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Races
4 - 5 Zandvoort
GP .
May 3rd - 4th
2
x 30 minute "Sprint" races . 
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The
first continental round of "Equipe"GTS
drove the pack to the popular and beloved track of Zandvoort,
the ex F1 Grand Prix circuit (from 1952 to 1985 – 30 GP) located a
few miles away from Amsterdam. Our hosts at the circuit where the
Historische Auto Ren Club (HARC) known for putting good quality
races and displays.
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Again
"Equipe"GTS
fielded the largest grid of the weekend with 35 starters.
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Saturday
morning practice was dominated by Rod Begbie and his TVR Grantura
MK3, but 0.25 seconds behind him, Tom Smith and his MGB were
reluctant to see him winning the race. Less than 2 seconds behind
the two leaders, Jeremy Cottingham (MGB 2GLL – ex works prepared),
John Andon (TR4) and David Beresford (MGB), closely followed by the
“flying doctor”, Mark Ashworth in his TVR 1800S. With 3 MGBs in
the Top 5, the domination of the MGB may soon become a souvenir. 21
MGBs were on the grid, with only 14 other makes and models on the
track and we were quite happy to welcome back our Scottish friend
from Essex, James Willis (Midget Coupé) our German friends Michael
van Ofen and Holger & Jurgen Felske and Joern Rassmussen coming
all the way from Denmark for the weekend.
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Helped
by the absence
of Neil Howe and his magnificent TR4, the job could have appeared
more easy for Tom Smith leading the race after lap 3, but Rod Begbie
and James Cottingham gave him hard time and he only won by less than
2 seconds. Rod Begbie closed the podium, less than 2 seconds in
front of Mark Ashworth. John Andon won his class along with Pat
Arculus in her pristine Lotus Elite. A sunny afternoon was a great
reward for the drivers and their family, followed by a dinner
organised by the HARC in the paddock. If some of the competitors and
organisers enjoyed the Dutch beer, whilst some of the youngsters
decided to test Amsterdam’s nightlife.
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- On
the Sunday morning, if some "Equipe"GTS
people had problem to keep their eyes opened, Rod Begbie -starting
from row 2 was determined to get a victory. He managed to take
second position, swapping places with the leader Tom Smith, and it
was the race of the week-end on the top of the grid.
Jeremy Cottingham finished 3rd in his brother’s
car, David Beresford 4th, closely followed by the
Ashworth family, Mark and Simon (father managed to keep his son back,
but only by a mere 0.4 second.
Similar dices took place throughout the field, Jerry Stock,
Colin Pearcy and Bill Kirkpatrick finishing in less than 2 seconds,
as Graham Bates, Alasdair Bruce, “Kermit Cull” John Pearson,
Marc Yates and Jorn Rasmussen. In class 3, Mark Ellis enjoyed
his class victory at the wheel of his ex John Gott MGA Twin Cam
(John Gott was team manager of BMC in the 50’s under Marcus
Chambers – competition manager) in front of Trevor Kemp (Elva
Courier) and the new comer Doug Martin (Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider).
James Willis enjoyed also a class win with his Midget Coupé, a good
reward after spending a long part of the weekend in mechanic
trousers. - 
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first continental double header, with great and safe battles between
competitors proved again to the audience that close and safe racing
is the key factor of entertaining racing. A memorable weekend
enjoyed by the competitors as their team. A
special thanks to Pete and John Pearson for providing breakfast to
half of the paddock during the 2 days. See
you soon at Donington. CW.
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"Equipe"GTS
lap record
James Cottingham - MGB -
2.07.08 - 8th September 2007
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