Qui Me Comitat Vincebit
The "Pom" - a long-standing V.S.C.C. competition to
determine the best touring car. The complicated handicap penalises newness,
disc brakes, short wheel base, etc. Extra penalties for lack of hood or luggage
space.
The Pomeroy Memorial Trophy
23rd
February, 2002
by Carol Corliss
Silverstone in February? Probably the best recipe for pneumonia that I
know but every year I and hundreds of other brave (or foolish) souls don their
thermals to be at this early event. Most years it takes nearly a week to
defrost and this year was no exception. Horizontal snow drove across the
infield in prolonged flurries giving a Siberian aspect to the day. Yours truly
had elected to marshal and I was amongst a good humoured bunch at test B which
is the braking box after a quarter mile sprint. A dodgy electronic stopwatch
added a little drama to the routine and several competitors had to be sent to
complete the test again – Hard luck if they happened to have made a
scintillating time but good if they’d bogged it up.
It is always interesting to see what modern cars V.S.C.C. members play
around with when not "Vintaging" In the sixties we would have a very
impressive range of post-war sports cars competing, such as Ferrari 250 GTOs,
Maseratis of various types etc. etc. However, these days such machines are
worth considerably more than they were at that time and owners are reluctant to
risk them in fairly low profile events, even though some of the vintage
machinery is probably just as valuable. I would assume that it is due to the
fact that the cars have changed hands in the last few years to different types
of owners. Due to the complex regulations of the competition, horsepower alone
does not give any great advantage. Wheelbase, luggage space and many other
factors come into the reckoning and a vintage touring car such as a 30-98
Vauxhall is very well placed to win or secure an award.
The Pomeroy Trophy was won this year by James Diffey driving a BMW 2002
Ti, they are excellent for this sort of competition, lots of acceleration, good
handling and of course luggage room. An ideal touring car.
Tom Walker kept the Vintage honour intact by winning the Densham Trophy
in his G.N. The Walker family are regular and enthusiastic competitors
throughout the V.S.C.C., calendar with a variety of Edwardian/Vintage machines
to compete in.
Richard Pilkington flew the TOPS flag very creditably driving the Alfa
Romeo 1750 to a first class award. A stoic effort in such conditions he made a
terrific sight braving the elements in one of the nicest 1750s around and won a
first class award for his efforts and 4th overall. Well done
Richard! Chris Wilson, Roger Deans, Stephen Curtis and Humphrey Avon came to
support the rather small team which included Rupert Avon - Bentley 3/4˝, Tony
Bianchi - Porsche 964 RS and Charles Cook - Jaguar E type.
One interesting newcomer to the event was the Noble, a new sports car
being produced in limited numbers. It was entered by Tony Moy of Leicester a
partner in the concern, no hardware on this occasion but it appeared to go well
and looks very attractive.
On the braking test it was very apparent that the A.B.S. braking system
cars had a distinct advantage but as none of them finished highly placed, it
was obviously offset by the other regulations.
The Paddock Diner provided a welcome lunchtime respite before the cars
went out to do their afternoon lapping to complete their day. Quite a few of
the TOPS Members were around.
Up in the Press Box I was, along with many other people, delighted to
meet up with Peter Binns, the first winner of the "Pom" back in 1952,
Driving (would you believe it?) a 30-98 Vauxhall. He was in excellent spirits
and enjoying the spectating and socialising to the full.
Despite the hostile weather, a good day’s sport with a sociable crowd,
what more can one ask on a Saturday in February?