The PBIC 2011 season kicks off at Brands Hatch on 10 April. The entry list looks pretty short, but most of the usual suspects are signed up. Which begs the question, will the racing be as action packed as last year? I think so.
Before I begin, Jonesey has probably covered most of this already using his superb and superior literary talent. Incidentally, I think his website is one of the many diversion tactics Jonesey uses to avoid doing any work on his car. So I won’t bore you too much hopefully and will try and concentrate on areas of interest to group C.
Group C looks set to be uber competitive this year, with us three reprobates, Dan Ludlow, Rob Spencer, Barry Holmes and Nigel Pratt signed up so far.
Dan’s weapon of choice this time around is one of those modern MG ZR’s, you know, like the ones in the MGCC Throphy championship that lap about 3 seconds faster than anything else 
We got our first glimpse of it at Castle Coombe followed by a days testing at Silverstone. The car looks immaculate, Vulcan racing have done a stunning job on it. However, as yet, it doesn’t look as fast as it could be on paper, something those enterprising Vulcan boys will be working hard on (geddit? Sorry Jonesey I’m stealing your lines). Let’s see if the sandbags come out for Brands!
The ever present Rob Spencer has always been the man to watch according the V8 boys. Rob regularly mixed it at the front last year and looks set to continue doing the same this year. The addition of a Team Neaves Racing Pedal Box (shameless plug) could make the difference. After testing at Silverstone and a booking for Brands, Rob is clearly fired up this year and probably fancies it.
Of course many will remember Blaine and Rob locking horns at Brands last year, which made for some cracking video. I imagine both will not want to repeat last years’ tit-for-tat banger racing, until they are fighting for position again…
Barry Holmes completes the list of usual suspects in Group C and had some good runs last year. The most memorable perhaps was at Oulton when he gave us a great insight in to what it is like to be stuck behind Blaine. Let’s face it, we’ve all been there, maybe after a problem in qualifying or a bad start. Barry’s real talent lies in swearing while he drives, something we can all appreciate in the Oulton Park 2010 video. Barry will no doubt be looking forward to me overtaking him in all the yellow flag zones around the circuits this year.
Nigel Pratt is a new face with the PBIC, but a seasoned veteran of the Midget Challenge championship. As I understand it Nigel is a regular nemesis of Dominic Moon, who regularly wins the championship from Group B in the midgets. To give you an idea how fast he is, last year at Brands his overall race time was less than a second different to Ollie. Yes I worked it out, and no I don’t take it too seriously… Nigel will clearly be a tough competitor this year and I hope that Brands is not just a one off, and that he joins us for a full season.
Talking of quick Midgets, many are asking; where is Simon Hutchinson? The last I heard Simon was taking a year out to do some decorating and work on building his wife a Ford Zetec Midget… Could it be a diversion tactic? Probably not, I think he is actually doing that.
Another notable absence is Terry Holmes. Terry will be out at various intervals throughout the year but at present, I am reliably informed that he is taking a break to concentrate on his ganster rapping career. Peace Holmie.
Alan Brooke is part way through rebuilding the Metro for another assault on Group C. But, as so often happens, reality has taken over and other commitments have to take precedent. I hope to see him back with us soon as I’m sure he will be.
Some of you may have heard that Team Neaves are once again at full strength as I enter back in to the fray, having taken a break in 2010. Of course the in house banter is in full flow as some sort of physiological battle for pole position is taking place. Currently, of course, I am winning!
Obviously this year, in a Ferrari vs McLarren fashion and to Ollie’s annoyance, Blaine and I are copying his exact setup, something which was not possible last year for Blaine. So I expect us to be of the same relative pace this year. Of course this shouldn’t detract from Ollie’s lucky performance last year, which has caused absolutely no bitter resentment at all within the Team.
For Ollie’s benefit, I’ve included a Video of what happened at Cadwell in 2009 – my second race…
And so I start on Group B, which is looking pretty low in numbers this year. I thought the BCV8 punters would come on a mission to show us up, but it appears they are struggling even to register for their own championship at the moment!
Ollie’s main rival from last year, Crippo, has entered his 4 pot roadster this year, which by all accounts is just as fast as the V8 was! Talking of which, the V8 has been given some new breathing equipment and will make an appearance in the Thoroughbred Championship this year. The 4 pot however should be capable of mixing it at the front, so I look forward to some close battles as the season progresses. My only hope is that Simon finds someone to share his biscuits with this year.
Pete Burchill is our surprise pick for the year. Over the last few seasons he’s been going quicker and quicker. With Vulcan backing this year, if Pete hooks it all up he could cling-on to Simon and fight for the Group B championship. Having improved his result season on season, winning the championship would really be the final-frontier for Pete.
Dave Brooke will surely grace us with his presence on the entry list when he is good and ready. In recent testing at Silverstone he was seen to be trying various new setups on his car. As ever, Dave will be looking to regain his recent title and can never be ruled out.
So there you have it folks, that’s my thoughts on the competition going in to the season opener at Brands. I leave you with the freshly uploaded end of season video from last year to get you in the mood.
Dan
no we don’t get it but if Blaine is matching Ollie’s exact set up, has he been eating lots of pies?
It will be good to see the whole clan out again.
Should be an interresting first race with the new class C midget pushing things along at the front!
Great videos chaps, well cut together indeed ( A DVD would be nice for the contributors
). Am really suffering withdrawal symptoms knowing the opener is this weekend. Have given Nigel a few tips on how to mix it with you big boys so hopefully he’ll do well. Hope you all have a goodn, the weather stays fine and they sweep the gravel of the track this year! That 1991 video from Cadwell has me in my old car (white Midget with soft top, no77) and Peter Tipper in my current one (was white with a few stripes on it), that was quite a drop mid hairpin I seem to remember. Looks like John Hancock (Black Midget), Steve Westwood(Yellow) and Steve Hyde (white/maroon) were the cars to beat. Musky was there as were the infamous Boutelle Bros in the yellow peril.
Regards Simon