Summit Point, WV
May 19 - 21, 2006
 

We did all we could to support our hero, but with depleted staff, we could only handle half our usual number at Brian's friendly, family-feel event. 

With us this year were Bernard Bradpiece, Jol Dantzig, Paul Flowers, Phil Meany, and Ed Mettelman – each bringing only one car.

Brian and Bill Scott had organized a lot of off-track activities that kept everyone occupied, whether they were competitors or not – something that the other race promoters could well look into, as it makes for a useful and enjoyable diversion: off-roading in Jeeps, slot car racing, target shooting with proper instruction, etc. 

Cindy and Ed had a particularly good time in the Jeeps, coming back mud-splattered and rarin' for more.

  Under the awning – Wayne LeBlanc, out from
                   behind his camera for a change
                  (caught by Jol Dantzig - Click to enlarge)

The prophesied bad weather never materialized (during the racing days) and we had absolutely perfect weather. I believe that Brian had a bigger turnout than usual, all of his loyal supporters and more rallying around and showing support. 

  Jonathan Williams, Vic Elford,
              Brian Redman & Michael Keyser
                   (Photo by September 8th)

Our drivers were doing practice day as well as a weekend full of group and one-hour Endurance races. 

  Bernard's Merlyn F/F  

Bernard set the pace for much of the weekend until a couple of his competitors really upped their game and gave him a tough time. His straight-line speed, even on his tired motor, was phenomenal; but Bernard didn't have quite enough handling or power come race day to come out on top as we thought he may. 

Well done Bernard! A fresh motor and a new set of sneaks for Canada in a couple of weeks will make all the difference, trust me.

With the bit firmly between his teeth, really on it, he lost traction with locked tires and had an off-course excursion from which he was unable to restart. Such a shame, because he really was going so well. 

Poor Phil Meany (left) had a miserable weekend again, with  transmission problems still dogging the Aldon – notwithstanding the presence of our tranny expert Mark Wehrmann (above with Wayne LeBlanc) who helped as best as he could.

In fact, Mark devoted almost half of his weekend trying to solve Phil's problems, even at the expense of his own clients who were having their own dilemmas.  We are also indebted to Ted Ellers, who provided help and workshop facilities for Mark in his attempts to facilitate a fix, all to no avail.

We finally had to give up on the car, as it was proving to be a start-from-scratch workshop repair. Perhaps in giving up we saved the motor, as an early missed shift due to the recalcitrant tranny showed 10.5 on the tacho telltale.

Paul Flowers in his Chevron B31 (another one starting his season here, having just purchased the ex-Michele Alboreto 011 Tyrrell F1 race car) was on the pace straightaway, setting blistering times.

He did have new sneaks on from the start, and gave Joe Blacker and Howard Katz no peace.

For a change, Joe didn't manage to disappear into the distance as is his wont recently. Paul and Howard were right there with him. Indeed, Joe's pitstop revealed a problem during Saturday's race from which he could not continue. 

This left Howard and Paul to duke it out, Paul settling into a comfortable pace to be sure of bringing the car home safely and assuring himself of a good starting position on Sunday that would enable him to capitalize on his consistency and reliability on Sunday.

At least that was the plan.

However, with Joe's apparent retirement and the discovery that Howard had gone home Saturday evening, Paul literally had no competition.

He elected not to run either – a good race with good competition meaning much more to him than an easy win. It would have been a hollow victory just racing himself.

Now the next places down the grid could have a good close race with a well deserved victory.

Ed Mettelman was really on form this weekend in his Lotus 47, building on his momentum from last year. With a fresh engine installed in the back of the 47, he was bullet quick.

As usual, he was getting the biggest bang for his buck by having the 47 entered in two race groups, both of which he excelled in. 

Ed Mettelman with Cheshire grin in his Lotus 47    

Ed offered a co-driver seat in the car for one of the Enduros to Lee. Chapman did a practice session in the slower group on Saturday, the first time he had driven for quite some time and the first time ever in the 47. He found the car to be absolutely fabulous, handling like a dream with oodles of power and phenomenal brakes. The car was comfortable and perhaps one of the nicest racecars he had ever driven.