off and 27 cars lined up on the grid.  Oliver Robinson stalled his car on the grid and needed Bernard’s help and starter battery to get going again.  For once this year I made a great start and thankfully was on the top side of the grid away from the poor start that Dave Lowe’s Lotus made as it jumped out of first gear.  A waved yellow and a sideways ‘Dave Lowe avoiding’ Mac McKillop made the inside line from the fourth row back a little tricky.  I was past three cars before Paddock Hill and a determined effort to make amends for a dismal qualifying saw me climb up to the top 10.  On lap 11 I passed the stricken cars of Anthony Wills and David Penlington at Paddock Hill.  My race had got a lot harder by this time and with Jamesy Hagan persistently on my gearbox, I had little time to absorb what had happened to Anthony.  As the laps continued I realized that Anthony’s car was upside down and I was confused as to how the race was continuing.  The wheels of Anthony’s and David’s cars had made contact and the report and pictures on www.club1600.co.uk are spectacular to say the least.  This site also gives a reporter’s eye view of the race from the press box and looks to be a worthwhile site to visit.  Thankfully Anthony was ok but by looking at the pictures and seeing the car afterwards, you would not of come to that conclusion.  Hope you’re still feeling ok Anthony.  Anyway, back on the track, I was having to defend every corner and it took a few laps to realize that the P4 on the Walton/Shelton pit board was for me and not Paul.  I could see the lead cars on the same straight!  Jamesy and I continued to circulate and I felt like a tow rope was keeping us together.  I was able to keep a small gap around Surtees and McLaren but by the time we were half way down Brabham Straight the tow effect was allowing him to draw alongside.  I kept to the inside and just had to be brave with the braking.  On lap 20 Jamesy took a different line around Paddock Hill and was able to get to my inside for Druids.  The place was lost but I continued to put pressure on wherever possible.  Eventually, with my car sliding a little more on each lap, I had to admit defeat and settle for 5^th place.  I’d had a fantastic race and the 20 minute duration really allowed me to get settled in and focused on my driving.  At the front, Paul had benefited from the Wills/Penlington incident to take the overall win plus the overall championship.  James Hagan passed Steve Hare on the last corner to take second whilst a recovering Dave Lowe took class A honours in 6^th followed by Paul Hubbard and Stephen ‘two spins’ Collyer.  Oliver Robinson took things cautiously to finish ahead of Jeff Palmer and therefore secure the novice title.  Phil Norris had a good race to make up 15 places to finish in 11^th and Simon Merriman had a battle royal with Michael Valentine.  It’s so much better in the dry, isn’t it Simon! 

So a few thank yous to Andy for his excellent club administration over the year, Steve Collyer for organizing the food in the hospitality suite on Saturday, Robin for keeping my car fast and reliable and resolving any of the driver induced problems and to the rest of the Classic Formula Ford drivers, partners and helpers who make the season so enjoyable.  Good luck to those who are taking part in the Walter Hayes Trophy and I wish everyone a pleasant winter off season.  Hope to see you all at the dinner dance next February – your club needs your support.

Richard Shelton