Crossle 9S test day and 2011 Race Challenge.

[eamonn ledwidge]

The big bang was caused by a well know medical condition, with which Roger is now familiar.

Symptoms: fifth gear is lost, we are falling behind.

Remedy: apply greater pressure with right foot at top revs in fourth to compensate for loss of pace.

Outcome: big bang, broken crank and other expensive bits too.

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

Too many brrrrm brrrrms by the sound of it.

[nikon man]

a few oulton park pictures to show what a great days racing















enjoy

djb

dj.bin3@ntlworld.com

[eamonn ledwidge]

Our series moved to Spa for the Ardenne Challenge 1 hour race with 10 cars form UK and Ireland, 5 from Switzerland and 3 Swiss based PRC cars as invited guests.

This was the largest gathering of Crossle 9S cars to date and to help us celebrate the event, organisers Roadbook very kindly allocated us 10 endurance boxes and adjacent parking facilities. With the support of our event sponsors, Fluteau Champagne, we were set for a super weekend of racing and fun.

We joined an eclectic grid of 65 cars with hard chargers Mark Hobbs and Jeremy Clark hoping for a repeat of last year's win, this pair hotly pursued by Crossle boss Arnie Black and Paul McMorran. Pole sitters Hobbs and Clark took the honours again from the Ulstermen, with Swiss owner Huggenberg third, ahead of the Aston Martin DB5 of McCallum/Bussell and the Crossles of Feigenwinter and Todd.

Fastest lap of the race went to Andy Feignwinter at 2.41.543, Andy starting from the back of the grid having missed qualifying due to major repairs to his gearbox after testing.

For us, a truly memorable weekend with great racing, socialising, friendships renewed and lots of new contacts made. Our two 'chancers' Spicer and Summerville managed to get themselves adopted by the Dutch Sports Car boys and joined their race also!

Back home in Belfast, 'uncle' John Crossle, 80 last month, will be a very happy man to hear that we are still flying the flag and winning.

Report and pics from Paul later here and on the COG website.

[Paul999]

The Crossle contingent crossed the channel this weekend with two objectives - to continue their domination of the Spa Ardenne challenge and to foster a closer relationship with the Swiss Crossle drivers. No one could argue that both these ambitions were fully met.

By Friday, a total of ten UK Crossles had arrived at Spa. With five beautifully-prepared Swiss cars also in the historic garages overlooking Eau Rouge and Raidillon, a steady stream of photographers, passers-by, and fellow competitors dropped by to check out the Ulster beauties.

The first race action of the weekend saw Summerville and Spicer convince the locals that a Crossle was, in fact, a historic Belgian car and obtain an entry in the Belgian Historic Cup after spotting a gap in their field. The mixed grid of 65 cars included an ex-BTCC E30 M3 and two GT40's. Summerville out-qualifed the #38 car's owner for the first time and, perhaps conscious that if this became a regular event his drives might soon dry up, opted to allow Spicer to drive the first of two half hour races. A first corner lunge in wet conditions saw Spicer slither to the outside of La Source with all four wheels locked up and losing a dozen places. However, he steadily worked his way back up the field, holding on as the circuit dried and preserving his tyres long enough to finish just outside of the top ten and second in the invitation class.

The real action started in bright sunshine when fifty cars erupted from the pit lane and started qualifying on Saturday morning. Crossles laid down a marker immediately, taking five of the top six places. They also took two of the last four - a state that surely would not last come raceday? The front row was locked out by the Swiss cars of Eggerman and Huggenberg. Two rows back where last years runners-up and winner respectively, Arnie Black and the shared car of Hobbs and Clark. Black had opted to share with compatriot Paul McMorran. Clearly not a man to do things by halves, McMorran was also sharing a further car with Billy Gowdy, qualifying this car twelfth, just behind the blue car of Gwyn Pollard, repaired after a hefty off just ten days before at Oulton Park. Sadly, this effort was to no avail as an engine failure meant Pollard could not take the start.

Uncharacteristically far down the grid were Todd and Wilson Snr and Jr. Todd, immediately in front of Summerville/Spicer and next to an old rival from SRGT days, was clearly motivated to make progress. At the back of the grid could be found Mike Walker following a fuel system issue. This was rectified and given his drive last to fifth last year it would have been a brave man to bet against him.

Sunday morning dawned clear and bright. At the rolling start, the crowd of Crossles streamed into La Source, eager for the advantage into Eau Rouge. As the green car of Huggenberg span off, Black and Clark took full advantage and began to dominate. Summerville and Todd opted for the inside line at the start and both made up ground, the Wilson car also gaining places rapidly. Walker and Ledwidge picked their way quickly through the field. At the front, Black and Clark began to encounter back markers, posing an extra challenge as the speed differential was on occasion marked. Todd broke the challenge of Summerville and headed rapidly into the top ten, posting similar times to the Wilson car.

In the pit lane, second drivers waited eagerly for their chance. A clinical stop from Hobbs and Clark saw them lead out onto the circuit which they maintained till the flag, becoming the third Crossle Challenge winner this year. McMorran pressed hard until a spin dropped him out of contention for the win; undismayed, he still finished ahead of the Huggenberg car for a hard-fought second. Spicer pushed through the field after a slow pitstop, only for a broken driveshaft to end his challenge. The next UK car home was Todd in sixth; having qualified in 22nd place, arguable a contender for the drive of the day. The Wilsons rounded out the top ten and would have been joined by Gowdy had his car not run out of fuel. Mike Jackson was unable to match his heroics of last year, but still climbed from 49th to 17th in a gritty drive at his first race of the year. Ledwidge, on his first visit to the circuit, improved on his qualifying times by 16 seconds in an impressive performance.

As the tired drivers and mechanics loaded their cars and headed West for the ferry home, it was plain the Crossle Challenge continues to go from strength to strength. Crossles dominated a strong grid and won many new fans with their combination of timeless style and raw perfomance. Congratulations to Mark and Jez for their victory. With the evergreen Black pushing them strongly, and the return of last year's runner-up Pollard and Oulton winner Roger Donnan, can they make it a hat trick in 2012 against strong competition? I can't wait to see...

[andrewc]

Can I quote that report on Racing Exposure? I probably have some photos I took from La Source hairpin (inside)

[Paul999]

If anyone has any pics of the event or on-board footage they would like included in the video, please e-mail them to me at paulsummerville@hotmail.com.

[Paul999]

Originally Posted by andrewc

Can I quote that report on Racing Exposure? I probably have some photos I took from La Source hairpin (inside)

A posting overlap!

By all means. I'm trying to do a video of each round - if you would be kind enough to email me a pic or two, I will credit you on the video.

[Paul999]

Hello all

Video is here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8g4wr5fFWA

Apologies for lack of Crossle v Crossle action - I got stuck with the D-Types. Fun though!

[Tim Falce]

Funnily enough I thought we got stuck with you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnrmfb5ktUQ

[Paul999]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

Funnily enough I thought we got stuck with you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnrmfb5ktUQ

Ha, an enjoyable race all the same

I missed a gear the last time out of La Source, gutted as I was enjoying our scrap!

[Tim Falce]

That Porsche was a bit naughty at 5.33.

[Paul999]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

That Porsche was a bit naughty at 5.33.

I know, Dom was less than amused!

[Paul999]

.

[eamonn ledwidge]

This coming weekend we are at Anglesey.

Our numbers are somewhat depleted with Roger Donnan, Gwyn Pollard and John Taylor all out suffering from engine maladies. The Dom Spicer car is returning to Belfast for other remedial work.

We line up with 6 runners against 3 Chevron GR8s, outnumbering them again by 2 to 1!

[nikon man]

hi everybody

some anglesey pics from a good weekend in the sun

regards djb

[eamonn ledwidge]

For the cars and drivers that made it all the way to Anglesey the weather, the friendly people and outstanding track combined to give the Crossle Owners Group a real treat. I don’t think any of us quite expected the glorious blue sky and sunshine that greeted us on Saturday morning, but at this spectacular venue overlooking the Irish Sea it was a welcome sight.

Qualifying on the Coastal Circuit started at 11:30 and Arnie Black was the first car out on track, determined not to waste his ‘good’ tyres he set about immediately trying to put in a fast lap, and after 11 laps and a 1:13.9 on lap 2 he called it a day realising that at this track and in these temperatures tyres were at their best early on. The other drivers all wanted a little more track time around this challenging circuit particularly the shared drives of Tyzack/Black and Wilson/Wilson and so they stayed out for the full 30 minutes. Finally on lap 17 Mark Hobbs managed to beat the Arnie Black time with a 1:13.0 and so gain pole position for the Crossles and lined up overall 4th on the grid behind the 3 Chevron GR8s.

The rolling lap for the race start eventually tidied itself up and as the cars passed the start line there was a mad dash for the first corner, with pole for the Crossles being on the outside row and next to a Chevron, Hobbs had to make it stick round the outside of the fast left turn and into the banked right before the long back stretch. With just the right amount of aggression he made it stick and got the break on Black, Todd, Wilson, Tyzack and Ledwidge, who all raced hard to complete the first lap. After the pit stops Hobbs emerged with a 7 second lead over Black although he was catching, as they moved amongst the back markers. Then on lap 25 the race took a dramatic turn as Hobbs tried to pass the back marking Tyzack/Black car at Peel corner they clashed and Hobbs spun allowing a grateful Arnie Black to pass and take the win. Hobbs recovered to take 2nd place which was no consolation for what should have been a text book win.

After a really great barbeque on Saturday night where tales of Irish scientific experimentation from Black, Todd and Ledwidge kept us amused.

Sunday qualifying on the longer International circuit was a quiet affair. We were a car down as the Richard Tyzack suffered a broken clutch and left early. This time pole position went to Arnie Black with a 1:35.2, followed by Hobbs 1:35.5 and Todd 1:38.8.

The Sunday race never really developed into the expected battle as Hobbs brake problems got the better of him on the first lap, with a lurid spin across Rocket he dropped to back of the field and later pulled out of the race. Arnie Black went on to record another win and trophy for his overcrowded mantelpiece. All other cars finished and the general opinion was that Anglesey was a real drivers challenge, and well worth the journey.

Thanks to all the team at Anglesey, you made us feel really welcome and we look forward to a return visit.

Report by Mark Hobbs.

Notable visitors:

Magneton and Evil Pumpkin (Grant and Terri) well know Ten Tenths controllers and demon marshal team dropped by for a chat on Saturday. Over from Ireland for the weekend to help out the local flagwavers, complete with new caravan and flags worthy of any clan gathering. Great to see you both again.

Paul and Cath Bond - Paul is an active campaigner in NWest sprint and hillclimb scene with a 9S.

[eamonn ledwidge]

Following a long summer layoff, our action now moves to Brands Hatch this coming weekend, 30 mins practice on Sunday 28th and 2 x 30 mins races on Monday 29th.

We are still short a couple of runners due to extended repair programme and holidays, Arnie Black is at Oulton Park Gold Cup meeting with the ex Cooney/Team Supertune 1965 7S. It looks like we will have 7 - possibly 8 runners, based on my most recent information, plus whatever Chevron put up for their GR8 Challenge in our shared races.

Our UK series with BARC is proving successful this year, visiting good circuits and offering value for money racing. The format of 30 mins practice and 2 x 40 mins races suits the cars and owners very well. We expect to grow our 9S Challenge next year with firm enquiries in hand from several potential new members and the prospect of liberating two or three cars from Ireland for the 2012 season. This will take our pool of available cars to 16/17 for next year's Challenge.

Under discussion currently is the introduction of an Invitation class for 2012. 'Spirit of the '60s' will be open to other proper sports racing cars running on CR65, ACB10 or CR500 tyres, from the period 1 January 1960 to 31 December 1969. These cars will be racing currently with other organisers and will have the opportunity for the occasional race with us, where diary clashes for family and business engagements prevent them from racing with their own group.

Interested owners/drivers are invited to contact me here via PM for further details.

[Derwent Motorsp]

Two thirty minute races with seven starters! Must be a cure for spectators with insomnia!
This is really what motor racing can do without. There are just too many "new" series/championships that do not have enough support. Why can't the genuine historic cars race in the appropriate HSCC series?

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by Derwent Motorsp

Two thirty minute races with seven starters! Must be a cure for spectators with insomnia!
This is really what motor racing can do without. There are just too many "new" series/championships that do not have enough support. Why can't the genuine historic cars race in the appropriate HSCC series?

There's probably only one or two genuine historic cars, the rest are continuations. These cars were already part of a series that they were dominating but for some reason they wanted to go it alone. So now that makes two series that have half the cars each.

[rogerwills]

Originally Posted by eamonn ledwidge

Under discussion currently is the introduction of an Invitation class for 2012. 'Spirit of the '60s' will be open to other proper sports racing cars running on CR65, ACB10 or CR500 tyres, from the period 1 January 1960 to 31 December 1969.

Is there not some irony asking for invitations to "proper" sports racing cars when most of this grid consists of replicas / continuations / whatever you call them....?

[john ruston]

Pretend?

[andy97]

Originally Posted by Derwent Motorsp

Two thirty minute races with seven starters! Must be a cure for spectators with insomnia!
This is really what motor racing can do without. There are just too many "new" series/championships that do not have enough support.

But the point is that the Crossles have joined in with an existing series, the Chevron GR8 Challenge, to ensure bigger grids. Its not just 7 starters for the race, its 7 Crossles within a bigger grid.

[john ruston]

The Chevrons are pretend cars so makes a good mix.

Understandable

[andy97]

Well, the GR8s are real cars, they are just not B8s. No one pretends that the Crossles are anything other than continuation cars with modern Zetec engines either.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by andy97

Well, the GR8s are real cars, they are just not B8s. No one pretends that the Crossles are anything other than continuation cars with modern Zetec engines either.

Maybe the "issue"- if it is one- is that the cars are being talked about on a forum titled "Historic Racing Today" ?