| End of season |
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| Sunday, 08 November 2009 13:09 |
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I always have mixed emotions when I calculate the contenders' final points totals at the end of each season. I am ecstatic for those who have won prizes but I am equally proud of the folks who came out and competed in their roadgoing TVRs just for fun - surely what TVRs are for. Year on year, the championship becomes more family friendly and we welcome partners, parents and children who want to come and watch. Sometimes spectators think it looks like fun and sign up so they can join in too.
My mood turns to dismay though when I realise that winter is upon us and playtime is over for another year. Actually, the changing of the clocks is the harbinger for kinds of winter activity unknown even to David Attenborough. It is the time when drivers and their mechanics are squirreled away in habitats seldom seen in daylight. Frenzied activity ensues in garages, workshops and lockups the length and breadth of the country as roadgoing TVRs (Trevorus Vulgaris) gradually pupate into something much more beautiful (Trevorus Optimus). It has even been known for Trevorus Optimus to develop further into Trevorus Stupendous Algorithmus Ridiculii but developers are strongly advised to avoid the temptation of birthing Trevorus Frankensteinus; a monster of no known use or value that lives in a bottomless pit consuming unimaginable quantities of £50 notes. I digress... Top of the table, Jes Firth won at unprecedented maximum of 200 points in his now famous Cerberus Electricus Horriblus but the score should not detract from how close the championship was and I congratulate the flying doctor Matthew Oakley who came second with 198.89 points and Paul Edwards who finished on 196.91 after the most torrid season during which he sold all he (and the family) possessed to buy a reliable engine. The T350R is absolutely flying now and I fully expect to see Paul very much "on it" next season. In fourth place overall, Stewart Lobley achieved the highest ever placing for a Class A car in the yellow Vixen. Last winter's engine work gave Stewart the power and rev range, and the new soft compound Toyo R888s provided the grip and together they worked perfectly to produce the class winning platform. Class A records have tumbled all season, and Stewart now holds nine of them. Although the 2009 season has all been about Jes Firth, it is worth remembering there were 45 cars in the 2009 TVRCC Speed Championship and 25 of those were roadgoing Chimps, Griffs, V6 and V8S, Cerberas, in fact everything from Vixens to T350s were being driven to and from the events. Actually, the roadgoing Tivs have a couple of distinct advantages i.e. the cars get fully warm on the way to the venue AND the drivers get "seat time" to reacquaint themselves with their buddy having driven the family eurobox all week. At the other end of the scale, those commuting to work by train who then unload a stone cold TVR from a trailer at the weekend fully expecting to do well after four sprint runs are asking a lot of themselves. It isn't possible to mention everybody's name in this short article, but one or two of my personal highlights include the incredibly close battle between Captain Chaos Mark Everett and his nemesis Alan Hugh Davies. The two green chimps were never more than a couple of tenths apart and the points differential at the end of the year represents only 1.5 handicap seconds and that's pretty close after 8 rounds. Secondly, I want to congratulate our three lady drivers for the closest ladies championship we have ever run. Jo Briars was a worthy winner but lady novice Julie White looked as though she was going to take it to the wire but unfortunately husband Richard's October motorcycle accident put paid to her final round. Jo's feisty season was characterised by her will to get out and enjoy the car she shares with partner Steve Hunter. "I want more goes" she regularly said to me but even with limited track time the progress she made was astounding as can be seen from her 20 second improvement at Castle Combe between compared with last year. Well done Jo. Late improvers this year were Martin Cockcroft who went on to win Best Novice and Simon Fletcher who is really getting to grips with the ex Tuscan Racer now. Pete Watson produced his best ever report card as did Jeff Allan who went on to win the Roadgoing Award for the most points earned by an entrant in a truly roadgoing car. Please take a look at our end of season leaderboard in the magazine for the detail of all this years points, places and awards. I shall take great pleasure in presenting this year's awards at Staverton Park in November and then it's onto producing a new season of events for 2010. For those of you beavering away in your garages don't get too cold out there – and for God's sake go and say hello to the wife sometimes; especially at Christmas. I'll see you all at North Weald next March – bring something warm and waterproof! Steve Cox |
