CF3 January 2012 Newsletter

Apart from the AutoSport Show at the NEC where there was a great display of Formula 3 cars celebrating 60 years of F3, January has brought some encouraging early news for CF3 and 2012.

The HSCC have announced their calendar and for the first meeting at Donington on the 16th and 17th of March CF3 will have a 25 minute practice (the last 15 minutes being timed) and a 20 minute race.  Hopefully this will set the pattern for the rest of the 2012 calendar arranged by the HSCC.

News of new cars and drivers joining the ranks for CF3 for this season was picked up either at the AutoSport show or through various communications and the website.  I will try and outline what we have gleaned so far and if anyone can add more light or correct me then please do so via the forum on www.classicf3.org.uk.

Mike Simpson has sold the ex-Piquet Ralt RT1 to David Shaw who has a significant racing pedigree and is planning to race it this year.

The ex-Guerrero Argo, which has not been raced since 1991 but now restored to immaculate condition, has been acquired by David Pickering, who plans to race it this season.

Paul Campfield has advised that his familiar March 803 will be out and probably peddled by his son Adrian, winner of the 2011 Walter Hayes Trophy.

David Smithies who has the ex-Alberetto March 793 and raced at Monaco 2010 and at Brands 2011 is also planning to be a more regular competitor. 

Paul Dibden a regular runner in Tom Denyer’s RT1 has acquired a FSV car.  Rumour is that Bill Coombes may come out in either the RT1 or his old Argo for a race or two, let’s hope it could be more than that.  Bill, we would love to see you out.

Matthew Sturmer who acquired Paul Smith’s ex-Tommy Byrne RT3, will be ready for Donington and David Clark has acquired a pair of RT3’s for himself and Ian Jacobs, but Ian is not sure whether he will be able to get his up to the weight limit!

Historic F1 driver Richard Eyre, as many would have seen in this weeks Autosport, has acquired the ex-Senna RT3 and we hope that in addition to Monaco, he may also venture to join the CF3 grid.

Martin Porter with his ex-Gaillard Chevron B43 and Julian Baldwin March 783 have also both intimated that they could be making a re-appearance and there is news of a new participant with the ex-Lammers RT1, according to information received from the HSCC. 

The March 803 that Jonathan, my brother and I acquired from James Parsons and which Jonathan raced at the Silverstone finals will be out at Donington in the very capable hands of Greg Caton, as a possible pre-curser to a full CF3 campaign.  Along with all our regular runners we could potentially have some great grids in CF3 in 2012. 

Please get your cars ready for the “early season” start at Donington and start the season the way we intend to carry on.

Other titbits picked up at the NEC was that CF3 2011 Champion Jamie Brashaw has acquired the ex-Abba Cogan March 782 and is hoping to do some of the Historic Formula 2 races, but I’m lead to believe that won’t deter him from being on the CF3 grid as well.  Scrutineers please check it is the 783 not the 782 when he comes out! 

Adverts

In order to try and encourage as many new participants as possible in to CF3, if you see F3 cars up for sale on the Internet then send a link via the website forum, so that prospective newcomers can see what is available in the market place.

Subscriptions

A lot of people have not yet paid their CF3 subs, so please register on-line and pay up as soon as possible.

Paddock Parking

The HSCC are making a considerable effort to try and organise this properly for the season and it will be a major subject on the agenda of the HSCC Executive Board this Friday.

Hopefully a satisfactory solution, which can get us all together in the Paddock, can be achieved.  I will keep you posted.

I was obviously disappointed that only three people, Richard Trott, Keith White and Jonathan Price turned up to join me for a drink at the NEC, obviously we have more serious racers than drinkers!  Hopefully a season in Classic Formula 3 with me will convert you!

Regards

Hugh Price
CF3 Chairman