Spa

Races, track days, testing ...
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Mary Lindsay
Morgan Class D
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Spa

Post by Mary Lindsay »

Peter Rafter, as well as driving his "pretty red car" was able to furnish us with these thoughts on the events that took place at Spa:
Ramblings from the Ardenne
Mercredi.
Almost 30 degrees. Scorchio!. How Mike Bell managed to smuggle his massive pantechnicon past the overbearing and officious red shirted guardians of Europes’ finest motor racing venue is a mystery. There was little happening on track but a helpful Belgian CSCC official with an admirable sense of humour offered to show me where the Podium was located. (Ahem!)

Jeudi
Outside temperature plummets to 12 degrees but inside temperature rises at Signing on and separate Equipment Inspection (fashioned to cause frustration and delay).
The Morgans have been assigned a special paddock location at the Blanchimont gate, adjacent to the sewage farm (despite this a few opted to camp. Incroyable.)
Practically all the usual Morgan suspects trickle into the circuit at various times of the day. Mr Sargent making his annual visit. Mr and Mrs Emberson arrived in a stunning blue Aero, sans bicyclette (according to the Syndicat d’Initiative the circuit has been used several times in the Tour de France cycling race. In 1980, the circuit was part of an individual time trial stage.). Mr and Mrs Orebi Gann in their soi-disant electric red car “of the future”. Mr Thompson was interim sheepdog for his progeny as his good lady went about her business,
Alors, 50 minute track sessions were available at 180 Euros , cash only. (In God we trust, all others pay cash.)

Vendridi.
Qualifying, not only for the Ardennes Challenge races, but there was also Morgan interest in the Spa One and Three Hour races ( Plant/Lees./Sargent/Sebba/Parsons/Houses/Thorne/Whiteside/Bryants)., and other races (Van der Croft and Conway).
Amongst the Crossles ( no complaints but would MGB have been more appropriate? ) there was a Morgan spread from 1959 to 2018— not bad ?
It wouldn’t be Morgans without attendant gremlins which afflicted at varying degrees throughout the weekend Orebi Gann, Emberson, Locket, Fohl, Thorne and Houses (Electrical,ECU, Fuel, Alternator, gear selector, transponder etc).
An inexplicable absence of scruitineers between 12 and 3 pm added to anxiety for those who had booked afternoon testing sessions.

Later , in the town Spa there was a wonderful collection of Old Timers (drivers and cars) on a shepherded tour “Paris to Amsterdam” ( including the new Morgan racer David Wenman in a 1929 Chrysler - its best to pass over his debacle and evacuation of a chunnel train en route). The Brands Hatch clique were in good form at the hotel Silva in Spa picking up the baton set by the Morgan factory in 2015.
The Morgan factory this year had hired a “mansion” for staff, drivers and the Wolverhampton University team ( had somebody failed to connect a water supply? ) Luckily Mr and Mrs Thomas were celebrating a wedding anniversary and who needs water when there is champagne?

Samedi
!3 degrees! (classified as a heat wave in Sheffield). Lets quickly pass over the recalcitrant on the naughty steps at the Drivers briefing
Race. Who can but marvel at this circuit? Its keynote corners, elevation, continuity. F1 Drivers aside, when seasoned campaigner Jack Bellinger enthuses then it must be special. It has developed over the years , from some 15 km to its present 7 or so.. It will still tweak here and then but always retaining the integrity. Rightly so.
Repetitive deafening loud bangs. Is it the Glorious !2th? No! Just Barry Sumner firing up his steed.
A bearded wonder paroled the paddock pencil and paper in hand soliciting quotes for a distant paparazzi. He will have no doubt already identified the “Medical “ bent in the Morgan paddock., including a consultant Dermatologist, 2 GPs, one specialising in Drug research, a (Ph.D) medical Supply, a Veterinary slant, and Anesthetist support., Despite this, one who had cut his finger proudly vouchsafed the properties of electrical insulating tape over medical plasters.
Welcome visitors to the Morgan paddock included Chris Williams and Jerry Knight,
First race on the card. For the actual racing one should read the race reports, However, Oliver Bryant posted an impressive time.
There were even Smarts racing!
The Morgan prize giving as ever a welcome appreciation of all concerned and collective reinforcing of the special bond.

Dimanche.
Fervent activity in the paddock with the installation of data loggers in some vehicles—this being ideal with anticipated good high power data etc ( strangely they avoided the pretty red car!).
A Lunchtime nosebag was the previous evenings Morgan get together leftovers , but still welcome.
Some Intrepid drivers left in anticipation of the Le Mans Classic ( Goddard/Thorne/Emberson/Whiteside ) to join the other Morgan entrants in the Biennial July festival. Bon Chance.

Lets hope we wont have to wait long for a return to Spa.
peter rafter
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Joined: Fri Nov 17, 2006 8:37 pm

Re: Spa

Post by peter rafter »

Off to Le Mans , I omitted Monsieur Sebba, whose finely tuned journalistic talents will regale us with all the action, rumour and scandal. “j'espère.
At Spa twas a warm and friendly paddock with Messieurdames Baines, Bryan and Thorne in comfortable motor homes. The Goddards motor home seemed slightly smaller than Chatsworth House.
Frantic fettling by the ever busy preparers, factory WUNI/ Gateson/Thorne/Brands Hatch plus famille Sumner.. The one and three hour entrants luxuriated in the F! pit garages where the drains were less malodorous.
An unexpected precipitation one night but fortunately daytime dry track conditions. Three club sports on track (but not all the time).
I am still drying out from the evening sessions orchestrated by the BH mafia (Parnell/Syndercombe/Lockett/jaimie).
And what you all want to know is "I didn't go faster!!!"
à l'année prochaine?
peter
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Mark Shears
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Location: Banbury,Oxfordshire, England

Re: Spa

Post by Mark Shears »

So atmospheric a report Peter I felt I was there...!

So much so I was looking for a mention too!

Cheers

Mark
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Bob Bull
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Location: Luton, Beds.

Re: Spa

Post by Bob Bull »

Peter, your thoughts from the circuit certainly make for interesting reading, containing as they do so much of the minutiae of the Morgan world, and detail of the arcane habits and practices of the assorted dramatis personnel involved, however, I fail to detect any form of insult or spittle in your writings. The art of good journalism is provoke reaction from the reader, and where this can not be achieved by the content a bit of personal abuse usually works quite well. Just a thought for any future ramblings from the 'Pretty Red Car' conductor.


Ee, oop Lad.

Bob.
Ace Photograp…… you know!
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gregparnell
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Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: Esher, Surrey

Re: Spa

Post by gregparnell »

Peter I feel I must jump to your defence - your Spa Epistle is excellent but your natural humility prevents you from mentioning your masterly role as stand in Maitre d'hotel at the Silva Balmoral. Your expert and unlimited knowledge of bargain priced wines made most palatable what otherwise was fairly pedestrian bar cuisine to guarantee the BHM Mafia,to which you were welcomed as an honorary member, a most entertaining few evenings. It was only when you left early and I took over responsibility for organising the last night dinner at a local hostelry that your culinary organisational skills were fully appreciated. I will confide with you sometime how disaster was only narrowly avoided.
Forget trying to go faster just concentrate on your natural skill sets!
Last edited by gregparnell on Mon Jul 02, 2018 4:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Leigh Sebba
Morgan Class C
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Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2005 11:09 am

Re: Spa

Post by Leigh Sebba »

Excellent report on the 'behind the scenes' at Spa. Perhaps you could do a regular Private Eye style of gossip column ?
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Bob Bull
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Joined: Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:46 am
Location: Luton, Beds.

Re: Spa

Post by Bob Bull »

Leigh Sebba wrote:Excellent report on the 'behind the scenes' at Spa. Perhaps you could do a regular Private Eye style of gossip column ?
Good idea Peter, go on dish the dirt on your fellow racers! :shock:
Ace Photograp…… you know!
Regards
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