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Writer's pictureChris Valentine

Birkett Relay - Silverstone GP 26th Oct 2024




This was the 73rd running of this famous race. CALM All Porsche Trophy fielded a record eight all Porsche teams. 


CAP Dads and their lads lead by Dan Crego, Tom and Jamie Mcq, Christian and Jon Walker managed by Anne Walker


Chequered past with CAP entered Andrew Duce, Richard Neall, Charlie & Zac Fulk managed by Dave Watling of Copse Automotive


CALM Birkett Billies  managed by Dave again comprised of James Brodie, Jon Westbrook

Mike & Will Curtler, Martin Mason & Ben Richardson


Speed Caps led by John Broadley, Fernando Getini & Gary Martin, Paul Hicks and Brian Richardson


CAP it all Andy Baker, Metin & Gabriel Yalmiz and Kev Molyneaux managed by Lily Jeffs 


CAP Tasties Managed by Gary Campbell had Baz Darcy & Warren McKinley, Patrick Schaffeger & Philip Nagel and Warren Allen.


Andy CAPS entered Darren Claydon & Jason Andrews, Andy Peck and Clayton & Ed Sampson led by James Harvey


Team Caymen with CAP Stuart Jeffcoate, Grant Jackson & Gary Stanford, Mark & Sam Callahan


Qualifying

Mark Callahan said “I spotted 6 cars off the track”.


Warren McKinley was concerned about their qualification times and the handicap. A visit to race admin had their handicap adjusted.


Due to an electrical issue, (more of which later) Paul Hicks missed the chequered flag at the end of his session and did another lap – resulting in a strong talking-to from the Clerk.

Fern was reported for an overtake under yellow, but no action was taken.


Dan Crego was his usual speedy self, posting 3 minutes dead on just his second lap on what turned out to be very slippy conditions that the Verum Builders team described the weather as “terrible”.

Race

Kev Molyneaux had his second spin of the day early on in his 996.


First to pit was Sam Callahan’s 986 with a wrecked engine, meaning no racing for dad Mark either.


Nearly an hour in and we saw the first safety car period with Teams 39, 44, 45 and 46 all choosing to pit to change to their next driver.

Team 53 had a miscommunication that led to an early stop, but thanks to having a man in the car ready to go this didn’t upset the apple cart at all.


The members of team 53 had certainly had their Weetabix that morning and took great delight in “Caterham bothering” by taking the fight and lap time right to them, through them and out the other side of their groups on the track whenever the opportunity arose 

Team 44 - Dads and Lads set a blistering pace that they managed to maintain all day with Christian and Jon co-driving the Walker Cayman, Tom McHugh having an outing in the family Boxster, Dan in the 968 and Jamie in his 944 Turbo, the reliability of which is steadily improving and proving once again that both he and it will be a force to reckoned with for 2025.


Hoping for a dry race, the first spits of rain appeared at 13:40 but by this time the track was mostly dry.


The second safety car period happened just after Team 46 had changed drivers, but Team 54 didn’t have their driver ready.


Around 14:30 the sky started to darken and a few teams were considering switching their next car to a wet setup. A little later an Audi TT caught fire and blocked the pit lane entry.

At 14:36 there was another safety car deployment and Team 45 made a perfect car/driver change.


Following an exhaustive search of motor factors and dealers within a 2 hour radius by various CALM supporters, no alternators were available from stock anywhere (take note Cayman and Boxster owners). But Angus at AMS came to the rescue.


Leigh Vaughan, who had volunteered to take on a near 3 hour mercy dash to grab the alternator (landing the Ryan’s Best Mate award for his efforts), returned with the replacement alternator for Paul Hick’s 987 Cayman, which was swiftly fixed by the Rindt Mechanics. Paul drove around for a quick test and lined up in the garage to take Team 54’s penultimate stint of the race.


At 15:10, Gerry from Team 39 pitted early in his session, reporting what felt like a flat tyre. Son Tom made an inspection, but nothing could be found apart from some tyre damage after contact with the wing.


As the race wore on the stresses of a long season started to show on cars and, to a lesser extent, drivers. Darren Claydon found a slightly wobbly ball joint forcing Andy Peck to stick his race suit back on to “cover” Clayton’s final stint. You could tell he was almost tasting the beer when told to gear up once more .


The safety car made another appearance at 16:45 and teams 45 and 54 swapped to their next cars. With an hour left to go there were three of our teams in the handicap top 10.

Special Mention to Andy Baker whose usual “cheery demeanour” was doing a great job of hiding the fact he was “really rather under the weather” but was determined not to let his team down. He completed his 2 stints for the team like a consummate professional and then retired into a corner of the pits before making an early bid for home. His efforts to look out for his team at the expense of himself and to keep them in the race earned him the Driver of the Day award.


The final safety car stint happened at 17:42 and Team 39 made a change with just 9 minutes left on the clock.


Results & Awards


CAP awarded trophies for the top four teams based on their scratch finishing positions

1st: Team 53 – CAP Tasties 2nd: Team 44 – CAP Dads and Lads 3rd: Team 45 – Chequered Past with CAP 4th: Team 46 - CALM Birkett Billies


Driver of the Day went to Andy Baker (986)


Ryan’s Best Mate: Leigh Vaughan


Best turned out: Baz Darcy and Warren Mckinley (red 986)









750MC awarded trophies for the handicap results - the CALM teams finished thus:


2nd: Team 45 - Checkered Past with CAP

4th: Team 46 - CALM Birkett Billies 9th: Team 44 - CAP Dads and Lads

11th: Team 53 - CAP Tasties

39th: Team 43 - Team Cayman with CAP

46th: Team 54 - Speed CAPs

47th: Team 39 - Verum Builders

49th: Team 48 - CAP It All

54th: Team 49 - Andy CAP Racing


All photos © Copyright Sean Mulcahy





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