Wonderful, Wonderful, Copenhagen…..

This year the organisation of the street circuit at Copenhagen was taken in hand by FJ, and more importantly ex-F1  ,driver, Jac Nelleman, and the circuit itself transferred to Bellahøj – quite a venture! – and Formula Junior provided one of the star attractions, and the only Formula race.
The fun started at Harwich on Tuesday with the FJ ‘vans’ being shunted from the passenger to the freight terminal – only a frantic call to Tim Bishop, travelling far behind schedule in the Connaught bus diverted him in time to catch the ferry, with the Sauter – DKW for himself and Charles Cook’s Envoy Mk1 on board, to join Duncan & Mair with the Alexis, Robin & Sue Longdon (Lola Mk2), Simon Goodliff’s similar Lola Mk2, and Alasdair Graham carrying John Delane’s Lotus 18, John and Mimi flying that day from LA< while Charles Cook was to join later – interlopers, but proving to be almost the heart of the weekend’s party, were Julian Bronson, with expanding Motorhome, and trailer, with the Scarab F1 #03, tended by ex Cooper T52 FJ owner Dick Last.
We docked at lunch time, Wednesday, but with a 70 kph trailer speed limit, extended to only 80 kph on motorways, it was a slow trek from Esbjerg to the Danish capital, interrupted when an errant saloon leapfrogged a bridge en route, causing delays and scratching of heads from the local bobbys.  We all found our way and were temporarily camped up at the local Bellahøj camp site – a huge area of parkland, Jac having very kindly provided a 20 + year old very period and original motorhome for Duncan and Mair, next to his own later version.  John and Mimi were there to greet us, Simon and Alasdair were off to find their hotels, while Sue took pity on a foodless Duncan and Mair enjoying their first experience of motorhome life and entertained them to a splendid chicken meal. 
Thursday was quite relaxed – Jac had arranged for a wizard, who arrived in a Classic SAAB estate car to make some adjustments to the motorhome.  By Thursday evening the paddock facilities were in place, and we parked the racing cars in their allotted tent, and then Julian was the allotted driver to take seven of us to the AMASS restaurant in the old docks in Jac’s 1950’s US Sedan Chevrolet, Jac joining us after a TV interview in downtown Copenhagen City, with the Scarab on the sidewalk. Period Lotus 22 FJ driver Jørn Qvist, now an eminent tax lawyer, and his wife Mette made up the 10 places for one of the most amazing meals of a lifetime in Copenhagen’s top new restaurant, this being the first time that the terrace had been opened for a group table.  Jac drove us back in the Chevrolet….  Meanwhile, back in England, Justin and Kristian Fleming, unaware to aim for the Freight Terminal, literally only just made the Ferry as the ramps were rising!
By Friday morning, most of the competitors, except the second ferry contingent had arrived, Ingvar Malm (Elva 100) and the M.R.S – SAAB 3 cyl 2 stroke,  making its race debut since period – incredibly original as built by Mr Hackåsan, for Christer Larsson; and owner David Von Schinkel (and not young Erik Johansson, as originally contemplated) from Tidö Castle in Sweden, one of the most amazing houses in the country, in the Spider Mk II from 1963, with constructor SvenHarry Åkesson in attendance.  From Denmark, Jac had brought his two FJ’s, the Alfa Dana for Stefan Winquist and New Englander, Roy Walzer (with Catherine), in the Volpini 006, while Lurani regular Erik Justesen had his familiar U2 Mk2, and newcomer Lars Thorsten Jansen, the ex-David Grant Elva BMC 100, 100/57.
After scrutineering, the FJ cars were assembled at 11.30 for a police led  - road closed – drive into the centre of Copenhagen, parked before the ancient and spectacular inside, Town Hall, in a prime display for the crowds.  Upstairs, past the statues of many eminent Danes of recent history, we awaited a welcome speech from the Mayor of Copenhagen; C.C.Hansen, the President of the Danish ASN; and from Jac, all in the presence of HRH Prince Joachim, and everyone joined us for a pancake buffet lunch.  The drive back, still in searing heat, was a little too slow, Duncan stopping on the sidewalk with 800 metres to go, and being pushing in along the backstreets by two willing helpers, rewarded by an FJHRA hat each!
The second boat load from Harwich brought the full Bond Team with Andrew Tart and Lynn, Gill Duffy, with Andy Maggs in attendance, while Jon & Jenny Goddard – Watts and David and Sally Cross flew in.  David’s second book on motor racing transporters will be out by Christmas.  As well as Justin’s Lola Mk2, Chris and Melanie Wilks had the Deep Sanderson 104, now well developed past its teething ills.  Last but not least, from Finland, came Reijo Heurlin in the Elhoo, with drum brakes, Ford engine and BMW 700 gb, third of the cars having their first FJ race appearance for 50 years.  Other visitors included Kai Madsen , once the vendor of the LONG Lola Mk 2 , and now owner of the Alfa Dana – DKW Mk2; Frank Thrusholm, owner of the Spider Mk1; and Bjarne Louw who has the Hirondelle – DKW, but at the tender age of 81, was running a BMC special sidecar outfit this weekend – in the chair was a mere boy of 59!!  Also frequently popping over to see us was 1960’s period Danish F3 driver Olle Vejlund, who had also raced Erik’s then Merlyn Mk5 with us at Mantorp Park a few years ago.
Friday night, Robin and Sue hosted a splendid FJ BBQ at their motorhome, with Julian and Dick supplying copious amounts of ice cold beer – much needed, as we sat out each night enjoying the near midnight sun.  Jac and his wife, and lovely little girls, all joined us.
Gratefully, our FJ briefing was changed from 7.30 am to 9 O’clock on Saturday, but we were all up ready for the frame followed by 10.15 Qualifying.  Sadly Ulf Lindberg, Elva 100/14EX, well rebuilt after it’s Monza tow car episode, had only just been returned after 2 years at the Anderstorp Raceway museum, and arrived sans working starter motor- sitting too long in the line up, overheating set in, and he hardly made it onto the track, though the Swedish contingent eventually diagnosed and replaced a blown cylinder head gasket in time for R1.
The circuit can best be described as a rectangle, interspersed by 3 chicanes and an extra corner over the main state road into Copenhagen, with a sweeping righthander on the main start/finish straight.
Charles Cook was going well in the Envoy, a second ahead of Simon Goodliff, from Andrew Tart, then John Delane and Robin Longdon.  Stefan Winquist was going very well in the Alfa Dana until clutch trouble intervened, while Chris Wilks and Gil Duffy suffered the wrath of the Clerk of the Course for yellow flag infringements, and were relegated to the back of the grid.  David Von Schinkel was going well in the Spider in 9th slot, while poor Erik Justesen had complete drum brakes failure at the chicane, and did some damage to the U2 front as well; with no spare drums, he was destined to sit out the rest of the weekend.  Roy was enjoying the Volpini, Lars Jansen thoroughly happy with his extremely well prepared Elva, Tim Bishop encountered some problems with the Sauter, and was only just in front of Larsson’s M.R.S, while Reijo was happy just to have two laps under his belt in the Elhoo before pulling up.
All except Justesen lined up for Race 1, but the field was rather split from the beginning when Von Schinkel was slow off the line, with a dicky gearbox while Justin succeeded in bumping the rear of Delane’s 18, causing John selection problems throughout the race; however worse was to come for Justin, as his bonnet completely blew off after the first corner, amazingly hitting no one, although the Sauter had a close shave, and being hardly damaged, while the Lola continued, bonnetless and unpenalised, for the rest of the race.  Tim Bishop had taken full advantage of all this to move up the field and was soon in 6th place behind the flying leaders, Goodliff, Cook, Delane and Tart, Winquist and then Bishop.  Cook was on top of Goodliff, and placed his nose where Goodliff’s tail was supposed to have left! – leaving a dent in the lovely original ex-Matti Lola – However Cook did squeeze by ‘ere long, and they ran home just half a second apart, from Tart and Delane, after Robin’s rear suspension collapsed on the last lap, surely a last legacy of his 2012 Cadwell encounter.  Chris Wilks came through to take Duncan and chase Tim Bishop, as did David Von Schinkel, while Duncan and Gil had a great battle, Gil only getting ahead on the penultimate lap, while both Jansen and Larsson were delighted finishers, Reijo however not making a racing lap, after boiling on the start line, with no electrical starter.
Saturday night was the celebration dinner at the thatched Bellahøj Hotel across the startline of the track – FJ were in full attendance, with other dignitaries including again Prince Joachim, the Mayor (ess), Jørn and Mette Qviste, CC Hansen, Tom Christensen, winner of more Le Mans 24 Hour races than any other in the circuits history, and Ralf Pettersson of the FIA.  It was simply another splendid silver service dinner, with many haute cuisine courses and wines, a speech from the Prince and CC Hansen, Jac having welcomed us beforehand.
There was a warm up for the FJ’s on Sunday morning, but Ulf Lindberg (gone to collect his grass) and Reijo (car packed up already), and Erik’s U2 and Robin’s Lola  were now for viewing only. Duncan, Ingvar and Christer opted to save their cars for the race, while Roy Walzer had a run in the Alfa Dana, succeeding in spinning it at turn 2, fortunately with no contact.  John Delane, gearbox repaired, was fastest from Cook, Tart and Goodliff, all within 0.6s – it looked like a close race ahead! Julian brought out the Scarab too – what a lovely noise – though he ended up before the beak for allegedly not signing in for this session.
The Saloons had been red flagged after two minis collided, so the FJ’s were ushered out in haste.  Sadly David Von Schinkel had a flat battery and no fuel pump, so could not even leave the pits, but the rest were away ok – this time Simon Goodliff made no mistake, aided by Cook who spun at turn 1 on lap 2, leaving him to catch up Delane and Tart.  Sadly Delane burst his gearbox on lap 6, the next time round Andrew Tart spun on the unseen gearbox oil, and hit the chicane wall – Cook, following, was unsighted by the chicane, and slid into the blocking Tart – result: red flag, and a premature end.  Hopefully both Bond (for N’burg the following weekend) and Cook (Zandvoort) will be fixed in time.  Wilks was a happy 4th from a full bodied Fleming, while Gil had made sure he was ahead of Duncan, and Roy, back in the Volpini, led home the very happy Elva’s of Jansen and Malm.  Stefan Winquist spun the Alfa Dana just where Roy had done, unfortunately the tail not escaping this time – …. We hope the original aluminium can be saved again, while the M.R.S  - SAAB had the gearbox adaptor work loose after two laps.
The sun rose high in the evening for the prize giving on the podium, with some fine Royal Danish porcelain for the winners, and a delighted Simon Goodliff on his first victory.  Many glasses of champagne followed with another FJ BBQ courtesy of Robin and Julian.
All sorted, Mair and Duncan set off for Tensbüttel on Monday morning to stay with Claus and Heinke Myhr (and to see the Cooper T56!) – at their wonderful period family farm house in Friesland – in course of restoration, while the boat people planned a Copenhagen boat trip round the lovely city waterways before the Tuesday ferry from Esbjerg – and the Bond’s (via a local workshop) aimed too, for the Nurburgring, as did Julian and Dick with the Scarab, and Alasdair with John’s 18, where a replacement, but original, Renault g.b should be waiting.
A really splendid weekend in a beautiful City, unscathed by World wars; a great track, albeit needing some changes to the layout of the chicanes before next year – Above all the most superb hospitality  - and real fun with Jac Nelleman and the organisers.

DCPR