And suddenly it was summer, well at least for a day anyway! Glorious blue skies and warm sunshine greeted twelve combatants for the latest rounds of our Pirelli Ferrari Open Series.

The venue was Silverstone International. This is not as rewarding for a driver as the full GP circuit, but is certainly better than the short National option, which is frankly dull. There were only two cars entered in Class S for older modified cars. These cars were always difficult to run in comparison with the more turnkey type of car we are used to today. In fact Tris Simpson’s 328 barely got going at all and retired during qualifying. Sometimes in racing a masochistic streak is a distinct advantage. Ten 355 Challenge cars on the grid though was a pretty decent turn out.

In Qualifying it was Charlie White (355/Ch) who fitted new Pirellis and stormed round to a pole position at 1.33.27. Let’s put this time into historical context. The last time we had this tipo here (PMFC) was in April 2004. Fastest 355/Ch race lap in the two races held went to David Dove on a 1.35.29, although Mike Furness had gone faster in Quali on a 1.34.7. So, hats off to our gentleman Charles. Spiffing lap old boy. [Ex-hillclimber of course - Ed].

Race One
There was a danger that in the race Charlie would just run and hide and that is pretty much what happened. Only Tim Mogridge could get anywhere close to the red white and blue car. Behind these two though a real battle was building. By lap six Marco Pullen (328), Mark I’Anson, Ed Bourne and Andrew Lawley were having a great time with very little to choose between them .

The twenty minute race allowed some 13 laps in total. By the chequered flag the order had become Charlie White, ten seconds clear of Tim Mogridge. Next up were the group of Marco Pullen, Ed Bourne and Andrew Lawley who were all within around half a second. Mark L’Anson next then a big gap to Wayne Mars, David Edge, Peter Rowley and newcomer Robert Pulleyn.

Short pause for a well deserved drink and a breather.

Race Two
In qualifying Charlie was 2.26 seconds clear of Tim Mogridge. In race 1 however the difference in fastest laps was only two tenths of a second. Tim was rightly encouraged by this. In fact on race times the first six were all within 2 seconds of each other. So at around 4pm off they all went again. At the end of lap 1 the order had a familiar look. Charlie White from Tim Mogridge, Mark L’Anson, Marco Pullen, Ed Bourne and Andrew Lawley. There was a difference this time around though: Tim Mogridge looked very racy and was not letting Charlie dominate. Both cars looked clean and tidy as they raced down to the Abbey hairpin, both with good turn in and exit speeds. Tim, I thought, looked particularly neat here. Some of the slower cars were more reluctant to turn in here and some were quite fruity on the exit!

Again this was a super race despite the lack of numbers. The Silverstone commentators, although desperately ill-informed, were getting in quite a lather as moves were made through the field. On lap seven Tim set his fastest lap at 1.34.46 (new lap record) and then got past Charlie to lead. The chasing bunch were, as in race one, locked together. The object of their desire was the yellow and black 328 of Marco Pullen. Marco seems a natural at leading a pack and doesn’t seem to get flustered easily. We lost Andrew Lawley on lap 8 who retired (reason unknown). At the chequer it was Mogridge from White, the pair comfortably ahead of Pullen, Bourne, L’Anson, Mars, Rowley, Edge and Pulleyn.

It is quite difficult to know where our Open series is going. Numbers suggest a sickly child but there is a buzz building. There are lots of enquiries about cars, 355s in particular, and the breaking news is that a previous PMFC 355 champion has bought a car for Open. There are few good Challenge cars around in the UK but the world is a small place today. Cars can be found on the internet in Scandinavia and Spain etc.

What is harder to imagine is that cars will arrive for the S class. Who would commit the required resources to building a highly modified and highly strung older car when a turnkey 355 is so easy to own?

There were five 360 Challenge cars racing at a recent Castle Combe meeting plus some in Britcar and also British GT. Would their inclusion upset the balance or be the saviour of Open? What do you think?

Footnote
We reckon the 360/Ch would need around 250kg of ballast to give the 355/Ch parity. Either that or a plug lead off!

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