Return -

WELSH INVADERS REACH TORNADO BASE

On a bright sunny and hot Sunday in April three Invaders attacked the RAF Marham runways and dodged the cones to cross the line in fine style, or formation, you could say!!

A little known fact, and one of the motor fraternities best kept secrets, are that track days are held occasionally in deepest Norfolk.

I was invited to attend the weekend's track event held on the 13/14th April, and as this was a new to me, and as far as I know, to the club, I decided to test the water. Invites were phoned and emailed to just fifteen of our members in view of the relative short notice, and much to my surprise five said they were interested.

We chose the Sunday for ourselves and from the original five of us, three arrived to take to the track. Sadly my car was still having the final bits and pieces sorted to the electrics, brakes etc. after the gearbox/overdrive change and Bruce Casey was still waiting for the LSD to come back from rebuild for the ex Paul Scott GT1800, but we had two Invader Mk II's and one Invader Mk III attend.

My thanks to Wayne Francis (and Alison of course), Chris Dennis in the Mk II's and to Lionel Oddy in his Scorpio powered Mk III, looking resplendent in its new paint, for coming along and thoroughly enjoying themselves.

We also had some guests with us, Chris came along with Gerry Rolston with his stripped out race Mini Cooper S, and Julian Kappitt in 'Baby Bertha', an ex Thundersport Saloon, Vauxhall Firenza powered by a 5litre 600hp V8 lump!!!!

Mind you the variety of machinery there was pretty impressive. There were 120 cars on the Sunday, at the top end were the supercars being a couple of Ferraris, including a very quick F40, and a gaggle of Lamborginis, from Gallardo's, a Diablo GT (very rare) and Countach, in the middle were the Toyota Supra's and other hot Jap hatches, three Ultima's, Caterhams/ Westfields and bringing up the rear was a Smart car, resplendent with 'Pistonheads' badge on the window.

The Smart was hitting 83mph down the long straight against the F40 and Supra's 160!!!!!! Our lads were doing pretty well at some where between 100 and 125, so not bad for old ladies (the cars that is not the drivers!).

The other notable fact was that the good old Gilberns arrived and departed under their own steam, but most of the supercars ended up being recovered on trailers!!! Maladies ranged from a damaged Alloy, blown turbo, electrical fault and low oil pressure.

The last problem was put to me as a choice - it could be a four pound oil pressure switch problem or a twenty thousand pound engine rebuild if it goes bang, what would you do?

The track was set out on the runways, and as they normally cater for largish pointy aircraft landing at god knows what speeds, they are wide and smooth. An ideal surface and not as abrasive as a race track.

To make an interesting course some taxi-ing areas are used, so the course ends up with a short straight from the off to a series of bends, followed by a curve into the main straight of about a mile I guess, before bends to scrub off some speed, round the esses, up a short straight to the chicane which has a dip in it, to unsettle the suspension, before finishing the lap on another short straight. About 2 miles in total I think for the lap. All the areas were clearly marked with cones and 'Brake' signs were used before the corners.

Because it is a track day and not a race there is no official timing and also no spectators are allowed.

The RAF organisation was as you would expect-very good. The safety aspects of the day were covered by the resident station fire and medical crews, the catering stall by the lads and lassies from the base and the Safety Cars and Photo wagon were similarly manned by staff and officers.

Also well worth mentioning, is that as well as being a cheap form of motorsport at sixty pounds for the day, these events are run for charity and the weekend raised about fifteen thousand pounds for good causes, an excellent achievement.

Also bear in mind that for that money you can be on the track for around three and a half hours in a day if you have enough fuel in the tank and rubber on your wheels - that is good value.

Safety is essential, and the advantage of an airfield is that the track is very wide. The simple instruction at the drivers brief is that you drive on the left hand side like any road, only overtake on the right with no overtaking in the corners or the approaches to them. Break the rules, one warning and then you are out, and quite right too.

You can only drive if you had attended a briefing so all on the track know the rules!!!!
This means the Smart car could go round safely with the F40 and the Lambo's etc, and novices could mix it with the diehards.
Overall we had a smashing day, all the Gilbern lads enjoyed it, smiles were seen, and already I have had emails to say the event highlighted improvements needed to the cars, adjustments to the suspension set-ups and the need for electronic ignition, to stop contact point bounce for example.

Another article will cover the requirements for the competitors and the cars, but on the basis of what I have seen I think it would make an ideal regular event for the club. The track days are held there a couple of times a year and I know that they would like to see if they can arrange a day specifically for Classics

It is usually short notice as Marham is a front line operating base for the RAF, so the best way of gauging future demand and getting entries is for a database to be held for those interested, so to get the ball rolling; can any of you that would like to come along (and you don't have to drive the socks off your pride and joy-it is for entertainment and enjoyment) let me know by phone, letter or email. That's all for now, where is that bone-dome (RAF speak for skid lid-oh sorry, crash helmet!!)

Roger Spares

www.gilbernoc.co.uk
This Site is the property of the GOC Ltd. and may not be reproduced in anyway without the permission of the Administrator.
The names Gilbern, Genie, Invader and GT badge device are registered trade marks of the Gilbern Owners Club Ltd.