Juniors on the Dunes
A quick turnaround after Oulton Park – and the UK Championship was off to Holland.  James and Rachel Murray were first away, direct on the ferry from Dover for a few days cycling and visiting Amsterdam, leaving the Lola Mk5A and lorry with Esper Van Heesewijk at Helviort. Duncan and Mair with the Alexis HF1 took the overnight Wednesday ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland, along with Mike Hedger & Tony Davis spannering for Don Thallon and John Arnold with Kate, bringing the Elva 100/29 for himself and the Lola Mk2 for Justin Fleming, beautifully repaired by Stuart and Keith Roach after its Copenhagen misdemeanours – both Justin & Vivienne and Don & Jeanette heading up from the South of France, direct from holiday and pied a terre respectively, Don with both MRC 22 and his Cooper T53 F1.2.63, now with 2.5 motor and delighted to get a late Goodwood entry.
So Thursday was arrival day at the circuit, for set up, signing on and scrutineering, with drivers briefing to follow at 10am on Friday.  The Juniors had one stretch of the Heineken Paddock, and Duncan was busy defending the area from invading F2’s etc, whose allocation was clearly limited – but it worked well and all the Juniors were together, with no loose space, Alex Morton’s HGPCA Lotus 21 joining Pete’s Lightning Envoyette  - only Peter Mullen’s Kieft was in the impressive Sid Hoole tent of 7 cars – Sid commenting that the atmosphere in the Historic scene had improved considerably since Dijon where he was looking after only 2 cars.  In the F1 pits was Philippe Bonny’s Tecno ’69 with his Trojan T103, Philippe saying how much more he enjoyed the FJ atmosphere and friendship than some other groups.
The Scots were early birds from Rosyth, Iain Flett bringing John Fyda’s 22 and Chris Chilcott’s 20, John later to be joined by Meg, son Jonathan, and friends.  Jens Rauschen, with children Klemens, Nikolas and Rabea brought the ex BAOR School Bus with Klaus’ Brabham, and Ivo Gockmann joined the German camp with the speedy  Jolus, with father Klaus keeping him company.  No sign of Jan or the Gemini Mk IV.  Matt King of Motor Racing Medics with Michiko brought the rebuilt Elva 200 for John Dowson (with Ruth), as the BT2 is still in bits after its Silverstone antics.
Hub of local activity over the weekend was the Rayberg of Floris Jan Hekker,with Anike, where there was a jolly throng which included amongst others, ex Saxon F3 owner Kok Louwen, and Lotus 18 and Manic owner Gerard Van t’Hoog, who was enjoying the FJ circus all weekend, and the jolly prizegiving over which Duncan presided.
Iain Rowley was looking after M A-B’s Volpini and Peter Richards’ Delta T79 FF 2000, running in the Dutch Mono race, where the WARM team also found a home for Henry Oosterbaan’s Alton-Holden AR2 6 cyl and Lance Carwardine’s Jane Brabham.
Later arrival’s were Chris Wilks (Deep Sanderson 104) having a boys weekend with father-in-law and brother-in-law; Dan Setford with Jen and her parents caravanning with a plentiful larder much enjoyed by many, looking after the Stanguellini of Jan Biekens; and Roos enjoying again the Australian camaraderie that we had last winter down under.
Not until later Friday did Bob Birrell appear via Hull, the Lola Mk2 brought to life again by Tony Steele – Bob had been instructing at Croft on Thursday!, so Jim Clark had done some helpful collecting from Lancashire.  Even later, on Saturday morning, Erik Justesen, with Johan, arrived with the U2 after an unchangeable board meeting: Sarah, who flew in from Riga and then trained to Zandvoort from Schipol with daughter Elena, had prewarned the organisers, who had agreed to let Erik start from the back of the grid – well not even the back as it later turned out!! – on the strength of his experience and last race here in 1998.
Friday morning was free practice combined with the Dutch Mono’s, which included everything up to 1979’s F.Atlantic and 1980 FF 2000 – despite this most FJ’s that had arrived already, took part, except Ashley-Brown, Mark Woodhouse, and Duncan, as few had seen this circuit before – no incidents other than a spin by Caroline Rossi in her Brabham BT6, and fastest recorded FJ was Manfredo Rossi in his Lotus 22 with 2m 00.6 (with the advantage of having raced there with Masters the previous year) with Ivo Göckmann’s Jolus an impressive next up ahead of Peter Morton’s Lightning Envoyette – although neither John Fyda or James Murray had times recorded as they didn’t have their transponders on.  Justin Fleming headed the front engined brigade in 2m 12.1.
At Midday there was a moving ceremony, unveiling a modern Sculpture to commemorate the lives of both Roger Williamson and Piers Courage, F1 drivers who died at Zandvoort in 1974.  David Tremayne who had penned the words, was there, as were a number of ex-drivers associated with Piers Courage; Jonathan Williams FJ Lotus 22, De Sanctis F3, and later Ferrari F2 and Sports car driver, with one F1 outing, in the US GP.  Charlie Lucas, Titan constructor, remembering Duke’s Head Yard, Highgate, with our Grahame White and recalling with Duncan his fondness for the Kieft 500 F3 with swing axle and that his only relic of Duke’s Head Yard was a UDT plug box, UDT/BRP having been the previous occupants; and Sir Frank Williams.  Many Dutch F1 drivers of the past were seen, including Jan Lammers, Michael Bleekemolen and Indianapolis winner Arie Luyendyk, Ad de  Teuling’s  widow Marianne and his daughter were also amongst the special guests.
Official Qualifying was late on Friday, and all 24 (expect Erik) were out on the track, James Murray heading the times from Pete Morton, with Manfredo Rossi (Lotus 22) just behind – a remarkable Ivo Gockmann (Jolus) was fourth, ahead of John Fyda (Lotus 22), Don Thallon (MRC) still going well after the new settings at the Nurburgring, and Chris Chilcott.  Mark Woodhouse (Elva 100) was an impressive 9th overall, and easily the fastest front engined car.  With many of the weekends Marshalls still at their day jobs on a working Friday, there were two red flags, the second for Duncan who had been troubled from the beginning with his brakes, and found the pedal hitting the floor at Wilgenhaegebocht corner, ending up in the gravel.  As Justin Fleming (Lola Mk2) had also ended in the gravel just round the corner, and a yellow flag was showing, the stewards remarkably deemed Duncan to have shown disregard for the yellow flags!, and he was docked 5 grid places, and then 5 cars got docked 3 places (including Morton and Fyda) for not stopping early enough under the rd, so the result of all this was a rather strange grid with Duncan and MA-B at the back, even behind non appearing Erik Justesen!! Jan Biekens had stopped anyway after 2 laps with misfiring.
Friday night was a splendid drinks reception with canapés at the circuit, hosted by the event sponsors, Chopard, to present the special limited edition watch that each of Sunday’s race winners would receive; and after that the Formula Junior drivers, families and friends assembled at Sandy Hill Beach café, 25, for a jolly BBQ  - almost all came along, as well as John Delane, racing only the Tyrell F1 this weekend, as the Lotus 18 gearbox was being sorted for Goodwood; and David Methley (racing a Ginetta G4) with Lesley Ann, who kindly gave Duncan a lift on the back of the scooter, after Duncan, ably assisted by Louise Morton and Mair, had finally removed a beach full of gravel from the Alexis undertray.  David also kindly took pity on the car and worked a miraculous fix of the brakes in time for Saturday’s race.
Sadly James Murray hit problems with intermittent electrics on the grid, and only got away several laps later, so it was Peter Morton who pulled away steadily from Manfredo Rossi and John Fyda (who drove bravely with no clutch after 3 laps).  Ivo Göckmann continued his impressive weekend, with Don Thallon and Jens Rauschen battling away behind him.  However battle of the race involved the ever improving Caroline Rossi (Brabham BT6) in close contest with Charles Cook (Envoy Mk1) and Peter Mullen (Kieft) – Caroline managed to get ahead on the straight, and in the penultimate lap all clocked their fastest lap of the race, such was the intensity of the contest, and less than one second separated them at the flag.  Mark Woodhouse had also been part of the fray, but wisely settled for a secure finish, next up.  Justin Fleming lost time with another spin, while ‘team mate’ John Arnold had a great dice with Floris Jan in the Rayberg, Floris Jan coming home only 1/10th of a second in front.  Bob Birrell saw falling oil pressure and stopped, while Kim had oil coming out of an errant gearbox and pulled up on the straight.  After all his efforts poor Erik Justesen had the diff go after one lap.
At the back of the field Jan Biekens led the tail enders, but intermittent misfiring and gear lever problems brought him to a halt at Bocht 8, only just after Chris Wilks had a monumental spin , having lost a rear wheel, turning right and hitting the Armco at 60mph, luckily with only bruising ,but the poor Deep Sanderson had a very crumpled front bodywork, but luckily no chassis damage.  Amazingly he found a new D.S badge on one of the stalls! Duncan thoroughly enjoyed the race, with brakes anew, leading home M A-B in the Volpini.  Philippe Bonny retired in the last lap with some foreign matter in the fuel – he and Duncan recollected how Maurice Trintignant had earned the nickname ‘L e  Petoulet’ after the  Bois du Boulogne race just after the long  War layoff where his car retired with Mouse droppings in the petrol tank! Only non starter was Chris Chilcott, clearly affected by the accident to Nick Rossi (Lotus 12) at VSCC Pembrey and Nick Eden’s hugely lucky escape  in his Cooper during the HGPCA practice this morning
 Saturday night was the parade into the town of Zandvoort – Pete Morton (and Alex in the F1 Lotus 21), Mark Woodhouse, Justin Fleming, John Arnold, Duncan and Floris Jan joined in this fun, as did Jonathan Fyda in his Dad’s Lotus 22, and both Andrew Beaumont( 944) and Peter Studer, in their Lotus 24s. James Murray had spent many hours, much helped by Geoff Richardson, in trying to solve the electrical problems in the Lotus, but after a noisy and less than clean blast up the main straight, took the car back to the paddock and joined the parade gathering on foot.  Several other FJ drivers went to town to welcome the drivers.
It was a pity that the parade was, inevitably, rather slow, as most of the FJ’s boiled, not least Duncan’s Alexis, but two laps of the inner town before literally thousands of spectators crowded in was certainly impressive. We just pulled to a halt in front of the restaurants, with lots of interest – Sarah produced a welcome pizza for Duncan, but also reminded drivers that alcohol when driving is a zero tolerance no no in Holland.
Race two was the penultimate event on Sunday afternoon, but luckily they had made up the time delay from early, so Pete could concentrate on the race ahead rather than making his flight home.  All lined up, bar Wilks and Chilcott.  James Murray was in good heart after more work by Geoff Richardson,  and John Fyda eventually curing the electrical problem.  And it was James who led away with Pete Morton close behind and the two of them were making a real race for the spectators, both no doubt also mindful that a Chopard watch was the prize!  On the eighth lap Pete turned in a lap 2 ½ seconds faster than his previous one, and was right on James’ tail as they disappeared round the back of the circuit – and then only Pete reappeared – what a disappointment that we were not going to see a fight to the flag.  Sadly James’ rear drive shaft had let go, severed a brake pipe, but fortunately he managed to stop unscathed.  From then on Pete had a comfortable ride to a well earned victory, especially as poor Manfredo Rossi suffered a flat battery after leading John Fyda, and he restarted after a pit stop many laps down. 
Behind John, Don Thallon (MRC) drove another great race and he and the team were well pleased with his 3rd podium place, but again, only just ahead of the Jolus of Ivo, another great drive.  Jens Rauschen (Brabham) drove well , behind , and then followed another race long battle between Peter Mullen’s Kieft and Kim Shearn’s Lotus 18, with another gearbox fitted. Kim was right behind, then fell back after a ‘moment’ – Peter then noticed an engine sound change, but held on till Kim got by on the last lap – And then next up, Caroline again leading a three way battle with Charles Cook and Mark Woodhouse, once more less than a second separating them.  From the very back this time,, Erik, with new diff fitted, came storming through, gradually improving his times, until he caught up the John Arnold / Bob Birrell battle, and passed them both, taking John only on the last lap for 3rd in class – certainly well deserved.  Jan was smiling after the race, but M A-B ground to a halt with no drive, and Duncan’s Alexis suffered the effects of the parade into town, the head gasket going in dramatic fashion at Tarzan corner, Duncan spinning in his own water, but managing to pull off safely out of the way, not before a personal best time in chasing Erik.
Another jolly prizegiving, and the cars were packed heading for ferries et al.  That evening, Duncan and Mair and Bob said farewell again at Sandy Hill to Australians Marty and Michelle Bullock (who will be back next year in his newly acquired 27) and Cooper Climax F1 driver John Rowe, before joining the Wilsons, Hoole’s et al on the Hook of Holland/Harwich Ferry home on Monday

DCPR