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BDC 60th Anniversary Silverstone - 8th / 9th August . .

3rd/4th October at sandy Snetterton . .

Those lucky enough to have been at Zandvoort last month felt right at home with the conditions in Norfolk as the MGCC event over an unusually dry week-end hosted the final two rounds of the 2009 'Equipe' GTS series -

Practice - 'Doc' Ashworth set the pace despite only using five laps of a possible ten in his TVR 1800S. The MGB of Jerry Stock impressed with second spot ahead of the perennially sparring John Andon and Pete Foster duo in TR4's. Stephen Radcliffe had to cut short his time with core plug failure on the MGB, the ex-John Gott MGA twin-cam of Mark Ellis decided to break its kingpin which necessitated a trip home for repairs, and Brian Arculus vowed that the engine in WSM 202 was heading to the scrap heap as it failed to complete more than 5 laps.

Race 1 - The Ellis twin-cam just made the back of the grid, and the Radcliffe 'B' was up for action, but at the front 'Doc' Ashworth's prognosis of the starting lights was way off and confusion reigned as flags flew. Andon from third took the lead as Ashworth retreated into the pack, but the suspicion was that Andon too had jumped the lights. While Andon was chased by Foster, Stock and a recovering Ashworth, the Radcliffe MGB threw in the towel after one lap, and Suzanne Sears (daughter of the rapid Gentleman Jack) was literally left stranded after four laps with an engine malady, as her MGB was also the ride home. The busy 'B's of the 'fast moustache' David Beresford, John Yea and Mike Harris made up the rest of the chasing pack, but Ashworth was throwing the TVR through Russell in majestic fashion and was clearly on a mission - made impossible after an off but still achieving 3rd. Ellis justified the mechanicking with a fine 9th place and Class 3 runaway, while the TR4's of Andrew Somerville and newcomer Dominic Spicer in the ex-Neil Howe car were very entertaining in their scuffle for 14th. John Hatton went agricultural, as befits his occupation, but still harvested 16th in his MGB, and the Class 2 MG Midget of Richard McKoen kept Helen Elstrop's improving Spitfire at arms length. Pat Arculus retired the Lotus Elite on lap 11 after a good scrap with Terry Bryant's MGA, and Foster meantime had surged to 2nd in his usual last laps dash before reporting to wife Susie on the touchline. Andon at the flag was a happy bunny, but the post race inquest imposed 10 second penalties and relegated Andon and Ashworth to second and fourth behind Foster and Stock.

Race 2 - The spoke in the wheel for Andon and Ashworth's attempts to redress the balance might not have been expected to come from the back of the grid, but in Tom Smith, absent from Saturday's race, you have possibly the most talented driver of an MGB on track. Andon grabbed the lead on lap one in a straightforward start from Ashworth and Foster, but most eyes were on Smith as he passed 21 cars by lap four. Ellis spun away a good start, and the ex-Owen Racing TVR Grantura v TR4 battle for 7th twixt Colin Elstrop and Spicer was gripping. Paul Freeman showed he's back to form after his huge Spa accident last year and gave the rapid Richard Skinner MGB some grief, and the Elstrop Spitfire won the dogfight with the McKoen Midget. Harris's novel MGB 'airbrake' at Russell (right door open at each lap) helped him to 6th, and Nick Crewdson was smoking the tyres on his MGB in his efforts to stay with the MGB of Dave Alston. On the 5th lap Smith took away the Andon toys exiting Russell, and the TR4 then spat the dummy with broken steering on lap 14. Yea retired from another top ten spot with transmission problems, but up front Smith was serene and built a 16s margin to Ashworth and Class 5 winning Foster at the chequered. Trevor Kemp was a worthy Class 3 champ in the Elva Courier, and a deserving shy and retiring Helen Elstrop scooped Class 2.

Pit and Paddock

Trophy presentation with a Halloween theme - thanks to Ellen, Pat and Mel who made sure all the drivers went home with gifts and scary masks (left) . .

Driver Of The Week-end - Paul Freeman MGB 12th & 11th

Click on for results from TSL Timing

Click on for photographs courtesy of Peter French - peter@flyingtigers.co.uk

Credit Or Crunch In 2009 . .

Many race promoters and organisers will be crossing fingers ahead of their first meetings of the season as the economic downturn has really bitten. While some embrace the opportunity to double up at week-ends and make the entry fee and journey worthwhile, others hope the proven recipe's still cut the mustard -

'Equipe' GTS continue to provide the most appealing series of races on the calendar. Catering for an eclectic mix of superbly presented and historically interesting cars, the 2 x 30 minute race format is hugely attractive. WSM's 202, 208 and 210 are likely to be busy cars this season, while favourites for the Isle of Man based WSM are Croft 16th/17th May, Brands 30th/31st May, Le Mans 4th/5th July, Silverstone 8th/9th August and Zandvoort 12th/13th September. If you like your MGA's and B's mixing it with Triumph TR's, Elva Courier, Lotus Elite, TVR, WSM, Morgan, Healey 100, Gilbern and Sunbeam Alpine amongst others, then you'll be well entertained. Click on the chequered flag in the 'Equipe' picture above to see the full fixture list.

The 'Signtec' Trophy for MGB's is confirmed with the MGCC meeting at Silverstone on July 11th/12th.

Angouleme hosts the 'Circuits Des Ramparts' and celebrates the 70th edition of its street based event on 18th/19th/20th September.

Guy Loveridge's gorgeous Deep Sanderson 301 may be out in 2009. His recently purchased 'A' series powered Chris Lawrence inspired prototype was displayed at the Olympia 'Racing Car Show' in 1962 and raced at Le Mans in 1963/64. With rear wheel drive and similar dimensions to a WSM Sprite, it will be interesting to see how they compare. See WSM 'News' for more information.

The Goodwood Revival Fordwater Trophy is unlikely to feature 'slippery coupes' as in 2003 and 2006, but 2010 may see the return of WSM to the Sussex extravaganza.

Much testing has been carried out in WSM 202 by Brian Arculus leading up to the first events on the 'Equipe' GTS calendar. Getting to grips with 202's handling will be a priority for Brian, but he'll not be daunted.