After the washout at Nurburgring, Championship contenders headed for Zolder, to be joined by some new blood from France and the UK.  Duncan and Mair spent a couple of days exploring the Eifel Volcanic lakes and Castles on the Mosel, but it was still damp as they headed for Belgium.
John Delane (Lotus 18) was first to arrive on Tuesday, straight from racing his Tyrell F1 and Elan sports at Monterey; on this occasion, sometime driver of the car, Andy Wallis was in charge, the Ford engine now rebuilt after the Misano debacle.

It was not until Wednesday morning that Christoph Burckhardt called to say that the Nurburg damage would be repaired, and he was on his way from Switzerland, by which time John Delane had walked the track and got soaked in the process! James Owen had dropped the Elva 200 direct on Monday, and was now joined by Daniele Salodini (Taraschi) and the yellow Brabham BT6 of Pierre Tonetti, already having had the benefit of a track day earlier in the year.  Matt King was looking after John Dowson (BT2) as well as Jeremy Deeley in his ex-Oskar Christen Cooper T52, awaiting a paint uplift before Goodwood, and the RAM 04 of David Drew. Bob Birrell was having his first drive in the ex-David Pratley Mk2 Lola, after some fettling and pedal box changes by John Sabourin, who was overseeing both Bob, and Peter Strauss, driving Bob’s BT6, ahead of a full 4 Australian contingent for Lurani in 2011.  Also overall contenders, were Erwin Van Gelder in the Lotus 20, with young English born grandson to hand, and John Fyda (Lotus 22), with Chris Chilcott’s Lotus 20 repaired again.  Luc Deneve had his Class D Lotus 18, Steven Tonneman his faithful Lotus 20, and it was good to see Christian Cane (Lotus 22) recovered after his motorcycle crash at Dijon earlier in the year.  Erik Justesen (U2 Mk2) was scheduled to arrive on Friday evening with stewards exemption for practice because of business commitments, whilst, sadly, Anthony Goddard (Tojeiro) had already returned to UK, removed the engine and delivered it to Tony Van Der Zee for repair in time for Goodwood. Poor Carlo had sad news of his mother, so withdrew the Wainer, Richard Utley’s Caravelles were once again in bits, and a late call from Hans Jorgen Krag withdrew the Lola Mk3, as the harvest had been delayed and he needed to attend urgently at the farm.
Thursday morning sign on, scrutineering, drivers briefing, and an FIA Steward’s meeting were all completed before the cars lined up from the Support Paddock direct onto the track at turn 14. Tonetti was off at the start at full speed, but then pitted for a check up, and again later after setting fastest lap, clear of Christoph Burckhardt and John Fyda, while Erwin’s session was truncated in the kitty litter after the pit straight – definitely down a gear for that corner! A superclose Chilcott and Delane were 3 seconds adrift, ahead of Dowson, with Cane, Tonneman and Strauss a hair’s breadth apart,  Strauss just behind – not bad indeed in a borrowed car and strange circuit.  Sadly Luc Deneve broke a camshaft and oil pump and resignedly headed home, hoping to repair for Nogaro, while Bob Birrell was leading front engined runner, despite a pit stop to adjust mirrors and acquainting himself to his new car – at least he had driven the track before, the last time in 1988, and apart from tightening the first chicane, there had been few changes since then.
Friday was a noise free day at the track, so drivers dispersed as far afield as Aachen, Antwerp, Bruxelles, Maastricht; Bob Birrell, Peter Strauss and John Sabourin were lapping the old Nurburgring, while Steven Tonneman and Erwin Van Gelder and family went to the Stavelot Museum near Spa – devoid of Formula Juniors at present. 
Jolly FJ evening meals were partaken each evening, but come Saturday morning it was the serious matter of Lurani points.
With an overriding concern not to interrupt the schedule of the 24 hours of Zolder(with only 17 cars taking part) and with the survivors of the 12 “Legends” [motor cycled engined single seaters with Ford “Popular” type ¾ scale bodies] past the chequered flag, the FIA Lurani Trophy started 10 minutes early with a great lead battle between Tonetti, Burckhardt and John Fyda.  By 2/3 distance Tonetti and Burckhardt had edged ahead, with Christoph seeing only a momentary lead, Tonetti taking the flag by 2 secs from Christoph, with Fyda a further 6 secs adrift.  Van Gelder was a clear fourth from a returning Chilcott, John Delane in Class C wisely putting the Championship before a wheel to wheel dice with the different Class leader.  John Dowson (Brabham BT6) is improving all the time, and split them, while Peter Strauss, in Bob’s BT6 held sway, just, over Steven Tonneman (Lotus 20/22). Erik Justesen (U2 Mk2) had started from the back, without practice, and came through comfortably ahead of Birrell.  On the first lap Daniele Salodini had been up there too, but Guido Di Egidio had spun his yellow Stanguellini at the second chicance: whether the locked up diff was a result of, or the cause of, the spin is perhaps a moot point – but suffice to say that, sadly, was the end of Guido’s day.  Seeing this, Daniele slowed, content to take a touring finish and Duncan passed, and headed after Bob.
The unfortunate Christian Cane had stalled on the pre-grid, but instead of taking station at the rear of the start grid, he worked his way back to his grid slot, and incurred a drive through penalty – unfortunately as he did not see the notice for three laps, he was black flagged, but then in a further misunderstanding, called it a day.  At the back, David Drew (RAM 04) was more than happy to see the chequered flag despite a brief pit stop with overheating, miraculously cured.

Race 2 followed less than two hours later, but sadly James Owen (Elva 200) was out, some gearbox fettling having gone awry, and  having been stuck in fourth gear (although the lever position showed 3rd!!) for the second half of Race 1.  Guido, too, was irrepairable on the day.

It was to be another Tonetti/Burckhardt dice, with Christoph getting his nose ahead for more than half a lap, but once again Tonetti hit the flag, one second ahead, while John Fyda was further back, eventually blowing up, after 10 laps, and dispersing oil around the back of the circuit, leaving Erwin Van Gelder (20/22) to a welcome third spot, and podium finish; just behind however, very on form Chris Chilcott was only 4 seconds adrift at the end, after 10 laps, having lapped consistently 3 seconds a lap quicker than Erwin till the final lap when Erwin saw the white and red Lotus in his mirror, and put on a spurt.  John Dowson (BT2) and Peter Strauss (BT6) had a race long battle, with Strauss first getting the edge, Christian Cane had a more satisfactory race, this time giving Steven Tonneman (Lotus 20/22) a race long hassle, while John Delane (Lotus 18) was only 6 secs ahead of an excellent Jeremy Deeley (Cooper T52) to head Class C, and secure another valuable 10 Lurani points.
Erik had another comfortable front engined win in the U2, with Bob slowing noticeably at the end with some discomfort: more leg room required! Duncan was visibly catching, but too late, so a safe 3rd front engined, and still a theoretical Championship win ahead, were John Delance to falter at Nogaro!! Daniele Salodini once again toured round slowly in the Taraschi.
The lap record board at Zolder pointedly shows Peter Arundell (Formula Junior Lotus) as the first lap record holder at Zolder in 1963. Now, this year had been a much enjoyed opportunity for the first FJ race at Zolder for nearly a decade, and certainly a lost chance for those who have not raced on this ex-GP track, as the cost of Zolder track hire, without a capacity grid is quite crippling, and we must await better financial times in the UK before we return once more, but our thanks meantime to Lucia Gallucci and Herli Vranken at Zolder Circuit for a great weekend.

DCPR

ZOLDER WAS ZPLENDID - A Personal view from Bob Birrell

Its several years since the Lurani Trophy has been to Zolder – Situated in the Flemish speaking Province of Limburg, Zolder has a long history with Formula Junior – In the opening meeting in 1963 a yellow Brabham BT6 won the Junior race – No, don’t be daft – of course it wasn’t, it was Frank Gardner in Ian Walkers car.
The track layout has changed since then – ie 3 dreary chicanes but was pretty well the same as on my last visit in 1988. A testing track, hard on brakes but great fun to drive and with the history of several Belgian Grand Prix in the 70s & 80s.

We were well looked after – our own paddock – well away from the (large) maddening crowd – some distance from the temptations of pommefrites mit mayonnaise which so threatens to derail my efforts to get down to a fighting weight – “like a racing mosquito”
The organisers couldn’t have been more helpful – the weather was glorious all weekend – just a shame more of us didn’t take the plunge to race on a different circuit.

Practice revealed that a good scrap was in store in class E with Pierre Tonetti, Christoph Burckhardt, John Fyda and Erwin Van Gelder filling the sharp end of the grid.
Chris Chilcott had class D spoken for and John Delane headed class C from a well fired up Jeremy Deeley.
Erik Justesen was firm favourite for class B despite missing practice completely arriving hotfoot from home on the evening before the race – practice took place on Thursday leaving Friday as a sightseeing day – some really sad cases (your scribe included) sightsaw at the Nurburgring – have you no better ideas sir? – no, not really.

Race 1, Tonetti led throughout pursued valiantly by Burckhardt who seemed to close on braking but lost out on traction and acceleration off the lower corners. John Fyda followed at a distance. Class winners were Chris Chilcott – (for a paid up member of Ecurie Mc Carruthers  his accent is distinctly Southern)  John Delane and Erik Justesen. Daniele Salodini dominated Class A in his beautiful Taraschi after Guido Di Egidio spun his yellow Stanguellini on the first lap. Bob Birrell having his first ever drive in the ex David Pratley Lola Mk 2 was mortified at being lapped by the Australian “Number 2 Driver” Peter Strauss in Bob’s Brabham – not true – I was delighted to see it still running and to see that Peter hadn’t put it in the nearby Albert Canal!

Race 2  More of the same except that John Fyda’s engine after 8 laps sounded like a years supply of NAAFI spoons in a cement mixer – taround the same time the track became covered in oil – at which point those of a nervous disposition (like me) suffered an attack of timidness and backed off – younger and braver souls pressed on at unabated speed – there were no accidents – which must prove something or other. John’s oil tank was still full and although his engine sounded terminal it seems he wasn’t to earn the BP Gulf of Mexico award on this occasion.
In all, a great meeting, good racing, good friends and enjoyable evenings out in good company – the Lurani races are very special – lets have some more support in 2011.

Lt Col Bob Birrell