Day two of the 2016 Modena Cents Ore dawned with heavy rain in the coastal resort of Rimini. First duty of the day was to navigate the short coastal run to Circuit Misano. With the track still very wet as the cars went out to practice it was a slow start learning the racing lines through rain and oil spread over the track by one of the competitors. Richard was 4th, Chris was 5th on the grid and as the lights went out the Freeman Cobra shot off the line from 3rd position, the E type also  getting the jump on the slow starting GT40. By the first corner Richard was fighting his way back, down the inside of the E type and into third behind the Cobra. Half way around the first lap under intense pressure from the GT40 Freeman in the Cobra slid very sideways on the fastest corner, looking like a pro from the film “Tokyo Drift”. Richard following closely had to take avoiding action across the tarmac runoff at about 150mph.  Somehow they both managed to keep their cars under control.  Two corners later Freeman surrendered second place to the GT40 which ended up coming home 18 seconds ahead of the Cobra but losing valuable seconds to the winning pro driven Jaguar.  With Chris in the E-type having a steady and uneventful race in tricky conditions into 7th place, conscious of the trip into the gravel on the Tour Auto last year and the huge penalty points incurred….

Then followed a 100 km road section via San Marino, to the first Special Stage (SS) of the day. This was a fast and flowing stage perfect for the GT40 and allowed our racing legends to come to the fore. The final results of SS 1 saw Richard victorious with a time of 4.27, 2 seconds faster than the leading Jaguar, with the Freeman Cobra 7 seconds adrift and just 2 tenths of a second quicker than Chris.

On the way to the lunch break Tim performed his traditional navigational error resulting in a slight detour and being late for lunch which was held in a Franciscan Monestary built on the top of a Tuscan hill some 500 years ago.. Onwards to the second and stage of the day. Richard and Chris were clearly brimming with confidence and despite some rain and a very greasy and slippery road, the final stage of the day required the superhuman skills these two pilots are internationally known for. Even though Tim lost himself on the pace notes, Richard was again victorious, with a time 3.5 seconds faster than the Cobra with the E type of Chris and Keith just 7 tenths of a second slower.  The leading jaguar was a further 18.5 seconds behind.  Richard is now just 51 seconds behind the pro team leaders.

With the competitive mileage of the day completed the cars headed towards Florence for servicing and then into central Florence for a gala dinner in the Palazzo Vecchio, once home to the influential family Medici.  Tim who is well know for his ability to recall every grand prix winner over the past 50 years also wowed us with his knowledge of Michelangelo and Caravaggio the great Italian maestros of the 16th century.

Today showed how close and competitive this event is. We are only half way through, it’s like midnight at the Le Mans 24 hour race, the early hard work has been done but with countless challenges and hurdles still ahead.  The crews are on such exceptional form it is now imperative to ensure no mistakes are made and lady luck does not desert us.

Breaking news:  The day’s results show the GT40 has a 10 minute time penalty. We are not sure what this is for, so will be protesting in the morning.

Seven am on Wednesday and the crews competing in the Modena Cento Ore left the Grand Hotel Rimini for the 100 km dash to the famous Imola circuit named after Enzo and Dino Ferrairi. Tim managed his early morning navigational error although unlike last year this didn’t require him getting out to push the car. For Chris and Keith the journey to Imola was silky smooth. However there was more drama for the GT40 crew when they reached the end of the auto strada and the toll booth. Richard had a bright idea to save time, by jumping out of the car and payed the toll on foot. However the car had not triggered the beam to register arrival and with an impatient queue of drivers behind Richard decided to push the car a few extra yards forward to trigger the beam and initiate payment.  Richard pushed.  Sitting in the car, Tim diligently noticed the car rolling forward and wishing to avert catastrophe released his seat belts, leapt into the drivers side foot well and contorted like Harry Houdini pushed the brake pedal. The car stopped.  Richard pushed harder, and harder.  Eventually they sorted themselves out and proceeded through the toll to the track.

Once both crews arrived at this legendary track, Imola, and after a few practice laps, the cars formed up in number order, E-type 6th, GT40 18th… RIchard complained that they must have made a mistake, they hadn’t, all the E-types were together at the front of the grid.  An eventful first lap saw Chris bumped by an out of control Lotus Elan and then had the remaining race in the company of the Cobras.  Richard scythed through the field to third by the end of the first lap and then built up an unassailable lead by the end over the E types, the Cobras and one Lotus Elan.  The end of race saw Richard in first and Chris in 6th. A solid start to the day.

Leaving Imola it was then straight into the serious business of the Special Stages.  The four stages today were more suitable to the nimble cars, Lotus and Porsche. But Chris and navigating legend Keith set a solid tone to the day finishing 10th on stage one.  Richard with pace note virgin Tim, a car that didn’t want to get going out of the slow corners and Richard stopping half way through thinking he’d reached the end of the stage still finished 5th.  After one race and one special stage: GT40 1st overall and E-type 6th.

Three more special stages followed. Special Stage number two: Chris 11th, Richard 14th, Overall: Richard 3rd, Chris 7th. Special stage three: Chris 2nd, Richard 7th, Special stage 4: Chris 6th, Richard 7th.  The last stage being very wet and slippery (We didn’t think it would be raining in Italy in June).  After an arduous run back to Rimini over very narrow broken up roads we both finished the day with cars intact and at the sharp end of the grid.  The overall final results of the day show Mark Freeman 2nd. But just 8 seconds behind are Richard and Tim in the GT40 and 4th Chris and Keith snapping at their heels a further 23 seconds down.  Ahead and in 1st lies last year’s winner and BRDC member Philip Walker in an E- type.

To complete a relatively trouble free first day was a real result, and to find both the GT40 and the historic CUT 7 E-Type both at the sharp end on their Modena Cento Ore debut is a great achievement. It’s only one day into a four day marathon and there will be plenty more action starting tomorrow at the Misano race track and the subsequent special stages before the crews arrive in Florence on Thursday evening for dinner in the incredible 1299 built Pallazo Vecchio.  Hopefully today’s luck will hold and both crews will make further progress up the leader board tomorrow. But for tonight a drink in the Max Mara boutique in Rimini was the reward for a long day in the car, prosecco and a designer dress was all on offer, so we went next door for a beer….

The eve of the 2016 Modena Cento Ore has seen cars and crew assemble in the Adriatic resort of Rimini.  Whilst Tim had a fairly uneventful flight from HK via Milan, Richard, Keith and Chris drove overland from UK via Monza and over the fabled St Gothard Pass.  Pounding across Europe in an Aston DB5 and Ferrari 355 is the stuff of dreams and replicated the iconic scene from the Bond movie Goldeneye with Bond racing Xenia Onatopp over the Alps.  The journey was for the most part uneventful. However Keith’s 355 was making a curious knocking noise subsequently identified as a failed wheel bearing.  Modena is probably the best place for this to happen and the car is now back at Ferrari being sorted out.  We hope that’s the only mechanical failure on this trip.

Following scrutineering and a fabulous dinner at the Grand Hotel it’s an early start from Rimini to the Imola circuit where the first race starts at 9am. With the GT 40 running without silencers and an earlier sound check to ensure Richard and Tim can hear each other over the intercom while the engine is running, suggests that firing up the car at 7am on Wednesday will provide a wake up call to the whole of the Adriatic coast.

It’s an incredibly strong field this year drawn from 18 countries, but provided the E-type can stay out of the gravel and the GT40 can hold together unlike the first day of the Tour Auto in France last year, a hoped for steady run will bring positive news tomorrow evening when returning to Rimini for a cocktail evening hosted by Max Mara.

The 2016 edition of the Modena Cento Ore sees ace historic racing drivers Richard Meins and Chris Lillingston-Price reunited with co-drivers Tim Huxley and Keith Morris for an intense four day contest in northern Italy. The Modena Cento Ore is one of Europe‘s leading historic motor sport events, with a field of close to one hundred machines competing over four days.

Starting on 8th June on the Adriatic coast in Rimini, long a favourite of the British package tourist, the first day involves a race at the legendary Imola circuit, former home of the San Marino Grand Prix, before a series of special stages see the crews return to Rimini for the overnight halt. Day two takes in the Misano circuit on the Adriatic coast before an overnight stop in Florence, whilst the third and fourth days compirse further special stages on the undulating, flowing Italian roads and a race at another iconic circuit, Mugello, Ferrari’s Formula One test track and home to the Italian motorcycle Grand Prix, with the finish on Saturday evening in Modena, home to the legend that is Ferrari.

Once again, veteran racer, cyclist and Macau legend Richard and ace navigator Tim will be aboard the red Ford GT40 with Chris and Keith in the stunning lightweight E-Type Jaguar. For both these famous cars, the Modena Cento Ore oozes symbolism and history. Just eight days after the event finishes in Modena on June 11th, it will be the fiftieth anniversary of the GT40’s maiden win in the Le Mans 24 hour race in France. History recalls that the GT40 was conceived by Henry Ford II after his negotiation with iL Commendatore Enzo Ferrari to take a majority stake in the eponymous sports car manufacturer were called off at the the final moment when Ferrari would not agree to concede control of his beloved racing team. Henry got mad and vowed to hit Ferrari where it hurt-on the race track, and thus the GT40 was born with the express intention of beating Ferrari at Le Mans. After a couple of years of notable failures-when Ferrari continued their winning ways- the GT40 started an unprecedented run of victories in 1966. It would be a fitting way to kick off the fiftieth anniverasry celebrations with a GT40 rolling into Modena on Saturday night.

Enzo Ferrari described the E Type Jaguar as ‘the most beautiful car ever made’ when it was launched in 1960.  Former motorcycle racer Chris and 1983 Safari Rally challenger Keith will be ensuring that this British icon gets plenty of exposure in the supposed home of European style. After a promising run on the Tour Auto last year, Keith, a competitive cyclist when his busy work schedule allows, and Chris have an excellent chance of victory, provided Chris doesn’t visit the first gravel trap as he did in France last year and they will also hope to be avoiding the near asphyxiation they suffered from a  broken exhaust.

Before the start, Tim is displaying the realism that befits his role as a beleaguered ship owner when it comes to assessing the GT40’s chances: “A solid, reliable, trouble free run is all I ask for. I have spent around fifteen days in this car over the past few years and I think there were only three when we didn’t have some sort of problem.” The car has been totally rebuilt, hopefully clearing the brake problems which saw it retire from the lead at the Goodwood Members Meeting in March, as a result of which Richard is adopting a much more bullish and optimistic stance, as befits a shipbroker and someone who has perhaps read too much Winston Churchill and Boris Johnston: “You ask what is our aim ? I can answer in one word: Victory. Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terrors, victory however long and hard the road may be, for without victory, there is nothing.”

Taking those words to heart, Keith has already decided to play it safe and settle for second: “In view of the stated aims of our illustrious leader, we will aim for second place and become the Buzz Aldrins of the Cento Ore!”

The event starts on Wednesday 8th June and amongst the host of ultra competitive crews are former winners and Macau Grand Prix legends Mark Freeman and Mike Ellis in their potent AC Cobra, whilst plenty of other Porsches, Ferraris, Jaguars and Aston Martins will be looking to ensure that the lone GT40 on the entry list has plenty of competition.

Both cars will again be looked after by Sam and Darren, the team from Wren Sport, (Wren Sport is a division of Wren Classic Sports Car Restoration Maintenance, and Race Car Preparation).  Without the additional assistance on this event of Dave “Rambo” Ramsbotham and Steve “Cool” Farthing, the team look forward to a service crew who are not just aiming to be at the lunch stop first and will therefore also have time to look after the cars on this grueling event.

The eve of the 2015 Tour Auto involves one day of scrutineering in the splendor of the Grand Palais, Paris.  This involves technical checks on all competing cars, crew and equipment.  Cars number 205 and 206 the GT 40 and E-type Jaguar, to be crewed by the dynamic duos of Richard Meins, Tim Huxley and Chris Lillingston-Price, Keith Morris were subjected to forensic style scrutiny by French officials.

Inevitably problems were found which took most of the day to rectify.  Small issues like size of the labels indicating cut off switches, arrows to towing points, serial numbers on identity papers and the correct number of fire extinguishers we should be carrying all took the entire day to resolve.  Only in France could we be kept busy all day but achieve absolutely nothing.  This was a tough day.  With patience running low and tempers fraying, after huge assistance from Keith’s wife Laura, the translator and diplomat, and Steve and the team, everything is now in order and set for tomorrow’s early morning start (5.30am) heading to Magny Cours for our first race and further south to Vichy.  Tomorrow the bureaucracy ends and the competition begins.

The last supper before the start was held at the legendry steakhouse in the seventh Arrondissement, Le Relais L’Entrecote, and unusually for this crew the red wine consumption was kept strictly to the minimum (although a swift night cap on the way back the hotel could not be resisted).

With the formalities behind us the competition can start, but with an arduous road ahead and such a highly competitive field  this is going to be a challenging week.  At least the sun is shining.

Heroism and Heartbreak

TOUR AUTO DAY 3-HEROISM AND HEARTBREAK

After a successful comeback on day two which included the team’s first race win courtesy of Richard at Charade, hopes were high of climbing further up the leader board after Chris and Keith had moved up to 47th overnight with Richard and Tim now back into the top twenty.

Early morning problems, particularly for Huxley, were primarily the result of the French equivalent of haggis which had been served for dinner the previous night. Sitting alongside Meins as he flies through a special stage involves having everything clenched so this was dealt with easily, but Meins was worried at the strange smell his car was emitting, thinking he may have fried the clutch, but later learning it was just the haggis.  Yet another flat battery in the GT40 in the intercom system today meant that Huxley had to shout navigational instructions above the roar of the V8 engine, but anyone who has ever heard him make a speech knows this comes easily to.

Chris and Keith meanwhile motored on serenely, keeping out of trouble and posting hugely improved stage times now that the braking issues on the E type had been addressed.  Both crews tackled the two particularly challenging special stages without drama and setting good times, although Richard had a couple of particularly lurid slides as he went through a farmyard on a fast downhill section.

Lunch in another beautiful chateaux, still no wine, teams were warned that the Gendarme were particularly angry at all the speeding on road sections and that 5 participants had had their driving licences removed and were banned from driving in France for two months.   We decided to drive the afternoon in convoy as the E type had a functioning speedo and the GT40 didn’t and Richard doesn’t have a history of abiding by speed limits even if he did know his speed.
Having negotiated the long road sections without attracting the attention of the increasingly vigilant fuzz, despite running in convoy with  ‘Special Stage God’ Mark Freeman, the cars arrived at the Albi circuit about an hour from Toulouse, home of the Airbus.

Following his win yesterday, Richard was at the sharp end of the grid, although inexplicably , a Frenchman was put on pole position, not a surprise to anyone who has attended this event in the past. Chris was in the middle of the pack and looking to consolidate on Wednesday’s solid performance and not repeat his ‘Magny Cours Madness’. Chris achieved just that, coming in a fantastic 4th position, despite strong opposition.  Not quite sure how this happened, as he seemed to be overtaken by two chasing cars having run wide on the last lap and the last corner,  but the racing gods were on his side today and he was awarded the first non podium position.  Richard meanwhile had set about getting control of the race and by lap four had established a clear lead and looked set to follow up his Charade win with another famous victory. Then disaster struck as the differential exploded and punched a hole in the gearbox casing, leaving a trail of oil around part of the circuit. Out of the race immediately and any chance of a top ten finish gone.   Luckily the team were carrying a spare gearbox and they duly set about the car to get it changed.

Chris and Keith headed off for the formal day’s finish in Toulouse.  A police escort into the city helped avoid the rush hour traffic, a little known fact, but Morris, the airline pilot, has flown here on many occasions to test new Airbus planes before delivery, Morris is a well known celebrity in these parts and a welcome committee was on hand on arrival in parc ferme.  Chris and Matt were here to support us from Hong Kong, a long way to come to see an E-type and  GT40, especially when the GT40 didn’t show up.

Freeman, our other HK driver, was two hours late arriving in the paddock, unusual because the beer was being served and he wouldn’t want to miss that. When he did eventually arrive it transpired that he’d been caught speeding and when the Fuzz tried to stop him he carried on, however, he wasn’t driving, it was his copilot Nigel.  At the track after the race seven uniformed police officers arrived and arrested him, bundled him into a van and took him away.  After a few fines, for over EURO 2,000 all seemed well, but he has subsequently been thrown out of the event along with all other drivers caught speeding today.  They are making an example out of them.

Richard and Tim remain at the track as the hard working Wren team change the gearbox. It’s going to be a long night , but we will try and get both cars to the end if at all possible, we so want to see the Atlantic ocean on Saturday in Biarritz.