There have been mixed reactions in the Team Neaves camp to this years Silverstone meet, which was quite eventful for us!
It promised to be an interesting spectacle with a few old faces back on the track, such as Andy Young (MGC) and Paul Rayment (MGF Cup). With the weather bright and breezy and Blaine with his new slicks on the three cars headed out for Qualifying on a dry track.
On the first lap Blaine got a puncture, which turned out to be one of the new tyre valves for the in car pressure monitor, which had come undone. Which left the Blaine’s Boys (even the commentators call us that now!) to find their own way round. The lap times were tumbling from an initial lap of 1.51 – only 10 seconds off the pace!! By lap 4 both were in the 1.48’s when lightning struck the number 3 car of Dan, when the car died changing into fifth. It turned out to be a electrical plug for the ignition which had popped of somehow – very odd considering it’s got a metal retaining clip! Ollie shaved more time off to qualify 13th on a low 1.47, with Dan in 21st on a 1.48 and Blaine 43rd after completing the mandatory 3 laps on his flat rubber.
It was no surprise to see Andy Young in the yellow rocket on pole - de-tuned my eye… Simon Cripps and Dan Ludlow looked set for another monumental battle in 2nd and 3rd respectively. The three were over two seconds quicker than anyone else – with Andy on a 1.41.
Apparently Andy was allowed to race with us as his car had been de-tuned due to reliebility issues. We’re thinking of inviting him round to de-tune ours… 
Blaine’s tyre was fixed and Dans car was plugged back in ready for the race, which was sunny and dry. Two thirds on Team Neaves fluffed the start completely 
Dan - by now gaining a reputation for reliability issues(!) had the same problem as in Quali as he tried to control his off-the-line-wheelspin, the sensor plug came off the ignition coil, and he couldn’t get it going again. Ollie stalled – he clearly hadn’t had his Weatabix as the new clutch spring is a lot stiffer! When Ollie got going again he had dropped to about 25th place, with the fast starting Blaine bearing down on him within a lap! Blaine and Ollie then swapped places, Ollie swears he let his dad through… The pair fought through the field, battling with various cars and trading places all the way. Ollie traded places twice with Paul Rayment in the MGF Cup (21), he and Blaine then managed to get the better of Ben Rodziewicz (87) and Paul Rigg (76). When the fast charging MGC of Andy Young appeared in the mirrors the pair thought they were being lapped, they clearly didn’t notice the absence of blue flags – Andy, who was recovering after a first lap incident was apparently allowed to slip passed all to easily! By the last corner of the last lap the pair were 14th and 15th, just behind Lew Bergonzi, as they headed for the line Ollie held a tighter line around Woodcote and went for the pass, missing out by only 0.02 secs!! Another kick in the shins for Blaine was that Ollie got a better lap of 1.46.3 vs his 1.46.4!
Andy Young suffered an early problem that dropped him down the field, only to fight back passed Blaine and Ollie for 12th. The real excitement was between Simon Cripps and Dan Ludlow, who again put on a great show, Dan passed Simon mid race but then Simon got back through on the last lap. Simon got a great lap of 1.40.9!
All told it could have been a better weekend for Team Neaves, at least Ollie got some good experience and Blaine nearly got a shock! Mallory Park is the next race so we’ll see what happens there…
ps. Dave – if you read this, the tyre man was talking rubbish!
Team Neaves
In car tyre pressure gauges, crikey mate your motor will out tech Apollo 11. How on earth do you find the time to check the readouts? Sorry it didn’t go as planned, was keeping touch with the Timing solutions web site so I knew some gremlins had struck. I think car no 3 needs an exorcism, definitely got some dark forces at work. Try Holy water in the screen wash and the cooling system! What happened to Andy Young, was there a clashing of wheel arches or some rotating action? What brand of rubber were you using this time. 33 days to do, yahooo
Have a look at the entries for Mallory! Pittyful from the BCV8 lot!
Car 3 is undergoing an exorcism as we speak, spitting oil everywhere, and it is most disturbing when it speaks in toungues – sounds like a diesel
Mav