It was an evening fit neither for man nor beast!! As the song goes “the weather outside was frightful… but inside the track was delightful.” Well maybe it didn’t go quite like that. :wacko: Regardless several brave souls ventured out into the storm for an opportunity to race once again at the legendary Spa-Lyons!! While the winter driving was no fun, the upside was that fewer people meant plenty of practice and track time on a venue we hadn’t visited in almost a year, and one near and dear to me personally. :heart:
After a relaxed practice period, where several “sorry can’t make it” or “I think I’m in a ditch” calls were received, first up was Sports Cars:
The field took the track led by a Jag XK120 roadster, a Porsche 912 and a Ferrari 275P. It looked like the Porsche would have to punch well above it’s engine capacity.!!
When the dust had settled the Jag had gone 60 laps, the Porsche 56 and the Ferrari 54 laps. Owners/Drivers for this vintage event were not recorded. Nevertheless, it was a satisfying victory for the British home team on a blustery Remembrance Day evening.
Next up was good old American iron!!
The Rainbow Warrior (#24), Dewalt Tools(#17) and Lowes Sponsored Jimmy Johnson (#48) took the green!
In a few laps Jimmy had driven the wheel right off his car!! Completing almost half a lap before coming to rest and declaring, “something’s wrong”! A loose wheel nut during a pit stop was determined to be the cause!! His opponents felt that the only loose nut out there was behind the wheel??!! Tony the Tiger filled in for the rest of the race.
Finishing first was the DuPont Paint liveried ‘Rainbow Warrior’ of Jeff Gordon with 65 laps. The Dewalt Tools car of Matt Kenseth and the fill in ride of ‘Tony the Tiger’ both completed 60 laps, with Kenseth nudging out Terry Labonte’s raging Tiger by 1.5 seconds!!
Then the Classic LeMans cars took to the track.
This time it was an all Porsche event with a 917LH (#21), a 907LH(#52), and a 907K (#276) heading out to challenge Spa.
It was not entirely inappropriate that the horrendous weather outside had scattered a few errant poppies onto the track.
An excellent race ensued, and eventually Porsche 917LH (#21) driven by Elford/Larrousse dominated with a whopping 70 laps!! The 907LH(#52) of Siffert/Herrmann completed 65 laps while the 907K (#276) driven by Koch & Dechent, completed 63 laps.
Then the Group ‘C’ cars took to the track to close out the evening.
Around hot Tub corner they flew, stopping only occasionally to enjoy the scenery. :yahoo:
When the chequered fell, the #14 Canon sponsored Porsche 956C of Palmer, Lammers and Lloyd had covered 73 laps, while the #6 Martini sponsored Lancia LC2 of Martini, Barilla & Wollek diced with the #27 Porsche 962C KH driven by Okada & Dickens for 66 laps each, eventually edging it out by 2.5 seconds!
It was a great return to Spa-Lyons after almost a year’s hiatus. Thanks to our host Drew and his wife Nancy for their hospitality (and warm cookies) on a very inclement November evening! Kudos to Luis for making the drive up from Hamilton on a very miserable night.
Bonus Spy Shot:
As the evening drew to a close there were unconfirmed reports that an unknown driver had taken the opportunity to attempt a few shakedown laps in a partially outfitted car. He was quickly black flagged off the course by the marshal’s. Maybe more about this incident later. :unsure:
Hopefully it will not be too long before we return to sample the pleasures of Spa. B-)
