As the muggy skies greeted the wakening souls on the Sunday, it was up for a bit of a dress rehearsal at Mendips, as Bristol once again turned pink once again. So pink, even Barbie would have said it was too much. But it was all for a good cause, as drivers gathered in aid of Cancer Research for the Pink Ribbon Trophy
Numbers were on the low side, but the spirits were high as the first event was the second running of the bike race, which was won by Barry Richards, which is very good considering he was a South African cricketer of the apartheid era! Sadly, Chris Bradbury missed the start for once, an inverse pringle if you will.
So with the numbers down, and despite the locals Rygor, Hooper and Fisher all on their hols, and most of the fellow semi finalists saving cars for the following week, locals were a little short on supply. But with newly crowned European Champion Barry Goldin (401), National Champion Tom Adcroft (768)and Steve Smith (299) all down on a reccie to see how the track handled. With insufficient cars, the traditional Rookies Reward was dispensed with, and 2 from 3 was deployed. Heat 1 saw Marc Rowe (526) and the yellow bound John Scorse (519) lead them away for quite some time. The gaggle of yellow tops which included Simon Edwards (430) and Nathan Maidment (935) caught the pack. A bit of traffic with a few to go saw Bradbury (886) catch the pack, and as the 1-6 entered the bottom bend, one man came out of the melee, and that was Bradbury. Marc Rowe (526) took the brunt of the hit and ended up parked at the bottom bendAn equally entertaining heat 2 soon followed, with Bradders sitting it out, and it was left to an impressive display from Barry Goldin who took the win after another white top charge from Jay Scott (686). After another long gap between races, which enabled pics to be taken of more very scantiliy clad ladies on the cars of Maidment, Adcroft and Goldin (reshoot), and for on this blessed of days, the bottom corner became blessed with a holy visitor, not Pope Higgy, but a rather large hole developed on the apex of the bottom bend.
After much head scratching between Messrs Chant and Bunter, the hole was filled rapidly than any municipal council would fill a hole of a similar size. How the hole got there is beyond explanation, or it could be a Mario Kart esque plan to get rid of a few competitors
During the ridiculous break for 2 banger and 2 special rod races, much merriment was made during the waiting. Most centred around the Maidment/TART area where a lovely barbecue and gazebo combo was set up. With burgers, sausage and cake on the agenda, something moist was needed to wet the whistle. Andy Maidment proceeded to get out a barrel of local firewater called Thatcher's Gold which went down a treat, especially with the ladies!
Heat 3 eventually lined up and whilst everyone else dosed off, it was that man Bradbury who took the heat win. After a short gap (enough for a Maidment Burger) it was all eyes on the final. Nathan Maidment (935) was pole yellow, and the race was led off, rather rapidly, by the ever improving PJ Moss (979). Moss led to just before halfway when Maidment took over. Behind, a blistering Bradbury start left many of the reds behind, but the Bradbury couldn't hold off the pack this time as the car seemed to lose speed. Maidment was long gone, and took the last 2 laps as an opportunity to showboat. The Pink Ribbon Trophy has increasingly special significance to Nathan. It's in memory of his late mum, Lesley who sadly fell foul of the Big C some 3 years ago. With all his family there, he got the donuts in, then got on top of his car. The lad was beaming a smile that could be seen for miles, and rightly so. Someone was definitely smiling down on him. Goldin and Bradbury rounded out the top 3. Most unlucky was Paul Moss (979) who was on for a nice high top 10 placing until he tripped over Richard Thomas (756) who's RCE looked somewhat truncated after the incident.
Bradders rounded off with the national, and we left at 6pm. Note to those travelling, there is only the Robins as support so the meeting might be a bit draggy, but it should be a good day full of action!
POINTS OF ORDER
After several pints of Thatchers Gold, the art of ordering KFC became quite a challenge to Bubble and Squeak (aka Alana and Steph, models extraordinaire), as they changed their minds on drinks.
Andy Maidment whilst getting dressed into his pink fishnets said it wasn't the first time this year he'd slipped into something more comfortable!
Scruitineering duo Colin Higman and Roy Dyke both hung around the Higman Passat parked in the bottom gate. "Listening to the Grand Prix" was the call of Mr Higman as he proceeded to look at the shoot before him. Mr Adcroft Snr had certainly a large smile on his face. However King Col of Menheniot proclaimed that I was a perve!
Perve or no perve, let's see who has a semi on next time!
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