Petrolhead Weekend - July 2008 (1)

The Avenger and Sunbeam Owners' Club (ASOC) holds a "National Weekend" once a year in early summer. Its the only chance everyone has to get together from the UK and beyond (we have regular visitors from France and Holland). www.asoc.co.uk. This year the Saturday was at Curborough sprint track near Lichfield and the Sunday was inconjunction with Lichfield Rotary Club's Cars in the Park show. So thrashing around the track on Saturday and polishing on Sunday.

Plans were set, the ultra luxurious A38 Travelodge was booked and my entry was in for the track day. Then, less than 2 weeks before the event I was offered a chance to go to the British F1 GP at Silverstone on the same weekend - courtesy of a computer manufacturer who sponsors the BMW Sauber team. Nice. But tricky. Fortunately, the kids were pretty good about not going away for the weekend and understood that Dad shouldn't miss out on this opportunity. So plans were changed.

On Saturday morning we all went swimming at the nearby pool that has slides, a river etc., so that we got some time together and the kids got a bit of a treat. Having packed the Sunbeam on Friday night with my wet weather gear, umbrellas etc. (the forecast was not looking good) and some camera gear, it was straight from the swimming pool off down to Curborough. I was a bit late at the track, but got to do 3 sessions. 3 laps at a time and no other cars on the track, so it's pretty safe. It was showery so the track switched between wet and dry - its got lots of 2nd and 3rd gear corners so it was a bit entertaining! As usual, the Red Baron (Patrick from France) took the passenger seat for a session and Cherry also had a ride around - she'd had overheating problems on the way so decided not to take to the track - hopefully the ride around with me was a bit of compensation.

After a great afternoon's fun I nipped down into Lichfield to check out the Cars in the Park venue so I know what to expect for next year - it's a good venue and I think we'll do the camping thing next year. Then it was off down to a village near Banbury to dinner and stay the night before the GP the next day. It was a longer journey than I expected - taking a full 2 hours so I was fashionably late for dinner.

Next morning it was up early for a quick drive to the heliport. That's right - the coolest way into the circuit. It was only a 15 minute flight, but it was superb - I tried not to gloat when we went over the traffic jams, but is was hard work.


Having been to all sorts of motorsport events and meetings over the last 30 years, this was my first F1 meeting. And what an event. The hospitality was brilliant, with all 3 BMW Sauber drivers signing my cap, a walk down the pit lane, seeing The Stig after his 2 seater F1 car demo laps, the race result (Hamilton first and Heidfeld in the BMW second), the helicopter flights and all that, just great.


Back in the 'beam and hitting the M40 at about 16:30, the traffic was busy but flowing most of the way to Birmingham at a steady 50 - 60 mph. Being in the 'beam in amongst so many motorsport fans was great fun too - lots of smiles and waves.

So, about 380 miles in one weekend, about 6 of them flat out on the track and the car never missed a beat. Cool.