Event Report
Castle Combe supercar day – 27 August 2004
Highlights of the day video (Windows Media, 11.9 MB)
Everyone started to arrive: joseywales, martynD, the mad jock, Alfanige and andy, dannyboy28, steve & simonmgv8, turkey, hutch & Julie, matty, jayuk & Sian. We all introduced ourselves, parked up in formation around the marquee. tony came back, panting and puffing: “I spun, I only spun it!” Clearly he did—the silver bodywork had a new outer coating of freshly mown grass! He was out on track, instructor sitting beside him, in the pouring rain, and holding up an Exige behind him. He decided to let the Exige pass; the Lotus, thinking he was superior in brand, skill and engineering flew past the cautious tony, spun and had a brief meeting with the tyre wall!
Tony, following closely behind, went off in sympathy...
With all the excitement and still pouring with rain, we decided it was time for the eight-up version of the 355 Challenge! We all had a few goes, and the fastest time of the day would race Tiff Needell in a head-to-head. Well of course, as the theme of the day was beginning to look like the ARDC win everything, andy set the quickest time, and at 4pm would be summoned to the final race!
We all collected ourselves together and hit the circuit banks to watch tony and simon power round in the rain—they were both getting the hang of it.
Lunch was over and the raffle began. Tiff Needell was drawing and handing out the prizes, 12 in total; contrary to popular belief, I did not fix it so we won what seemed to be every second prize; the rest of the participants developing an unhealthy hate for the ARDC and me with my bloody camera and flashes!
Then the announcement went out, “if you want to participate in the parade lap, please line up now”.
This was the moment most of us had been waiting for; for most, it was their first on-track experience, and a really cool taster of what tracking is like, without the risk element.
We lined up, the first 10 cars of 20 or so, a long line of Alfa 156s. You should have seen it, it was really inspiring, really exciting, and all the Alfisti were grinning like the proverbial cats!
We all went back in for the second briefing and then out into the cars, lights went green and tony, following the safety car, led us out onto the track...
It was a very cool moment, I was the passenger in joseywales’ V6, last but one in line, so got this majestic sight of 8 156s cascading and bending in and out of the chicanes, turns and straights, and all unfolding in front of me, with the sweetest backing tune of an Autodelta-remapped V6; this was motoring porn!!
We raced round for three laps of the hi-speed track, speeds limited, but memories of the moment adding a mile or two to the top speeds!
With my cam loaded with pics and vids, we drive back to our designated club area, park up and all jump out, telling stories and sharing experiences of the new found love, TRACK DAYS!!!
Everyone loved it, both drivers and passengers alike, and the experienced trackers among us had this look of satisfaction as now the newbies had been initiated into this special club. Everyone was laughing cheering and jeering, swapping stories and comments with a real sense of enjoyment and achievement; this is what it means to be an Alfisti, this is the unbridled passion that exists within each and every one of us, that thing which we cannot explain, but recognise in others when we meet, the fire that drives us and makes us who we are; that is the feeling which unites us.
After we all settled back down, tony and simon went back out on the circuit, Alfisti army following, cameras tightly gripped, we began to film and record the ever skilful attempts at throwing the wonderful-sounding V6 around the track. A GT3, once again falling into the false sense of security, passed tony and spun at Camp Corner, but the newly-skilled tony kept motoring on through, passing the expensive German-engineered lawn mower!
All up on the banks, we watched tony, lap after lap, find the lines, apexes and braking points, perfecting each attempt, giving us the sound and excitement we all craved.
The day seemed to pass outside of normal time, seeming to go really fast, but really slow at the same time. All back at the club area, the F355 Challenge dude come to find andy, its time to race Tiff Needell!
Tiff chose Suzuka in the red 355, andy lined up in the yellow; lights turn and Tiff takes the lead, almost straight away andy retakes and dominates, making Tiff look like an amateur!
By the end of the race, andy led by almost half a lap notching up another victory for the boys of the ardc!!
A few promo pics with Tiff and he keeps his promise to me, we stroll over to the Alfas, collect as the club team and take pics, with our new friend, Tiff Needell.
The day was a total success, we all enjoyed ourselves, joseywales got his new Supersprint exhaust, tony, steve and simon had a great day tracking, we all had the three laps, won loads of prizes, met and chatted with Tiff, put names to faces and made some really cool friends.
So, give yourselves a big pat on the back and keep the memories of those special moments, we’re going to be rolling them out again soon!!!
Attendees...
Posty, Shannow, Pino, G-Dog, Josey Wales, Alfanige, Andy, Matty, DaTonyB, MartynD, The Mad Jock, Dannyboy28, Turkey, Hutch, Julie, JayUk, Sian, Sarah, SimonMGV8 and Steve the “cooper trooper”.
Special thanks to Geoff Lowe for organising the day, and Tiff Needell for being a sport.
See you all at the next meet, till then, hold on to Dannyboy28’s signature: “the devil made me do it!!”
Ciao tutti!
