Donington report (long)

[moosetestbestanden]

For those who might be interested (this is kind of long), I've posted a few photos and videos of the CC 50th weekend at Donington. Ansar Ali was there of course, along w/ just about the entire company and I found the quality of display and effort pretty high. Interestingly (for me anyway) was the fact that while Hazel Chapman attended on Sunday (I didn't get her photo) there was nary a Nearn to be found anywhere the entire weekend, at least to the best of my knowledge.

Moving on.There was an excellent display of historic (or just plain older) 7s of all series except the (unloved?) S4. Here's a murder's row view:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...ipleSeries.jpg

The lineup included one of only 13 7 Twin Cam SS cars, fitted w/ the Lotus Big Valve 1558cc unit:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...InTheWorld.jpg

Here are a couple of shots of the S3 of Steve Winterberg, L7CGB Chairman:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...rmansCar-1.jpg

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...rmansCar-2.jpg

Steve is the driving force behind Nuke the Luke, the charity that the club supports. He beat the illness back in the early 90s and has dedicated himself to helping others do the same. He is a fine man.

Here is an early 6, driven some 200 miles to the event by John Lastnameescapesme (the character - truly - at right). Some of you will recognize Roger Swift (from Buttonwillow last fall) standing next to him:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...s/Lotus6-1.jpg

The car is magnificent:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...s/Lotus6-2.jpg

In the same hall were new Caterhams of all current varieties. A new R400 (2.0L Duratec powered) w/ an Academy car beside it:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...cs/NewR400.jpg (note that CC is bonding the wings on now)

A closeup view of the nose of the CC employee's gorgeous SV that I mentioned in another thread. He's building this car lean - it should come in at about 520 kilos +/-:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...ics/SVNose.jpg

And speaking of SVs, here's a couple of nudes. Not surprisingly, like any pig man, I can't decide whether I like the front or the back better...

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...FrameFront.jpg
http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...RFrameRear.jpg

I think I'll have to settle for both. Ooolala: :D

Donington has a fabulous museum of motor racing (English English!) cars, w/ special emphasis on F1 cars. The first monocoque car in racing, the famous Lotus 25:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...orkplace-2.jpg

Jim Clark worked here:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...orkplace-1.jpg

Wanna buy a used McLaren?:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...0McMirrors.jpg

Moving outside, the track looked awesome. Here's a couple of views of the circuit:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...inStraight.jpg

It was coming down this hill where Senna passed the field in the wet at the British GP so many years ago:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...nAtMcLeans.jpg

There were a few 7s around:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...Beaucoup7s.jpg

including this obviously experienced car:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...AWellUsed7.jpg

Lastly, here's a major reason why we went - the racing. Please excuse the afore-mentioned beer-n-jet lag shaky cam:

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...s/CSRStart.MPG

http://home.roadrunner.com/~chris.ca...inStraight.MPG

Those are snippets from the top-class 260 graduates race, from Sunday. The orange car and the black (w/ red roll cage) car battled throughout. The field consisted of 2 classes, the 260s and another pack of 2L cars. Both classes are seriously quick and the racing couldn't be much closer.

There were other fields as well and in fact the slower formulae were somewhat more exciting as the cars are exactly the same and skill level of the drivers was much more, um, like mine:D They were spinning n sliding all over the place, w/ occasional pranging going on. It was very entertaining racing.

I would be remiss if I didn't publicly thank Roger and Barbara Swift,. The hospitality and generosity they extended to us is beyond description. Truly, more gracious hosts do not exist and they are fine company in every way. They do a trip to France each year wherein they hire tracks all across the country on alternating days and drive between them on the opposing days. Fine food, wine, fast cars and race tracks w/ unlimited time each day. Sounds very interesting...

[Sean-og]

Great report, Chris. Thank you very much.

[EliseStrapped]

Yeah, thanks. I have been back to this thread 2-3 times to take it all in. Some of it twice.

[rlingren]

Chris
I heard you and Barbara were there from Bruce Robinson. He was in
London so we had a quick pint of Old Red Hen. I went to Dartford on friday
for a parts run and picked up some regalia also. They were mostly out
at Donnington preparing for the big event. I was tempted to blow off the
sightseeing but oh well.
The new non Arch frames were there on the production line. It is easy to see
that they are different. The foot boxes and paneling are black metal and the
bracing of the space frame is also different. The welding of the tubes is
not near the quality of the brazing of Arch. I was able to take lots of pictures.
We, my daughter and Girl friend and her 2 daughters did the sights
in London and Paris, and had a great time.
See you at Button Willow in the fall.
Rod

[rlingren]

Further Reporting from London

Chris
I heard you and Barbara were there from Bruce Robinson. He was in
London so we had a quick pint of Old Red Hen. I went to Dartford on friday
for a parts run and picked up some regalia also. They were mostly out
at Donnington preparing for the big event. I was tempted to blow off the
sightseeing but oh well.
The new non Arch frames were there on the production line. It is easy to see
that they are different. The foot boxes and paneling are black metal and the
bracing of the space frame is also different. The welding of the tubes is
not near the quality of the brazing of Arch. I was able to take lots of pictures.
We, my daughter and Girl friend and her 2 daughters did the sights
in London and Paris, and had a great time.
See you at Button Willow in the fall.
Rod

[Doug Liedblad]

Chris and Barbara too.

http://www.imagevaults.co.uk/images/...4/_A6Z9928.jpg