PADDOCK STORIES

• Just in case anyone had been fiddling with their ECUs, series scrutineer John May swapped all the units amongst the various 355/Chs. A bit of a brave move because imagine if a driver had ended up with someone else's duff ECU and popped and banged his way around the track. However, everything went smoothly and there were no complaints in the paddock afterwards. Some sharp policing of the cars will obviously be a feature of this season.

• There were a large number of newcomers to PMFC racing, with no less than seven people joining the series. Skid Carrera driving the Zest Testarossa was probably the most experienced, having had many years of Porsche racing under his belt which is also where he got his nom de plume from. His mates know him as John Cooper.
  
  
• Other newcomers included Tony Jones, who finished an excellent fifth in the "C" class, David Jones, who took his 360/Ch to fourth in the "S" class, and Steve Young in the "O" class F355. The others were all in 355/Chs: Barnett Fletcher, Ted Riddick and Rod Carman with both the latter unfortunately retiring - Ted in the gravel and Rod with a puncture.
  
  
• PMFC is now well and truly in the hands of e-reporting. Armed with digital camera, laptop and mobile phone, Christian Mineeff uploaded the qualifying report (plus picture) onto the FOC's website whilst sitting in the marquee during lunchtime. Similarly, within half an hour of race-end the winners' names were up on the site for all to admire, together with picture of a grinning Gary Culver.

• The "O" class this year should be a good battle between Richard Smeeton and Simon Bartholomew, both of them experienced "O" class racers. Although Smeeton was way ahead in qualifying, during the slithery race it was another matter, with Bartholomew's 355 achieving a quickest lap just 0.3 secs behind the potentially much quicker 360. Rumour has it that Simon might be trading up to a 360 himself.

• Disappointingly there seemed to be a lot of bodywork damage after the race. Whilst undoubtedly some of this was down to the tricky and slippery conditions, other explanations might be inattentive driving together with lack of rear mirror use. One driver even went to see the Clerk of the Course to complain about driving standards.
  
  
• For his smashing drive in the "O" class 360 Richard Smeeton was awarded the Wilkinson Driver of the Day award, and Steve Young was awarded the Wine&Beer award for the Best Turned Out car, his Mortimer-run 355 looking ever so nice although a few dings appeared by race end.

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Race Report

Results & Points Standing