Funny how things work out!
Or
G4 2 3-Sisters 1 day
(Sorry, but I couldn't resist the numerical alternative.)
I last held a competition licence in 1991, having sprinted and hillclimbed my G4 since 1977. That was, until last year (2000), when my son, who competes in an MG Midget, persuaded me to have a go again in his car. OK, I said, but just for one season.
We did a few events during the season, Loton Park, Scammonden, Ty-Croes and Curborough, where we met up with the GOC Speed Championship contenders.
But one circuit, which I wanted to run at, was Three Sisters near Ashton-in-Makerfield,
(near Wigan, Ed) which was not in existence in my day. We entered for the sprint to be held there early in the October and I was really looking forward to competing at this venue.
However, one week before the sprint I was rushed into hospital with an infected gall bladder. On the actual day of the sprint I remember sitting in a hospital wheelchair wrapped in a dressing gown waiting to be scanned. I looked in a mirror at my pathetic image and thought about where I should be at that time. It seemed I had missed the opportunity to run at Three Sisters for good!
Pictured
above is Ray, complete with borrowed overalls and G4, at Three Sisters in September.
John Francis and his team worked extremely hard to set up this track day, and all there enjoyed themselves. As Ray says, you need to try to get there yourself next year, so keep an eye out for when this will be happening.
Whilst I have your attention, don’t forget those items for publication as articles. You know what sorts of things go down well, so get busy writing. After all, it's too cold/dark/wet to be out there playing with your G-thing, so get busy entertaining others.
Joe G.
Then, when G33 owner John Francis said he was planning a track day in aid of the Children's Wish Charity at Three Sisters, I grabbed at the chance. Having completed and sent off the entry form, with a very reasonable fee, I started to have doubts.
Sprinting is one thing, but being on a tight circuit with other racing cars is another. Twenty years have gone by since I last circuit raced and now being past retirement age - was I up to it? These thoughts were quickly put behind me as an even darker thought came into my mind - would it be WET?!
As it turned out, the weather was perfect. The previous day was a stinker, so John must have a guardian angel somewhere.
With a borrowed pair of overalls and my still RAC-Approved helmet, I was at the track early. After completing the necessary paperwork and listening to the concise drivers' briefing and with a few extra pounds pressure in the tyres, we were ready to go.
What a cracking day we had!
Apart from the many laps done solo, everybody had the opportunity to take passengers if they wished to do so. Sensible driving by everybody meant that it was, as far as I am aware, incident free. The G4 gave no trouble, although, as expected, the tyres lost a fair amount of rubber - but all for a good cause!
Simon Hulse, in his rapid G15, and a G32 (Chris Timms' 1.9i, Ed) were also circulating, and John Francis' G33 was being used to give 'hot laps' in exchange for donations to the charity.
All in all, a superb day, and one which more than compensated for the sprint I had missed 12 months earlier - funny how things work out!
My thanks to John Francis and his army of helpers and marshals, also to John Taylor for his BBQ as usual.
If it happens again next year, be there - both to help a good cause and to enjoy driving your Ginetta - there are no speed cameras on a racetrack!
Ray Masters
(Thanks Ray - and Barbara - for this article, and yes, it is planned that this event becomes a regular occurrence, so make a date in your diary when you get the Events List from Harvey! Whilst I'm mentioning Events, don't forget to contact Harvey with details of shows, events, races etc., for the coming season. It's a big job tying all these things together, and Harvey needs all the help he can get. He did a magnificent job this year, so help him to (at least) keep up to that standard in the future.
Then there's items for publication as articles. You know what sorts of things go down well, so get writing. After all, it's too cold/dark/wet to be out there playing with your G-thing, so get busy entertaining others. Ed.)
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