CLASSIC FORMULA 3 NEWSLETTER July 2015

Our last Newsletter for Classic Formula 3 was after our first round at Thruxton at Easter. Since then, we have been to the Silverstone International Trophy meeting on the 18th May, Donington on the 1st June, Cadwell Park on the 27th June and the Brands Hatch Superprix two weeks ago on the 17th July, so here we will report on all these.

Silverstone International Trophy Meeting

Despite being on the Historic Grand Prix circuit, we were combined with the Derek Bell Trophy and a healthy 36 cars turned up to qualify, but only 11 of those were CF3 entries. David Shaw our 2014 Champion, made his first appearance and duly took pole positon and the CF3 win in race 1. Max Bartell was a fine second, only 12 seconds behind proving the promise he showed taking over his father’s ex-Keegan B34 at the end of last season and at Thruxton, was not to be misplaced. Five of our original runners, including myself, didn’t make it to the finish for a variety of reasons, though we were all able to return on the Sunday for race 2. David unfortunately had to host his daughters 21st birthday party, so was unable to make the race on Sunday, so CF3 honours were taken by Max Bartell, his first race win followed by myself and Paul Dibden.

Regrettably, our newcomer Timothy Lyons, in his RT3 encountered all sorts of problems in race 1, so abandoned things and we hope to see him again when the problems are rectified. The highlight of the DBT race, despite it not being connected with CF3, had to be the way that Richard Evans drove the Formula Atlantic March 79B to pole position and was comfortably leading race 1 when he got a puncture and then subsequently won race 2. It is a testament to driver skills that a well driven underpowered car can still see off the big boys on a fast track like Silverstone.

Donington, Saturday 30th May

There were very few people in the paddock on Saturday 30th, who had not experienced horrific traffic problems on the various motorways of the UK on Friday afternoon getting to Donington. When entries closed 2 weeks before the meeting, CF3 had 7 entries and Derek Bell had 8 and so the HSCC had no choice but to combine us to form one grid. A disappointment, as we obviously thought this would be our first opportunity to have a standalone race with a very healthy grid. By the time we went to qualifying, we had a far more healthier 12 cars out of a total of 23. Regrettably, another newcomer to our category, Gaius Ghinn, experienced engine problems with his VW engine during qualifying and that was it for him. It was nice to see Keith White out again in his beautifully rebuilt Ralt RT1, but he too was plagued by misfire problems and would ultimately not start the race.

David Shaw secured CF3 pole again from Max Bartell and Paul Dibden, and once again the Formula Atlantic March of Evans secured pole positon by some 4 seconds from a Formula 5000 car! Pretty staggering by anyone’s standards! David Shaw won the race from the constantly improving Max Bartell, only 4 seconds behind, Paul Dibden, Paul Smith and Hugh Price. It was good to be back at Donington again, always one of the best venues to go to in the UK, with CF3 cars, albeit only for a 1-day meeting. The weather conditions were bright and dry, so that is always a bonus. So, after 3 rounds, Paul Dibden was leading our Championship, having been a consistent front runner from the start, with 50 points from Max Bartell and Leif Bosson, we would now head on to the Wold’s Trophy at Cadwell Park on June 27th.

Cadwell Park

CF3 races were always destined to be combined with the URS Classic Formula 2000 and a 20 car entry included 9 Classic Formula 3 cars. Andy Jones was making his first appearance in the Dallara 382 and Chris Drake was making his first appearance of the season in the ex-Martin Brundle RT3, now with a freshly re-built engine. Cadwell Park must be one of the favourite tracks of Simon Hadfield, who bought out his ex-Rupert Keegan March 743 and promptly put it on pole position. He followed that up with a win in race 1, followed by Paul Dibden with Graham Kiddy in 3rd place in CF3, but 9th overall behind a gaggle of FF2000 cars.

Max Bartell unfortunately had to take to the grass avoiding a back marker and grass in the radiator, caused overheating. Andy Jones’ debut in the Dallara only lasted 3 laps before suffering a puncture from contact and he bent the only nose against the barriers. Chris Drake suffered clutch problems and David Shaw unfortunately left the track on the first lap of the race and made a bit of a mess of the championship winning March 803 against the barrier at the top of the gooseneck. Only 5 CF3 cars would therefore make the start of race 2, won once again by Simon Hadfield, very closely followed by Paul Dibden, only 3 seconds behind and Max Bartell having overcome his race 1 problems, finishing a commendable 3rd also taking fastest lap, having started at the back.

Graham Kiddy and Mark Hulme were the other 2 CF3 finishers from the 14 car grid. A great pity that this wonderful venue could not attract more entries. Everybody that goes racing at Cadwell seems to have a wonderful time, but we never seem to be able to attract enough to make it an interesting grid, so we may have to review our presence here in the future. Paul Dibden extended his Championship lead over Max Bartell to 22 points, as we moved on to the European CF3 round at the Brands Hatch Superprix, where we would be entertaining our friends from Classic F3 in France and Italy.

Brands Hatch Superprix

We were delighted and grateful to Mike Barnby of MB Racing Wheels, who had decided to sponsor the Classic Formula 3 race at Brands and this enabled us to provide a marquee and catering for lunch on Saturday and Sunday of the weekend. A big thanks to Mike, who is seriously considering coming to join us on the Classic Formula 3 grid. There were 35 entries out of a possible 38 starters for the Brands Meeting, made up of 15 UK CF3 cars, 15 French F3 entries and 3 FF2000 cars. Unfortunately, Gaius Ghinn was unable to have his VW engine repaired in time and one of the French entries blew up in Friday free practice.

Pat Gormley returned after many years of absence from CF3 and put his Safir 2nd on the grid to 20 year old Nelson Lukes, from France, in his Martini. Richard Trott, also making his first appearance of 2015, was 3rd with Max Bartell very close behind. Paul Dibden and Hugh Price followed from UK F3 which meant that there were 5 French and 5 English in the top 10. Saturday’s conditions were perfect for both practice and the race and Nelson Lukes ran away with the race, finishing 10 seconds ahead of Rob Moores and Max Bartell winning the UK race. Pat Gormley slipped down to 5th, but just pipped Paul Dibden. 3 laps were spent behind the pace car, when Richard Trott spun at the bottom of the paddock on lap 2 and ended up in the gravel and Keith White also stopped after only 1 lap with clutch and misfire problems. Having enjoyed a nice lunch in our own hospitality facility, the French entertained us on Saturday night in their own particular way at the top of the paddock, some very fine rosé and cured meats were provided and as always the French and English racers mingled in perfect harmony. If only we could do this more often! Unfortunately the fine weather didn’t carry over to Sunday and whilst the race started in dry conditions, it was threatening rain, and sure enough, the drizzle came in the middle of the race. However, it didn’t stop Nelson Lukes from romping home with another 10 second win, but this time from Max Bartell in a fine 2nd and 1st overall again for the Brits. Pat Gormley finished 4th, but Richard Trott starting from the back of the grid following his Saturday excursion into the gravel, climbed right through the field to finish a very commendable 8th. Paul Dibden finished 4th for the Brits, 11th overall and maintained his Championship lead, but now only 10 points ahead of Max Bartell.

The general consensus after Brands was that this was the type of meeting that we always like to have. Mike Barnby’s sponsorship and hospitality was much appreciated by everybody and the camaraderie with the French was as good as ever. Also, the sight of 33 Classic Formula 3 cars in period livery was fantastic to see and made quite a spectacle.

Our next round is the Oulton Park Gold Cup meeting at the end of August, where we are combined with the URS. After that, we are at Brands Hatch Indy for a double header on the weekend of September 26th & 27th where the Jonathan Palmer Formula 4 Series will be having a 4 race meeting weekend. This is a standalone Classic Formula 3 meeting, so hopefully we can get everybody to the grid.

There were 3 2-litre Formula 3 cars in the Silverstone Auction at the Silverstone Classic on Friday 24th July. All were March’s, a 773 and 793, owned by Piercarlo Ghinzani and the ex-Mansell March 793 raced more recently by Richard Dutton. All 3 cars sold. Richard Dutton’s March has been acquired by a racing driver of considerable repute, Sean Walker, but the other 2 buyers are unknown to me. Let’s hope that they have been acquired by people who intend to come and race with us in Classic Formula 3. Sean Walker is hoping to be at the Brands meeting and I hope that our 2 newcomers this year, Tim Lyons and Gaius Ghinn will also be out again, either at Oulton Park or at the Brands Indy meeting, so along with everyone else that has been slowing reappearing, we can put together a 20 plus grid for the standalone race. Jonathan Palmer owns his old Championship winning RT3, so who knows if we can’t persuade him to make an appearance as well.

Round 3 of the European Series takes place on the 9th August at the Nurburgring, at the Old Timer meeting, but this is an FIA approved meeting and only cars with HTP papers will be allowed to participate. Unfortunately, this took away a lot of possible entries from both the French series and ourselves, but if anybody decides to make the trip then we wish them the best of luck.

If you are now about to embark upon your summer holidays, then I wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you at Oulton Park or at Brands Indy at the end of September.

Hugh Price
31.07.2015