Article by Steve Lyle

When I opened my curtains prior to setting off for the first Loton round earlier this year it was to be confronted with several centimetres of fresh snow. This time it was just wet and overcast so represented some improvement!

Regular competitors will know that Loton seems to create its own microclimate so the 21 tvr drivers met up hoping that the track would dry out as the day progressed. Sadly, we were to be disappointed but the conditions did make for some entertaining and challenging motorsport.

Even before the start of the event there were dramas. Following clutch failure on his Cerbera at MIRA 2 weeks previously, Jeff Allen, with the help of his son Ben, had changed the clutch, clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder, most of this being done outside in the rain over the two days before the event.  Paul Edwards and Dad, John were seen indulging in much head scratching whilst trying to work out which corner weights needed adjusting to prevent their T350 turning sharp right every time they so much as looked at the brake pedal!

First practice was taken quite steadily by most although Mike Roe managed to spin his Vixen at Museum giving re-runs to both Alan Bankhurst and Geoff Stallard in their respective Vixens. Tina Hawkes, on her first visit to Loton and only her second event had the added challenge of trying to see through a cloud of steam going up the hill. Fortunately, John Carter and a team of willing helpers set to in the paddock, soon finding and fixing a pin hole in the top hose. In the tiddlers class Stewart Lobley found the most grip to lead Steve Dennis and Geoff Stallard, all Vixen mounted. In the big bangers, Matthew Oakley showed the way as usual in his 5.2L Griffith followed by Jes Firth in his quite clean Cerbera and an excellent run from the 5L Chimaera of Alan Davis resulting in a good third place some 3.5 seconds behind.

Back in the paddock a disaster was found to have befallen Paul Edwards T350, with a suspected timing chain failure when trying to restart the car after John’s first run. Once Paul’s car is fully sorted it will be a force to reckon with but he is having the most awful luck during the development phase. We hope the damage was not too great and that he will soon be out competing again.

Over enthusiasm got the better of several drivers in second practice. This time, Mike Roe narrowly avoided a spin but at the expense of some grass tracking between Fallow and Museum. Geoff Stallard and Dave Wilkins both went one better with spins at Museum, the wicked, tightening, blind right hand final corner. Yours truly did not even get that far after locking up all four wheels on the high speed approach to Fallow and opting to go straight up the escape road – to be confronted by those who had completed their runs pointing out the direction I should have gone ..dohh!

Geoff Stallard, Tony Bradfield (350i Wedge), Jeff Allen and Alan Davies all “enjoyed” re-runs thanks to the misdemeanours of others!  At this stage only three drivers in three very different cars had got under 3 seconds for the first 64 feet (does anyone know why this strange distance is used?) – Geoff Stallard (Vixen) 2.96, Jes Firth (Cerbera) 2.97, Simon Smith (Tamora) 2.99. I think this just goes to show the importance of technique rather than car or tyres in wet conditions. The times showed Stewart Lobley still leading the 4 & 6 cylinder class but Jes had closed to within 5 hundredths of a second of Matthew. Tina was delighted to have knocked no less than 7 seconds off her first run whilst most others had improved by 2 to 3 seconds.

Conditions did not get any better for the first timed run but most people were more well behaved and showed some good improvements on their practice times. Steve Dennis knocked off 4 seconds to take the lead in the small class but only 7 seconds covered all 6 cars in that class. Dave Chant in the ex race Tasmin with V6 power was starting to feel more comfortable about his first ever hillclimb and setting respectable times. The top positions in the larger class were upset thanks to Jes failing to post a time after pushing back the tyre wall six feet at Hall Corner, the first left-hander after the start. Fortunately the car only suffered minor paint damage - those Cerberas are obviously built strong! In the meantime, Matthew had put in a storming run to improve by 1.5 seconds taking a clear lead from Simon Smith and Steve Cox (5L V8S).

As a result of the many incidents during the day it was getting quite late and there was much debate as to whether the second timed runs would take place. The organisers did decide to run on but there was some suspicion that as the last class we might need headlights! By this time, Matthew had already left the track, as he needed to get back for a social event so Jes had it all to do if he was to take the class. Unfortunately, the worsening weather meant he could not improve on his earlier practice time leaving Matthew 2 seconds clear at the head of the field. Jes was second with Simon Smith third and Steve Cox fourth. Alan Davis was in a good fifth place and the top runner on List 1A tyres. In the other class, Steve Dennis was one of the few to actually improve and snatched his class position followed by Stewart then Geoff.

Once Steve Cox had worked his magic with the algorithms the combined handicap results showed Matthew still first followed by Steve Dennis, Stewart Lobley and Tony Bradfield, giving two from each class in the top four. Proof that the handicapping system really does allow wildly different cars to compete on an equal footing.

The fact that all the tvrs survived with nothing more than a few minor paint scrapes must speak volumes about the skill of all the drivers – or were we just very lucky?!

Full and detailed results can be seen on our website
http://www.tvrspeedchampionship.co.uk/