Snetterton, 15th June

[Hobson]

According to the Octagon site, this weekend is that almighty event, the 2CV 24hrs.

Anyone going? I suspect quite a few 10Tenthers will be in attendance...

Me? I'll be about 250yrds away from the main gates - I'm racing model cars on Sunday at the radio control car track. Its next to the Sunday market, so if you are on there, come over and say hi!

I have a huge model Lotus Elise, currently 2nd in its championship!

[rdjones]

I think a few people are going, but I have a funny feeling that quite a few people are going to some other 24 hour race this weekend

[Chris Y]

I'll be going to the 24hour event that carries the most importance...

..Yes, that's right - Snetterton It's been about 10 years since the last time there was a 24 hour race in this country, so it's a big occasion!

Plus, I'll be competing, so I really ought to turn up I guess.

Come and find myself, MaxxUK from Ten-Tenths, and Christine Savage (and of course, Stinky the 2CV) in garage #4, numbered 1-13 from the race control side.

[PaulSands]

You're racing Stinky with Christine?! coooool

[Maisie]

I'll be there too to cheer on Team Stinky and the Yellow Peril!!

[Andrew Kitson]

I'll also pop along at some point Saturday evening.
Russell should be fun!

[rdjones]

Good luck at the weekend Chris.

But what I can't work out is why they have put this great event on the same weekend as the biggest and best 24 hour race in the world. I just makes no sence to be..........

[Rob29]

Yes,might make the record for the smallest ever attendance at a British race meeting.
Le Mans,Montreal,Laguna Seca(CART),Pikes Peak(IRL)& German F3-Hockenheim all on TV I shall not be moving far!

[Tony Harman]

Actually Rob you might find it has a reasoinable attendance compared to a lot of other club meetings in the UK, beacause it has at least had some advertising unlike normal club races - but then that's another thread isn't it....
Yep good luck Chris 'n all, have tons of fun - that is what it's all about after all, we'll be over at Mallory for the BARC Classic on Sunday. S'pose could drive over to Snet on Sat night first, now let me see - Berkshire to Leicestershire via Norfolk, mmmm seems like a pretty direct route to me, let's see what team manager says, ..."I've had this idea luv..." OUCH that hurt. OK looks like we're not going then
Maybe try to get a drive for next year.

[woodyracing]

hey, like the green wheels!

hmmm dejavu...

I'd like to go but im selling my car (or trying to anyway).

[Suzy]

I'll be there too cheering on Chris and Stinky and MaxxUK

[formulafordster]

How Much do second hand 2CV racers fetch?

[Les]

well I am going to sandwich the 2CV with a little Status Quo in Thetford Forest.....

[WoodyTJ]

I'll be there to support Stinky and all the drivers - hope you see you there

[woodyracing]

how was the 2CV 24hr ?

[Hobson]

Well, I saw a bit of racing on Saturady evening/night, and early Sunday morning.

We were racing next to the Sunday market, and I wandered across to the egde of it and clibed the grass bank. I could see from Sear all the way down to the bridge, but only the top half of the cars because of the long grass.

At 6.00pm, I went across and saw a recovery truck from the infield towards the Esses, then the Safety car came out. Was it really a Citroen Xsara WRC, of just a fake?
I counted about 32 cars running then.

[PaulSands]

Does anybody know the result...MST doesnt have anything and last time I looked www.2cvracing.co.uk was also void of results

[Suzy]

Here's a picture of Stinky's crew after the race. I have to say that they look very fit considering they'd been up all night.

Left to right: Malcolm Edeson (aka MaxxUK), Chris Yates (aka Chris Y) and Christine Savage.

[PaulSands]

where did they finish?

[Suzy]

Team Stinky came 12th overall! THEY BEAT TOP GEAR!

[PaulSands]

Yay Stinky

[Chris Y]

I put this in another thread, but I thought it's worth repeating here - a little race report-ette:

Just got back this afternoon, after staying over on the Sunday night. Bit disappointed that there wasn't much of a 'party atmosphere' in the paddock, but the bar closed fairly early, so most people either went off-site to a pub, or home.

The atmosphere was pretty good all weekend - nice and friendly in the paddock, but most teams were pretty busy, with engine changes and the like so there wasn't a lot of socialising going on, and not much beer flowing either.

I would have liked to have seen more racing from the spectator areas, and seen more of people who came to watch, but I'm afraid I had to stay with the team and help out/be ready for any problems that might arise. Sorry

I did see a bit of the night racing from Russell - very impressive, and I was surprised just how much you could see from inside the car during the night. I certainly had no problems, but then I had a team that are pretty expert at the annual 24hours - they know how to set up light pods!

12th place was our 'offical' result, bt I actually believe that we would have been higher if the timing wasn't bust between 9pm and 5am. Quite a few teams had long stops in the night, and the results don't reflect this, whereas 'Stinky' ran pretty flawlessly for the whole 24hours, requiring only fuel and driver stops - no garage work at all

We were one of just 2 cars in the event not to change engine or gearbox (There were 5 engine changes in the first hour-and-a-half!) and we only completely used 2 tyres from a fresh set. Brakes were superb and still lots of meat on them. Suspension survived with kingpins intact. Almost no panel damage apart from a minor ding in the bonnet (Malc admitted to it ) and a tyre mark on the rear offside wing. Stinky has had more wear and damage in sprint races!

Racing was good. There were a few people trying to 'block' during the race, which is pointless, since it slows both cars down. The idea is to let faster cars past and then get the tow off them on the straights. A good tow earns you about 2-3 seconds a lap around Snett and there were regularly chains of 3-4 cars towing each other around and taking turns at the front - good stuff!

I've never done more than a 30 minute race before, so I was a bit apprehensive about doing a 2 hour run, but once you've gone past 15 minutes in the car, you don't really notice too much because you get into a nice rhythm, especially if there's other cars around you to concentrate on and co-operate with. Night time sessions were very cool and almost peaceful. Great experience which I wish more club racers could experience. A bit difficult at first with headlights shining in your mirrors (and not being able to tell how far people are behind you) but great when you settle into the routine..

Anyway - must stop writing now! Waaaay too much to talk about after a weekend like that... I'm sure Malcolm (MaxxUK) will add to it once he recovers

[carrera]

Well done Chris and the team.
Tip for next year - turn the rear view mirror to face the roof or away from the driver and the wing mirrors in at night, the following headlights will give away any other car's position.