Duncan attended on behalf of FJHRA, and there was a good smattering of FJs..

Mike and Andrew Hibberd had a full team, testing out their 27, which both Mike and Andrew drove , Andrew giving Andrew Hayden’s 22 a test run, although AH2 was present in the morning too, while Mike shook down Rudolf Ernst’s Lotus 18-Climax, now in 1500cc form ,just for next week’s Monaco GP Historique, because that is what was fitted when it ran there, having had the well earned  VSCC Silverstone Podium place 2.5 replaced , only to be refitted, if all goes well at Monaco, for the BH Masters race, 2 weeks later !

Peter Fenichel’s immaculate Cooper  T56-BMC had Peter himself smiling from ear to ear, 5 seconds faster than his previous best , and then BRDC Rising Star protégée, Harrison Scott, knocked another 5 seconds off!!  Crispian Besley was looking on anxiously !!!

John Arnold had the ex Justin Fleming Elva 100/29 for a pre Kirkistown test of its original mag wheels, the last surviving remains, recently acquired from Pertti Kiiveri, off his  1960s Elva 100 raced in Finland. Lee Chapman Racing in USA have the Elva wheel moulds, and are looking for a group of orders so that they can lay down a new batch for sale.

Chris Woodgate, who looked after the late Jon Gross’ cars reported that the Envoy is now for sale, and the details are on the FJHRA website, while ex FI GP BRM driver, Mike Wilds was recounting the days that he worked at Chequered Flag in the early 60s, and used to polish the iconic Gemini Mk 4s for Roy Pike and Ross Greenville!

HGPCA Chairman Barry Cannell was out early, fending off F1s and F2s, in Lola Mk 3 BRJ 38, while Frank Lyons had his Surtees TS9 F5000, and Michael, a late Group C car. It was also a pleasure to see the Kieft GP car with 2.5 Coventry-Climax V 8 circulating in the hands of Nigel Batchelor, and FJ’s John Truslove was giving rides in his racing Jaguar E-Type, and Andy Wolfe reporting that there was minimal damage to Michael Gans’ Stanguellini at Goodwood, but that Andy’s brother in law, Phil Ingle is waiting for a new engine from Geoff Richardson before he can resume, after his old engine blew up disastrously at Donington Park.

Pre Monaco there were a few F3 Classique, including Ian Jacobs’ Martini MK 37, off shortly to Pau, having already done Dijon in Laurent’s series, while Mark Hulme had one of his Modus, and we hope to see him in a FJ Class C or D car ‘ere long.

In between the testing, Nick and Luke Wigley gave a slick and informative presentation to the assembled Press and race organisers, with  an excellent clip of FJHRA’s 2013 battle for the lead with Sam Wilson and Dave Methley prominent.  Duncan and Nick discussed the  2016-2018 Formula Junior Diamond Jubilee World Series and laid plans for this to climax at the 2018 Silverstone Classic, with TWO separate 2 race grids, allowing us to assemble around 120 FJ race cars amid much fanfare for International FJ at its best. Saloon stars Matt Neal and Tim Harvey also gave a relaxed stage performance, Matt testing a Ford Cortina for the first time, while 90+ year old Sir Stirling Moss  is still an incredible draw, and plans to lead the 100 Grand Prix car demo on Sunday at the Classic DRIVING a 250F. This year the “rockin’ and rollin’” will still be a big part, with “Canned Heat”, on Friday, “Bonnie Tyler” on Saturday and “West End Kids” on Sunday being the star attractions, while the BRDC Dinner in the “wing” on Friday night, for which there are a few tickets still available will be in honour of double World Champion, John Surtees.

The nice thing about the Media Day is the very relaxed atmosphere , plenty of time, and, this year, fine bright weather: Mike Hibberd was enjoying time to chill out, and we had a good chat, while Duncan found old friends, Ian Titchmarsh, F1 reporters, Andrew Marriott and Peter Windsor, and now ardent Formula Junior supporter, and Bond Team member, Barrie Williams, who was reporting to MN’s Paul Lawrence on the recent Bond Team test day at Castle Combe, where F3 and F5000 star of the 60s, Mike Walker, had been given his Bond Team initiation, pre his Crystal Palace debut.

HSCC’s Alan Jones and Donna were organising the track side of the Test Day, Grahame White being away in Scotland for Dr Al Fleming’s funeral, and there was a poignant moment of silence at the beginning of the presentation for Al, and to remember Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, killed at the Italian GP meeting at Imola, 20 years ago. Other race organisers included Mike Stripe, almost in his farewell run in before he retires as VSCC secretary in June – and will be much missed, he and VSCC comps sec Richard Winchester stressing that FJs are invited to compete at the big VSCC Loton Park Hill-climb in September in Classes 17 and 18.

DCPR