| As we all predicted, having a race meeting at Donington in the middle of March was not going to attract a massive entry. I unfortunately was on a pre-booked trip to Dubai enjoying the sunshine when I received a text from my brother saying that he had woken up on the Sunday morning to see snow and hail! A soaking wet practice gave way to brighter skies and whilst cold, at least it was dry for the race.
Jamie Brashaw walked away with the race overall, though Greg Caton reliably informs that had we not had a slipping clutch on the 803 he would have given him a good run for his money. David Shaw went very well in his newly acquired Ralt RT1, so we hope to see lots more of him during the season after Monaco. Despite having plenty of track time, the normal complaint from CF3 members, the Cadwell Park entry is still disappointing. It’s nice to see that Richard Smeeton is out again in his Modus despite going to Monaco a couple of weeks later. Richard Ranson tells me that a few late entries have been submitted, so the numbers look a little better.
After Monaco we head to Silverstone for the Grand Prix circuit, so hopefully that will attract a few more CF3 competitors to the grid. Richard has received several new membership forms from people who have acquired cars recently that have been on the market, so we should have some new faces later in year, as cars get completed. Whether or not those celebrity “drivers” that acquired cars for Monaco will join us remains to be seen, but we do need to canvas as many as we can to make our grids look bigger and more acceptable.
Simon Jackson has acquired a Chevron B43 ex Quirin Bovy from 1978 acquired from Remy Nee, in France, who raced it quite successfully in French F3Classic . Heinrich Langfermann has also bought the ex Ross Cheever Ralt RT3 VW which is undergoing a total rebuild by Tom Denyer. The car will be ready by July and will be running in its original colours and Heinrich, along with Rob Austin, will do some UK and French races. Also Julian Baldwin, Cooper Tyres VP of European operations, will shortly be testing his March 783 and be out for the first time since 2005 when he finish 4th overall. Be nice to him…they make our Avons! Finally Andy and Mike Jones, class B runners, have just purchased a Dallara 382 from France. The car needs a full restoration and hope to have it out for 2013. The 382 is very similar to the 383 and the 384 which seem to be successful in the French championship, with a 3rd at Monaco in 2010!
Let’s hope for good weather this coming weekend at Cadwell, so those that are entered can enjoy themselves in the Paddock and on the track. The two main gripes at the meeting at the end of last year were lack of track time and paddock camaraderie and this is the first opportunity that we’ve had to try and address this. There will be a BBQ after the Saturday race around 7pm or earlier, as long as we can get the Barbie fired up in time. Hopefully those that are attending will be able to tell those not there what they missed.
Where are all those Ralt RT3’s that we were promised?
Hugh Price |
