Classic Rock

Rockingham, 25th May 2003

The massive Rockingham stands loomed into view framed against the early morning clouds as we turned the corner past the electricity generating station. Not the most picturesque approach to a race circuit in the world... The notice on the tunnel under the track to get to the inner paddock is slightly off-putting too, with its warning about exhaust fume build up. However, the select group of Morgan drivers was gathered in friendly proximity close to the entrance. Also conveniently placed for the greasy spoon trailer, the sweet stall, the loos and the underpass to the main stand – what more could one want?

Those who had tested on Friday or delivered their cars on Saturday had claimed some garages – those who were outside were gazing quizzically at the sky and having some confidence that the weather was set reasonably fair (promises of showers later in the afternoon). There was much conversation about the direction of the wind, whether approaching clouds were rain-bearing or not, with those who had attended last year remembering with horror the long wait in the collecting area in heavy rain. The first casualty of the day was disposed of – Leigh had arrived with a small bird spread-eagled onto his tow-car radiator grill. After some difficulty disentangling it, its final resting place was a paddock rubbish bin. Everything seemed to be starting very slowly, with no noise of the first practice at the appointed time and then smashed and broken down cars having to be recovered from each of the practices before ours. It gave many of us the chance to welcome race newcomer Richard Plant who had indulged in track days and been tempted into racing. He promised us that his wife and family would join us later as well.

So – they were running over half an hour behind before the 15 Morgans were called to the new collecting area behind race control. The entry had been notified as 14, but a lucky outcome of the change of race day from Saturday to Sunday was that Jack Bellinger was a late entrant – though this was a loss to the Ahlers/Wells Aero team at Silverstone, as he had been going to assist Billy there with refuelling. Lots of people were at Rockingham for the first time and feeling fairly apprehensive about the banked track and the close proximity of the concrete wall. As the previous practice was red-flagged early, there were mobile phone calls from Helen on the roof above the pit straight to Chas in the collecting area warning about an oil drop on the racing line around the approach corner. If you cannot hear the tannoy it helps to have a private information system!

Compared with other entries we had an uneventful practice. No damage to anyone but the reports from the field still sounded fairly lively. Tim Bryan, recovered from his expired engine at Donington and having a nice new one, found the banking had similarities with Colditz. Andy Green caused most excitement when he took out a post at the chicane, scattering bits of broken bollard over Jack who was alongside him. Andy said that his brakes were a bit soft but he was otherwise happy – debris behind is of no worry... Rick and several others reported a slippery track, not just where Helen had reported it. Simon commented on oil on the first corner and saved his best laps until the end. Leigh knew that the oil wasn’t his as he had rerouted from his missing oil catch tank to the windscreen washer bottle. He felt his testing on Friday paid off. Worryingly, Philip Goddard didn’t notice any oil at all, but had noticed that Mary had a new bumper and wondered “Why?”

Many people were trying to find their way around by following others:

Paul let James past and then followed him, observing him “twitching” through the infield [Ed: and what about the car...?]. James was following Andy until the incident with the post – he could take the chicane flat out, but hated the hairpin which stuffed his brakes and he thought un-drivable. He described the infield as “a go-cart track” – hence the twitching? Chris Dady also found the infield confusing (and the banking terrifying). Jack was learning the circuit following Mary until she lost it on the grass at the hairpin, when her car didn’t turn in as Rick overtook them both. Jack learned how not to go round that corner – he found it generally strange going round the wrong way and suffered from a loss of his transponder signal (analysed in the paddock as a victim of his magnetic personality).

Meanwhile, Philip McElvey was following Jack – and saw more of his side numbers than his registration as Jack slid round. Jack, you have a wonderful profile – “it was a superb sight!” Once he concentrated on his own lines Philip was able to produce a reasonable lap time. Richard, on his first outing, followed Leigh to get the lines – he knew that Leigh had tested on Friday. He had a spin on the “bendy bit” and backed off on the oily corner that Mary said made the car skate across, but thoroughly enjoyed himself. Philip Goddard was following Chris Dady – “ a smooth driver” but found the concrete wall both concentrated the mind and was distracting at the same time ...

Two other drivers did their own things, with Phil Hollins enjoying the dry weather in contrast to last year and Peter Horsman trying a variety of routes around the chicane until he found the right one for him. He also learned how to be comfortable with the banking by settling the car before putting power down. Settled and unsettled though the cars and drivers were, it was to be 3 hours and a few drops of rain before they were put to the real test.

Race 3 arrived after a shortened lunch time and several car recoveries from Races 1 and 2. We were off! Rick Lloyd was on pole and beat off Peter Horsman’s challenge into the first corner. James followed them into the corner ahead of the rest of the excitement. Behind him Paul and Andy went into the first corner together with Andy on the inside coming out ahead. Simon was held up slightly at the start by Phil Hollins giving Leigh a chance to get away from him, but Jack had a brilliant start passing Chris Dady, Simon, Leigh and Philip G using the inside line into the hairpin. Simon had got past Leigh again at the same point, then Philip Goddard passed both of them, Jack and Chris, plus Phil Hollins coming out of the hairpin. Tim, Philip McElvey, Mary and Richard were sensibly staying out of all this, maintaining their positions and their dignity.

At the third bend there was the only coming together of the race when Andy appeared to try to kiss James’ behind [Ed: perhaps you should rephrase this] and acquired a neat hole in his oil cooler for his efforts. James referred to it as “an exciting nudge from Class C.” Andy spilled oil which was most interesting for him as he went off on it onto the grass and came to rest facing the road he had left, but he also contributed to various learning experiences for others. Paul felt his car go loose and then realised it was Andy’s oil; Simon nearly went off but got back past Jack; Phil H thought he had 2 flat tyres for a couple of laps, then he finally realised it was oil; and Mary visited the grass a couple of times courtesy of the excess grease.

With Andy out and the field spreading there were some lonely races up front but in the second lap Simon caught up with and passed Phil H and Philip G and then the two of them changed position. Chris quickly retook Leigh and Jack and then in Lap 3 he was past Phil Goddard to regain his grid position. Richard astounded all the spectators (and, I suspect, himself) by overtaking Leigh and Jack at the end of the pit straight on the inside into the corner. Next time round he tried to repeat the trick, getting past Philip G in the same place. But then he lost it on the chicane, span, took out some posts and lifted his bonnet. (He had removed the straps and not put on secondary fastenings!!!) An early, honourable, retirement to assess damage. Chris D passed Phil H on that same fourth lap.

It was about now that Philip McElvey, after his good start, says he decided to have 40 winks (or lose concentration?) Over the next 3 laps he lost 3 places to Simon, Chris and Phil H. Loss of concentration was also a problem for Philip Goddard who got over-excited at the end of the straight going into the hairpin in Lap 5 and destroyed even more bollards as he went off. (Serena, do we get charged for all this damage?) Philip returned to the track but Jack took advantage of the situation – well he would wouldn’t he? And then the next lap, Leigh passed Philip G too, and went racing after Jack. In Lap 9 he caught him and passed him – a rightful end to Leigh’s “honorary Class D clash.”

Positions were then maintained for the remainder of the eventual 13 laps with Mary being heartily relieved to be lapped by Rick before she had to go round yet again. Rick won and, although he was heard to bemoan the absence of Ahlers, he admitted he was happy to receive the winner’s garland. Peter stayed in 2nd place throughout and won Class B, though his car was not pulling properly under half throttle and James started to catch him towards the end. Paul easily won Class C, making ground on James in Class B before the end, and Jack won Class D. Philip G celebrated the end of the race by watching his son, Jacobee, setting off the fire extinguisher in the foot well of his car – but it soon dried out in the warm dry day. And Tim, who had avoided the Andy fracas and then driven steadily and fast enough to end in the same place he had started, was happy to finish a race for the first time this season – 2nd in Class A.

The sadness about Rockingham is that, in spite of its good facilities and being reasonable to reach from much of the country the following comments were heard at the end of the day: “My least favourite circuit”, “Not impressed with it”, “Go-Kart Track”, “Didn’t like it”. Is this because it tries to be all things to all people and succeeds in none of them? Could it be reconstructed to make it more interesting?

Answers on a postcard please to the Editor...

Kate Orebi Gann (with thanks to roving reporter Liz Burry)