Donington Today

Housey · 5 Apr 2011 at 20:10

It was a testing/press day for the historic event later this year and there were a small selection of juicy cars blatting around. A friend of mine was out in a Chevron and also had planned to be out in the Nissan Group C car but a rear end issue put pay to that. Some piccies though sadly there is no soundtrack

Ferrari 512 please, one of the 5 cars in my dream garage, parked alongside the 917...a inch back

Housey · 5 Apr 2011 at 21:32

Clarkey said:
R90, so awesome. Great view there, shows just how radically different the construction of a race car is to a production car.

It was flying today in the owners hands running some nice boost too. I believe when it ran the pole lap in 1990 it was something like 1300-1400bhp and lasted just over a lap, enough for pole by 7 seconds!

Housey · 5 May 2011 at 17:39

I went on Sunday...

I tripped over near the Craners...

I broke my ankle and spent 6 hours in Nottingham A&E...

I will not race this weekend now because of it...

I am disappoint

Housey · 5 May 2011 at 17:54

Chris Wilson said:
Sorry to hear that, was the mobile bar near Redgate to blame?

I wish, I was driving

Housey · 5 May 2011 at 20:50

rpstewart said:
Ouch. Hope things are on the mend. I assume you were the guy getting lifted into the ambulance as I walked past then?

Fair chance I guess, in an £80 bright red Citroen top that was the only thing I could find as I didn't think it was going to be as cold as it was when I got there and only arrived in a shirt. A day when I should have stayed in bed.

Housey · 5 May 2011 at 20:51

80 bloody quid!!!!!

Housey · 5 May 2011 at 20:52

...on a ****************** Citroen top

Housey · 5 May 2011 at 21:06

I went with a mate who was working for Nissan at Le Man's in 1990, he was the right rear wheel man as it happens and is an engineer and college lecturer so it was great to get some real insight into the builds of the cars over an above my own existing knowledge. I was also lucky enough to be around during the Group C era and witnessed it from beginning to end, not missing a race in the UK and seeing it at Le Mans a couple of times too and it was a truly epic form of racing. Some good stories of times back then like the time one of the works Nissans overtook Senna at Monza on the straight, probably at that point Bernie decided to kill it. Another mate of mine is the test driver for the guy who owns the blue/red/white RC90 at the top so getting his view on the thing is also interesting.

To walk into a Garage and see my 2 favourtie Group C cars in THE SAME garage sort of made up for not seeing the race and bosting my leg. Lancia LC2 and Sauber Merc, NOTHING bested those in my book even though the Lancia never lasted for 6 hours or 1000k's!

Housey · 5 May 2011 at 21:55

Vigoro said:
Does anyone who went know why the Silver mercedes group c car did a few laps just before the parade lap on the Sunday?

Seemed a bit odd out there by itself, and pretty sure i didnt see it on qualifying on the saturday

It did qualify, on pole, so perhaps just a shakedown to get over an issue.

Housey · 7 May 2011 at 01:34

Chris Wilson said:
Housey: What were you driving> "Tripped over" was taken literally by me. I take it you had an in car accident and broke your ankle? Hope you are on the mend, whatever you were in all classes gave a great days spectator entertainment and interest.

No Chris sadly, I was due to be racing this weekend actually but nothing as grand as your Lola, just my MX5, but my broken fibula has put paid to that. Tell me, are you related to Jeff?

Housey · 22 May 2011 at 18:43

Jeff Wilson used to run a modified saloon in the 70's and 80's and was a regular at Donington in the Super Saloons back in the day in his DFV Beetle!

I know Martin and yes he is a regular in the Ma5da series. He helped our team in the early days get our act together and he has a robust style so I can understand he took air.

The broken leg as somewhat of an annoyance (to say the least) but I plan to be out later in the season once fixed.