The Birkett is a wonderful event. Check out my description last year... nothing has changed since 1953. The picture was taken last year when I was driving Ian Megson's Mallock No39 (I had just purchased the yellow Allan Elphick car but had had no time to prepare it), overtaking one of the 750 Motor Club entries. This photo was used on the front cover of this year's programme.

The Birkett was even more fun for me this year because I was on the pace and finding my way through traffic decisively and without major incident.

Race

I got two stints, one of 35 minutes at the 2 hour mark and 25 minutes at the 5 hour mark. In the first stint my best lap was 1'04.81 against my personal best of 1'04.685 in the K Sports race 24th August this year. And I averaged 1'06.88 for 29 laps against my BEST lap of 1'08.03 in the same event last year.

Traffic was fine except for a nasty half lap tussle with the big mean yellow BMW No.17A. Without looking in his mirrors in the slightest he pushed me on the grass at Maggotts, onto the concrete ridge at the exit of Becketts and into a small spin at Luffield. I was pleased to hear he was hauled up before the Clerk of the Course later in the race, one knows not what for... I was delighted that Steve caught this picture of the Luffield incident... I think you can just see my yellow glove gesticulating at him.

The best part of the first stint was seeing the pit board showing me closing at 2 seconds a lap on the car in front. Sure enough, Jamie Champkin's Mallock from the Boss Hogg's Army (Martin Covill's magnificent six) hove into sight ahead. I got past him a couple of laps before I was called in, and, jubilation, the move had taken us from 4th position to 3rd on the road (and 22nd on handicap). Our battle with Boss Hogg's Army began to take shape (they were 18th on handicap at 3 hours), but we saw to our horror that the 4 laps handicapping advantage we had over them in the first-published handicap list had strangely been scrapped by the organiser-handicappers. We thought we had 4 laps handicap lead on them, but, no, zero at 3 hours. This was strange because the average of the 6 reference speeds of the Boss Hoggers is 1'04.13 against the Rovers' average 1.05.11, i.e. a second a lap slower in previous races at the same circuit. What have I missed guys? Answers on a postcard.

Anyway, we then tripped up because Peter Burnham had a traffic accident at Copse and leaving the track on the outside hit enough of a bump to remove his nose cone, nose frame, radiator and entire upper bodywork. We ended 4 hours in 7th position on handicap and 7th on the road.

My second stint was even better, born of confidence and a track which was as dry as a bone. I only did two laps slower than 1'07 and, on my 20th and last lap, brought my personal best down to 1'04.54... in traffic. I guess the technique is to leave the braking as late as possible to beat the guy ahead of you to that corner. It's certainly safer to be ahead of that car than alongside it at the apex! I also got to overtake Arf Dickens of the Hoggs, but we were still a lap or two behind.

The last half hour of the race was wonderful as the Rovers were catching up the Hoggs. Our last two drivers were the fast ones, John Kelly and Jim Lindley. Time ran out with the Hoggs 5th on scratch and handicap, just 13.3 seconds ahead of the Rovers, 6th on scratch and handicap.

Statistics: Race
 

Finishing position	Rovers Return were 6th on the road and 6th on handicap	Number of cars at start	246
Average speed	81.02 mph for 6 hours including 10 pit stops	Number of cars finished	quite a few of them
Conditions	Dry 15° breeze felt cold	Fastest race lap	Marcus 1'04.54 (new personal best) team best 1'03.954 class best 1'02.457 race best    58.376
Number of laps behind	16 laps behind scratch winners	Comment	On the pace and lots of fun

Paddock chat

Too much to report. Sorry there are no new pictures. We were having too much of a good time.

Chris says I must tell you that the road works including the Silverstone by-pass really do work. We got out of the circuit without stopping once and were home 15 minutes quicker than usual. Talking of road works, isn't that tarmac run-off at Copse wonderful?

Looking for a unique bed and breakfast? The Priory at Syresham turned out to be the rambling home of the Orr-Ewings plus children, dogs and horses. Donations for plumbing and television repairs gratefully received but the beds are luxuriously comfortable.

The scratch winners were not last years Hart Attack K Sporters but the prototype SuperSports racers of Woody's Wonders, including a Lola T8690 and two Nemesis RME99 cars with 2 litre engines. Their best was 58.376 against Dan Eagling's 1'02.457 so when I saw a blue flag waved at ME it was only one of the Woodies coming up to overtake again.  A little hand signal from me to indicate which side to overtake and he's gone. Till next year.