Donington Festival RAC Woodcote Trophy

RAC Woodcote Trophy Race 30th April 2011.

Weather :- Warm, Sunny, Windy.

Race Number:- 21

Qualifying: 30 minutes

Grid: 32 cars

Best Lap: 1min 38.9sec

Qualifying Position: 28th                 Row 14 on grid.

Car was handling better than normal with the rear end more controlled due to changes in the tyre pressures.

Had one small off at the old hairpin when I hit a patch of oil and went off backwards but got the car back under control and managed to avoid the gravel. Completed one more lap and came in as the track was slippery with oil and it was unlikely I was going to get any quicker.


Race:- 60 minutes.

Results:-   DNF   4 laps

The car was heavily fueled to to see how it handled with 85L of fuel as a test run before Lemans. The car was    moving about more at the rear with a pendulum effect going down to the old hairpin. So I planned to take it easy for 10 laps to get rid of some of the weight then pick up speed.

I was running 21st when the car broke its half shaft.

Half shaft broke off left rear wheel going into Redgate. Wheel went under car damaged some of the under side body work, brakes, hubs etc. Car came to rest side on mid way round Redgate corner. Not the best place to end up but I got out quickly and the race went under the safety car until my car as removed which only took a few minutes.

A Series of Photographs showing the the rear wheel coming away going into Redgate.

All Photographs by John Retter.

The car rear left side was trolley jacked up and the car was wheeled back to the Paddock by the Wren Sport Team.

The car should be OK for the Le Mans Legends Race on the 11th June which precedes the 24hrs race.

Aston Martin DB2 Le Mans 1951 Team Spec Car

Here are a few pictures to show the special features of a 1951 Team Spec car as they were raced in the Le Mans 24hr race in 1951.

Top down view of Aston Martin DB2 Le Mans 1951 Team SPEC car.

Some race pictures

DB2 Le Mans 1951 in action at Spa

DB2 about to over take at Spa 2011 (Picture by John Retter).

Perspex side widow with square rotating opening.

Low deep front air scoop.

Blue pit light (spitfire landing light) in correct 1951 position.

Air roof vent, high level number light at rear and enclosed number plate.

Enclosed with internal lighting number plate.

Aston Martin Team Dash 1951 spec with the addition of trip.

Team spec dash as per 1951

Fully drilled light weight chassis in Dove Grey.

Duel filler tanks

2.6L straight six with triple 40 DOCE webers and air box.

The End

Aston Martin Owners Club Annual Awards 2010

AMOC Annual Awards 29th Jan 2011.

This event was held at the AMOC Barn for all those people who have won an AMOC award for 2010.

These cover a wide range of awards from racing, sprints, concourse, social, events, support and merit to name but a few.

I was fortunate enough to win the PETER BELL TROPHY. This is awarded to the winner of the AMOC Historic/Speed events based on Handicap score (Feltham cars). (Do not ask me to explain the scoring system it is all a mystery).

Peter Bell Trophy

I was unfortunately unable to collect the trophy, but it was received on my behalf by David Reed.

AMOC Competition Awards Dinner November 2010

 Final Results 2010

DB 2/4 MkII

DB2 Light Weight Lemans

AMOC Historic Championship 2010

3rd Overall

1st in Class A3.

AMOC 50's Sports car Team Challenge.

1st Team Overall : Feltham Flyers

David Reed, Anne Reed, Glynn Allen & Martin Melling.

Team Fletham Flyers

Winning Drivers Supported by Davron during 2010.

AMOC Historic Championship Donington Park 9th Oct 2010

Historic Race AMOC Championship (Last Race)

Weather was dull cold and mainly dry with moderate wind.

Qualifying:-  Best Lap time 1:40.042

Car ran well although there was considerable vibration from the front end which made keeping the car balanced almost impossible. The vibration was so great it was making my contact lenses shake so I could not see properly. This was due to a rear tyre being put on the front and was way out of balance, this was my error.

Race:-  Best Lap time 1:40.801.

This was slower than in the qualifying which was unusual for me as I normally am quicker in the race but to be honest I was not really on it in the race and just coasted round.

Result:-

2nd overall in the Historic Championship and 1st on Handicap and 1st in class.

 Anne Reed 1st & Glynn Allen 2nd.

AMOC 50's Team Challenge

Qualifying:- Best Lap 1:48.596.   (session was red flagged on 4th lap)

Race:-  Best Lap 1:40.236

Although a 20min race it only lasted 12mins as it was very dark and the Marshall's were hard to see so the CC stopped the race which was a pity as the two jags in front were slower as I was speeding up and was looking  to get passed them both in the next lap or two.

I had already passed them a few times but they kept out braking me at the end of the straights as they were on discs and I was on drums. I think only 2 cars in the race were on drums and it made a big difference at Donington.

 Graham Barker & me in pit garage.

Results:- 7th Overall.   2nd Team.    1st on Handicap.

Team:- The Feltham Fliers.   David Reed and Glynn Allen   (2 + 9 =11 points)

DB2 Lightweight Lemans with Club shop in background

Overall a well attended race meeting but my mind was definitely not in racing mode as can be seen from the lap times as I would have expected to be in the 1:36.00 area, but at least the car finished the race in one piece.

SPA 6 Hours Sept 2010

Woodcote RAC Trophy Race 24th-26th Sept 2010

Weather:- Qualifying Wet and cool.   Race Very Wet and cool.

Qualifying:-

25th out of 44 cars in the qualifying session of 40 mins.

Best time in wet conditions on last lap of 3mins 55sec.

Track not too bad on the Friday, only wet with not too much oil.

The Holding area just before the start:-

The Race:-

DB2 lemans blue grill in centre No.43

Race:-    17th Overall,   5th in class C3.     Best Lap 4mins 05sec on lap 14.

I started the race which was a rolling start due to the large size of the grid. Entry to the track is via T4 with a slow part lap up to the gird.

Getting darker I put the lights on the next lap

Grid positions were sorted but for some reason one car in our class which qualified 10 places behind us and 5 rows back ended up 3 rows in front which in the poor conditions made a very big difference.

The race started under a safety car and was run under the safety car for 2 laps before the green flags were shown.

The track was very slippey and wet partly due to the previous race which had a number of big oil spills around the whole track and mostly on the racing line.

I managed to get sideways up eau rouge but managed to get it back before any major disaster. I also found it very tricky at the far end of the track before the decent into the double left.

I was in 22nd position when a spinner infront of me caused me to take an off track detour which allowed several cars to over take on the straight. I managed to catch up but could not get past in the poor conditions so I decided to pit and hand over to Adrian who is quicker then me.

I thought if we can have a quick pit change we can leap frog the cars which had passed me on the straight the previous lap and so it proved.

Adrian managed to gain more places towards the end of the race as the rain started to reduce.

We finally managed 17th overall and 5th in class although this should have been 16th overall and 4th in class except for the error in the grid start line up.

Very Heavy rain during the race Adrian in car?

We were happy to finish the race in one piece both us and the car. The car ran very well during the weekend with no issues which was very pleasing considering the rain.

Overall very enjoyable if some what challenging and I hope I will be back next year with a bit better weather.

Some other cars in the holding area just before the race:-