StartlineOnLine

We are all aware of the tragic accident that resulted in the death of one of our fellow competitors but as this is a Monoposto column I will make no further reference to it.

I, along with nearly everyone else, was expecting rain. We had some during the day and whilst the 16/18 race was under way but all were on slicks and no particular problem. It was the same at Brands when rain was forecast but never came. I believe Simon is a lucky mascot. Since he joined us at the beginning of last year we’ve only had one wet race which was the Silverstone event in 2009. Good job he’s not the coordinator for a water skiing club.

Ian Hughes is not a 1600 driver but is related by marriage so I can mention him in passing. What a lovely job the paint manufactures have made of his car. He’s obviously got to change his forum signature now. Unfortunately I have had to report him for cigarette advertising. He says that the JPS stands for “Just Plain Sexy” but that’s not good enough. I had to have a cigarette as soon as I saw the car. That’s the power of suggestion. Unfortunately there must be a lot of other things that suggest cigarettes to me. Anyway, nice job Ian and another good result to add to his Brands tally.

Problems with the curry wagon meant that only one car could be transported and very little gear. It seems strange that whenever only one car can be available it’s always Ian’s. You’re going to have to get tougher with him Sara.

I think that the blend of 1600 and 1800s worked very well. And produced some good racing. It might not be as good on a different circuit but it did work very well at Thruxton. It was a pleasure not to have one eye on the mirrors looking for 2 litre or motor cycle engine cars coming up to lap after a few minutes. Nigel Smith possibly won’t agree as an altercation with an 1800 sidelined him after one lap. Bad luck Nigel.

But good luck for the other Nigel. Nigel Davers that is. Congratulations on an excellent second place in only his second race. Someone surely to keep an eye on in the future. Flavio Fern appeared to be more delighted then he is when he’s just won.

Tony Cotton, though not racing, was a welcome visitor. As you’re all aware he is also the Monoposto treasurer. When we ran out of disposable cups at the Mono hospitality tent he rubbed his hands together and made a quick calculation on how much money we’d saved on tea, coffee, sugar and milk. Just joking.
TC made a reference to my new light weight bodywork in his 1600 Thruxton report. Last year I was 23 kgs over the weight limit. Unfortunately I still am as in spite of Ewen’s efforts I’ve put some weight on over the winter. I had to go up a trouser size or the damn things wouldn’t meet in the middle. Sorry Ewen. I think it would be a good idea to increase the minimum weights on all the classes by at least thirty kilos. We’d attract all the fat boys then and be an even bigger club. No pun intended.Tony Davies had another break down. It’s a good job his road transport is more reliable than his race car or he’d still be stuck up a mountain in Wales.

Henry Fryer, Eddie Guest and Richard Evans all finished and got some race miles in which will help them all for the next race.

I was talking to Michael Wilkinson in the paddock. He’s one of the three new entries in the Premier Class this year. He managed a finish in the race which is the most important thing as it was his first one. Michael is a lecturer and runs the motor sport course at Milton Keynes college. He had two or three of his students with him to assist and certainly the one I talked to seemed a nice intelligent chap. They have or are getting a bus which will both carry the car and up to a dozen students who will be let loose in the paddock to assist anyone in need. I think that that is excellent news both for the students and any driver who is short handed. The young man I was speaking to has aspirations to eventually join a F1 team as I’m sure do most of them. David Parkinson


The treasurer calculates savings on tea and coffee		It would take a man of no wit or imagination to photoshop the famous Milton Keynes concrete cows onto an image of Milton Keynes College. So that's what asst ed has done.