LE SOMMET DES LÉGENDES 2006

LE SOMMET DES LÉGENDES Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada June 9-11, 2006	(click to enlarge)



Rain, rain, rain and then?...... more rain – but this time it was damned cold as well. Thank heavens some of us (Lee) still had their Wellies and winter thermal gloves and parka with them.

We went to Canada with a reasonably full contingent of cars – Hamish Somerville's Williams FW07, his Lola T70 and his Chevron B23; Pete Gulick's FW08 Williams and Chevron B23, Rick Carlino's Gropa and Lola 240, and Bernard Bradpiece's Merlyn F/F. Unfortunately for us and for all of his race fans & groupies, Pete could not follow his cars to Canada after all. He claimed it was due to last-minute business commitments; but we figured he just got a better long-range forecast than the rest of us and chose to stay in nice, warm, sunny Virginia instead of braving the cold and wet with us. Go figure. Thankfully for the benefit of the rather meager turnout of both race fans and race cars, most of the participants took to the track anyway, even in these terrible conditions. It couldn't have been much fun, but all put on a brave face and a good show. - Photos by Wayne LeBlanc and Junmei Zhao (click photos to enlarge)

Bernard Bradpiece's brave face under mask in his Merlyn F/F

	Two more brave faces: Rick (testing) & Hamish (tested) (click photos to enlarge)


Above - Bernard and Rick (standing around); w/crewmembers Mike Farka & Ed Barker (at work)	later, Racer Rick rides Red around (click photos to enlarge)

	Above - Lee & Chuck Golder Below - Ed, Mike, Bernard, Ed again, & Lee


	the boys ready the B23 for an outing (click photos to enlarge)
	Mike, Chuck & Ed oversee the procession of Hamishmobiles. Lee helps Hamish drive 3 cars in quick succession





Hamish - ready for a spin in his Lola T70 Spyder.... or is he?
	(click photos to enlarge)

	Racer Rick and Lola (240) (click photos to enlarge)




Rick (Lola) & Hamish (FW07) meet at the checkered flag for unknown reasons

Bernard had a good time in his Merlyn F/F, but expressed caution even on the new sneaks fitted for this event. (Over 12 months on those old ones was proving something of a liability – even for Bernard.) Ah, stickers! Ah, new-found grip! (click photos to enlarge)	Still, this didn't mean Bernard went out for every session in the deluge. A wise decision.


As for our other two showmen, Hamish went off course in a show of bravado in the T70 (whoops); and poor old Rick, who was vying for second place in the very depleted endurance field whilst following in the tire tracks of Bob Woodman's Porsche, soon discovered Gropas and Porsches don't have the same lines – even in the wet – and he had a taste of the tire wall. (Click photos to enlarge and weep....)
	oops... (click photos to enlarge)
doesn't look good for the Gropa....

Yeah, I got a beer, Wayne........ did you see my car?? (click photos to enlarge)	Alas, Rick's Gropa had to be parked. It needed a lot more TLC than we could give it here. Would that be a beer in Carlino's hand? Hamish's Lola T70 fiberglass was glued together that night as it was pretty superficial damage, even though both ends had got whacked – so Hamish was ready to go again on Saturday.

	Another duct-tape miracle. No worries for Rick... he's still got his Lola 240 to drive! (click photos to enlarge)

	Hamish is back the next day in his patched-up Lola Spyder

later that day - Hamish takes off in his Williams FW07
	Hamish had an amazing race with the FW07 on Saturday against Larry Connor's much, much, newer Toyota-powered Atlantic car. Here we saw an amazing display of wet-weather driving from both of these guys. Quite spectacular! Rick was cool. After the earlier off-course with the Gropa, he brought the Lola 240 back safe and sound, pleased to be still circulating in the disgusting conditions.

Race day on Sunday, it was finally clearing. The weather got better as the day wore on, the sun even having the cheek to come out during the middle of the afternoon.
Rick had another steady drive on Sunday, but was still feeling the effects of the impact in the Gropa from the day before. He was pretty stiff and sore and not that comfortable in the 240, or anything for that matter......

Bernard, who up 'til now had been a front runner, looked pretty certain of a podium finish. But a couple of rivals somehow had found a little more steam overnight. Still we were all very pleased with Bernard's performance for this weekend, all things being considered, and we're sure fresh rubber really did give him the edge earlier in the weekend. (Wait til the Glen – he'll show 'em there.)


Hamish's race in the FW07 was thwarted, for whilst starting off really well and pulling out a substantial lead, this he was to relinquish as he slipped back through the field. He complained afterwards of lack of grip/understeer and a light sensation to the steering on the straight. The front wings had loosened somehow and rather than giving down-force, they were inducing lift at the front end (oops).


A popular win for this race was taken by our good friend Rick Knoop in his Tyrrell, having stayed over after the HGP Glen event to come and race with us here in Canada (needless to say, expecting better weather!). Well done Rick Knoop – you made it look so easy!
	Rick Knoop, flying in his Tyrrell
Way to go Knoopster! (We love this guy!!)
And the winner is.... that guy!!
	*SURVIVORS, ALL....*
	Trevor & Junmei seem thankful it's over!

On to the BRIC for a little much-needed HEAT ! (in our next report, we learn to be more careful what we wish for...) Special thanks to our cold, wet crew – Ed Barker, Wayne LeBlanc, *Chuck Golder, Mike Farka, and guest wrench, Bret Clemenzi.* Great Job!!



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