Club Triumph Autosolo Mini Series: Round OneCivil Service Motoring Association ‘Concorde’ Autosolo
Sunday 17th April 2011 Bovingdon Aerodrome, Herts
Round One of the Autosolo Mini Series has now been run and a successful and fun days motoring was enjoyed by all the Club Triumph members that took part.
15 Club Triumph Members took part in the first of this series opening round, some sharing Triumph cars. The tests devised by the CSMA were very good, all consisting of flowing routes through the numbered cones. Mike Biss the CSMA Organiser had one or two devious little catches within the Tests, however it must be said that one or two sections enabled fast speeds to be achieved. The first test started at 10.30 in glorious sunshine and after the time cards had been collected it could be seen that Tim Bancroft in his GT6 mk2 was narrowly leading Mike Helm who was using the rapid Spitfire 1500 from his large stable of Triumph models. 3rd was James Cooper in his mk4 Spitfire, followed by Paul Hughes in his spectacular Dolomite Sprint, next up was Andy Martin in his ex-works Vitesse and then James Carruthers using Tim’s GT6 mk2.
The second Test quickly followed with Ellis Stokes rapidly getting to grips with Andy’s Vitesse and Stephanie Brake doing very well in her dad’s Mk3 Spitfire that is fitted with a 2.5Pi engine. Adam Willison was doing fine in his rally prepared TR7, this car does have long travel suspension, making ‘turn in’ quite difficult. At the end of this test, Bancroft had dropped down to second, with the venerable Mike Helm taking 2.5 seconds from him. James and Paul were 3rd and 4th respectively, however Mike’s youngest son Nathan had now got to grip with his Dad’s Spitfire and was starting to produce some very decent times, these elevating him to 5th. Blimey, most were starting to think, another Helm who has speed coursing through his vein, great news!
Now followed a quick lunch break, during which Dave Langrick and Tim attempted to poison some of their fellow CT members with beans and sausages, all cooked on Dave’s army stove! Many wisely took a trip to MacDonalds for a burger, or waddled over to Mr Helm and cadged a sausage!
The 3rd tests started, with Mike and Tim still battling it out, however Paul and James and Andy Martin starting to produce some quick times and had separated those two. Joe Welling had obviously been at the ‘Refreshers’ (Can you still get those sweets?) as he now was ‘whizzing’ around the tests, producing times that were challenging Mike Helm. Dave Langrick was still struggling with his car, the tall final drive ratio of 3.27:1 hampering his times. Richard and Hilary Brake in the aforementioned Spitfire mk3 and 2000 mk2 estate were still not getting into the swing of things, however they were gamely keeping on. James Carruthers was starting to push Tim’s GT6 and showing smooth driving coupled with speed that many know is lurking under his quite nature.
For the final test, Mike continued his CT dominance and deservedly finished 1st amongst the Triumph cars. Paul ended up beating Tim into second by showing some of the best power-slides one will see by a Triumph motor car. Boy, what car control by Paul, an absolute delight that achieved well deserved applause by the watching marshals! Andy Martin came 4th, just beating James Cooper. The full results follow:
1. Mike Helm Spitfire 1500 493.2 secs
2. Paul Hughes Dolomite Sprint 511.2 secs
3. Tim Bancroft GT6 mk2 514.8 secs
4. Andy Martin Vitesse 1600 516.9 secs
5. James Cooper Spitfire mk4 518.0 secs
6. James Carruthers GT6 mk2 527.9 secs
7. Adam Willison TR7 534.5 secs
8. Joe Welling Spitfire 1500 544.3 secs
9. Nathan Helm Spitfire 1500 546.4 secs
Richard Brake Spitfire mk3 546.4 secs
11.Ellis Stokes Vitesse 1600 546.5 secs
12.Stephanie Brake Spitfire mk3 565.3 secs
13.Hilary Brake 2000 mk2 est 602.3 secs
14.Frank Welling Spitfire 1500 604.7 secs
Full marks must go to Stephanie Brake, Ellis Stokes and James Carruthers who all produced fast and respectful times in cars that are not familiar to them. All Stephanie needs to do is put her seat belt on and I am sure will challenge her siblings to see who is the fastest Brake girl!
All in all, a fascinating days cheap motor sport that probably asks more questions than answers others! It looks like James Cooper, Joe Welling and Nathan Helm are about to join the fast group of CT Autosolo drivers. Will those missing who have Autosolo ‘form’: Matt Helm, Katie Foreman, Doug Foreman, Nigel Abdullah, Dale Barker, Mike Banks, Mike Bishop and Clive Senior be able to catch up? Is this a young person’s sport, Matt Helm, Nathan Helm, Katie Foreman, Joe Welling, James Carruthers and James Cooper are all in the their twenties and show real speed, or will the oldies such as Paul Hughes(?), Mike Helm, Tim Bancroft and Andy Martin be able to keep up with the young ‘uns!
The next round is the Oxford MC event at Silverstone on 08/05/11, and a few of the above have entered the ‘solo. Here’s hoping for decent weather and some fast times!
To finish and as ever it must be said, well done Mike!
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