Home

Finis Tertius Tertio Debes

French Historic GT Champions 2014

2021 finale

The season finale at Portimao was a great social success with almost everyone who was part of the team travelling to Portugal despite what turned out to be a nightmare journey for the truck squad (Geoff and Little Dove) and Batman, Karen and Captain Steve W in Edward. The meeting was a perpetual rain shower (hence the soggy photo). Hottie drove the Elan race solo and became the team’s newly appointed official rainmeister. Batman joined a local race because with the Masters Elan and Cortina races merged it got rather tricky! As the trophy attests he was placed first in pre-65. A very nice surprise result. We may not always excel in the racing but it’s safe to say we know how to organise a good party.

2022 highlights

2022 saw the team busy in the UK, Europe and the west coast of the USA.

Batman continued in his quest to race at as many new circuits as he can. This included an epic journey for truck and team to Pergusa in Sicily. The logistics were a challenge as was initially pinning down the Italian organisers to secure an entry. Once there we were made very welcome and send our thanks to Sandra with one of the local teams who helped us at the track. We can only apologise that we displaced one of her friends at the top of the podium.

Karlskoga in June was just the first of a number of new Swedish circuits we hope to visit. The Elan was reunited with Bo Warmenius, its famously successful previous owner and FIA European historic GT champion.

April saw Karen, Ben and Gazza travel with Batman to San Francisco. This trip was planned for 2020. It turned out as exciting as we had imagined. There was success on St Georges day weekend at Laguna Seca and lots of interest at Sonoma. Oh and some wine tasting, a mad Mexican karaoke night (the best birthday bash Hottie never had) and a fascinating visit to Alcatraz. Thank you Ben.

This years Silverstone Classic was run on the August Bank Holiday weekend. Weirdly it was warm and sunny from start to finish. The competition was fierce and a great time was had by all. Jane and Karen enjoyed the funfair and the evening concerts were excellent.

Huge thanks also to our intrepid long distance truckies James, Homer I and Chicken Geoff for working out how to get to those far flung tracks and managing the paperwork at the borders and to Gazza for organising the American trips. And none of this would happen if the crew didn’t put in all the hours of unseen preparation in long weekends in the workshop back at HQ.

On the flying front we were also delighted to have the Golden Eagle in Nogaro. It has the friendliest airfield where you can unload directly into your boot! It’s a shame there are no races there for us in the foreseeable future but we have discovered that there is a permanent circuit in Pau just down the road so maybe that will get added to the list……

2023

Thunderhill USA

Bishopscourt NI : we received a very warm welcome at this lovely very traditional circuit near Belfast. While England was getting wet watching the Kings Coronation we were racing on a balmy spring day. So balmy Batman won the regularity trophy. Self catering instead of a hotel made for a very relaxed trip.

GP DE PAU HISTORIQUE: Batman was not convinced he’d enjoy the narrow streets of Pau lined with Armco and catch fencing. He was right; he didn’t. There are a few who will regret the shape their cars are in post race. The free practice session was warm and dry and deemed sufficient to say “been there – got the clock.” (A very attractive clock BTW) With testing in cortina at Pau Arnos two days before he’s added two circuits to his challenge of getting to 100 if he can.

Spokane and The Ridge

The meeting at Spokane was cancelled very close to the planned date so the crew were deeply disappointed and frustrated. It proved possible to turn a few laps in a course car so thankfully the track has been added to the target 100+ circuits. The Ridge meeting went ahead as planned.

Misano

This will be remembered for being hot! We cooked the track but the racing with the Austrian HistoCup guys was still great fun. Batman had to squeeze himself into a very costly new race suit as the Austrians were adhering to the most current FIA regulations. It may become his new lucky suit in future.

Jurby

A weekend spent on the IOM with Steve and Jane Upsdell enabled Batman to add this very historic circuit to the ever growing list. And it didn’t rain.

Rudskogen – Norway

This turned out to be the friendliest race meeting the team have ever entered. It would take too long to tell you why but we had a truly delightful time. They even took it well when Richard took pole in both races and led from start to finish. The team was also surprised to find a brilliant Indian restaurant near to the hotel. The Masala Indian Cuisine in Sarpsborg – well worth a visit if you are passing.

Silverstone Classic, Falkenberg (Sweden) and Spring Mount (USA) followed. Silverstone was dry for second year making it enjoyable despite being so hectic. Roger managed another special birthday at the Crossroads at Weedon.

The season finale at Portimao.

This went considerably better than the same event than 2021 when we never thought we would dry out again. Hottie and Batman shared The Masters GT race in the Elan and Batman entered the Cortina with the Portuguese ANPAC series as he did on the last visit.