Anglesey results
Discussion
Race report and photos from the recent race at Anglesey plus current series points are now up on the series website - www.tvrcc-challenge.com
Some nice pics here too: http://community.webshots.com/album/160984983KDoLYt
Blimey, check out the body roll in this one: http://community.webshots.com/photo/160984983/160985128FklNzf
Steve Lewis said:
MANUGISTICS TVRCC CHALLENGE CUP
Anglesey July 3/4
The Anglesey circuit always has a sense of challenge about it. Not least of which is the challenge to actually get there. It is not the most accessible place, however, make the effort and you will be very well rewarded, racer and spectator alike.
The Island of Anglesey has a microclimate which generally provides warm weather (although it can be very wet at times!). The twisty circuit provide real driver challenges and what other circuit can boast a sea view from the start line? It has been known for the coastguard helicopter to watch a race or two hovering off the cliffs opposite the circuit!
Most drivers opted to make a long weekend for the race and tested on the Friday. This proved useful to shake down the still developing Turbo Tasmins. It also helped Simon Bowes to try out his 5ltr Griffith at a new circuit for that car. During the day he was consistently fastest, but with every session the Tasmins were catching up. Test days are very useful for development. Drive consistently and then change something on the car. If the lap times are faster it was a good move, slower, then back to the drawing board. Finding the last tenth is very much a technical approach, not a seat of the pants ‘guestimate’. In its own way testing can be very rewarding. Especially when the TVRs were among the quickest out there, however Saturday and Sunday were the race days and we couldn’t wait!
I mentioned ‘microclimate’, well Anglesey had a surprise for us. Almost storm strength rain and winds welcomed us to the circuit on Saturday. Fortunately we were later on the race list so by our turn things had dried out. Simon Bowes still kept his advantage in terms of speed in class B. Find of the day was Graham Walden in his V6 Tasmin, given the circuit configuration, he was able to use the car strengths to better advantage than the turbos which were wheel spinning all over the place. Dramas during qualifying unfortunately meant that Steve Hall and Simon Bowes started from the back of the grid in race one. This as it turned out was less of a disadvantage than it first seemed. They both made cracking starts and were in amongst the main pack very quickly. Simon in fact stormed through the field and was a very close third at the end of the race from Dave Reynolds and winner Steve Lewis. Graham Walden fulfilled early promise with a well deserved class win.
Reaction of the day was from the crowd who loved the Sideways style of Mr Bowes, the totally out of control style of Kevan Gore! And the 3ft flames from most of the Turbo cars. They now have side exhausts, so the unused fuel creates lovely orange flame bursts every now and then on lift off, complete with the requisite pop and bang. The only guy not popping or banging was a rather damp Cliff Jobson who suffered a misted windscreen from engine coolant. He wondered how the sea fog had descended so quickly and why everyone else had not slowed down.
Saturday night then turned into TVR party night. Those staying at the Circuit opened the Moore Racing bar early. Noel from V8 had his requisite pint of Baileys (and this from a Scotsman!). Those braving tents, made sure they were well lashed to terra firma and out of the wind. The B&B crowd repaired to the dining room and proceeded to be the loudest table with racing yarns and plenty of ‘if onlies’.
Sunday dawned slightly warmer and drier. Everyone was quicker in qualifying this time. Even Cliff, who sadly had a book opened for the day, betting on what lap his gasket would blow this time. Our race time approached and the circuit could not have looked nicer. Blue skies, brisk breeze and a selection of colourful TVRs ready to rev up.
Simon B made a great start from pole this time with a super quick Dave Reynolds following.
Even Cliff Jobson (against all odds) completed the race and John Sumner who showed great faith in TVR engineering had him down for a finish so won the sweepstake along with the Class A award.
So for another year the Anglesey visit is over. The 5 hour drive for most was worth the trip. Noel from V8 had a 24hr journey ahead of him back to North of the border (but the promise of another bottle of Baileys on his return by way of a well done from his successful driver).
It must be said that the successful weekend was only because each driver could rely on his ‘team’ to sort the car out. Much work went on behind the scenes to allow the racers their moment of glory. Everyone, from mates with a promise of a beer and burger, to Moore Racing, V8 Sports and Joospeed, all played their part. Although John Sumner ‘fettled’ his own car this weekend as Lyndsay was elsewhere.
Here’s to Lydden and Brands next.
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Any road based TVR welcome.
Great pictures from Mick Herring and George Carter can be found on:
www.tvrcc-challenge.com
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