FYI...  Peter is well known to me and is a fine GPL pilot.  He'll be a credit to the league.

Welcome aboard, Peter! 

I have to say that it was a relief to finally see a checkered flag.  First time in four races.

Only drama...and it was a costly one...was being ushered into the barriers in the Parabolique by Fran's spinning Lancia.  It was only about six seconds but I lost the slipstream of Albert and Clive Loynes in their speedy Mercs.  Over the final 10 laps, I was fighting a losing battle in trying to hold off Phil.  With five laps to run, Phil caught me and we engaged in a little 'cat & mouse' of slipstreaming.  It would boil down to the last lap and I took the place heading into the Curva Grande.  Fully expecting a bid from PT as we headed into the Parabolique for the last time, I was hoping that he'd overshoot and open the door for me on the exit.  No such luck.  Phil held on to pip me at the line in a good race.

Bravo to my amigo, Jonny, for the race win!  As well, taking the top step in the title chase.  Well done.  Evil Clive a fine run to P2 and a fine P4 in the standings.  If only that miserable DNF at Aintree hadn't happened.  Fulvio claims the final podium place in the race and in the standings.  Admirable season.

Musn't forget Clive Loynes who finished P4 in the race and a close P2 in the standings.  A crucial incident here at Monza set him well down the order early on but he fought back bravely.  Well done.

I used the Ferrari 625 exclusively for the S43 season.  Not the best car by any means but not a complete stone either.

My thanks to the club for hosting and to Phil for organizing.

Only dropping in for a moment to say it was a terrific race with my Blue Moose mate, Evil Clive.  Bad luck that he had an off.

Greg a fine win.  Tom closing in fast.

A miserable time for me, actually, as my eyeballs were bad from the day's start and got progressively worse as the day wore.  Not a chance that I'll make the OAO CA71 race this evening.

Bravo to our podium finishers!  Greg a solid win enroute to a thoroughly deserved championship title.  Well done, sir.  Jonny a fine fighting P2 chasing Greg all the way and not far off the pace.  Eddie takes P3 after a fine drive.  Top marks to all three.

I toyed with the idea of running an Eagle, Ferrari or Lotus for this finale but settled on the trusty Brabham.  Better the devil you know...

Quite pleased with my pre-race trials in shaving off a couple of hundreds of a second from my previous BT24 best.  In qualifying, even better but only good for a P9 grid slot.  I didn't get the greatest launch but held steady down to T1 allowing Pete to keep the place.  Drama straight away as Axel loops it on the exit of T1.  A bit of a tense moment as I navigated through the tyre smoke.  For many a lap, I chased Colin's Ferrari closely til he spun joining the back straight and handed me P6.  I had a discrete distance to Phil up ahead and Pete following.  Lap15 and Phil has an off in Sanson and I'm up to P5.  Better and better.  Pete is pressuring from behind in his Lotus only a few seconds back.  Phil, too, is looking to recover and reclaim P5.  As we get into the final frames, I'm obliged to ramp things up as Pete is definitely closing in.  Lap17 and I send my pulse and blood pressure to the Moon with a bungled turn-in at T1 mounting the curb and getting the BT24 sideways to the point that I'm astonished that I saved it.  This lets Pete close in by a good two seconds.  Up ahead on this very lap, Eddie has overshot the Nouveau Monde letting Baab through for P3.  Lap20 and Phil passes Pete to have his sights set on me only a handful of seconds up the road.  The 'Phil & Doni Show, Redux' is on the cards.  Phil is closing down forcing me to up the pace even more to the point that it's getting decidedly uncomfortable.  Lap22 and horrors for Baab.  From his tidy P3 placing, he suffers a major spin in T1.  Eddie is by and away looking to claim that final podium place.  But wait, there's more...

LAST LAP - A HOLLYWOOD SCRIPT

Baab's efforts are just going horribly wrong as he spins in T2.  I'm close enough to challenge as we enter Nouveau Monde.  Now the thing is, I don't use Pribluda for live-timing or scoring.  Just my pitboard as was the case back in the day.  This Ferrari up ahead was going very slowly at first sight and could well have been a backmarker for all I knew.  The red car went a little deep into the hairpin leaving a lane open down at the curb.  I kept low and tight but there was contact as we swept through the corner.  I could see the Ferrari backwards in my mirrors.  I certainly got a fright but kept my cool and ran the Brabham hard for the balance of lap making it to the line for a surprise P4 finish just ahead of Phil who wasn't that far ahead of Pete.  PHEW!  Talk about drama!  But wait, there's more...

Colin and Ricky had a mighty shunt going into the Nouveau Monde on this last lap to spoil there races.  Bad luck, chaps.  Andreas is having a very slow lap with what appears to be a short-fill of fuel.  He manages to eek out the last drops from the tank to claim a P9 finish.  Clay, too, has a very slow last lap and stops just millimetres from the SFline to lose a place.  Axel started this last lap in P11 and took P8 at the flag!  LOL!  Baab's cruel luck was not finished.  He spun in the final corner to prune off a rear wheel and lose all drive.  Goodness me...  A P10 finish is scarcely a fitting reward for so many laps right on the money.  Hollywood would never believe it.

As noted, Greg is our S43 GP67 Works Champion.  To finish P2 in the standings to such a hot shot is no shame at all.

Thanks to the club for organizing.  See you for S44!  

Sorry for the delay in my race report, gys.  I've been MIA thanks to a hand injury sustained on Monday.  She's good now. 

Brilliant victory for my Blue Moose mate, Evil Clive!  WOOHOO!  Phil an excellent run to P2.  Clive Loynes takes the final podium step.  Well done, chaps.

Clay...  NP, amigo.  Poo happens.  In scoping the replay cap, it was clear that you missed your typical braking point by, uhh, 50 metres or so. 

I'm judging the shunt as sufficient to stand down from the final round due to injury.

I've not had a finish in the last three races.  That was 150 points on the table to be had and I have scored all of...11.  Sigh...

So I finally managed to put together a decent drive in the '71 CanAms.  It's been a disappointing season with a lack of competitiveness and many errors.

Only bit of drama was a pucker moment when I went a bit wide entering T1 on Lap08 and came dangerously close to going off onto the grass.  Managed to save it.  Other than that, it was a dream run.

I opted for the McLaren M8F for this round and selected the default mirror option.  Utterly hopeless.  Couldn't see a bloody thing behind me all day long.  With Axel and Evil Clive being close enough to make bids on passing, it was a tense situation and I'm just relieved to see that I didn't carve them up.  Speaking of Clive, what a splendid run!  I would not have bet even a farthing on that Ferrari to perform as well.  Impressive to say the least.  Only a fluke spin took him out of the running for a podium.

At 1/3 distance, Tom came roaring up to challenge me and it wasn't long before he blew by on the first straight.  I was able to hang on quite well despite my using only gears 2-3-4.  There's more than enough torque available in these monsters to get off corners well.

From 1/2 distance onward, it was a matter of staying with Tom and challengers were dropping back.  Late in the going, I actually managed to reclaim P3 for a brief time before TJ stormed by once again and in the last laps, he simply disappeared with a spurt of speed that I couldn't match.  Got the M8F home in P4.

Greg a solid win in the Shadow.  Ricky survives to claim P2.  Tom right on his tail for P3.

Any penalty for the pole sitter for ignoring the pace lap mandate?  Hope so.  What's the point of posting rules for a pace lap when they are ignored?  I'd say a 10 second time adder would be in order.  Would suit me down to the ground. 

Hi there, Ricardo.  Yes, I feared that I was responsible for your loss of control coming off Conrod.  Seeing my Brabham going out of control in your mirrors had to be unnerving.  Sorry that it cost you a good podium.  You drove exceptionally well and fully deserved a podium.

It was shaping up to be a tidy finish with the possibility of a podium no less til...

Greg putting on a clinic for us with a runaway win.  Nice job, GT.  Jonny a well-deserved P2.  Top marks, amigo.  Fulvio profits from the many DNF's to nail down the final podium placing.  Well done, FP.  Not to be forgotten in this is a fine P4 placing by Roberto in the BRM.  No cinch job bringing that beast home here at Bathurst.

Starting P10 with a new personal best in the Brabham, I was fearful of a T1 shunt as so often happens on this circuit.  Held my breath as I made the dash down to T1 and skirted wide to the right.  Turned out that this was the thing to do as the shunt was on the exit this time.  Picked up three positions all in a heartbeat.  Had Ricardo on my tail chasing hard in the Lotus and didn't think my chances were good to hold him so when he made to pass at the end of Conrod, I gave way early on Lap02.  Held my P7 placing thanks to Phil having an off up on the mountain.  As the laps counted down, I noted my progress up the order as so many fell by the wayside with assorted troubles.  At half distance, I upped the pace as I'd been saving some 500rpm in reserve.  There was little chance of a slipstream pass on Conrod against Ricaro's Lotus but I did seem to have the upper hand on the mountain where I could gain time and be right on his tail at the top of Conrod.  Comes Lap19 and I'm as close as ever to start the run down Conrod and I get a nice tow.  Then...  Bungled the yump to land badly and lose the car.  It spun after hitting the outfield retaining wall and caromed cross track to the infield where I lost a corner against a fence.  And I wasn't even making a bid.  Just sizing up my chances for a later attempt.  Sigh...  What's worse, I fear that I scared Ricardo into a bad corner entry where he destroyed the Lotus up against the outfield guardrails.  Double sigh...  He was going great guns and didn't deserve that.  Fulvio came upon the scene to find himself promoted from P5 to P3 with two cars in a bad state of repair.

Greg coming through to be our S43 champion.  Well done, sir! 

I am seriously questioning the viability of this series.  The last two races, I've been eliminated on only the 2nd lap thanks to some pretty jackass motoring by others.  From a contending position in the points standings, I'm now headed to Nowheresville. 

I can certainly vouch for the quality of competition with the OAO.  I've been a runner there for many a year.

Had fun yesterday in my GP65 Cooper chasing Dimitar's BRM before nudged off.

From the classic 1950's musical, Guys & Dolls...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X69P_Vce9vw

Well...  Lady Luck was certainly on my side yesterday at Roswell.  She was a positive bitch for the likes of Jonny and Ricky.  And as for Leo, a slimy, stinky, diseased-laced whore.

GregT had us all nicely covered on speed for the day.  Nice job for the win, GT.  I'm elated with my P2 finish but as noted, it was only with bags of good luck.  Bob a good job for a P3 placing that changed hands any number of times throughout the race.

Some time ago, I determined that I'd park the trusty Brabham for this round and try my hand with the Eagle.  I used the BRM at Dundrod to get a bank of tokens to afford that and as it worked out, it paid off handsomely.  Not in the least surprised that there were some other Blue Birds in the entry with Greg, Jonny and Leo thinking along the same lines.  Quite pleased with my qualifying run to start P4.

Lap01 and a pucker moment as I lightly kissed the guardrail coming out of the Lagoon complex to find someone in the dirt off on my left.  This was Ricky in the Lotus skating well off the road and desperately trying to find a safe way back.  Up to P3 then.  Even as all this was going down, Jonny was spinning away his chances with an off in the Lagoon complex to resume dead last.  His challenge ended soon after with a blown engine.  Bad luck all 'round there, JJ.

I could see Greg disappearing rapidly up the road but I was holding Leo quite well.  Gradually, he inched away but was never completely out of sight.  As the laps reeled off, I was pleased to be able to keep Leo in sight but never felt that I was in a position to actually challenge.  In the early laps, I was impressed to see that my board was telling me that Alain was running in P4 with he in the BRM and only dropping back by several seconds per lap.  Obviously, having a good run in the Tank.  In the last laps, my vision was fading a bit and I was fearful of making a hash of things entering the Lagoon twisties at close on 200mph but I managed to avoid that.  On the last lap, I did fall off the road to score a '64' in the Lagoon complex as I tried to move in on Leo.  This error cost me a bit of time and I resigned to just take it easy over this last lap and not bungle away a good P3 finish.  Only moments later, coming off the chicane at Junction Hwy #409, I caught sight of a car going quite slowly on the right.  As I neared and passed, I realized that this was Leo.  Good grief!  Whatever could have happened here?  Engine failure?  Short on fuel?  How cruel to have a good drive go up the spout so close to home.  I immediately scaled back my engine revolutions thinking myself home-free for a P2 finish.  Not so fast, Doni.  Almost with passing Leo's stricken Eagle, my concentration started to fade and very rapidly.  Found myself completely out of position for taking the final sweeper and could hardly believe it when I ran out of road.  The Eagle spun to the outfield and I went for a long, wild ride before striking a barrier.  This, at least, woke me up and I regained some measure of composure to get back onto the road and carry on to the flag.  Lucky boy.  That impact could have easily sheared off a rear wheel to leave me with a DNF.

Leo's efforts to get to the flag came to nought as the Weslake V-12 gave out completely with a couple of miles to run.  He coasted as best he could to come within sight of the line before finally parking and fall to a P12 finish.  No justice there.

Still holding P2 in the standings behind Greg.  Time to put on a charge in the last two rounds! 

It might be advisable for some to exercise some restraint in future.  A Lap02 shunt in T2 that takes down multiple entries is not an example of same.  Grrr...

Choked on a sip of tea at the end of the back straight and binned it. 

Somewhat disappointed to only score a P6 here at Mexico.  To be sure, there was a lot of talent on the grid in very fast cars...Lotus, Eagle and Ferrari...but by mid-race, I was already static in P6 and looked to see my pit board flashing me P5, P4, P3 and so on as the laps reeled off but you guys are just too good!  No race-ending shunts or engine blow ups.  A testament to the quality of the field.

Starting P8, I saw Syd blow his Lotus to bits on the grid.  Goodness me!  I didn't get the best launch and maybe that was all for the best as down in T1, there was grief with Alain off the road and the field bunched up to Phil's immediate DNF from a butt-ram.  Two Lotus runners out and not a mile in the books. 

The opening lap dramas weren't over as Bob spun his Brabham directly in front of me just downstream of the hairpin and I had to take evasive action to the left.  Bob executed a neat 360° spin to carry on ahead and my loss of pace let Alain through for the place.  I had Colin hot on my tail for the balance of this opening lap.

Soon, I was able pull away somewhat from Colin and mark time on Bob.  Lap10 was Bob's undoing as he spun in T1 and pruned off a wheel.  Up to P6 now with Jonny not all that far ahead in his Ferrari.  Didn't figure on much chance of challenging JJ so just looked to put down consistent laps and wait for developments.  They never came so P6 it was.

Ripper of a finish between Pete & Ricardo!  That will make the season-end highlight reel for sure.

Fine job by Greg for the victory!  Great recovery by Alain to claim P2.  Eddie making it a Lotus sweep of the podium in P3.  Well done, chaps!

Now sitting a heady P2 in the standings.  My poor old heart can barely stand it! 

Way, way too much drama for my liking in this round.  My poor old heart can hardly stand it, chaps.

Set a new personal best in the Ferrari in qualifying to start P6.  Not too shabby.  I had Leo starting in P5 and knowing how lethargic the little Gordini is on launch, I figured to pass without much trouble.  Job done so up to P5 straight away with Phil close on my tail.  Lap02 and high drama in the Clover Leaf as Evil Clive collects Clive Loynes and they're both off comprehensively.  Poor Evil loses a wheel to DNF.  BOOOO!  This was just out of sight for me but I did catch something out of the corner of my eye as I rounded the corner to start the run down the main straight.  Only moments later, Jonny surges by Ricky for the lead and almost immediately bins it by spinning in the chicane at the end of the straight.  Had to stifle a little giggle as I slipped by for P2.  Serves you right, JJ, for taking the Merc.  Keep it up, boys, and I'll be leading by the end of the lap!  LOL!

Lap03 and Jonny has recovered from his off to displace Phil and is now hot on my tail.  Lap04 and he roars by on the main straight to put me back to P3.  Ricky has pulled out a nice lead at this time.  Lap06 and Phil suffers an engine failure coming off the Clover Leaf.  Bad luck there, PT.  In the same lap coming off the Lake Hairpin, I caught sight of a Gordini in my mirrors and figured this to be Leo recovering from the start.  I expected to now be in for a hard time.  To this point, I had been making many small but recoverable errors.  Now I really bungled it at Windmill Bend by sliding off and kissing the haybales on the exit.  This bled off all manner of speed and a green car surged by on my left.  I had figured this to be Phil not realizing that he'd already parked it for the day.  Next lap and my board showed me that it was Clive Loynes roaring back from his Lap02 dramas.  But where was Leo?  He was right on my tail as I entered Windmill but was now MIA.  Turns out that he spun in Windmill almost at the same instant that I biffed the bales and he lost a ton of time getting it straight.  No longer a factor on the leaderboard.  My pit board was showing Fulvio next man down to me some 14 seconds behind so it was looking comfy for me to cruise home to P4 and if Jonny obliges me with another spin, well, then...

So...  Eight laps down out of 21 and a solid P4 in the bag, it was time to go on to cruise control.  My overall philosophy in the GP55's is very conservative.  Avoid shunts at all costs.  Spare the equipment.  Moses had displace Fulvio but was still light-years behind.  Sometimes it can be a dangerous thing to believe that you're in  solid for an easy ride.  For the next five laps, I next to fell asleep allowing my lap times to balloon into the 2m13s bracket.  When the gap back to Moses got into the single digits, I decided to wake up and get a move on.  Lap14 and Leo passes Moses to take over P5 not all that far behind me.  My pit board didn't show me this til I came up to start Lap16. LEO???  Where the H did he come from?  Knowing that he was significantly faster in qualifying, I figured that I was now going to be subject to a real fight to maintain my P4.  So much for Leo no longer a factor on the leaderboard...

Lap18 and I'm working really hard now to keep Leo at bay.  Unseen by me way, way up the road is a major development.  With a solid lead, Jonny has disastrous run into the Clover Leaf.  He's clipped a haybale and spun.  More than that, he has enormous difficulty getting the Merc straightened round to resume and drops to P3 behind Ricky and Clive.  Goodness me!

It's the last lap now and I cross the SFline to start it just a whisker ahead of Leo.  Heading down to the Clover Leaf, I feel that I have a good enough lead to take a normal pass into and through.  Suddenly, on my left, Leo goes roaring by under braking and I figure he's done like a Swanson.  No way he's going to make the corner and avoid smashing into the bales on the infield.  WTF???  From out of somewhere I know not where, he found some grip and held on to take the place.  I followed through the Clover Leaf close behind and got a slipstream pass on the main straight.  PHEW!  Can I hold him for the last half a lap?  I just knew that he'd try a bid at the Lake Hairpin so I tucked my Ferrari in a little tigther on approach to discourage that attempt but dammit, he went for it anyway!  Heavy contact has us both spinning off and it looks like I'm going to recover first to proceed.  All the while, Moses was only a couple of seconds back.  Then, another collision this time with Moses who has ricocheted off Leo and gone straight into me sending my Ferrari into a full 360° spin.  I have to consider myself the lucky boy in this as both Leo and Moses had much more grief in getting up to speed again.  Albert had a great view of all this in his Gordini coming on the scene only moments later to find three cars trying very hard to DNF.  Got the Ferrari straight first and made it to the line in P4 a most lucky and exhausted boy.

Ricky was trumps all day and a fully deserved victor.  Clive Loynes recovered splendidly from the early collision to claim P2 and Jonny makes it home in P3 which all considered, must be a grim disappointment.

Jonny leads the title standings with Fulvio in P2 and Clive Loynes in P3.  I'm sitting P4 not all that far behind JJ with something up my sleeve for Reims.