Yep, these "Open events" are a breath of fresh air - I'll try and do at least one of them, as well as a "Special", during every 3 month period.
I'll probably start adding in the mod cars as well though, so you have been warned.
As for last night:-
Race1
As Ross mentions, the Falcon's easily the fastest car on a "power" type of track so that wasn't for me, and I was, if truth be told, expecting a load of Alfas and quite a few Cortinas, so I was expecting my Mustang to be in the minority... That didn't quite turn out to be the case
. Had a good run with - mostly behind - Ross (who just drove off), Neil & Yves in their Falcons. I had to really rip the arse out of the Stang to stay anywhere near them, but round Riverside, that's always a huge giggle. Managed to hold Yves off for a few laps until he got past and he and Neil went at it. They had a few minor wobbles, and then a couple of bigger ones, allowing me through into (a distant) P2, with the ever present & ever vigilant Bob M in P3, always waiting to swoop by after any mistake, but I managed to just about keep it together and keep P2 to the end. Very good fun.
Race 2
This time, I chose the Shelby Daytona Coupe, along with Phil. It's a pretty overlooked car this, but it's pretty pleasant to drive. It's more of a Muscle car than a GT40, but more of a thoroughbred racer than a Cobra/Corvette. Yves smacked me straight up the backside at the start, but I managed to hang on and set off following the GT40's & Cobras ahead. All I could really do is to keep them honest from P5, but the race became much more interesting after Nils & I had a touch, and that allowed a few others through, Bob & Yves in their Vettes & Neil in his TVR. I managed to pull those places back, with Nils in his '40 re-taking the place he lost during the touch, but I was never going to catch those monstrous 40's or Cobras, so pleased to be "best of the rest".
Race 3
Right here's an admission for you - I think that I have only ever driven my final choice - the 911RSR - in one online race, and only 2 or 3 times in practice offline. And those times left me with nothing but a savage and toxic hatred in my black, black heart for all things 911. But - those drives were all quite a while ago, so I thought with greater experience now, I should give it another crack. I'm glad I did, because with my better understanding of set ups, and better understanding of how the various cars drive - and crucially a good experience in the 1972 911S - I thoroughly enjoyed the little Stuttgartian. As with the previous races, there were faster cars on track that, if the driver on the ball, I was never going to catch. The Panteras were different gravy, was never going to be quicker than them, especially with Bob & Phil at the helm, and Nils was going to be flying in his 906. Additionally, the long old straight allowed the Beemers to really exercise those Bavarian biceps, so the Beemers & the other 911s were my benchmark. Jay's RDHGP experience in the 911 really showed as he drove the wheels off it, right up in the mix, and Ross was wringing the CSL's neck too. Jay had a bit of an off allowing me past and up to 5th with a few laps to go, but all I could see in my mirror was him and Nige in his Beemer reeling me in. Luckily for me, unluckily for them, they ran out of laps and I just edged over the line in P5. Special shout out to B. Miley esq for his stratospherically quick Fastest Lap time - 3 whole sec quicker than the nearest challenger. Top bombing, Bob.
So, as I say, we'll have another one of these soonish - probably middle of Feb or so, maybe Thursday 24th Feb before the RDHGP Saturday Finale, so it's a nice, low pressure warmup before that long old Spa season ending enduro. I'll keep you posted, but I expect it'll be around then.
![Luca [OT]](/data/avatars/s/3235/3235113.jpg?1697196734){kind=avatar}
