Grand Prémio do Porto
-8
– 10 July, 2005
D.W.
“Porto - 3 lines or more please -
good, bad, suntan, people, engines - your views, pleasures, horrors Ed”.
GOOD.....well it was that boat,
that was good was it not, 55 metres long, 1100 tons, twelve crew, that
certainly wins the paddock motorhomes competition that seems to go on, well it
beats sleeping in my jeep any day! BAD......concrete
walls, by my race they seemed to have acquired graffiti of many different
colours not painted by Gaudi as one would imagine but by dozens of differing
coloured racing cars, that was bad! SUNTAN........ well that
had to be the Gant girls on the starting grid, I haven't been that close for
years , if one could have read my fellow drivers thoughts at that moment
we would all be in the next cell to Gary Glitter!!!!! PEOPLE.....That has
to be the residents of Porto who came to see us, especially the gentleman who,
on hearing of my disappointment at not being able to buy a glass of
port in the hospitality village, then rushed off and proudly presented me with
a whole bottle. ENGINES.......I think
we all had one, some people had four but then they have bigger transporters
than me. Mine thought I was trying to melt it down for scrap.
PLEASURES..........Seeing Gillian Carr in high heeled sandals climb the 3 metre
high perimeter fence back into the paddock at 3 a.m. after the prize giving,
good job we were sober!!!! Who did give me that
cigar??? HORRORS..... I think that may have been the
two drivers waking up on the beach on Monday morning clutching Champagne
bottles and surrounded by holiday makers. Now come on own up, who did
give me that cigar, because it gave me quite a hangover?
C.D. He struggled all weekend with a car that refused to turn
in and brakes that are normally only adequate for one application per lap.
On a circuit where you had to bring the car to a halt about 5 times a lap this
was a problem. His weekend ended when he managed to stick his Bugatti in the
concrete. He was not too worried as this does not happen very often. He will
buy a Cooper for next time.
The circuit was very tight and it was noticed by the drivers that the chicanes were a bigger hazard than the following corner. They were comprised of large concrete walls which jutted out into the track and were hidden by a few tyres which were presumably there to be bounced off.
The
highlight of the weekend was the Sheraton hotel with its snazzy interior and
bathroom fittings.
B.C. (N.F.I. @ Dijon)
Loved it !!
Problems with being both an HGPCA
chap and a "Gentleman Driver" meaning long days at the track and
being very late for social events (and missing one altogether). Sheraton Hotel
was terrific but transport to and fro a bit suspect. The drivers club being
remote from the paddock made it of very little value.
A good effort by the
Portuguese but they must reduce the day’s content or speed up the race
turnaround. I will go again. The track itself was great albeit tough on
the cars and very unforgiving of any mistakes. Helen enjoyed the trip (very
important).
PS Don't mention the
prize giving dinner or was it breakfast.
G.B.
The event was a very good first effort at creating a regular Bi-annual event.
Plus points
1 The support from the local people was enthusiastic, appreciative and massive in numbers
2 The paddock facilities were excellent as regards space , availability of water, toilets, electricity, catering, etc
3
The circuit was frightening, narrow, challenging, but very very satisfying. I
loved it but would have hated it in the rain.
4
No expense had been spared on the provision of support vehicles to deal with
the many incidents which had to be dealt with.
Minus points
1 There were too many races in the program, resulting in most races running late to the extent that people in the later races had to miss the evening hospitality. Two races less per day, or some of the longer races being shortened would help in subsequent events
2 The boat trip was the worst of the hospitality events. the food was awful and the table we were at had no outside view. we may as well have been in a cellar
3 The prize giving dinner which in most respects was excellent, turned out to be a farce when they didn’t serve the first course until 11.30 pm and didn't start the prize giving until after 2 a.m. by this time almost all of the non local recipients had gone (in anticipation of a long drive back home the following day)
A tremendous amount of hard work and enthusiasm had gone into creating this event and I'm sure with the aid of the feedback they will get from the competitors concerning the circuit and the Apres events, the next one will be even more successful and enjoyable. I hope to be there.
M.B.
The concrete barriers seem to be
shrinking in the memory, they seemed enormous at the time especially as I was
driving someone else’s car. Minor glitches but generally very well done to the
organizers for the first event in so many years, if they run it again they
should have a taxi drivers race. Great
local support, good crowds, Enthusiasm
and smiles all round. Let’s hope the
Mayor gets re-elected. Peter Golding now
blooded as international driver, fantastic photo in local Sunday paper but with
co-driver at the helm!
P.G.P.
I really enjoyed the event and would go again provided the
organisation improved. Dinners beginning
at 10 pm are not sensible for racing drivers who have had a long day, no siesta
and an early start the next day. The
circuit seemed to grow on competitors although there was considerable bodywork
damage generally caused by ‘over-driving’.
A lot of people managed to find time to sit on the nearby beach and some
braved the cold Atlantic water - it was generally hot but not as bad as Dijon
as there was a good breeze - sometimes rather strong! The local town had plenty of excellent restaurants and river boat
trips and visits to the Port cellars were managed by most. It was sad that the anciens pilotes (Sir
Jack Brabham,Tony Brooks, Mike Sparken, Maria-Teresa de Filippis, and Henry
Taylor) were not given time to wander round the paddock as there were lots of
entrants who would have liked to talk to them.
A large press contingent was there and, of course, TV, so with any luck
the event will receive good and enthusiastic coverage.
TOPS Team
|
Mary Grant |
Cooper Bristol |
Charles Dean |
Bugatti 51 |
|
Paul Grant |
Cooper Bristol |
Adrian vd Kroft |
Morgan 1937 |
|
Ian Nuthall |
Jaguar HWM 1954 |
Bill Ainscough |
Alfa Monza 1931 |
|
Barry Cannell |
RGS Atlanta 1952 |
Graham Burrows |
Cooper Bristol |
|
Richard Pilkington |
Talbot Lago GP 1950 |
Alex Quattlebaum |
Leco MG |
|
Barry Wood |
Cooper Bristol |
Chris Wilson |
McLaren M1B 1965 |
|
David White |
Cooper Bristol |
Richard Pilkington |
McLaren M1B 1965 |
|
Sebastian Welch |
Cooper T43 |
Richard Wills |
Lola |
|
Hubert Fabri |
Alfa Romeo TZ1 1965 |
Michael Steele |
Jaguar HWM 1954 |
|
Ben Cussons |
Jaguar C |
Barry Wood |
RGS Atlanta 1952 |
|
David Alborough |
Lola |
John Guyatt |
Bentley 3 litre 1925 |
|
Mark Butterworth |
Lagonda V12 1938 |
Roger Saul |
Alfa Romeo P3 1934 |
|
Hubert Fabri |
Alfa Monza 1933 |
|
|