Hello to Castle Combe
A message from a friend of the team Darcy Smith started a chain of events, culminating in the first time a Praga has run at the challenging Castle Combe circuit near Chippenham. Idola would be running Darcy in car 18, entered in the Norman Lackford Memorial race for Sports Prototypes. We knew from experience that Combe is famously bumpy so a pre-event test day was booked to get the setup right in time for race day.
The Thursday test brought much weather, wet in the morning and dry in the afternoon. Circuit staff ran an extremely smooth day and the restaurant fare was fantastic! Idola’s Al Boulton shared the day with Darcy and by pack up time we were in a good place setup-wise.
Race day came around Saturday and did we have a lot of weather!! We had it all: rain, wind, sun, more rain - it was challenging to say the least. But we were in good company and Darcy would be racing against many friends of is from his years racing Radicals around here, and Idola got to catch up with many friends from years past - hello to Martin Brooks!!
Qualifying started bone dry and all went out on slicks - Darcy got quicker and quicker - still learning the joys of a closed cockpit prototype, and got up to 2nd position before the heavens opened 5 minutes from the end and that was the end of any improvements. So a front row start for race 1.
A cracker of a rolling start and Darcy led up Avon Rise and into Quarry corner with a gaggle of Radicals in his wake. A great race of cat & mouse between the Praga and Ian Fido in his Radical lasted for half the race but when Darcy started having some gear shift issues he was pipped to first by Ian through the chicane. Darcy continued to chase but nearing the end of the race took a bit too much curb at the 2nd chicane which out the suspension out and he had to retire.
A quick turnaround for the team to make repairs to the car for race 2 saw Mech Jack Fabby working at record pace abley assisted by Harry Howard who was joining us for the weekend on work experience. With quite a lot of remedial work to do, time was getting tight and in the end we just missed getting the car to assembly in time so Darcy would have to start from the pit lane. But all was not lost yet and once the rolling start came past pit exit the Praga was released to chase down the pack. Darcy did a great job of picking off cars one by one. Everyone was on wet tyres but the track was drying super fast and this was suiting the Praga well. Our driver was pushing hard to make his way up the pack but unfortunately would end his race early in a spin exiting the 2nd chicane - but no harm done.
Despite the results, a good time was had by all and it has whetted our appetite for more racing at Castle Combe, the staff and spectators were very welcoming and all were interested in the Praga. I am sure we will be back soon.
Next stop - Assen in August for the Dutch GT & Prototype Challenge…..
