This wasn’t an HSA event but as Loton Park is only an hour away from where I live and I am determined to crack the 60 second barrier there this year I entered this  HDLCC event rather than drive over to Norfolk for HSA event at Snetterton.  Saturday was a practice day (three runs) and Sunday the event proper (one practice and two competition runs).

There were only two of us in the Formula Ford class, myself and Nick Tart in his immaculate March 708 (a bit of a contrast to my Dulux-painted taped-together Van Diemen).  The weather was suburb on both days and I am now really happy with the set-up of my Van Diemen for Loton and feel I am capable of a sub 60 second run.  However, it was not to be this weekend as the gear selection problems I have had before returned and every run was marred by a missed gear and a fumble about in neutral – always the change down from 3rd to 2nd.  However, I know if I could sort this out I will be on my way.  In fact I did manage one good run but Nick, who had gone up before me, spun just after Fallow and I was red flagged just as I approached the corner   It seemed we were quite close from where I sat! Anyway, that was a fast run until then.  And I had another very quick run which ended in a neutral after Fallow but the timing equipment did not record anything after Triangle which is a little disappointing in a sport which is all about times.  I also had a run with a speed at the trap of 81 mph which is the fastest I’ve had there and is probably due to dropping the top gear ratio as Andrew Henson suggested. The newly fitted gear change light comes on just before I have to lift and the rev limiter doesn’t kick in so that seems about spot on. Oh well, next time! Which for me is 10/11 August as I miss the next Loton (8/9 June as I’m doing the Graham Hill Sprint (an HSA event) at Curborough  and I miss the 13/14 July event as I’m doing the HSA event at Blyton Park.

So Nick got the class win with a personal best for him of 61.43 which is a vast improvement on the times he was clocking last year.  Someone else who made a significant improvement was Mark Dalton in only his second event, who recorded a 62.79 in his Formula Vauxhall Van Diemen and picked up a prize at the end of the day from his old school friend, none other than Scott Moran.

As you know if you are a regular reader of this blog, it doesn’t pretend to be a comprehensive race report – just personal random observations. So here are a few more.  It was good to see Simon Andrews none the worse (except financially of course) after his big accident at Shelsley.  Neville Thomson had a big off after Fallow and had his car recovered to the paddock looking very messed up and Gordon Hick had more bad luck this season when a drive shaft broke on the line.  At least it happened here and not over in France where he’s taking the Megapin later this month.  Lots more happened of course, every competitor has their own story, but that’s it from me until the next time.

The next time is a sprint next Saturday at MIRA.  I’ve got an oil leak from somewhere so will have to get the bodywork off and have a look before then and I did think to cancel as I don’t have much time and the gearing will be all wrong anyway, but it’s like a drug, I know l have to go.

Lots more photos on the HSA and Loton Park Facebook sites.