Lydden is always an eventful appearance on the Challenge itinerary. Some drivers hate it, others revel in the technical and short circuit.
Lydden is the only other circuit (except Rockingham) where a spectator can see the whole one mile circuit from a single vantage point. This makes it great for spectators and the busy technical corners provide a suitable challenge for drivers and thrills (not to mention spills) for the drivers. It was great to welcome support from Jo Hemelsoet who drive over from Belgium to meet us all again, also Pete Reeve and a few sprinters turned up to watch. Lydden holds many fond memories of sprinting for many of us.
The days were when I would always guarantee ‘weather’ for our TVR races. Someone misquoted that and said I guaranteed ‘good’ weather!. How wrong that was going to be this weekend… read on…
Given that there was no testing available at the circuit, most drivers signed up for the invitation race before our official TVR outing. This gave the opportunity to revise the racing line and try some car set-ups. We lined up with an exotic selection of regular Lydden drivers. The 5.7 ltr V8 Merc CLK silhouette and 5.9 ltr Jaguar cars looked and sounded awesome. We were entertained to find in qualifying that some of our TVR boys were on equal terms with these beasts around this short circuit.
Qualifying over it all started going a bit Pete Tong. One of the Marshalls reported it was raining at Brands and it was moving our way. A tropical storm ensued. The PA system was struck by lightning, the power at the circuit was lost, the marshals (quite rightly) refused to go out to their posts and wave nice colourful wet flags around when there was so much forked lightning. The circuit was under centimetres of water in places!
At one point the Invitation race was started. However, after most of the field fell off at most of the corners the red flags were waved (cautiously!) and the race abandoned. Not before some of the TVRs had found a muddy parking place in the circuit scenery. There ensued some wet recoveries and significant fibreglassing. (I really do regret not buying into fibreglass shares before I started racing).
Eventually after much waiting and the possibility of a totally cancelled event, the skies lifted and racing started. By the time the TVRs were out, the circuit was drying. Simon B took his usual pole position in the Griff. Alongside Paul Glynn making the most of his first appearance at Lydden.
The sight of our slightly reduced yet very colourful TVR field opposite the rather quaint double decker bus which acts as the timer’s startline viewpoint was impressive as the mixed sounds of V8s, V6s and Cossie turbos left the grid trying to find what grip they could.
Flying through the field and finding more traction than anyone was newcomer Tim Broughton in his V6 Tasmin. We since found out why he’s so good in the wet, he’s a Ferry driver! By the second corner he was challenging for third place with Paul Glynn in the TMS ‘Q’ class Griff.
Simon Bowes made the most of his pole position and consolidated a good lead from me and I managed to squeeze past the TMS Griff as it struggled with laying the power down. This left Paul Glynn to keep a flying Tim at bay.
The rest of the field made a mixed start too, in the slippery conditions. This made good viewing as those with poor starts, made their way up the order. In the opening laps Cliff Jobson passed Pat Smith, John Sumner and Kevan Gore at Devil’s Elbow only to lose all the places again at the hairpin. On the next lap Cliff was again close behind Pat, (perennial flier and owner of the 2002 11 point Tank Slapper Award at this circuit). Pat made a repeat performance for 2004 on the exit of Chessons and despite desperate evasive manoeuvres a collision spread more fibreglass around the circuit. Pat retired, but Cliff continued and set about trying to catch the duelling Tasmins in front.
Still trying hard, Tim eventually made his sideways style a little too sideways and lost time with a spin, this allowed Kevan Gore and John Sumner back into the action.
Making steady progress and still feeling his way after an early season prang was Gary Coulson. With every lap his confidence and experience was becoming more noticeable.
Towards the end of the race Lewis looked like he was gaining a little on Bowes until a ‘moment’ the The Devil’s Elbow corner which left him too much to do.
Bowes slithered across the line first in his bright orange Griff followed by Lewis in his Turbo Taz then Glynn in his Griff.
Of course the race finished in bright sunshine! TYPICAL!
Series points table, stories and pictures can be found on www.tvrcc-challenge.com
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