PIRELLI MARANELLO FERRARI CHALLENGE

PADDOCK STORIES: ROUNDS 7 & 8 : ZANDVOORT - 28/29 JUNE 2003

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• Several teams arrived in their allocated paddock spots on the Thursday to try to set up but were confronted with a bunch of skidding and sliding BMWs, part of a BMW Club training programme. It was both hilarious and frightening to watch. With no demarcation or barriers keeping unsuspecting vehicles out a JCB unwittingly meandered straight through the middle of it all and then suddenly Mark Leighton turned up with his Transit van and, oblivious to anything whilst yacking on his mobile, drove straight into the middle of their skid pan. The Roden boys, having already set up their elaborate awning and floor the day before, refused to be shifted and more than once a skidding BMW threatened to wipe out the lovely set up.
  
  
• Zandvoort town seems to be moving noticeably downstream and hotels were, at best, indifferent. Whilst a few opted for the salubrious NH Hotel just across from the circuit, others found themselves in more unpleasant places culminating with the aptly-named Hotel Bade, which was to have been the resting place for the Reddick equipe. They took one look at the dungeon and disappeared again.
  
  
• Free practice on the Friday had the PMFC runners combined with the so-called Alfa 147 GTA Challenge runners. These looked ever-so nice and were not to be underestimated. Many a 360/Ch learnt the lesson the hard way when trying to dive inside one at a corner - the Alfa never put its brakes on and simply whizzed away again. These little critters were seriously quick, with fabulous handling.
  
  
• Lewis Carter's sensational qualifying time not only caused much consternation amongst the other PMFC runners but also with the European Challenge competitors. He was over a second quicker than they, which led to inevitable chuntering about whether anything had been altered on the car but, in an attempt at quietening the situation, comparisons of data-loggers showed that Lewis was quicker around the corners, later on the brakes and earlier on the throttle than anyone else. One of the benefits of being a young lad.
  
  
• After Gary Culver and David Preston struggled unsuccessfully to beat out a dented front wing on their 360/Ch after a practice get-together with Mark Cale's car they found a burly German at the other end of the paddock who soon had the wing looking as good as new. The big teams bring along their own panel beaters to each meeting, there is so much damage. Some beer soon made the German even bigger.
  
  
• The fisticuffs in the paddock all started when Robin Ward was driving Ollie's 360 back to the Damax awning. A paddock jobs-worth on the back of a scooter shot out from between two trucks and gently tapped the 360. He then flipped his lid and proceeded to strangle Robin.The other Damax boys, led by diminutive Steve, jumped to his rescue and it threatened to become the fourth round of the Anglo-Dutch wars. Grudging peace was finally restored but the Dutch oaf was still chuntering about breaking everyone's neck as he gradually retreated.
  
  If wars were won by feasting,
  Or victory by song,
  Or safety found in sleeping sound,
  How England would be strong!
  But honour and dominion
  Are not maintained so,
  They're only got by sword and shot,
  And this the Dutchmen know
  ( Rudyard Kipling)
  
  
• Oliver Morley was missing when the none-too-pleased Clerk of the Course called the special drivers' briefing on Sunday morning. A quick phone call from Marco Attard's mobile telling him the fine for non-attendance was €2000 soon had a panting and red-faced Ollie burst into the room. Yah boo - the fine was only €150.
  
  
• The teams' catering is getting better and we are very pleased to announce that the prize for the best tea and Battenburg goes to the Damax team and for the best coffee and Kit-Kat to Scuderia Ecosse. The lunch at Equipe Culvers looked pretty good too but one wasn't invited. We shall continue to check out and report on the culinary efforts of the teams in the future.
  
  
• Jason's newly sign-written truck perplexed us. It said in big letters that the JMH team are "Prepairing" the XS 360 cars. Is this a cross between preparing and repairing? Or is it anything to do with Jason paring the roof off the trailer when he drove it under a low bridge. We need to be told.
  
  
  

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