It was a package to die for – 3 free nights at the Sheraton for 2, starting money for completing free practice, courtesy cars to and from the airport, hotel and paddock, and daily lunch in the paddock for 3 days!
All 23 cars and drivers arrived as scheduled, with some having started the party early on the Portsmouth-Santander ferry.  Noisiest of them all of course were the Aussie contingent, with Roger and Margaret Ealand, with their Koala FJ in their specially designed van, both shipped from Melbourne; Bill Hemming with familiar Elfin 621; Kim Shearn accompanied by Dave Price, with the ex-George Bruggenthies Lotus 20/22 , which had spent much of its life at Road America, and New Zealander Tony Simmons in the ‘historic’ BT6 FJ.15.63, Tony with much time spent with F1 in Europe, not least remembering being with Chris Amon at Claremont Ferrand in 1972?
Of the rest, it was in fact a fascinating group of irregulars with Stuart Tizzard (Lola Mk2) and Jim Chapman (OSCA), the latter benefiting from some TLC with Terry Van der Zee; Anthony Goddard and Alix, with the Tojeiro, via Normandy and daughter, Mauro Poponcini, looked after by Mec Auto, in the only Dunlop shod F3, although the “old” F3, Racer 500, were represented by Patrick Jamin and the Boyer, tucked up together.  In company also was Stephane Rey (Lola MK5A). Matt King of Motor Racing Medics brought out the Kinch Team Juniors, with the 22 of Nathan fully rebuilt with straightened chassis by Peter Denty, and all reassembled back at Redhill, Justin Fleming’s Elva 100/42, with nose damage from Snetterton well repaired, together with Duncan’s Alexis, hopefully now a runner after repairs to gearbox and engine water routing. Iain Rowley had the Delta truck full of Hugh Barnes’ 22 for himself, James Owen’s Elva 200 and Brian Mitcham’s U2 Mk2, while Stuart Rolt had towed out with the Elva 200 behind for Benn Simms, enjoying a holiday with Heidi and baby Amelia, and his parents. Last minute confirmation had come from John and Adam Sykes, towing the Merlyn Mk5, and the 20 coming out with Frank Lyons.  Finally it was good to see Malcolm and Aileen Wishart in their T67 and Steve and Carol Futter in their more regularly competed Lotus 20.
Mair, Duncan and Sarah came early to be sure that there were no hitches, so had time to enjoy Restaurant Merceiria in the old town by the Douro River on Wednesday evening. Thursday was signing on and scrutineering and a chance for lunch at Cufra Grill overlooking the track, but also more importantly on the other side, the sea! Everyone was safely scrutineered, so it was back to the Ribiera and this time sampling “Chez Lapin” – the squid was good, but one felt that this was a tourist restaurant.
A very early rise Friday for an 8.45 briefing: too early for Tony Simmons, although fortunately his errant alarm did not preclude free practice, which was 30 mins late. Patrick Jamin’s time of 2m 23.54 was clearly a transponder error! (or lack of one!), so in reality it was Nathan Kinch, already having had session track time in his Group C who was a stomping 8 secs a lap quicker than Adam Sykes (20/22) with Benn Simms living up to promises in Class C Elva 200.  David Hall (BMC Mk2) had also been out in a Corvette, but a loose lead brought his session to an end, while poor Jim Chapman did not even complete 1 lap in the OSCA, when diff problems emerged, while Duncan also pulled into the pits, awash with gearbox oil, and Brian Mitcham’s clutch failed as he completed the session.
By 3pm there was a dampness in the air as the Juniors went out for qualifying, Brian Mitcham aided by Team Delta had the engine and gearbox out, borrowed a DFV Ford clutch plate and replaced everything, only for it to seize solid after 20 yards, but meantime it was Benn Simms who led out the remaining field in Stuart Rolt’s Elva. Three laps was all it took before real rain came, and the majority headed for the pits as oil flags were waved for the wet track.  Nathan Kinch was a comfortable leader from a delighted Adam Sykes in his 20, Stephane Rey in the Lola and David Hall, clearly benefiting from his Sting Ray experience, a superb 4th ahead of Benn.  Anthony Goddard’s Tojeiro was going impressively well, but the OSCA of Jim Chapman was still in trouble, as was Steve Futter’s 20, and Tony Simmons had a bolt fly off, out of the suspension! Duncan’s oil puddle around his feet was less! After that it really rained: the small field of F1’s looked most uncomfortable.
Friday evening entertainment was a champagne, nibbles and hot buffet reception in the Sheraton:  Formula Junior were much in evidence before the very hardy disappeared back down to the waterfront.
Saturday Race 1 was a Nathan Kinch benefit.  Benn Simms (Elva 100) had vaporisation off the grid after a much delayed start, and proceeded to catch up the field and take up his grid position – this earned him a drive through penalty, coming out just behind 3rd place man Stephane Rey, so a little battle ensued before he was past again. “Older” driver of the day was undoubtedly David Hall (BMC Mk2), just passing John Sykes’ Merlyn Mk5/7 at the end after a great dice, with them circulating for three corners side by side – quite a sight on a street circuit! Patrick Jamin (Boyer 500) and Bill Hemming had a little ‘to do’, Bill, after a heartstopping moment after the start when he locked up, heading straight on through an almost invisible gap in the pack for his Elfin. Brian Mitcham had moved swiftly through from the back but lost second gear and bumped his nose, resulting in him completing that lap into the pits, with his nose cone on top of his car, seeing his way round through the vent! He left the pits again, noseless! - carrying on to complete the race distance, well clear of Duncan, for class honours. Poor Kim Shearn blew up the motor of his 20/22, use of local petrol on low octane thought to be to blame, Justin broke his diff, and Jim Chapman lost his brakes.  Stuart Tizzard was still misfiring, Roger Ealand lost his clutch, and poor Steve Futter’s problems continued, stopping on the warming up out lap.  The paddock was a hive of activity throughout the afternoon with Koala and 20/22 engines out, a new diff fitted to the Elva 100, and much headscratching from Martin Stretton and others over Steve Futter’s problem. While the Australians worked through the night, a jolly party of 22 enjoyed “Chez Lapin” cuisine once again.
Sunday was pleasantly sunny and the full field of 23 lined up in the pit lane – unfortunately Adam Sykes’ exhaust detached on the out lap, and after a quick pit stop resolved to abort, rather than risk a fire. Also poor  Roger Ealand’s hard work was to no avail as carburettor problems left flooded carbs – and the recalcitrant engine was wont to restart on the grid.  Once again, it was a clear run for Nathan Kinch, with Benn Simms making no mistakes this time in second spot, and Stephane Rey chasing in third until he stripped a gear and coasted to a halt.  Behind these three there was a race long battle between John Sykes, Larry Kinch, David Hall and Iain Rowley until at half distance Iain spotted his water temperature creeping up and up, so wisely decided to retire rather than cause damage. This left three, with Larry just managing to take John on the penultimate lap, with David just behind, into the ‘village’ section; they all safely passed Duncan’s Alexis with Jim Chapman (OSCA) just ahead, to catch him at the end of Rua da Vilanova – John braked late, clipped Larry’s Lotus, both behind the OSCA – David Hall nipped through on the inside, while Duncan, somewhat delayed, found a gap on the outside of the stranded Merlyn/Lotus tangle.  Behind this left Kim Shearn a lonely 4th – a long way back, but then all bunched up was a super battle between the Boyer and Anthony Goddard’s Tojeiro, while behind, Tony Simmons, Steve Futter and Brian Mitcham had all made their way from the back of the grid to finish near together.  Justin Fleming was delighted with his new diff, and a finish, Bill Hemming just beat Poponcini, and at the back Malcolm Wishart held off Duncan, falling back with a misfire, indifferent brakes and the familiar pool of gearbox oil around his feet, Jim Chapman’s OSCA coming into view and eventually powering ahead of him.
We enjoyed the hospitality lunch and then a jolly class prizegiving against the backdrop of the 90 mins Gentlemen Drivers Race.  Official activities finished with a post race bbq – sun still shining.  A great weekend.

DCPR