Kelvedon for Lotus news

Team Kelvedon, Tiny Tony, Mark Rodgers and yours truly have had a great year with the March 84g ‘C’ car with race finishes 2nd at Spa (first time out), 3rd at Le Mans – to be on the grid of the weekend of the 24hr race was a dream come true it was just a pity I had to wait until I was 62 !!! But dam it I’m not complaining.  Then onto Silverstone Classic a fantastic weekend but ooo so hot. The weekend did not start well front brake master cylinder failed going into Stowe at about 150mph made me very busy for a while, the team fitted a new master cylinder so we had to start from the back of the grid.  I had a second driver for this race Chris Porritt a racer and Aston Martin engineer.  The old man could not make two 1½ hours on his own in the heat so had to call in the youngster we had a great race I handed over to Chris – 1st in class after 45 minutes, very dehydrated despite drinking 2 litres water before the start.  We dropped to second after the pit stop and driver change and despite Chris’s two spins in separate laps in Luffield Chris came good to win the class a very happy team. 
Now onto Donington in October – Friday evening was rain rain rain but Saturday brought out the sun for qualifying 2nd in class, driving on my own, a great re-fuelling by the team put us 1st in class, I built up a lead of about 40 seconds at about the one hour mark the team on the pit wall were frantically waving me on so head down to the end despite beginning to feel dehydrated and sick.  At 58 seconds in the lead with two laps to go the Porsche and the Mustang had a coming together at Redgate and I couldn’t avoid the Mustang – red flag stopped the race – but won race on count back with fortunately only slight damage to the car. 
Winter rebuild is underway ready for the car to go on show in the Historic Hall at the Autosport show in January. 
It has been a great year finishing 1st in class and 5th overall in championship – not bad for an old man (would have finished 4th overall if we had been able to compete in the final sprint race on the Sunday).
Great team work all season looking forward to next year - car for sale  - or looking for a paying driver

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